About fifteen years ago I had a very memorable Day of the Dead / Dia de los muertos in Patzcuaro, Mexico. I've been recommending it to people for years as a great place to go in Mexico to experience this particular event.
I've also become interested in visiting the nearby town of Paracho, which is famous for being the guitar-making capital of Mexico since the time of the conquistadors. The luthiers are indigenous Purépecha people
But recently I've heard from other travellers that Michoacan, the state in which these places are located, is now perhaps the most dangerous state in Mexico.
The Wikivoyage articles seem to contradict each other though:
Michoacan is the most dangerous state in Mexico due to drug-fueled violence. Crime is not restricted to major cities but can also be found in rural areas. As of January 2014, there have been reports of highly-armed vigilante groups forcibly disarming police, likely as part of an ongoing dispute between rival drug gangs.
Travelers should exercise caution at all times.
Increasing numbers of Europeans and Gringos are moving to the Lake Patzcuaro area as prices in other gringo havens have gone up considerably.
So could it be that these places are pretty safe areas within a generally unsafe state?
Or could it be that gringos were moving to parts of the state before the gang violence got so bad but the articles don't consistently reflect the current situation?
