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Pátzcuaro is a highland town near the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro, at the heart of the Purépecha region of Michoacán. Its streets of whitewashed adobe with red-painted bases and tiled roofs have kept a distinctly indigenous and colonial character, shaped in part by the sixteenth-century bishop Vasco de Quiroga, who encouraged each surrounding village to develop its own craft.
Life centers on two plazas: the broad Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, framed by mansions, and the busier Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra, with its market stalls. The adjacent Biblioteca Gertrudis Bocanegra, in a former church, holds a large Juan O'Gorman mural on regional history. The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud draws pilgrims, while the Casa de los Once Patios is filled with workshops selling lacquerware and textiles. The Museo de Artes e Industrias Populares and the Templo de la Compañía add more history. Boats cross the lake to the island of Janitzio, and the archaeological site of Tzintzuntzan and the coppersmiths of Santa Clara del Cobre are short drives away.
Pátzcuaro suits travelers interested in crafts, indigenous culture and slow evenings in cool mountain air. Day of the Dead brings famous candlelit observances around the lake and large crowds, so book far ahead.
WiserMap travel guidePátzcuaro Mexico Janitzio Island and Lakeside VillagesPlan your Pátzcuaro trip: colonial plazas, the basilica, Janitzio island, lakeside villages, Michoacán dishes, where to stay and a simple itinerary.Read the guide
One of the largest and most beautiful main squares in Mexico, surrounded by colonial mansions with arcades and shaded by old ash trees, with a statue of Bishop Vasco de Quiroga in the center. Cafes and hotels line the portals. It is the natural starting point for any walk in town.
The second main square, named after a local independence heroine, busier and more local than Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, with the market alongside and stalls selling snacks. Buses and colectivos to the lake leave nearby. Try the local nieve de pasta ice cream from the vendors here.
A basilica begun by Bishop Vasco de Quiroga in the 16th century, home to a revered image of the Virgin of Health made of corn-stalk paste by Purépecha artisans. Pilgrims arrive all year, especially on the 8th of each month. Dress modestly and visit quietly.
A 16th-century church that served as Pátzcuaro's first cathedral under Vasco de Quiroga before passing to the Jesuits, with a plain facade and a tall bell tower. It holds the bishop's remains. It sits a short walk uphill from the main square near the Museo de Artes Populares.
An 18th-century church on Calle Lerín that once held the Virgin of Health image before it moved to the basilica, with a gilded interior and carved altars. It stands near the Casa de los Once Patios. It is quieter than the basilica and worth a short stop on a walk.
A public library in the former 16th-century church of San Agustín, famous for the huge mural by Juan O'Gorman painted in 1942 that covers the back wall with the history of Michoacán. Entry is free during opening hours. It stands on the Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra.
A former 18th-century Dominican convent with several courtyards where artisans make and sell lacquerware, copper work, textiles and other crafts from across Michoacán. You can often watch them work. Prices are fixed, and it is a good place to compare quality before buying.
A museum in the old Colegio de San Nicolás founded by Vasco de Quiroga in 1540, showing Michoacán folk art such as lacquer, pottery, copper and masks, plus a reconstructed wooden troje house. The building itself is beautiful. Allow about an hour, and check closing days.
The best known island on Lake Pátzcuaro, a steep cone of narrow lanes, souvenir stalls and fish restaurants topped by a huge statue of José María Morelos you can climb inside. Boats leave from the town pier all day. Try the small charales fish and come early to avoid crowds.
A high-altitude lake surrounded by Purépecha villages, islands and hills, once famous for fishermen using butterfly-shaped nets. Today they show the technique for visitors. Boat trips leave from the pier, and mornings bring the calmest water and the clearest views.
A forested hill just west of town with a cobbled road and long stairway to a lookout over Lake Pátzcuaro and its islands. Locals jog and walk here, especially in the morning. The view at sunset is excellent, but take a taxi back down if it will be dark.
On the nights of November 1 and 2, Pátzcuaro and the lake villages celebrate Day of the Dead with candlelit cemetery vigils, flower decorations and a big crafts fair on the main square. It is one of Mexico's most famous celebrations. Book lodging months ahead.
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