A shorter alternative to the full cone ascent, crossing a sea of black basalt to the belfry and altar of a colonial church left standing when lava swallowed the rest of San Juan Parangaricutiro in 1944. Candles and offerings are still left at the exposed altar.
The walk begins at the same Angahuan mirador used for the full Paricutín ascent, reached by bus from Uruapan in about an hour, with guides and horses hired at the village car park; no permit is needed, though a guide is customary given the crossing of communal lava terrain. The route covers 6km round trip with about 150m of undulating gain as it crosses broken aa lava from the 1943-44 eruption to reach the ruins of the colonial church, taking 2-3 hours at a relaxed pace, considerably shorter than the full cone ascent. The surface is uneven, sharp basalt for the entire crossing, with occasional hand-over-hand sections where the flow has buckled into ridges; there is no shade anywhere on the lava, so exposure to sun is constant despite the shorter distance. The main landmark is the belfry and altar of the Templo de San Juan Parangaricutiro, the only structure left standing when lava swallowed the rest of the town in 1944, where candles and offerings are still placed by visitors and locals; the church itself is the natural end point and turnaround for the walk. There are no water sources, refuge huts, or shelter anywhere on the flow, so all water needs to be carried despite the relatively short distance, and the same rigid-soled boots and gloves recommended for the full volcano ascent are useful here given the sharp, unstable lava surface.
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Antigua Iglesia de San Juan Parangaricutiro, Paricutín lava field, near Angahuan, Michoacán
- Best season
- November to May; the lava is slick and the track muddy in the summer rains
What to bring
- boots with rigid soles for sharp aa lava
- gloves for hand-over-hand sections on the flow
- hat and sunscreen, as there is no shade on the flow
- 2 litres of water
Location
Ruinas de San Juan Parangaricutiro, Angahuan, Uruapan Municipality, Michoacán
19.5332, -102.2472 View on map
Highlights
- Belfry and altar of a colonial church buried by lava in 1944
- Candles and offerings still placed at the exposed altar
- Crossing of the black 1943-44 aa lava field on a shorter route than the full ascent
- Views back toward the Paricutín cinder cone across the flow
- Guides and horses available from the same Angahuan mirador
Tips for visiting
- Wear boots with rigid soles; the sharp aa lava can cut through thin footwear
- Bring gloves for occasional hand-over-hand sections on buckled lava ridges
- Carry a hat and sunscreen, since there is no shade anywhere on the flow
- Pack at least 2 litres of water despite the shorter distance than the full cone hike
- Combine with the Paricutín cone ascent if time allows, since both start from the same mirador
- Visit November to May; summer rains make the lava slick and the approach track muddy
When to visit
November to May gives firmer, drier footing across the lava field before summer rains make the flow slick.
Accessibility
The route is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible; it crosses sharp, uneven lava rock with no paved or graded surface.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the full Paricutín ascent?
This walk covers only the lava field to the buried church, about 6km round trip in 2-3 hours, without continuing on to the cinder cone summit.
Is the church still used for worship?
The church is a ruin with only the belfry and altar surviving, but candles and offerings are still left at the altar by visitors and locals.
Is a guide necessary for this shorter walk?
A guide is not strictly required but is customary, since the crossing follows communal ejido land with limited signage across the lava.
Can this walk be combined with the volcano ascent?
Yes, both routes start from the Angahuan mirador, and some hikers visit the church en route to or from the full cone ascent.