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4 cities
State · Jalisco, Michoacán e Riviera Nayarit
Michoacán
Michoacán: Morelia of pink stone, Lake Pátzcuaro and the island of Janitzio on Day of the Dead, the Purépecha pyramids and the monarch butterfly sanctuaries.
In the photo: Lake Camécuaro
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Michoacán
Michoacán is in western Mexico, between the volcanic plateau and the Pacific. It is the land of the Purépecha people, who maintain their language, crafts and festivals, and one of the country’s most varied landscapes, with lakes, pine and oyamel forests, volcanoes and coast.
Morelia, the capital, has a World Heritage historic center built of pink cantera stone, with a baroque cathedral with tall towers, an aqueduct of 253 arches and plazas with arcades.
Pátzcuaro, about 60 km away, is a town of white and red houses on the shore of the lake of the same name. On the island of Janitzio, in the middle of the lake, the night of November 1–2 is the best-known Day of the Dead celebration, with candles in cemeteries and fishermen’s boats with butterfly-shaped nets. In Tzintzuntzan are the yácatas, the Purépecha pyramids, and Santa Clara del Cobre is known for hand-hammered copper work.
In the east, in the mountains near Angangueo, the sanctuaries of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage site, typically receive millions of butterflies coming from Canada and the United States from November through March. On the plate are carnitas, corundas and uchepos.
Destinations
1 destination in Michoacán
Cities
4 cities in Michoacán in the guide
Michoacán
Capital
Morelia
Morelia is the capital of Michoacán, about 1,900 meters above sea level, with a historic center of pink stone that is a World Heritage site. The baroque cathedral, the aqueduct, the plazas, the old colleges and the mansions form a harmonious ensemble, lit up at night. It is the birthplace of José María Morelos, a hero of independence, and has a market of typical sweets.
Michoacán
Angangueo
Angangueo is a former mining village in the mountains of eastern Michoacán, at about 2,600 meters altitude, with houses with sloped roofs and two churches on the plaza. It is the closest base to the sanctuaries of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, such as El Rosario and Sierra Chincua, which from November to March receive millions of butterflies coming from Canada and the United States. It is a Pueblo Mágico.
Michoacán
Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro is a colonial town of white and red adobe houses with tile roofs, on the shore of the lake of the same name, about 60 km from Morelia. It has one of the largest squares in Mexico, Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, the Basilica of Our Lady of Health, the Casa de los Once Patios with craft workshops and, on the lake, the island of Janitzio. It is a Pueblo Mágico and a center of Purépecha culture.
Michoacán
Tzintzuntzan
Tzintzuntzan was the capital of the Purépecha kingdom before the arrival of the Spaniards, on the north shore of Lake Pátzcuaro. Today it is a village of straw and pottery artisans, with the archaeological zone of the yácatas, round-based pyramids, and the old Franciscan convent, with centuries-old olive trees in the atrium. It is a Pueblo Mágico.
When to go
November to March is the monarch butterfly season, with the greatest numbers typically in January and February, and Day of the Dead is in early November. From October to May there is little rain; from June to September rains fall in the afternoons. Nights are cold on the plateau from December to February. Michoacán is three hours behind Brasília.
Getting there
Morelia airport (MLM) receives flights from Mexico City and other cities. From the national capital, Morelia is about 4 hours by bus, and from Guadalajara about 3½ hours. Pátzcuaro is about 1 hour from Morelia. For the monarch sanctuaries, the base is Angangueo, about 3 hours from Morelia, and there are tours departing from Morelia and Mexico City.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Michoacán
When is the monarch butterfly season?
The butterflies usually arrive at the sanctuaries in November and leave in March; January and February are typically the months with the most butterflies. Confirm sanctuary openings before you go.
What is Day of the Dead like in Pátzcuaro and Janitzio?
On the night of November 1–2, families spend the night in the cemeteries with candles and flowers. The island receives many visitors; book accommodation in advance.
How many days should I allocate for Michoacán?
Two days in Morelia, one or two in Pátzcuaro and on the lake, and one day for a monarch sanctuary during the season.
What are the yácatas of Tzintzuntzan?
Pyramids with round and rectangular bases, from the old Purépecha capital, on the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro.