The municipality of Carácuaro is located in the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán at an altitude between 400 and 1,600 metres (1,300–5,200 ft).

It borders the municipalities of Nocupétaro to the west, Madero to the north, Tiquicheo to the east, Huetamo to the south and Turicato to the southwest.

José María Morelos served as the parish priest from 1799 until 1810, when he joined the rebels in the Mexican War of Independence.

[7] The municipal government comprises a president, a councillor (Spanish: síndico), and seven trustees (regidores), four elected by relative majority and three by proportional representation.

[11] Many miracles have been attributed to it and it is the destination of a popular pilgrimage route from Tacámbaro that takes place in the week around Ash Wednesday.