Meet The Purhpecha People Of Ptzcuaro

It has been calculated that the Purhépecha, as they call themselves (contemptuously called Tarascans by the Spaniards), have occupied the state of Michoacán, Mexico, for at least one thousand years. Because their language doesn’t have a written system, their history is unknown, but there are some myths about their origins. Here is what you have to know.

One of the Purhépecha origin myths tells the story of how the fire god Curicaueri, the oldest one according to the Purhépecha culture, and his brother gods, known as Tiripemencha, settled along Lake Pátzcuaro, which has been his home ever since.

Nowadays, this beautiful lake is well known for the celebrations of the Day of the Dead in November. This Purhépecha traditional ritual consists in the idea of the return of the souls of the dead on one night every year. The families of the dead prepare the food that their dearest ones loved. They spend all night long alongside the tomb in the cemetery surrounded by flowers like the Mexican marigold.

Especially on the island of Janitzio, within Lake Pátzcuaro, Purhépecha people gather to provide offerings to their ancestors in a ceremony that mixes Catholic rites with pre-Columbian traditions. In the ’90s, this particular island within a lake became overpopulated and had some problems with the management of garbage, but now they have solved it.

As farmers and fishermen, the Purhépecha people have taken advantage of the incredible weather in the area, which allows the farming of many types of corn and vegetables. With an estimated population of 200,000 people, this culture is one of the native communities whose language, music, and traditions are still alive. They are very proud of their ethnicity, and they continue to fight to maintain it.

For hundreds of years, the Purhépecha capital was the town of Tzintzuntzan, a ceremonial center the name means “place of hummingbirds.” This very small bird, unique to the Americas, was their most valuable treasure, and they represented it in many paintings and handicrafts.

In that area, there are some magnificent archaeological sites with pyramids called Yácatas. From there, you have a great view of Lake Pátzcuaro. It is a must-see if you are in the state of Michoacan.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.