Michoacan Tour: Magic Towns, the Youngest Volcano and More (8 Days)

Itinerary

1. 1

   Mexico City 

   Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de Mexico - the largest city in Latin America where ancient and modern coexist harmoniously. Arrive at any time before meeting your group and Tour Leader in the evening: welcome meeting and optional get-together in one of the local restaurants/bars. ­ • Accommodation : conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City • Activities : welcome meeting.

2. 2

   Mexico City

   Spend the whole day exploring the cultural and historic gems of Mexico City: Historic Center on a walking tour), Xochimilco by a boat ride, and the National Anthropology Museum with a guided visit. Optional dinner and get-together with the group in the evening. ­ • Accommodation : conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City. • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Activities : walking tour of the Historic Centre of Mexico City; guided visit to the National Anthropology Museum; boat ride in Xochimilco.

3. 3

   Mexico City - Tlalpujahua - Morelia

   In the morning, leave Mexico City and head to our next destination on the Michoacan Tour - Tlalpujahua. It is an old mining town located among pine mountainous forests that is famous for its impressive colonial architecture and majestic pink-stone sanctuary. Upon a visit to a local mining museum, a walking tour around the Historic Center, and an optional lunch, we will continue to the state capital Morelia whose Historic Center has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site. Check-in, walking tour around the Historic Center, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars. ­ • Transportation : private vehicle. • Accommodation : conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B house in Morelia. • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Activities : guided visit to Museo de la Mina las Dos Estrellas; walking tours in Tlalpujahua & Morelia.

4. 4

   Morelia - Tzintzuntzan - Janitzio - Pátzcuaro

   Firstly, go to Tzintzuntzan - one of the greatest pre-Hispanic cities in Mexico and the former capital of the ancient Purepecha State. After a walking tour around the town and a visit to nearby pyramids, take a boat to Isla de Janitzio - the main island of Lake Pátzcuaro whose town is known for the butterfly fishermen that can also be located on the back of the 50 peso Mexican banknote. Afterward, go to Pátzcuaro - a picturesque colonial town founded in the 1320s as the capital of the Tarascan state and later its ceremonial center: check-in, rest, evening walking tour around the Historic Center, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars. ­ • Transportation : private vehicle. • Accommodation : conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Pátzcuaro. • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Activities : guided visit to Tzintzuntzan Archaeological Zone; boat to Janitzio; walking tours in Janitzio, Tzintzuntzan & Pátzcuaro.

5. 5

   Pátzcuaro - Paricutin Volcano - Uruapan

   In the morning, go to Angahuan - a starting point for our hike to Paricutin - the youngest (but already dormant) volcano in the Western Hemisphere. Accompanied by a local guide, we will reach the top of the volcano, visiting the abandoned ruins of San Juan Parangaricutiro Church on the way back. During the eruption, the lava flowed around and into the church, and covered 3/4 of the town. Just beneath the church, the old houses and buildings are buried under the rocks. Thereafter, we will be back to Angahuan - a traditional Purepecha community where weaving, embroidery, spinning, and other textile traditions are still practiced. After an optional lunch and orientation walk around the village, we will go to Uruapan - the second largest city of Michoacán located at the western edge of the Purépecha highlands: walking tour around the Historic Center, optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars. ­ • Transportation : private vehicle. • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Accommodation : conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B in Uruapan. • Activities : guided hike to Paricutin Volcano; walking tour in Uruapan.

6. 6

   Uruapan - Paracho - Camecuaro National Park - Zamora

   Start your day by visiting Barranca del Cupatitzio - a national park with broad-leafed temperate and tropical vegetation, various walking paths, and a number of artificial fountains built on the sides of the ravine. Afterward, we will go to Paracho - a small town famous for handcrafting the best guitars in the world and home to the designer of the guitar featured in a famous "Coco" movie (2017). After a walking tour around Paracho, we will go to Camécuaro - a beautiful lake with turquoise-colored, crystal clear water and hundreds of old cypresses guarding its perimeter. Finally, after a picturesque walk and an optional swim in the lake, go to Zamora - the 3d largest city in the state famous for its neo-gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe which is considered one of the largest cathedrals of its kind in the American continent. Check-in, rest, evening walking tour around the historic center, optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars. Transportation: private vehicle. ­ • Accommodation : conveniently located, locally-own, tourist-class hotel/B&B in Zamora • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Activities : guided visits to Barranca del Cupatitzio and Lago de Camécuaro National Parks; orientation walks of Paracho and Zamora

7. 7

   Zamora - Cuitzeo - Los Azufres

   Firstly, in the morning, go to Cuitzeo - a quiet colonial town offering a charming view of where the land meets the sky and a lake resembling a giant mirror. Upon a walking tour around its Historic Center, we will go to Los Azufres - a rustic spa resort situated in the middle of the mountains with several hot springs and a sulfur mud lake. There you can relax your body and mind with thermal water, vapor rooms, massages, and other medical procedures. Optional farewell dinner and get-together in the local restaurant in the evening. ­ • Transportation : private vehicle. • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Accommodation : eco-cabins in Los Azufres. • Activities : walking tour of Cuitzeo with a visit to the Museum of the Print; access to spa facilities in Los Azufres.

8. 8

   Los Azufres - Mexico City

   Morning departure with an afternoon arrival to Mexico City. In winter, on the way, we will visit the nearby Monarch Butterfly UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - a breathtaking over-wintering site of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly. In summer, instead, we will go to Angangueo - a small town with rich mining traditions located in high rugged forested mountains: walking tour around the Historic Center and optional lunch. ­ • Transportation : private vehicle. • Meals & Drinks : breakfast. • Activities : guided visit to Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (December-February); walking tour of Angangueo (March-November).

Important information

Meeting point

• Your accommodation in Mexico City (exact location to be provided in trip notes before the tour).
  Zócalo, Ciudad de México
  View on Google Maps

Cancellation policy

100% charge if you cancel less than 360 hours in advance. 50% charge if you cancel less than 720 hours in advance. No charge if you cancel more than 60 days in advance.