Magical Towns near Morelia
15 Magical Towns are less than 150 km from Morelia, close enough for a day trip, and 25 more are within 225 km for a weekend getaway. The closest is Cuitzeo, Michoacán, about 30 km away. Distances are in a straight line; by road, expect roughly 20–40% more.
Day trips (under 150 km)
≈ 30 kmMichoacánCuitzeo
On the shores of Lake Cuitzeo: the Augustinian convent of Santa María Magdalena, the Tres Cerritos archaeological site and nearby hot springs.
≈ 41 kmMichoacánTzintzuntzan
The ancient Purépecha capital on Lake Pátzcuaro: the yácata pyramids, a Franciscan complex with centuries-old olive trees, crafts and Night of the Dead.
≈ 48 kmMichoacánPátzcuaro
The Purépecha heartland on Lake Pátzcuaro: Vasco de Quiroga's plazas, churches, crafts, red-tile roofs and Mexico's most famous Night of the Dead.
≈ 57 kmMichoacánSanta Clara del Cobre
The town of hand-hammered copper: artisan workshops, the National Copper Museum, historic churches and the National Copper Fair every August.
≈ 57 kmGuanajuatoYuriria
The fortress-like Augustinian convent of San Pablo (1559) and Lake Yuriria, considered the first major hydraulic work in Latin America.
≈ 59 kmMichoacánTacámbaro
The “balcony of Tierra Caliente”: volcanic craters, lakes, the Alberca del Rey Tacamba crater lake, avocado orchards and viewpoints.
≈ 66 kmGuanajuatoSalvatierra
A convent town on the Lerma River: the Batanes bridge, churches and convents, old irrigation channels, haciendas and convent sweets.
≈ 96 kmMichoacánAngangueo
A mountain mining town and the best base for the El Rosario and Sierra Chincua monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Michoacán.
≈ 107 kmMichoacánTlalpujahua
The town of eternal Christmas: over 300 workshops of hand-blown glass ornaments, the Dos Estrellas mine, sanctuaries and Michoacán forests.
≈ 112 kmEstado de MéxicoEl Oro
Mining heritage and Porfirian architecture: the Municipal Palace, Juárez Theater, Mining Museum, the San Juan mine tunnel and northern forests.
≈ 122 kmGuanajuatoComonfort
The old Chamacuero in Guanajuato: stone molcajetes, Otomí ceremonial tortillas, baroque altarpieces and the textile village of Soria.
≈ 122 kmQuerétaroAmealco
Home of the handmade Otomí doll: over 550 workshops, the Doll Museum, textiles, countryside and communities like Santiago Mexquititlán.
≈ 125 kmEstado de MéxicoValle de Bravo
Lake, forest and mountains about two hours from Mexico City: sailing and water sports, paragliding, Velo de Novia waterfall and monarch butterfly sanctuaries.
≈ 142 kmGuanajuatoSan Miguel de Allende
A UNESCO World Heritage town: the neo-Gothic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, cobbled streets, galleries, great food and the nearby Atotonilco sanctuary.
≈ 149 kmEstado de MéxicoAculco de Espinoza
White quarry stone, arcades and waterfalls such as La Concepción and Tixhiñú: a quiet getaway from Mexico City, Toluca or Querétaro, with local cheeses.
Weekend getaways
≈ 154 kmGuanajuatoJalpa de Cánovas
An old hacienda turned village in Guanajuato: orchards, walnut trees, vineyards, a reservoir with sunsets and the Hacienda de Jalpa.
≈ 159 kmMichoacánCotija de la Paz
Home of Cotija cheese: stone architecture, colonial roots, cattle ranches and the traditional cooking of western Michoacán.
≈ 162 kmMichoacánJiquilpan de Juárez
The city of jacarandas and birthplace of President Lázaro Cárdenas: plazas, churches, gardens, a Cárdenas museum, a mural-filled library and rebozos.
≈ 164 kmGuanajuatoDolores Hidalgo
Cradle of Mexican Independence and hometown of José Alfredo Jiménez: the parish of the Grito, history museums, talavera pottery and exotic ice creams.
