Guadalajara
The sanctuary at the Templo Santa Eduviges, built in 1726, is usually packed with worshippers and, during Mass, perfumed with clouds of sandalwood smoke…
Must-see attractions in Western Central Highlands
Templo de San Francisco de Asís
Guadalajara
Across the road from the Templo de Aranzazú, the larger but less impressive Templo de San Francisco de Asís was begun in the 1660s by the Franciscans. It…
Templo de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Guadalajara
Facing a small leafy plaza, Templo de Nuestra Señora del Carmen is a 17th-century chapel that was remodeled in the 1860s, with lots of gold leaf, old…
Guadalajara
Close to the city center is the ornate Templo de la Merced, which was built between 1650 and 1721; inside are several large paintings, crystal chandeliers…
Guadalajara Region
Basic tours of Casa Sauza's Perseverancia Distillery last one hour. Longer tours of the estate, lasting two hours, take in the agave fields and include…
Guadalajara Region
El Salto del Nogal is a jaw-dropping, 105m-high waterfall about 18km south of town, off a dirt road. A taxi costs around M$250 one way.
Guadalajara
The cathedral in Guadalajara includes a Gothic crypt, where three archbishops are buried.
Guadalajara
This huge plaza due east of the cathedral was a 1980s urban planner’s dream project – two whole blocks of colonial buildings to be knocked down and…
Inland Michoacán
The Ihuatzio site contains a partially restored set of pre-Purépecha ruins, some of which date back as far as AD 900. The site lies about 1.5km up a…
Morelia
This irregular, conspicuously vacant plaza southeast of the center surrounds the Estatua Ecuestre al Patriota Morelos, a majestic statue of Morelos on…
Inland Michoacán
This hilltop lookout on an extinct volcano 3.5km west of the city center is a quintessential morning run for Pátzcuaro's more robust residents; but don't…
Inland Michoacán
At the northwest corner of Tzintzuntzan's monastic complex stands the church built for the Purépecha masses. Inside is El Cristo del Santo Entierro, a…
Morelia
Morelia’s largest park, named after the last Aztec emperor (r 1520–21), is an attractive affair frequented by families for its shady trees, outdoor…
Morelia
Facing the leafy expanse of Plaza de Armas, the Antiguo Palacio de Justicia is in fact two buildings rebuilt in 1884. Its intricate facade blends French…
Guadalajara Region
Just opposite Tequila's main plaza and immediately recognisable by the enormous statue of a crow (cuervo in Spanish), Mundo Cuervo, which is owned by the…
Morelia
Independence leader José María Morelos y Pavón is king in Morelia – after all, the city is named after him. He was born at the site of this one-time casa…
Guadalajara
Orozco’s former home and studio, used briefly by the celebrated muralist in the early 1940s, today hosts temporary exhibitions. On permanent display in…
Guadalajara
This large, leafy park about 2km south of the city center is a nice place to rehab from too much urbanity. There are benches and lawns to lounge upon and…
Zona Arqueológica San Felipe Los Alzati
Inland Michoacán
About 16km north of Zitácuaro lie these peaceful Matlazinca ruins, the pyramids of Los Alzati, dating from between AD 800 and 1200. Veterans of other…
Morelia
This mildly interesting museum is staffed by guides in period costume. Visitors are walked through the history of candy-making in Michoacán, from the…
Inland Michoacán
Inside a 40m-high statue of independence hero José María Morelos on Isla Janitzio, you'll find this 'museum' where an ascending series of panels painted…
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Western Central Highlands
Light floods what is officially called the Basílica Menor Catedral de Colima from its circular dome windows on the northeast side of Plaza Principal. It…
Templo y Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús
Inland Michoacán
Built in the 16th century, this church and college was the seat of the Jesuit order until 1767. The church is still in use and houses some Vasco de…
Guadalajara
The Museo Regional de la Cerámica is set in a great old adobe building with stone arches and mature trees in the courtyard. It's a relatively small…
Guadalajara Region
A ticket booth (9am to 7pm) at the pier’s entrance sells boat tickets to Isla de los Alacranes (Scorpion Island), 6km from Chapala, which has some…
Morelia
This landmark church east of the cathedral and dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena was built to house Dominican nuns in 1738. There's a celebrated…
Guadalajara Region
Call ahead for tours at this fine tequila distillery in Atotonilco el Alto, a town about 110km northeast of Chapala. It's located in a large purple…
Western Central Highlands
Local artist Jorge Chávez Carrillo painted the stairway murals in the Palacio de Gobierno to celebrate the 200th birthday in 1953 of independence hero…
Museo Arqueológico de Ciudad Guzmán
Guadalajara Region
This tiny museum, no larger than a room divided into various sections, does a decent job outlining the history of southern Jalisco state through various…
Morelia
This strange and very small museum on the eastern side of the Bosque Cuauhtémoc park, displays fossils (including a mammoth's tusk) stuffed, dissected and…
Morelia
The centerpiece of Plaza Villalongín, this iconic fountain erupts from a fruit tray held by three beautiful, topless Tarascan (now called Purépecha) women…
Templo de Santa María de Gracia
Guadalajara
A block northeast of Plaza de la Liberación is the Templo de Santa María de Gracia, with a rather rough and austere interior; it was built as part of a…
Guadalajara
On the north side of Plaza Guadalajara is the Palacio Municipal, which was built between 1949 and 1952 but looks much older. Above its interior stairway…
Guadalajara
On the north side of the Plaza de la Liberación, near the Museo Regional de Guadalajara, is the Palacio Legislativo. Distinguished by thick stone columns…
Inland Michoacán
Pátzcuaro’s leafy main plaza is watched over by a serene statue of Vasco de Quiroga which rises from the central fountain. It was erected in 1965 to mark…
Morelia
Some 3km south of the city center and near the convention center is the Orchid House, which exhibits nearly 3000 species of wild and hybrid orchids. Best…
Templo El Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe
Inland Michoacán
This church has a striking neoclassical facade and dates from the early 19th century. In the tower's face are four statues of the Seven virtues: Faith,…
Morelia
Built as a monastery in 1761, the Ex Convento de San Diego now houses the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás…
Inland Michoacán
Paracho’s cultural center is in the heart of town opposite the main square. It contains the small Museo de la Guitarra.
Inland Michoacán
This church was built in the mid-17th century and remodeled in 1841, mixing both baroque and neoclassical styles. Impressive chandeliers.
