Ihuatzio

From the road to Pátzcuaro, on the lake of the same name, a side road leads off to the right to the village of Ihuatzio (Purépecha: "place of the coyotes") 5km/3mi distant. 2km/1.3mi up a farm track the ruined site of the former Tarascan capital is reached. It was some 1.3sq.km/.5sq.mi in area and would have had about 5000 inhabitants. On a large ceremonial square surrounded by high walls the partly restored remains of two pyramids can be seen, and, just to one side, three y}catas which have still not been excavated. Because of the poor access road a visit to the site can really only be recommended to those particularly interested in archaeology.