Guide To Morelia

About Morelia

Morelia is the capital of the State of Michoacan and one of the country's most significant colonial cities. In 1541, Mexico's first Viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza, named the city Valladolid after the city in Spain where he was born. Following Mexico's War of Independence, it was renamed Morelia to honor one of the city’s greatest heroes: Jose Maria Morelos.

Located about 200 miles west of Mexico City, Morelia is colonial with an aristocratic feel. The city is filled with elegant Spanish Colonial architecture featuring pink stone and baroque styles. Many areas in this capital city have remained true to their colonial heritage because Morelia, like many colonial cities in Mexico, has strict building regulations to ensure that the original look and feel of the city is well-preserved.

The center of town hosts a beautiful pink stone cathedral – one of the finest in Mexico - with twin towers over 200 feet high. Morelia has over one and a half million residents, a large university, and many opportunities for high-end art, music and other cultural experiences such as museums, theater and exhibits.

Morelia also has a number of good language schools where people from all over the world come to study for extended periods of time.

Nearby Morelia is the colonial town of Patzcuaro. Just 45 minutes by highway from Morelia, Patzcuaro is a charming town with a mixed colonial and indigenous feel. Although Patzcuaro is close enough for a day-trip, it is best experienced with a stay over of at least one night.

The state of Michoacan is host to the Monarch Butterflies, which arrive from the USA and Canada in early November and stay through the end of February. Domestic and international tourists alike come to see the butterflies, which cover the trees with a bright flaming orange hue at the sanctuary near the town of Angangueo. Although it's about a 3-hour drive from Morelia to see the Monarchs, it's an amazing experience. See Key Attractions, below, for more details.

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Key Attractions

Colonial Center

An impressive pink stone cathedral dominates the main plaza, which is surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings. The cathedral is said to have taken over 100 years to build and is one of the finest (if not the finest) in all of Mexico.

The cathedral’s twin towers, large organ and sculpture of the Crucifixion (Senor de la Sacristia) are worth a visit.

One of Morelia's most prominent architectural features is the El Acueducto (the aqueduct), which is an artificial channel that brings water from one location to another. Morelia's aqueduct runs along dozens of colonial arches that stretch for over a mile across the city. You'll probably travel under at least one of the arches while you're in town, so you can’t miss it.

Other colonial features worth visiting here include:

Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), which is about a block east of the cathedral, and today boasts fine murals that tell the history of Michoacan and Mexico.

Palacio Clavijero, which is right next to the tourist office and about 2 blocks west of the cathedral, and has a pink stone patio. The Palacio Clavijero was a school, a warehouse and a prison before hosting the state government offices as it does today.

Colegio de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, which is between Palacio Clavijero and the cathedral, and hosts a statue of Miguel Hidalgo, one of the heroes of Mexican independence, amid a beautiful courtyard.

Plaza del Carmen, which is a few blocks north of the cathedral around the corner from the Museo de Arte Colonial, and has numerous cultural performances. It’s also around the corner from the Museo de la Mascara (mask museum) which is worth a visit as well.

Templo de Capuchinas, which is a few blocks south of the Plaza Valladolid, and is an adorable little baroque church that is best seen between 8am and 9am or 5pm and 6pm during mass.

Morelia's Museums & Art

Morelia has several museums that are worth visiting to get an insight into the history and social evolution of this part of Mexico.

Casa Museo de Morelos, is a converted house, the place where Morelos lived as an adult.

Museo del Estado (State Museum) displays the archaeology and history around Morelia on the lower level, and contemporary life in Michoacan on the upper level.

Museo Regional Michoacano (Regional Museum of the State of Michoacan) displays pre-Hispanic and colonial artifacts, contemporary art from local artists as well as the region's fauna.

Museo de Arte Colonial displays a selection of religious paintings from the 18th Century.

Patzcuaro

Just 45 minutes southwest of Morelia is the town of Patzcuaro. This beautiful town with its indigenous feel makes a perfect day-trip from Morelia. And if you fall in love with it as many people do, you can always return easily, or perhaps use Patzcuaro as a base to explore the areas around it more fully. Read the Mexperience Guide to Patzcuaro for full details.

Monarch Butterflies in Michoacan

Michoacan's Butterfly Sanctuary (Santuario de Mariposas El Rosario) is situated high up in the mountains of north-eastern Michoacan.

The Monarch Butterflies arrive in Mexico from the USA and Canada in early November, and you can see them here until late February.

Despite the 3 hour drive from Morelia, you'll find the trip is worth every minute of the journey. The sights and sounds you will experience on the excursion will stay with you for a long time!

The sanctuary is near a small colonial town called Angangueo, near the village of El Rosario (thus the name). For a small entry fee, you can hike uphill for about an hour to catch a glimpse of these amazing butterflies.

Because of the high altitude and the steep hike, bring water, snacks, and warm clothes, and wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots. The best time to arrive is early in the morning when the butterflies are clinging to the trees in giant clumps. Later in the afternoon, mists can block a clear view, and the butterflies begin to flutter around looking for lower ground where it's cooler.

Organized tours to see the Monarch butterflies can be arranged with tour guides and other travel specialists -- see S&S Tours on this page for details.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air - You can fly to Morelia from the USA and other points in Mexico including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Leon.

Morelia has become extremely well-connected by air from serveral US cities in recent years. Mexicana Airlines flies non-stop between Dallas Forth Worth and Morelia and between Los Angeles and Morelia. Continental Airlines also flies from Los Angeles to Morelia, and from Houston to Morelia. The Houston connection is particularly useful for people connecting from other US cities, Canada and Europe as Houston is Continental's principal hub.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines.

