Pátzcuaro is an ancient capital
reconstructed during the colonial period
and still has the ambience of its past.
It offers two hikes that can be made from the city both of them to hilltops with views of the city lake and surroundings. Estribo Grande is west from downtown and Estribo Chico is north. Zirahuén is a short daytrip; both Paracutín and Chincua are long ones.
Estribo
Grande is the longer and higher of the two local hikes. The trail is a
cobbled road lined with cypress trees as far as a mirador or viewpoint.
Behind the mirador is a small temple platform and behind that is a long
stairway leading to the summit
where you can walk around on the ridge
and check out views in different directions. There's a side trip to an
old quarry for volcanic sand that's more like a normal hike.
