Rugged volcanic peaks etch the horizon above the brilliant green of rolling fields. Michoacan, a geographically diverse state in central Mexico, is dotted with picturesque towns, archaeological ruins and swept with countryside vistas. Morelia, Michoacan's capital, is within easy reach of Mexico City. A pleasant place to take in the curves and corners of colonial architecture, this city also serves as a good base for more extensive exploration of this region.
While driving conditions in Mexico may require occasional seatbelt adjusting, it is still one of the best ways to make an extensive tour of Michoacan. Start your trip through the state by heading east.
Monarch butterflies flash vivid orange wings at the Monarch Butterfly Reserve, Sanctuario Mariposa Monarca. Visit in winter when the monarchs head south to enjoy a few months of warm weather.
Enjoy the fresh breeze wafting this agricultural region and find plenty of scenic landscapes bright with flowers and decorated with frothy clouds.
Outdoor adventurers can scale some of the rock walls that rib the region, while vertigo bound visitors can take a hike around the Volcan Paricutin. If the eight mile walk to and from the volcano summit sounds daunting, get a guide and a horse and cover the distance in the saddle.
