Trip to Zirahuen, Patzcuaro and Morelia

A few months back we went to Morelia, Patzcuaro and Zirahuén. Lake Zirahuén is a nice place with lots to do. The lake is much cleaner than Chapala and it has many activities such as quads (cuatrimotos), horses, paint ball, kayaks and zip lines where you soar on a cable above the forest and lake (Spanish name tiroleza). There are cabins and places to stay and the lake is very clean and the views are incredible.

Cell phone video of my son flying across the lake. Our other cameras ran out of batteries so please excuse the low quality video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ebwIZvIys


This would be a great place to go for the weekend if you have younger visitors. My son did the zip line and we rode motocross and quads on my friends ranch in Morelia afterwards.

Morelia is only 3 hours from Chapala if you drive fast or 3.5 hours if you take it slower. There are some good spots in the centro of Morelia to see the sites at night. The Hotel Juaninos has an excellent view at night of the cathedral and has a bar and restaurant and is a great place to have a drink and see the downtown all lit up. It is located on the corner next to the cathedral. On the same block facing the cathedral is a club called Sanctuario and plays music and has a good view with music, it is a lounge type club.

Zirahuén is an hours or less from Morelia and 15 minutes from Patzcuaro so you might as well see both spots if you are going that way.

One tip and I know this is vague as I´m bad with names but if you want to go to the plaza in Patzcuaro you are better off coming from the bottom as the main road where you turn right to go to the plaza is often crowded and has alot of traffic, the lower road will get you there in 5 minutes while the higher road can take 15 to 20 minutes during peak times.

Prior to this trip I would consider taking the cuota from Guadalajara but they've been repairing the road from the Chapala turnoff to Ocotlan where we catch the cuota and I don't feel it is worth it anymore to drive all the way to Guad to catch the quota, especially since the last time we hit traffic exiting Guad. There still are some rough spots but the extra cost of time and tolls isn't worth it anymore.

We did see some military in Morelia and I saw a few on the cuota after on the way back home but no violence and no checkpoints, although we did take some shortcuts as my friends ranch is on the road to Patzcuaro and is a few miles out of Morelia. I´m alive and proof that exploring México is fun!

My friend's friend opened a hotel in downtown Morelia and has good prices. They have a local artist decorate each room with their art and it is for sale. Price is cheap and it is a few blocks from the cathedral and safe. www.hotel-portico.com.mx

I think Lake Zirahuen is absolutely gorgeous. The lake is so clean and clear you can see all of the plants on the bottom. If you go it really helps to have a Spanish speaker with you.

Kip

Further to Spencer's report, we stayed at the Hotel Portico in Morelia. It was very clean and well kept. Prices were reasonable. 500 mx for single, 750 mx for double. Within walking distace of all the action. Ask for a room with a window as some rooms don't have one.

Cheers,

Bob