Pátzcuaro Lake 
How to get there
From Mexico City by rail along a beautiful country route in approximately 12 hours; by bus and by car on the MEX 15 about 350km/217mi via Morelia.
Lago de Pátzcuaro (Pátzcuaro Lake) has a length of 19km/12mi, an average width of almost 5km/3mi and lies at a height of 2050 m (6725 ft).
The lake is surrounded by forested mountains and extinct volcanoes and contains a string of islands, of which Janitzio, Jarácuaro, Tecuén, Yunuén and Pacanda are the most important.
From Mexico City by rail along a beautiful country route in approximately 12 hours; by bus and by car on the MEX 15 about 350km/217mi via Morelia.
Lago de Pátzcuaro (Pátzcuaro Lake) has a length of 19km/12mi, an average width of almost 5km/3mi and lies at a height of 2050 m (6725 ft).
The lake is surrounded by forested mountains and extinct volcanoes and contains a string of islands, of which Janitzio, Jarácuaro, Tecuén, Yunuén and Pacanda are the most important.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Numerous picturesque Indio villages, which have managed to retain to a great extent their old way of life, are situated along the banks and in the surrounding area. Its location and surroundings make Lago de Pátzcuaro one of Mexico's most popular tourist attractions which can sometimes lead to overcrowding. Pollution, however, has also affected the lake detrimentally during recent years.
Related Attractions
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Erongaricuaro, Mexico
The pretty Tarascan village of Erongaricuaro (Purépecha: "viewing tower of the lake") lies on the west side of the lake about 18km/11mi from Pátzcuaro. During the Second World War a group of French Surrealists lived in the village.
Quiroga, Mexico
Quiroga (1996 m (6551 ft); population 25,000) is situated on the northern side of the lake, approximately 25km/16mi north of Pátzcuaro and 8km/5mi from Tzintzuntzan. It boasts a 16th c. Franciscan convent and is well-known as a sales centre for the folk art of the region.
Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico
20km/12.4mi south of Pátzcuaro is Villa Escalante or Santa Clara del Cobre (2140 m (1330 ft); population 30,000; fiesta August 15th, Assumption and copperware fair). This little old Tarascan town is widely known for its beautiful beaten copperware. This craft had been well-developed in the pre-Spanish period and was then promoted and encouraged in the 16th c. by Bishop Vasco de Quiroga. The craft museum documents this development.
Santa Clara del Cobre - National Museum of Copper
This copper museum displays a variety of copper objects.
Museo Nacional del Cobre (National Museum of Copper)
Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan
Mexico
Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan
Mexico
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | |
| Open | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Cuitzeo Surroundings
Lake Zirahuén
A road leads west from Villa Escalante for 11km/7mi to the beautiful Lake Zirahuén (Purépecha: "Tzirahuén" = where it steams), more than 4km/2.5mi long.
Zacapu, Mexico
The small lakeside resort of Chupícuaro is reached by following the MEX 15 towards Guadalajara for a few km/mi. The town of Zacapu (Purépecha: "stone square"; 1980 m (6498 ft); population 80,000) lies 40km/25mi from Quiroga. It is believed that during the 12th or 13th c. it was the first capital of the Tarascans (Purépechas). The 18th c. convent church has a Plateresque façade with Mudéjar elements. Near the town are several excavation sites (Malpais and La Iglesia) in which a large number of tombs were found.
