A Hike up Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro, Michoacan
The Estribo Grande is a beautiful place where you can enjoy a wonderful view of Lake Patzcuaro and enjoy the nature. At Hotel Mansion Iturbe we recommend you a visit to this beautiful place.
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| Lake Patzcuaro |
The two images
below are of an extinct volcano called “Estribo Grande” (“Big
Stirrup”), to
the west of Patzcuaro. It is visible
from many places in town.
 |
| The Estribo Grande in Pátzcuaro |
 |
| The Estribo Grande in Pátzcuaro |
You can walk to
the base of Estribo Grande from downtown Patzcuaro in less
than 30
minutes.
In an hour or
so, you can walk up the cobblestone street – or dirt paths
(sometimes
unsafe from rains or accumulation of dust) running alongside it – to
where it juts out
a little to the right.
Lovely pine
trees line most of the street. This
particular stretch of the cobblestone road appears to
quite well maintained, but it’s not like that all the way up. It is suggested that
you carry your favorite walking stick with you, regardless of whether you use
the paths or the road, regardless of dry or wet weather.
 |
The cobblestone road to The Estribo Grande in Pátzcuaro
|
The above image
of the road is looking back down the road, and appears rather smooth. The grade is gradual, but you have to watch
where you’re going, or you can fall or
twist an ankle. For this reason, it is
further recommended that you take the hike with a
friend or two.
Some people
like to take their dogs along on hikes like this. It might be a good
idea to
restrict your canine companion to one that comes on command, walks on a leash, is not
aggressive toward other hikers, doesn’t chase cars, etc.
And sometimes,
neighborhood dogs, such as the comical duo below, will join you, whether you
like it or not.
 |
| Dog at the Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro |
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| Dog at the Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro |
On an overcast
day, Lake Patzcuaro and its islands can present a mysterious and eerie fodder
for the imagination.
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| Lake Patzcuaro |
There are even
some interesting geological features on the way.
 |
| Geological features at the Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro |
The road stops
at the large gazebo, which overlooks the valley and Lake Patzcuaro. There are barbecues off to the side.
 |
| The large gazebo at Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro |
From the gazebo,
there is a stairway that starts behind this short stairway, with somewhere
between 250-300 more steps to the pinnacle of the extinct volcano.
 |
| The stairway at the Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro |
The image below
shows a close-up of the principal staircase with a man jogging down the
staircase.
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| The principal staircase at the Estribo Grande in Patzcuaro |
There are local
Patzcuarenses who go up and down that staircase every day, some of them in the
predawn hours.
Photographed
from the gazebo, Plaza San Francisco and the church are in the center of the
image below, but is barely identifiable at such a great distance. You need binoculars
to see the huge Basílica from Estribo Grande.
View of Patzcuaro from the Estribo Grande
The old church
in the colonia Calvario, is near the base of the mountain. You can’t miss it.
 |
| The old church of El Calvario in Patzcuaro, Michoacán |
Discover Estribo
Grande for yourself, and find your own magic at every turn!
You can take a
taxi up to the gazebo, but expect to pay a little more than a taxi ride in town.
*We appreciate our friend Andrew Carhartt for writing this post for our Hotel Mansión Iturbe blog.
We invite you to check the different posts in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings that we hope will be helpful for your next visit to our colonial town in Mexico.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
Archaeological Zone of Tzintzuntzan
Hotel Mansion
Iturbe
Portal Morelos 59
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
61600 Patzcuaro,
Michoacan
México
For more information about our Hotel in
Patzcuaro
Reservations online at Hotel Mansion
Iturbe
Tels: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342
3628
Fax: +52 (434) 342 3627
Toll Free fax number from USA & CANADA: 1 866 678
6102
GDS
CODES:
Amadeus: ON MLMMAN
Sabre:
ON
16297
Portal Morelos 59
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
61600 Patzcuaro, Michoacan
México
For more information about our Hotel in Patzcuaro
Reservations online at Hotel Mansion Iturbe
Tels: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342 3628
Fax: +52 (434) 342 3627
Toll Free fax number from USA & CANADA: 1 866 678 6102
Sabre: ON 16297
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