Paricutin is a notorious volcano in the province of Michoacan in Mexico, and a small village nearby that was largely destroyed in the volcano's first (and only) eruption. There are still a few services in the area for visitors.

Understand

In 1943, a farmer plowing his field noticed a rumbling nearby and the ground opened up and started spewing lava. Over the next year, the new volcano continued erupting until it had achieved a height of 424 m above the surrounding land. In the process, it engulfed a nearby town, whose church can still be seen partly standing amid the boulders of the lava field.

Get in

Buses from Uruapan leave regularly and will leave you at the edge of the highway where it is a short hike into the small village of Paricutin.

See

San Juan Parangaricutiro Church

• San Juan Parangaricutiro Church. (updated Jun 2015)

Do

Guided tours can be taken by inquiring with the people in town. There are two routes to the top of the volcano: one goes the long way around and is the route used by those riding horse. If you get up at dawn, you should be back by mid-afternoon. There is also a direct route that goes straight from the lodge to the volcano. Be careful, the routes are only moderately marked and it is easy to get lost in the lava fields.

Eat

Food can be obtained at the lodge in Paricutin in a small restaurant. There are also several small stores selling water and snacks in Paricutin.

Sleep

There is a lodge where visitors to the volcano can stay overnight for a small fee. Some of the tour guides may also offer a room in their house overnight for a reasonable fee.