Mocorito

Catrina figure during Day of the Dead in Mocorito

Mocorito is a small colonial-era town in the western state of Sinaloa, Mexico. It is known for its literary and artistic traditions with a number of noted poets, muralists, and song-writers counting Mocorito as their home. The town is one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos and is a popular weekend getaway for Mazatlan residents.

Understand

The first Spanish to arrive in Mocorito came in 1531, but the town considers its founding to be 1594, when Jesuit missionaries came to settle in the area and build the town's first church (Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepcion). The town has about 5400 residents (2015).

Jorge Hernandez of Los Tigres del Norte in Barcelona

Mocorito considers itself a town where the arts thrive. There have been several musical success stories from Mocorito, but none bigger than Los Tigres del Norte, who have fans everywhere. Several other local bands in the current era have also become successful with the norteño and banda styles. In the visual arts, Mocorito is home town of Ernesto Rios, a muralist who is best known regionally where he has produced large-scale works in public spaces of Culiacan and Guamúchil.

Get in

The nearest city served by commercial flights is Los Mochis (LMM ^IATA).

Mocorito is 120 km southeast of Los Mochis. It takes about 90 minutes to drive via federal highway MEX-15. Renting a car and driving during daylight hours only is the best approach as security issues are a concern once you get outside Los Mochis.

By bus

From Los Mochis, ACN Autobuses operates one daily bus to Guamúchil, which is 15 minutes by taxi to Mocorito. The ACN bus trip takes 90 minutes and tickets cost about M$100. It's a night bus: the bus departs Los Mochis at 02:40 and arrives in Guamuchil about 04:10.

Get around

Mocorito is a small town. It is easy to navigate by foot and distances are short. For longer trips, you can find taxis available near the zocalo (Plazuela) or ask your hotel desk staff to call one for you. Ride hailing apps generally don't work in Mocorito, and even if they did, some governments advise their citizens against using such apps in the state of Sinaloa for security reasons.

See

Friday night concert in la Plazuela

• 1 Plazuela Miguel Hidalgo (Zocalo), Ignacio Zaragoza, Centro. The town square is a lively urban park with tall trees, careful landscaping, brick walkways, benches to sit and peoplewatch, a bandstand that's actually used for occasional concerts in the park, and of course, the colorful letters inviting visitors to snap an Instagram-worthy photo. Great place to relax on a warm evening, strolling and enjoying the ambience. 

Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepcion

• 2 Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción (Church of the Immaculate Conception), Ignacio Zaragoza 2, Centro. Unusual historic church with a unique blend of architectural styles and some stunning artworks inside. Jesuit missionaries established the parish and began building the church in 1598. From the front it appears austere and is sometimes described as a militaristic style. It's built of pink granite (cantera) with brick and other stones and has a relatively unadorned facade graced with a single very tall belfry a prominent triangle shape over the entrance, and a long, narrow nave. The church is known for a series of excellent 16th century engravings that adorn its 14 stations of the cross. 

• 3 Museo De Historia Regional De Mocorito (Regional History Museum), Hidalgo 39, Candilejas. Small historical exhibit focusing on the town of Mocorito and its nearby areas. Few exhibits, mostly photos and graphic arts. Interesting local flavor that won't take much time to visit. 

• 4 Museo de Los Tigres del Norte, 16 de Septiembre 129, Bugambilias. One of the most popular acts in the Mexican music world is Los Tigres del Norte. The group has stayed together for more than 50 years. During that time, they've sold well over 30 million albums, packed concert halls in Mexico, the United States, and many other countries, won 7 Grammy awards and 12 Latin Grammies, and appeared in dozens of motion pictures. Their style of music is known as norteño and within that broad genre they've managed to carve out some niches in which they dominate. They are particularly known for a class of songs called narcocorridos that tell the tales of prominent figures in the underworld of international drug trafficking (a popular pasttime in Sinaloa). Visit the museum to learn more about the group, their rise to fame and fortune, and their roots in the small town of Mocorito. 

• 5 Hemiciclo y Mural de Mocorito (Rafael Buelna Square), Benito Juarez 3. In the square, you'll find a bright, colorful mosaic mural titled Mocorito Ateneo Sinaloense that is a montage of scenes depicting the town's 400-year history and its modern culture. 

