Patzcauro, Michoacan, Mexico
Trip Start
Jan 01, 2006
1
15
17
Trip End
Feb 28, 2006
Having devoted a full day to the butteflies we only had one half day to explore Patzcauro so we hired our driver from the day before, the charming Alejandro, to pick us up at 8 and take us there and then drop us back at the bus station by 1 for a return trip to SMA. Next year we will skip Morelia entirely as Patzcauro is only 35 minutes from there and has some lovely small hotels. Patzcauro is beautifully preserved and has many shops of the artisans whose small villages ring the lake. Each village specializes in one craft, handed done through the ages so one will make guitars, the next reed chairs, the next weaves textiles, the next carves wooden figures or works in metals. The small scale, this historic preservation, a couple of little museums and the chance to explore the country make Patzcauro a great destination. The local buses don't have regular service to the surrounding villages so you will need to have a car or hire a driver and guide, easily enough done through your hotels. The state of Michoacan has mountains, jungles, deserts, forests and a coast line. Its new governor is a adept marketer of tourism and besides the butterflies there is much to see and do. There is an association of high end boutique hotels and restaurants called Tesorro something or other if you want to splurge on something nice.
