Lake 11 km west of Santa Clara del Cobre
A deep, clear mountain lake ringed by pine forest, with lakeside restaurants, boat rides and cabins in Zirahuén village.
Lake Zirahuén lies in a closed mountain valley west of Santa Clara del Cobre, surrounded by pine and oak forest. It is much smaller than Lake Pátzcuaro, about 970 hectares, but far deeper, up to 43 meters, and its water is noticeably clearer. Geologists think it formed when lava from a nearby volcano blocked a river valley, and it is home to a small fish found nowhere else, the tiro de Zirahuén.
Its Purépecha name is often translated as "mirror of the gods," and the lake comes with a legend: the princess Eréndira, fleeing a Spanish captain, begged the gods for help, and they turned her tears into the lake and her into a mermaid who still rises from the water at dawn.
The village of Zirahuén on the north shore has two small docks, simple restaurants on stilts serving trout and whitefish, and a parish church dedicated to the Señor del Perdón with a remarkable wooden ribbed vault. Around the shore, cabins and small lodges make it a favorite weekend escape from Morelia and Pátzcuaro, especially on misty mornings.
What to see and do
Take a boat ride on the lake from the docks in Zirahuén village.
Eat trout or whitefish at one of the restaurants built over the water.
Visit the parish church of the Señor del Perdón and its wooden vault.
Stay overnight in a lakeside cabin to see the morning mist lift off the water.
Getting there
Zirahuén is roughly 30 minutes by car from Santa Clara del Cobre on local roads to the west; from Pátzcuaro it is a similar drive via the road toward Uruapan and the Zirahuén turnoff. There is no direct bus from Santa Clara, so a car or taxi is easiest.
11 km west of Santa Clara del Cobre
Directions from Santa Clara del Cobre on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Lago de Zirahuén
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Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Lago de Zirahuén.
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Weather cool
Lago de Zirahuén shares the climate of Santa Clara del Cobre, 11 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Make Santa Clara del Cobre your base
Lago de Zirahuén is an easy trip from Santa Clara del Cobre, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Pátzcuaro · 16 km away
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.