Do

• 1 Napo Chilorio Factory, Francisco Madero 55, Bugambilias. The town's favorite dish is a stew of shredded pork, slow-simmered with chiles and spices. Many restaurants serve up homemade versions, but it's also packaged in cans and shipped across Mexico. Stop in and see chilorio being made and packaged. 
• 2 Campo de Girasoles (Sunflower Field), Gral. Gabriel Leyva, Bugambilias. Thousands and thousands of sunflowers fill a field. Great spot for an Instagram selfie! There are photo op spots that look kind of hokey and tractor rides for the kids. 

Festivals

• Carnaval - sometime in late February or early March (before the period of Lent begins), people get together to blow off steam, drink too much and eat way too much. In Mocorito, there are various crownings of kings and queens, a huge parade and a big dance on the final night.
• Celebration of the Immaculate Conception - the official feast day is December 8, but events and celebrations occur throughout the month of December

Buy

Shops in Mocarito sell some interesting local handcrafts that you might not find elsewhere. The region is known for wood objects, particularly Guazuma-wood figurines and handmade furniture. Basket weaving and items made with palm fronds are produced by indigenous groups, and there are ceramic items produced in the region.

Eat

Most Pueblos Mágicos emphasize regional cuisine, and Mocorito is no exception, but in Mocorito, there's one most important word to know: chilorio. Chilorio is served throughout Sinaloa, but Mocorito claims to be the origin of the dish and is where it's embraced and revered as an art form. Chilorio can be described as a "pork stew", but that hardly does justice to its deep rich flavor that's delivered through a blend of ground guasillo chile, cumin, and garlic. Chilorio can be eaten as a main course but is typically served as tacos with either corn or flour tortillas accompanied by either fresh sliced or lightly sauteed onions.

Besides chilorio, the town has several bakeries selling a range of cookies and pastries. Try the mestiza if you like a touch of licorice flavor, or maybe the meringue treats known as suspiros.

• 1 María Bonita Mocorito, Miguel Hidalgo 2, ☏ +52 673 148 1162. Daily 08:00 - 22:30. Delightfully inviting traditional restaurant with outdoor dining in a courtyard full of brilliantly colorful umbrellas. Regional cuisine, including chilorio, with a weekend buffet and live music. M$250. 

• 2 Restaurante Pekin, Miguel Hidalgo, Aviacion, ☏ +52 673 735 0505. Daily 08:00 - 18:00. Chinese restaurant with a bright, modern dining room. Generous portions. Often crowded in the afternoon. M$200. 

• 3 Kyuden, Emiliano Zapata, ☏ +52 673 115 9442. Daily 12:30 - 23:00. Popular sushi bar that fuses traditional sushi with Mexican flavors and ingredients. All sushi dishes are cooked (no raw). M$200. 

• 4 La Puli, Ignacio Zaragoza 17, ☏ +52 673 142 3030. Casual breakfast and lunch restaurant with great chilaquiles at breakfast and chilorio for lunch. Cafe de olla in the morning is a great way to start the day and they have a variety of aguas frescas, including some unusual flavors and blends like jamairanja. Only open for breakfast and lunch. 

Sleep

• 1 La Cuarteria, Benito Juarez 67, Centro, ☏ +52 673 735 0700. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Upscale boutique hotel with comfortable rooms and first-class service. Roof-top swimming pool and on-site restaurant and bar. Good place for a couple looking for a romantic weekend getaway. M$1600. 

• 2 Punto Madero Hotel, Francisco Madero 47, Bugambilias, ☏ +52 673 735 0720. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate family-friendly hotel. Clean, spacious rooms. Plaza downstairs with restaurants, courtyard, etc. M$1000. 

• 3 Mision de Mocorito, Francisco Madero 39, ☏ +52 673 735 0033. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Comfortable traditional style hotel. On-site restaurant open 6am-10pm. Free parking available, on-site swimming pool. 

Connect

Cell coverage is spotty in this area. Although 4G is available in town, it quickly becomes unreliable the further you get from town, particularly as there are no major highways or cities nearby. Expect service to drop in remote rural areas. WiFi and internet is available at most hotels and restaurants in town.

Go next

• Los Mochis
• Culiacan
• Copper Canyon
• Mazatlan