Cuitzeo del Porvenir awaits you with its fantastic lake and other attractions. With this guide, you can make the most of the beautiful tourist attractions Magic Town Michoacan.
1. Where is Cuitzeo?
About 30 km. from the city of Morelia, in the state of Michoacán and very close to Guanajuato, is the municipality and municipal seat of Cuitzeo del Porvenir. The town is located in front of Lake Cuitzeo, which constitutes its fundamental space. Cuitzeo was elevated to the category of Magical Town to take advantage of the beauty of the lake and the lake products, as well as the architectural heritage of the town, in which notable religious and civil buildings stand out.
2. How do I get to Cuitzeo?
To go from Morelia, the state capital, to Cuitzeo, just take highway 43 towards Salamanca and travel 35 km. The Guanajuato city of Salamanca is 80 km away. From Celaya, Guanajuato, you have to travel 112 km. first in the direction of Salamanca and then in the direction of Morelia. The journey from Guadalajara is a little longer, 275 km. heading east. From Mexico City you have to travel almost 300 km. in a northwesterly direction.
3. How was the town formed?
The name of the town comes from a combination of the indigenous terms "cuiseo" which means "place of jars" and "itzi" which means "water", which is why Cuitzeo would become "place of water jars" or "place of tinajas de la laguna »In pre-Columbian times, it was influenced by the Chupícuaro, Teotihuacan and Toltec cultures, and the Spanish built the first mestizo settlement in 1550. The current name of Cuitzeo del Porvenir was adopted in 1861.
4. What are the climatic conditions of Cuitzeo?
Cuitzeo has a pleasant climate, very cool in winter and warm without reaching extremes in summer. In the winter months the thermometer usually reads around 15 ° C, while in the hot months, from May to September, it rises on average above 20 ° C, with times close to 30 ° C. In Cuitzeo rains moderately, with rainfall concentrated between June and September.
5. What are the main attractions of Cuitzeo?
The main tourist attraction in Cuiteo is its lake, which is a source of life, as well as a place of tourist and scientific interest. The town itself is an attraction for the visitor, with the Plaza de Armas, the streets and traditional houses, the Municipal Palace, the Portal Hidalgo and some religious buildings, among which the Conventual Complex of Santa María Magdalena, the sanctuary of the Virgen de Guadalupe and several chapels located in the main neighborhoods of the town. There is also an archaeological site nearby.
6. What is Lake Cuitzeo like?
The Lake Cuitzeo hydrological basin has an area of just over 4,000 km2 and its main source of water is a wetland that forms the Río Viejo de Morelia in the border municipality of Álvaro Obregón. The lake is endorheic, that is, it does not evacuate significant amounts of water and tends to evaporate almost all the liquid it loses on its surface. Lake Cuitzeo is crossed by a 4 km road bridge, from which it offers spectacular views, and is of utmost importance for the region as it is a climate regulator, apart from being a tourist attraction and a food reserve.
7. Can I fish in the lake?
Fish from the lake provide much of the livelihood of the people of Cuitzeo. The main species fished in the lake for food are tilapia, carp, crappie and charal. Another activity linked to the Cuitzeo water basin is the hunting of frogs, captured mainly on the shores of the lake and largely destined for sale at the national level and for export. These activities have been affected in recent years by the deterioration of the lake and the increase in pollution levels.
8. How big is the deterioration of the lake?
The water surface of Lake Cuitzeo has been decreasing significantly in the last 15 years, as a consequence of several factors. Among the main causes are the excessive use of its waters for agriculture and livestock, as well as logging in its surroundings, which reduces the amount of rainwater. On the other hand, urban pollution and the entry of water polluted with fertilizer chemicals have deteriorated the environment. It is a situation that must be stopped to preserve the main ecosystem and attractiveness of Cuitzeo.
