PatzcuaroIn the coolness of the Michoacan hills at an elevation of 7,200 feet sits the colonial town of Pátzcuaro. You can easily walk practically anywhere in this town and in fact taking a tour on foot is the best way to really appreciate the lovely old buildings along the narrow streets, the arches and commanding facades around the two town squares, Plaza Don Vasco de Quiroga and Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra, the market and the many small crafts shops accessed through small doorways in thick stone and plastered walls. The Pátzcuaro area is well known for it's rustic, carved wooden furniture and it's colorful woven textiles, among many other crafts. On Day of the Dead and All Saints' Day, Nov. 1 and 2, and during Easter Week, Pátzcuaro is host to particularly notable festivals involving colorful rituals and celebrations. Pátzcuaro is accessible from Morelia to the northeast or Uruapan to the southwest via new highway 120 or the longer, old highway 15. View our Patzcuaro Gallery of miscellaneous photos shot around town. ClimateClick here for the Forecast in various Michoacan citiesDue to it's altitude, Pátzcuaro and the villages surrounding the lake can be extremely chilly at night and early morning, particularly between October and April. Pátzcuaro is a perfect place to experiment with "the layered look" - dressing in the cold of the morning with first a light T-shirt and jeans, then layering on a sweater, then a jacket, then perhaps a shawl or scarf around the neck. Don't forget warm socks and sturdy, comfortable, walking shoes - even gloves! During the course of the day, you'll find that the rays of the sun coming through the rarified atmosphere will warm you up considerably, and bit by bit you'll be able to divest yourself of your layers, staying comfy throughout the day. Take along a string shoulder bag to tuck your discarded layers into, because as soon as the sun goes behind the low buildings of the town, you'll be wanting to start the reverse immediately. Most of the hotels do not have heating. Many do have fireplaces in the old, high-ceilinged rooms, though, and you'll most likely be provided with a small supply of wood and a couple of pieces of pitch-sticks that readily light and serve to kindle the rest of the wood. A lot of the fireplaces don't throw off a great deal of heat, either - consider yourself lucky if you come across one that heats the room instead of just the chimney-flue. Other Nearby places of interest:
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