Town 11 km east of Pátzcuaro
Purépecha woodworking town where families carve and hand-paint colorful furniture, sold straight from home workshops.
Cuanajo is a Purépecha town of about five thousand people in the hills east of Pátzcuaro, and it is known across Mexico for its furniture. Its name is usually translated as "place of frogs," but what fills its streets is wood: much of the town lives from carpentry, and workshops passed down through families turn out chairs, tables, chests, wardrobes, beds and headboards.
What sets Cuanajo apart is the decoration. Many pieces are carved in relief and then painted by hand in bright colors, with scenes of village life, flowers, birds and rural landscapes, so that a simple cabinet becomes a piece of folk art. Pine, oak and parota are common woods, and you will see work in every stage, from rough planks to finished, varnished pieces.
Visiting is easy and informal. You walk or drive slowly along the main streets, step into the showrooms and patios, and buy straight from the makers. Even if you are not shipping a dining set home, small boxes, frames and toys make good souvenirs, and the town gives a real sense of how the lake region's crafts are a way of life.
What to see and do
Browse the family workshops and showrooms along the main streets.
Watch carvers and painters decorate furniture by hand.
Look for small carved and painted pieces that are easy to take home.
Combine it with the painted ceiling of Tupátaro, a few minutes away.
Getting there
Cuanajo is about 15 to 20 minutes from Pátzcuaro by car: take the highway toward Morelia and turn off on the road to Cuanajo, passing Tupátaro. Workshops can arrange shipping for large pieces; ask directly.
11 km east of Pátzcuaro
Directions from Pátzcuaro on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather cool
Cuanajo shares the climate of Pátzcuaro, 11 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Make Pátzcuaro your base
Cuanajo is an easy trip from Pátzcuaro, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Pátzcuaro
-
Cerro del Estribo
· Viewpoint · 3 km away
An extinct volcano just west of town, with a cypress-lined road, 400-plus steps and the best view over Lake Pátzcuaro. -
Zona Arqueológica de Ihuatzio
· Archaeological site · 7 km away
One of the three Purépecha capitals: rectangular pyramids and raised stone causeways on a hill above the lake. -
Isla de Janitzio
· Town · 8 km away
The lake's best-known island, crowned by a giant Morelos statue you can climb inside, a short boat ride from Pátzcuaro's pier. -
Jarácuaro
· Town · 9 km away
A former island of hat weavers, often called the birthplace of the Danza de los Viejitos, with a lively Day of the Dead night. -
Tócuaro
· Town · 9 km away
Village of mask carvers: workshops make the wooden masks used in dances like Los Viejitos. -
Isla Yunuén
· Town · 10 km away
A small, green and quiet island in the north of the lake, a calmer alternative to Janitzio by boat from Pátzcuaro. -
Tupátaro
· Landmark · 12 km away
Its church of Santiago Apóstol has a painted wooden coffered ceiling nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel of America." -
Erongarícuaro
· Town · 14 km away
A quiet lakeshore town with cobbled streets, an arcaded plaza and a 16th-century Franciscan church and convent. -
Lago de Zirahuén
· Lake · 16 km away
A deep, clear mountain lake ringed by pine forest, with lakeside restaurants and cabins in Zirahuén village. -
Zona Arqueológica de Tingambato
· Archaeological site · 26 km away
An older, Teotihuacan-influenced ceremonial center with a ball court and a rich tomb, on the old road to Uruapan.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.