9. Is it true that in Cuitzeo there was an impact of an extraterrestrial body?
Some years ago, in the middle of a scientific investigation for other purposes, a core of sediment was extracted from the bottom of Lake Cuitzeo that revealed an unexpected secret: about 12,000 years ago, at the end of the Pleistocene, the place where the lake was hit by a meteorite. This kind of time capsule submerged in water is also protected by several layers of sediment and makes Cuitzeo a place of scientific interest.
10. What is the town like?
Cuitzeo is a town that has become more welcoming since its center was restored after its elevation to the rank of Magical Town. White-walled houses with street lamps and colorful overalls are lined along the cobbled streets. In the Main Square, the locals gather to talk and watch the time go by and they are always kindly willing to answer the questions of the visitors and give them the best advice to get to know the lake.
11. What is the Augustinian convent like?
The Conventual Complex of Santa María Magdalena is one of the best preserved in the country and is an impressive example of viceregal architecture, through its atrium, temple, cloister and refectory. The facade of the church is one of the great jewels of Plateresque art in Mexico and inside it is possible to appreciate Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical lines. In the cloister fresco paintings and a library with old books are preserved. In the refectory the Museum of the Stamp works, with archaeological and viceregal objects, paintings and engravings.
12. What other architectural attractions does Cuitzeo have?
The Church of Hospitalito was built by the Franciscan friars who began the evangelization of that area of Michoacán in the 16th century. The building is also called the Casa de Indios and one of its main artistic attractions is a figure of the Immaculate Conception sculpted in cane paste. Another work of interest is a painting with the apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also interesting are the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the chapels of some neighborhoods, such as La Concepción, El Calvario and San Pablito.
13. Where is the archaeological site?
Only 4 km. from Cuitzeo the archaeological site of Tres Cerritos is located. The pre-Columbian site was the residential, religious and funerary center of the Purépecha people who settled in Pátzcuaro and its surroundings and dates back to 1200 AD. The main structures found on the three hills are a central plaza, a shrine, and three mounds.
14. Can I buy an authentic souvenir?
On the shores of the lake, giving shelter to the frogs that the inhabitants of Cuitzeo hunt for food and trade, grows tule, an aquatic plant also called bulrush and bulrush, which provides a natural fiber. This fiber has been used since pre-Hispanic times to make baskets and other utensils. The tradition has been maintained and the tule that grows wild is turned into beautiful and practical pieces of crafts such as baskets, country hats and duffel bags. In the center of town you can find these genuine Cuitzeo products, which you can take as a souvenir.
15. How is the gastronomy of Cuitzeo?
Cuitzeo's food revolves around the animal products of its lake and the vegetables grown in the fertile lands around the body of water. Of course, frog legs occupy an important place in the local cuisine, as well as lake fish, which they prepare mainly fried and with garlic sauce. Pigs are also raised in the area that provide, among other things, the delicious Michoacan-style carnitas. The main sweets are pumpkin and mezquites cooked with brown sugar.
16. Where am I staying?
Most of the people who visit Cuitzeo stay in Morelia, located just over 30 km. of the Magic Town. Among the most recommended accommodations are the Hotel de la Soledad, a beautiful two-story establishment with a cozy central patio, located at Ignacio Zaragoza 90. Casa Grande Hotel Boutique, at Matamoros 98, operates in a beautiful mansion and is highly praised by Your clients. Other good lodging options in Morelia are Hotel Horizon Morelia, Casa José María Hotel and Turhotel Morelia.
17. Where to eat in Cuitzeo?
The Puerto de Cuitzeo restaurant offers typical regional food and has left many customers satisfied with its "golden" mojarra and its tacos de charales. Los Girasoles Cuitzeo is located in Miguel Hidalgo 15 and the Taquería Cervantes is in El Andador. The Puerto de Cuitzeo offers a buffet and at El Tarasco del Lago, on Calle De Los Pinos 230, you can eat lake and sea fish.
We hope that this guide will be useful for your visit to Cuitzeo and that you can write to us briefly about your impressions. See you at the next opportunity.
