Ucareo – “Oasis of Eastern Michoacán”
Our guests at Mansión Iturbe quickly become “regulars” at our very own Restaurante Doña Paca, where many patrons are introduced for the first time to the traditional liqueurs of Ucareo. Unfortunately, most of these people don’t have the chance to visit this picturesque village in eastern Mochoacán. But if they can squeeze in the trip, they will not be disappointed. We find Ucareo just 60 kilometers (about 40 miles) from Morelia, near the city of Zinapécuaro. It is accessed either by the Autopista de Occidente, or the Morelia-Maravatío highway. Located in a cold and wooded area, Ucareo has a well-established fruit tradition that dates from the sixteenth century when the Augustinian evangelists arrived. The principal fruits – plum, pear, and quince – are harvested and prepared for national and international markets. The famous Pear Fair, held annually during the final