By Bus - You can travel to Morelia on a luxury bus from Mexico City - the trip takes around 4 hours. The buses depart from the Western Bus Terminal (Terminal de Autobus Poniente) - and are frequent and plentiful.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses.

By Car - Driving to Morelia from either Guadalajara (in 2-3 hours) or Mexico City (in 3-5 hours) is fairly easy using Highway 15, a high-speed toll road.

See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Getting Around

From the Airport - The airport is about 15 miles away from the city center and taxis will be standing by to take you into town when your flight arrives.

Taxis - Morelia's Taxis are not metered, so agree on a price before you get in. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish

Rent a Car - Morelia is very accessible by road, and there is plenty to see and do in the surrounding areas - including Patzcuaro, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and one of Mexico's major cities - Guadalajara.

Renting a car would be a smart option when you're planning independent travel around this region, as it will give you the freedom and flexibility to see more of the area and its attractions.

See the Travel Center for Car Rental in Morelia

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Local Events Calendar

Feria de Morelia - (Morelia's Annual Fair) features Mexican crafts and agriculture from all over Michoacan as well as dancing, music, local foods and parties. Lasts for a month between April 29th and May 30th.

Feria de la Guitarra - (International Guitar Festival) attracts visitors from all over the world. Early Spring - check with the local tourist office for exact dates.

Feria del Organo - (The International Organ Festival) features the organ at the city's Cathedral which has over 4,600 pipes. First two weeks in May (runs in tandem with Morelia's Annual Fair).

Festival Internacional de Musica - (International Festival of Music) - runs for two weeks during the final week of July and the first week of August.

Fiestas Patrias - (Independence Day Parties and Celebrations) - these are especially lively here as Jose Maria Morelos was one of Mexico's Heroes during the War for Independence. September 16th.

Cumpleaños de Morelos - (Jose Maria Morelos' Birthday) is celebrated with parties, fireworks and parades on September 30th.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found throughout the downtown area of Morelia. During business hours, they and the local Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in Morelia

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Restaurants

Morelia has a variety of restaurants, from traditional Mexican to Hawai’ian fusion. Here are just a few:

Anaho at Casa de La Loma is a popular Morelia restaurant. Don’t be afraid of its promise of Hawai’ian flavors in its pastas, meats, salads and seafood, it’s very good.

San Miguelito on Avenida Camelinas at Ventura Puente is probably tied with Anaho as one of the best restaurants in Morelia, serving a variety of inventive dishes in a great atmosphere of Mexican “kitsch.”

Emiliano's on Artilleros de 1847 has decent Italian food as well as steak

Los Arraigos, across the street from Palacio Clavijero on El Nigromante, serves Michoacan specialities as well as paella on Sundays.

Madrid, down the street from Hotel Alameda on Guillermo Prieto comes highly recommended as the place to go for wine and Spanish tapas in Morelia.

Amazonias is on Avenida Camelinas and serves Brazilian-style, grilled meats on "swords.”

Trico cafeteria is on the southeast side of the Cathedral and is particularly good for breakfast.

Langostiko's "Beach" Restaurant is on Avenida Santamaría, a few blocks south of Lázaro Cárdenas, and serves good seafood and drinks in a laidback atmosphere.

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When Night Falls

Morelia has a selection of good night spots to suit those looking for culture and those looking for an all-night party!

Locally Hosted Parties - Check with yours and other local hotels about public parties they may be hosting during your stay. Traditional Mexican theme night parties are popular with the locals, and there's a chance you could join a really special night out - the real Mexican way, and certainly on the eve of September 16th - Mexico's Independence Day! Hosted parties usually include dinner, dancing, a show and / or live music (usually authentic Mexican Mariachis) plus all drinks for a fixed price and usually provide excellent value for money! Ask at your hotel to find out what is happening locally.

Nightclub Scene - Mexico's colonial cities do have lots of young people living in them, so just because they are steeped in history does not mean that you won't find an all-night club party happening somewhere in town! Some night clubs charge an all inclusive cover charge; some a smaller cover with drinks charged on top. Drinks are served all night - don't even consider going to a nightclub before 11pm. Nightclubs keep going all morning and most people will start to leave between 5 and 7 am.

Night Bars / Restaurants - There's a good variety of late night entertainment in Morelia to keep you happy and entertained into the early hours.

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What to Buy in Moreila

You can buy good quality, locally made and hand-crafted Mexican craftwork in and around Morelia and the surrounding towns and villages. The Mercado de Artesanias features craft works from almost every main town and village in the State: each town/village specialises in a certain type of craft. The market provides you with a convenient opportunity to buy genuine crafts made in the surrounding towns and villages; however, if your time allows, you should also consider visiting the surrounding area to get a full appreciation of the way the materials are worked and the craftworks created.

Don't miss the opportunity to buy some traditional Mexican confectionery which is a specialty in this State (Michoacan) - and sold all over the Mexico. Two sweets which you should definitely try are: Chongos (made from milk, honey and cinnamon) and Ates, which are made from fruit paste. You can buy the local confectionery from market stalls, shops and other trading outlets all around this area.

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Local Climate

Morelia at an altitude of around 1,980 meters (6,500 feet) enjoys year-round, warm and dry weather. The climate is spring-like and thus ideal for taking part in a variety of outdoor activities and for taking in the local culture, architecture and scenery. The rainy season is April thru November. As with most monsoon areas, rains tend to be fierce and brief in the late afternoon, leaving the evenings dry and cooled off. Winters here can be cool (chilly November to February) - so bring warmer clothes during these months.

Live Weather Report:

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