Ubicación: La Pacanda

🌿 The Secret in the Water and Cradle of Legends 🛶

Belonging to the municipality of Tzintzuntzan, this island is a peaceful haven inhabited by just 400 people. But its name holds a profound and active meaning: in Purépecha, La Pacanda is not a static place, but rather means "To push something into the water." A name that evokes the constant movement of lake life and the beginning of a journey.

👑 Where Purépecha Beauty Was Born. Ancient stories breathe in this land. Among the many legends, the story of Princess Mintzita, the last Purépecha princess, stands out. It is said that she sought refuge in La Pacanda with a wounded heart, feeling displaced from the love of her husband, Huitzimengari, by a European woman. Here, Mintzita begged the Sun and the Moon to enhance her beauty so she could win back her beloved. The celestial bodies' response was divine: thus arose the traditional dress of the Purépecha woman, a gift of light and color that endures to this day.

🦆 The Mystery of the Inner Lagoon: La Pacanda holds a geological secret at its heart: a beautiful inner lagoon where life flourishes among ducks, herons, and carp. Fascinatingly, this body of water is believed to be the mouth of an ancient volcano, given its elevation relative to the rest of Lake Pátzcuaro. It is a place of immense tranquility, inviting rest and contemplation.

🚲 A Town of Tradition and Calm. Being an island with gentle terrain, it is the perfect destination to enjoy at a leisurely pace:

– Tours: You can explore it on foot or by bicycle, letting yourself be enveloped by its traditional architecture.

– Life and Death: Another of its great attractions is visiting its church and cemetery, which are very close to each other, a reminder of the closeness with the ancestors.

🚤 Journey to the Island Getting here is part of the adventure and you have two options:

– Desde Muelle San Pedrito: Un paseo escénico de aproximadamente 45 minutos, donde disfrutarás de la vista de las islas de Janitzio, Tecuén y Yunuén antes de llegar.

– From Ucasanastacua: The fast and direct route, with a journey of only 15 minutes to the La Pacanda dock.

📍 Why go? To discover the contrast between the island's tranquility and the movement implied by its name (“To push something into the water”). To stand in the exact spot where, according to myth, Purépecha clothing originated, and to experience the peace of a lagoon nestled within an island. It's the ideal place if you're seeking silence, history, and nature all in one location.