Paracho Guitar Resources & Travel Tips

There are many ways to learn more about Paracho guitars, and to visit the town’s master luthiers. In fact, every August Paracho holds its annual guitar festival. (This year’s festival runs from August 5^th-10^th.) So if you want to visit this community, here are a few tips to help you enjoy a productive, and safe, trip.

• If you’re considering attending the guitar festival, or visiting Paracho some other time, remember that this town lies in the Mexican state of Michoacan, a region that has seen narco-related violence. But as long as you’re cautious when you travel there, you should be plenty safe traveling in the area as a tourist. If you want to visit Paracho, go in the morning and leave before dusk. The roads are not safe after dark.
• A good, safe hotel in nearby Uruapan is Mansion del Cupatitzio, which is situated on the edge of the lovely Parque Nacional Barranca de Cupatitzio, which is full of waterfalls and hiking trails and well worth a visit. As with other places in the region, don’t walk or drive around Uruapan at night.
• The trip to Paracho can also be made from Patzcuaro, which is full of good hotels and abundant crafts, and about 90 minutes away.
• Information about the luthiers in Paracho can be found on various Internet forumson guitar making.
• Guillermo Rubio, who made the guitar described in the attached story, “Mexico’s Master Guitar Makers, can usually be reached by email.
• Benito Huipe, another master luthier in Paracho, is featured on a three-hour DVDon guitarmaking.
• Ron Fernandez, an experienced and knowledgeable guitar dealer in the U.S., has a websitewith a lot of information on classical guitar making.