Lake Pátzcuaro

P'urhépecha lake with Janitzio in the middle of it, and Night of the Dead on its shores

Lake Pátzcuaro is a shallow highland lake at 2,035 metres altitude, surrounded by Purépecha villages and the colonial town of Pátzcuaro on its southern shore. The lake and its islands are central to the cultural and spiritual life of the region; the island of Janitzio, dominated by a massive statue of José María Morelos, is famous for its Day of the Dead celebrations every November 1–2, when the island's cemetery fills with candles, marigolds, and the families of the dead.

Boats run from Pátzcuaro's dock to Janitzio and to the smaller islands of Yunuén and La Pacanda throughout the day. The lake's marshy edges attract waterfowl and the birdwatching is good in the early morning. The town of Pátzcuaro itself — with its two main plazas, handicraft market, and colonial architecture — deserves at least a half day; the regional museum in the former Colegio de San Nicolás is excellent.

Guide

Activities

The boats to Janitzio and the other islands leave from the Muelle General outside Pátzcuaro and need no booking — buy a ticket at the jetty. A guide earns their fee in the villages around the shore, where each one keeps its own craft, and above all on the Day of the Dead, when the night of 1 November turns the lake into one of the most visited places in Mexico.

A story
The fishermen of Lake Pátzcuaro are known for their distinctive butterfly nets — wide, wing-shaped frames held on long poles that are dipped into the water in a graceful arching motion. The technique is ancient and the nets beautiful, but they are now used more for tourism photographs than for actual fishing, as the lake's fish stocks have declined sharply over the past century. The image of the nets against the sunset has become the symbol of Michoacán.
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