The Magic of Michoacán
More of Mexico!
March 15-22, 2025
Be dazzled by the beauty and indigenous heritage of Michoacán. Ancient traditions run deep in this central Mexican state, home to the descendants of the Purépecha Empire as well as generations of noted artisans. This area drips with history and charm; lush forests and picturesque lakes.
We’ll first explore the majestic colonial city of Morelia, a world heritage UNESCO site at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Founded in the 16th century, its downtown is colored with a distinctive pink stone; its streets are early example of urban planning. In Pátzcuaro, we'll discover a charming small town that blends indigenous and colonial roots. Its enormous square is rimmed with restaurants and cafés, offering a relaxing atmosphere. Pátzcuaro is one of Mexico’s most beloved pueblos mágicos, an honor bestowed on the country’s most magical towns.
Our tour not only focuses on the amazing culture and history of the area but also on its artisans and famed cooks. In 2010, based on Michoacán’s food customs and traditions, UNESCO named Mexican cuisine an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. We’ll explore this region’s ancient cuisine, meeting and cooking with several cocineras tradicionales, acclaimed women who continue to use indigenous ingredients and practices. We’ll learn their secrets and hear their stories.
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Experience Michoacán
$2900 per person, double occupancy
$550--Single Supplement
Bring a friend or spouse:
Non-cooking companion--$2600
Extra night in Morelia: $280, superior room
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Our Michoacán tour includes 2 nights at the 5-star Hotel de la Soledad in Morelia and 5 nights at Casa Encantada in Pátzcuaro, all ground transportation after arriving to Hotel de la Soledad and until checkout at Casa Encantada, all group activities, cooking classes and demonstrations, all meals specified in the itinerary.
The tour price does not include airfare or any transportion to our starting point in Morelia (however we'd be happy to help you with arrangements), tips to guides and hotel/house employees, or alcoholic beverages other than what's served to the group during our scheduled events.
A $1000 deposit is required to secure your place in our Michoacán tour. Since the number of participants is limited and accommodations vary, early registration is advised.
Delicious Expeditions also offers culinary tours to:
Croatia, France, Guatemala, Istria, Michoacán, San Miguel de Allende, Slovenia, Spain, The Camino, Tuscany, Umbria, Venice & Vienna
Don't just take our word for it!
Read our testimonials and see for yourself that Delicious Expeditions are trips of a lifetime!
Artisan Treasures & Culinary Pleasures
¡Bienvenidos!
Arrive in Morelia, one of Mexico’s oldest cities, and immerse youself in the beauty of Hotel de la Soledad, an 18th-century gem located off the main square and one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Settle in before joining the group for a welcome drink in the hotel’s exquisite garden. For dinner, we’ll walk across the square to La Conspriación de 1809, a restored colonial mansion and one of the city’s finest restaurants. There, chef Cynthia Martinez will dazzle us with a selection of her signature dishes that meld time-honored tradition with modern flair.
See Michoacán photo gallery
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Discover a Colonial Gem
After breakfast, we’ll head out with Chef Cynthia to the market for a tour with samples of local fare. Peruse the colorful aisles while shopping for ingredients for our cooking class and mezcal tasting. Learn to make the region's famed Tarascan soup as well as a variety of other dishes dictated by the abundance of the season. Free afternoon and evening to explore the markets, museums, and shops. Visit the Cathedral and the Conservatorio de las Rosas (the first music conservatory in the Americas) or stop by the Museo del Dulce to learn about the area’s traditional candy-making.
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Ceramics & Famed Traditional Cooks
Today we begin our journey into the villages of Michoacán, with their world-renowned folk art and cocineras tradicionales. These traditional cooks keep their cultural gastronomy alive by using the ingredients, recipes, and rituals of their ancient Purépecha community. We’ll first stop in Capula, a pottery town, and home of Juan Torres--the creator of the catrina. Tour his studio and gallery before moving on to Santa Fe de la Laguna for a cooking demonstration and meal at the home of Maria del Rosario Lucas. After lunch, we’ll continue to Pátzcuaro and the lovely Casa Encantada. Welcome cocktails on the patio. Free evening to explore the town or dine on the Plaza Grande—considered one of the most beautiful squares in Mexico.
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The charm of Pátzcuaro
After breakfast, we’ll join our local guide for a walking tour. Founded in the 1320s, Pátzcuaro’s cobbled streets and low white buildings with terracotta roofs offer the charm and quaint beauty of bygone days. Learn the history of this enchanting land that was at the forefront of Mexico's Independance movement. Lunch with Victoria Gonzalez, another famed cocinera that hails from the Tierra Caliente region. Free evening.
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Ancient Ruins & pre-Hispanic Cuisine
We’re off to Tzintzuntzan, another pueblo mágico and the one time capital of the Purépecha Empire. We’ll visit its archeological site, a former town of 40,000, and learn about its unusual rounded pyramids. Back in town, we’ll explore the market, seeing examples of the area’s crafts: pottery, reed work, weaving, and masks. Lunch with cocinera Blanca Villagómez as she introduces us to the area’s pre-Hispanic dishes. Free evening.
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Santa Clara del Cobre
We’ll spend our morning in Santa Clara del Cobre, a nearby town named and famed for its copper work, learning about the centuries-old craft that is kept alive through its amazing artisans. On the way back to Patzcuaro, we’ll drive through pine and oak forests. Lunch in the hills with amazing views. Free evening.
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Lake Pátzcuaro
After breakfast, we’ll visit some of the artisan studios around Lake Patzcuaro. Free afternoon for shopping, museum visits, or a spa treatment. Farewell dinner cooking class with Blanca. Learn about the heart of Mexico's cuisine--corn. Make tamales and corundas from scratch while enjoying stories about growing up in a traditional village.
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Buen Viaje!
Return by taxi or shuttle to Morelia airport or another destination in Mexico. Possible group shuttle to San Miguel de Allende.
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Itinerary subject to change depending on local festivals and weather.
