• Visit remote villages in the Meseta Purepecha
• Tour the high tropical paradise of the Eduardo Ruiz National Park
• See Artisan Communities on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro
• Visit the island community of Janitzio
• Learn of ancient Purepecha ruins at Tzintzuntzan
• Walk the streets of the Colonial Captial Morelia

• Day 1: Arrive Morelia, transfer to hotel, Suites Galeria, light snack at the Portales, across from the Cathedral, which is illuminated at night!(D)
• Day 2: Breakfast at hotel, followed by guided walking tour of Morelia, the capital of Michoacan and a colonial gem! Morelia is a conservative city with deep traditions in higher education, music and the arts. Highlights include: The Government Palace and Alfredo Zalce Murals, Palace of Justice, Cathedral, Temple of the Roses, the former Aqueduct, and the outstanding House of “Artesanias”. A special evening is in store for viewing the illumination of the Cathedral followed by a fabulous welcome dinner at one of Morelia’s top rated restaurants.(B, D)
• Day 3: Breakfast at hotel, followed by free morning in Morelia (there is SO much to see!). We will have a Mid-day transfer to Uruapan, the heart of the Purepecha Plateau and home to the Eduardo Ruiz National Park. Upon arrival, we will check into our colonial garden hotel Mansion del Cupatitzio and enjoy relaxing by the pool in this high tropical setting.(B)
• Day 4: Breakfast at hotel, followed by morning guided visit to the National Park, a lush and tropical paradise of wild orchids, banana trees, birds of paradise and waterfalls! In the afternoon, we journey to Angahuan to visit the village and to meet up with our Tarascan guides for an adventurous trek by horse back to view the ruins left by the eruption of Paricutin in 1943.(B,L)
• Day 5: Breakfast at hotel followed by journey into the Purepecha Plateau to visit the Purepecha villages of Pomacuaran, Paracho, Nurio and Cocucho. In these indigenous communities, we will learn about the churches and hospitals that were established during the evangelization period, and the efforts to restore and preserve these historic gems. In addition, we will visit homes and workshops of local artisans in Cocucho to see the famous “cocuchas”, life size burnished pots that date back to pre-Hispanic times.(B,L)
• Day 6: Breakfast at hotel, followed by morning transfer to Patzcuaro. En route, we pay a visit to the local farmers who have been cultivating their marigold fields since May, for the Day of the Dead celebrations. In this lakeside community, you can smell the lake air and the rich earth that combine to produce a bountiful harvest of marigolds. This bucolic paradise is followed by a guided walking tour of Patzcuaro that includes visits to: the Basilica, Large and Small Town Squares, House of Eleven Patios. Special dinner overlooking Patzcuaro. (B,D)
• Day 7: After breakfast, we travel to the lakeside ruins of the pre-Hispanic Purepecha empire in Tzintzuntzan. Little is known about the early Purepecha people, but it is believed that they are descendents of peoples from northwestern Mexico, known as the Chichimecas. We spend time visiting the present day village and artisans of Tzintzuntzan. From here, we travel to the artisan community of Santa Clara del Cobre, where the ancient tradition of hammered copper thrives to this day. Free Evening (B,L)
• Day 8: We rise before dawn, quaff down coffee and breakfast and head out on our early morning boat journey across Lake Patzcuaro to the island community of Janitzio. We travel early in order to witness the Vigil of the Little Angels, where the souls of children who have died, are visited. Following our return boat journey, we have a free afternoon to stroll and shop in Patzcuaro, and to rest up for our night time departure to witness the all night gravesite vigils that take place in the communities surrounding Lake Patzcuaro. It is here that we begin to understand how Mexican people view the concept of life and death.(B)
• Day 9: On our final day, we take a wonderful guided Lakeside drive and tour to visit the numerous artisan villages that surround Lake Patzcuaro. We make stops in the villages of Tocuaro, which is known for wooden mask carving, Erongaricuro, and Santa Fe de la Laguna, the first town founded by Vasco de Quiroga. Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)
• Day 10: Breakfast, Depart for Home (B)

Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico: Michoacan, Mary J. Andrade