Cortazar

Cortazar is a municipality in Guanajuato with a wealth of traditions, culture, and a unique gastronomy. Some of the popular street foods visitors can savor include:

• Gorditas: Thick corn dough pockets stuffed with various savory fillings, such as cheese or pork meat.
• Vinegar peanuts: Spicy and sour snack made by cooking peanuts in a pot with vinegar, onion, garlic and chili peppers, also known as cacahuates en vinagre.
• Cabrito: Roasted and seasoned goat meat, slowly cooked over an open fire or in an oven, with a tender and crispy texture.
• Taco de salchicha: A pork sausage taco with fresh tomato and onion.
• Meat Hot Dogs: A typical hot-dog bun filled with a variety of meats such as steak or chorizo, with freshly diced tomato, onion, ketchup and mustard. It can also be enjoyed with salsa.

Cortazar is a town of traditions rooted in religious beliefs that showcase artistry and devotion. For the Day of the Dead festivities, people make alfeñiques—edible candy figurines—which adorn altars and delight children.  For the Corpus Christi, people take part in processions and light decorated candles. These candles boast intricate designs and are made with flaked wax, locally known as cera escamada.

Experience the hospitality of the people of Cortazar, a town with soul!

Tourist attractions

Cerro de Culiacan: A scenic nature reserve and a preferred destination among hiking enthusiasts.

Cortazar Cultural Center: The center features a permanent exhibit of ceramic objects from the Chupícuaro culture, which were the original inhabitants of the region. These artifacts were used in religious rituals and everyday life.

Touristic Products

Verbena Cortazar:

Verbena Cortazar is the largest gastronomic and artisanal fair in the state of Guanajuato, it takes place every month in the town’s main square. Visitors can savor Cortazar’s traditional foods and music, in a family friendly atmosphere.

Santa Cruz de Culiacán Festival:

The Santa Cruz de Culiacán Festival is one of Cortazar’s oldest and most renowned celebrations; it gathers more than 1,500 dancers from different ethnic groups, who perform in honor of the Holy Cross. This large-scale parade of traditional dancers takes place on April 29, it is known as the Ensaye Real—Spanish for Royal Rehearsal.

On the following days, the festival continues with a pilgrimage to the Cerro de Culiacán Hill, where the dancers perform at the church on the summit.

Corpus Christi:

The celebration of Corpus Christi is a religious event that honors Jesus Christ, spanning ten days. The highlight is a solemn Mass, followed by a procession through the town streets—also known as the Wax Procession. Participants carry altars and decorated candles; the procession ends at the Parish of San José.