Discover a side of Mexico you've never seen on this 8-day tour around Michoacan - one of the most beautiful and least visited states in the country. You will hear historic tales or the region, discover the natural beauty of the state and go on plenty of adventures along the way. Visit museums and national parks, go on city walking tours, explore the native Mexican cuisine, go hiking and horseback riding and plenty more.
Other highlights include a guided tour of vibrant Mexico City, a visit to the impressive pink-stoned UNESCO-listed historic centre of Morelia, the chance to discover beautiful Janitzio, the main island of Lake Pátzcuaro, and the opportunity to hike to the top of the youngest volcano in the Western hemisphere.
Day 1: Mexico City
Welcome to Mexico City, Latin America's largest city. It is a wonderful blend of both contemporary and ancient cultures. Arrive at any time before meeting your group and tour leader in the evening. At night, join your group for a welcome meeting and optional welcome dinner and get-together in one of local restaurants/bars.
- Accommodation:
- Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
- Activities Included:
Day 2: Mexico City
Spend the whole day exploring cultural and historic gems of Mexico City. You will visit the Historic Centre of Mexico City (walking tour), Xochimilco (boat tour) and National Anthropology Museum (guided visit). End the night with an optional dinner and get-together with the group in the evening.
- Accommodation:
- Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
- Activities Included:
- Walking tour in the Historic Centre of Mexico City; guided visit to the National Anthropology Museum; boat tour in Xochimilco.
Day 3: Mexico City - Tlalpujahua - Morelia
In the morning, go to Tlalpujahua - an old mining town located among pine mountainous forests that is famous for its impressive colonial architecture and majestic pink-stone sanctuary. Then visit a local mining museum, take a walking tour around the historic centre and eat an optional lunch. After that, continue to the state capital Morelia whose historic centre has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site. Check in to your hotel, take a walking tour around the historic centre, and enjoy an optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of local restaurants/bars.
- Transportation:
- Private vehicle/mini-couch
- Accommodation:
- Conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Morelia
- Activities Included:
- Guided visit to Museo de la Mina las Dos Estrellas
- Walking tours in Tlalpujahua & Morelia
Day 4: Morelia - Tzintzuntzan - Janitzio - Pátzcuaro
In the morning, go to Tzintzuntzan - one of the greatest pre-Hispanic cities in Mexicoand former capital of the ancient Purepecha State. After a walking tour around the town and 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 pesos Mexican banknote. In the afternoon, we will go to Pátzcuaro - a picturesque colonial town founded in the 1320s as the capital of the Tarascan state and later its ceremonial centre. Check in to your accommodation, rest, take an evening walking tour around the historic centre, then join for an optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars.
- Transportation:
- Private vehicle/mini-couch
- Accommodation:
- Conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B/guest house in Pátzcuaro
- Activities Included:
- Guided visit to Tzintzuntzan Archaeological Zone
- Boat to Janitzio
- Walking tours in Janitzio, Tzintzuntzan & Pátzcuaro
Day 5: Pátzcuaro - Paricutin Volcano - Uruapan
In the morning go to Angahuan, a starting point for a 6-hour hike to Paricutin - the youngest (but considered dormant nowadays) volcano in the Western Hemisphere. Accompanied by a local guide, we will reach the top of the volcano by horse, visiting 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 keep buried under the rocks. After a volcano tour, we will be back to Angahuan - a traditional Purepecha community where weaving, embroidery, spinning and other textile traditions are still practised.
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. Take a walking tour around the historic centre, then enjoy an optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars.
- Transportation:
- Private vehicle/mini-couch
- Accommodation:
- Conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B/guest house in Uruapan
- Activities Included:
- Guided hike to Paricutin Volcano
- Walking tour in Uruapan
Day 6: Uruapan - Paracho - Camecuaro National Park - Zamora
We will start our 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 to take advantage of natural water flows. Then 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). Then we will go to Camécuaro - a beautiful lake with turquoise-coloured, crystal clear water and hundreds of old cypresses guarding its perimeter.
After a picturesque hike, a boat ride on the lake and optional lunch, we will go to Zamora - the 3rd 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 to your hotel, rest, take an evening walking tour around the historic center, and finish the night with an optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants/bars.
- Transportation:
- Private vehicle/mini-couch
- Accommodation:
- Conveniently located, locally-own hotel/B&B/guest house in Zamora
- Activities Included:
- Walking tours in Paracho& Zamora
- Guided visits to Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park & Camecuaro National Park
Day 7: Zamora - Cuitzeo - Los Azufres
In the morning go to Cuitzeo - a quiet colonial town that offers a charming view of where the land meets the sky and a lake resembling a giant mirror. Take a walking tour around its historic centre and go toLos Azufres - a rustic spa resort situated in the middle of the mountains with several hot springs and a sulphur mud lake. There you can relax your body and mind with thermal water, massages, traditional temazcal and other medical procedures. Participate in an optional farewell dinner and get-together in the local restaurant in the evening.
- Transportation:
- Private vehicle/mini-couch
- Accommodation:
- Eco-cabins in Los Azufres spa resort
- Activities Included:
- Walking tour in Cuitzeo
- Access to spa facilities in Los Azufres
Day 8: Los Azufres - Mexico City
In the morning, head back to Mexico City. In winter, we will also visit nearby Monarch Butterfly UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - a breathtaking over-wintering site of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly. If you decide to extend your vacations, we can always book you extra nights, or even take you on our next adventure.
- Transportation:
- Private vehicle/mini-couch
- Activities Included:
- Visit Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (in winter only)