≈ 164 kmQuerétaroTequisquiapan
Heart of Querétaro's Cheese and Wine Route: vineyards, cheese makers, hot-air balloon rides, wicker crafts, spas and opal mines.
≈ 174 kmQuerétaroBernal
Home of the Peña de Bernal, one of the world's largest monoliths and sacred Otomí-Chichimeca land (UNESCO), plus cheese, wine and crafts.
≈ 174 kmEstado de MéxicoMetepec
The State of Mexico's pottery capital: Trees of Life, catrinas, potters' workshops, the crafts market and El Calvario hill, next to Toluca.
≈ 176 kmEstado de MéxicoJilotepec
Climbing crags, reservoirs and one of Mexico's oldest Franciscan parishes on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, 100 km from Mexico City.
≈ 178 kmHidalgoHuichapan
Quarry stone, an aqueduct and Independence history in Hidalgo: El Chapitel, rock paintings, El Saucillo eco-park and hot-spring pools.
≈ 181 kmQuerétaroCadereyta de Montes
Querétaro's semi-desert: cactus botanical gardens, the Toluquilla archaeological site, the Tzibanzá reservoir, vineyards and crafts.
≈ 181 kmEstado de MéxicoVilla del Carbón
Leather jackets, wool sarapes, cobbled streets and reservoirs such as Presa del Llano and Taxhimay in the Sierra de Monte Alto, near Mexico City.
≈ 184 kmGuanajuatoMineral de Pozos
A reborn ghost town in Guanajuato: silver and gold mines, the Jesuit Ovens, ruined haciendas, galleries, music and semi-desert landscapes.
≈ 184 kmMichoacánParacho
The guitar capital of the world: luthier workshops, handmade string instruments, music and Purépecha tradition in Michoacán.
≈ 186 kmEstado de MéxicoIxtapan de la Sal
Hot springs, thermal parks and spas in a warm climate in the southern State of Mexico, near Tonatico and the Estrella Caves.
≈ 187 kmHidalgoTecozautla
Hot springs and El Géiser in the Mezquital Valley: El Pañhú archaeological site, the Santiago Apóstol convent, an aqueduct and a vineyard.
≈ 189 kmEstado de MéxicoTonatico
Thermal pools, the Estrella Caves, a waterfall and suspension bridge at Parque del Sol, right next to Ixtapan de la Sal.
≈ 192 kmJaliscoMazamitla
Jalisco's cabin town: forests of the Sierra del Tigre, cool weather, El Salto waterfall, zip lines and slow-roasted lamb.
≈ 197 kmEstado de MéxicoMalinalco
An Aztec temple carved from a mountain rock face, an Augustinian convent with murals, mountains and living traditions in the south of the State of Mexico.
≈ 199 kmJaliscoLagos de Moreno
A UNESCO-listed historic center and bridge on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro: stone churches, haciendas and Porfirian architecture.
≈ 199 kmGuerreroIxcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
A marble town in the Guerrero mountains where, according to local tradition, the remains of Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor, rest.
≈ 206 kmEstado de MéxicoTepotzotlán
A jewel of New Spain baroque on the UNESCO-listed Camino Real de Tierra Adentro: a former Jesuit college that now houses the National Museum of the Viceroyalty.
≈ 210 kmGuerreroTaxco de Alarcón
Mexico's great silver town: steep alleys, the baroque church of Santa Prisca, sweeping viewpoints, the National Silver Fair and Holy Week processions.
≈ 217 kmQuerétaroSan Joaquín
Querétaro's forested highlands and huapango music: the Ranas archaeological site atop two hills, the Herrera caves and a cool climate.
≈ 221 kmHidalgoZimapán
Adventure in Hidalgo's Sierra Gorda: the Fernando Hiriart reservoir, San Cristóbal Canyon, the Xajhá caves and Los Mármoles National Park.
≈ 225 kmJaliscoAjijic
A bohemian town on Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest lake: a waterfront, colorful murals, galleries, cobbled streets and an international art scene.
States in this list
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