WELCOME TO CASA DE LA REAL ADUANA
Just off Pátzcuaro’s main plaza, this 16th-century mansion was once the colonial tax house of New Spain. Today Casa de la Real Aduana is a five-suite hideaway.
The owners – Didier Dorval, a French photographer, and his wife Gemma Macouzet, a Mexican artist – have spent years restoring the property as a personal museum and a living archive of Michoacán’s craft and heritage.
The couple are serious collectors, with incredible taste – expect rooms cluttered with European antiques and paintings, Manuel Morales pottery on the hearth, masks, textiles and traditional ceramics.
What we love about Casa de la Real Aduana
- The location is a tranquil sanctuary in Pátzcuaro’s historic heart yet moments from the main plaza.
- The blend of fine art and regional Michoacán crafts, including textiles and pottery, throughout the house.
- The hosts are artists, collectors and cultural custodians who share their home with generosity and discretion.
- Evening meals by candlelight, available on request with advance notice, often served with music, mezcal and stories.
- The private courtyards, patios and library are ideal for quiet reading or reflection.
- Cultural programming, including occasional live music recitals and guided tours with local experts.
What to do at Casa de la Real Aduana
Explore peaceful highlands and artisan culture while slowing down at Casa de la Real Aduana.
Pátzcuaro is one of those towns that travellers speak of in lower registers. It sits in the highlands of Michoacán, a palpable canvas of baroque churches, Purépecha ruins, cobbled lanes and smoke-swirled markets.
Cross Lake Pátzcuaro to Janitzio Island, with its steep paths and solemn Day of the Dead vigils. Visit the copper town of Santa Clara del Cobre, where workshops ring with hammer blows and heat. Or stay close: browse the town’s artisan stalls, take a cooking class, or follow your hosts through private art studios and local haunts that don’t make it into guidebooks.
Back at the house, the library beckons. Or the garden. Or that wingback chair by the fire. This is a place for explorers, yes, but also for those who know when not to move.
When to Travel
October to March
The dry season is best for outdoor exploration, with crisp mornings and sunlit afternoons. This is also the most festive period, especially around Día de los Muertos in early November, when Pátzcuaro becomes the focal point of one of Mexico’s most moving and visually striking celebrations.
April to September
Expect warm days and occasional rain, particularly in the afternoons. The surrounding countryside turns green and lush, making way for a quieter, slower-paced season that suits travellers seeking rest, creative focus or time to reconnect with nature and art in an extraordinary setting.
Looking for more inspiration? Learn more about our bespoke holidays and adventures in Mexico, or discover our other luxury properties.
