Mexico | Migration of the Monarch Butterflies

Upon arrival in Mexico City you will be met in the airport and transferred to your hotel, situated in the historic district on the Zócalo. The Zócalo is the largest plaza in Latin America and is surrounded by the presidential palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, Aztec Templo Mayor, and many restaurants and historical architecture. This evening meet in the hotel lobby at 7pm for a welcome dinner and program orientation at nearby restaurant. Check-in starts at 3:00 pm.

Begin today with a short exploration of Mexico City during a brief walking tour of the Zócalo, Cathedral, and Templo Mayor; a boxed lunch will be provided. Depart for the colonial town of Angangueo, high in the mountains in the state of Michoacán, about 100 miles west of Mexico City. Check in at Hotel Don Bruno. After settling in, enjoy a delicious Mexican dinner and then gather for a briefing to help prepare for the next day. (Elevation at Hotel Don Bruno is 8,460 feet. Please note that it can get cold at night and in the early morning, and most rooms do not have heat. It is recommended that you bring warm sleeping clothes.)

After breakfast, ascend into the mountains to approximately 10,000 feet elevation to visit Sierra Chincua, one of several nearby Monarch sites. The day will start with a hike up to the reserve entrance. Horses are available for rent as an option for this portion (approximately 150-200 Mexican pesos each way, cash only). Once at the entrance to the reserve, continue up the mountain on foot until you reach the site where the butterflies are roosting. The hike is uphill but you will be able to walk at your own pace and stop and rest as needed. Please be aware that the steepness of the trails, together with the high elevation and dusty conditions can be very strenuous. The remainder of the afternoon entails walking around the butterfly site on your own and photographing and watching butterflies independently. A boxed lunch will be provided to eat at leisure. Bathroom access is at the base of the mountain and can be reached by walking or renting a horse. There are also vendors at the base selling food, beverages, and local crafts. The site is typically shaded so remember to dress in layers due to high elevations. Later this afternoon take a walking tour through Angangueo town with your guide. Founded in 1792 the town served as a main mining center providing wealth for the area. Today the town derives its income from butterfly tourism and agriculture. As you explore the cobblestone streets your guide will share sites of interest and the importance of butterfly conservation to the town. Dinner at the hotel.

Today visit El Rosario Reserve, the first Monarch colony and the one most generally accessible to the public. The journey begins with a hike up to the site. Or, if you prefer, you can rent a horse. This large overwintering colony normally contains well over 100 million adult Monarchs and has an excellent trail system winding through the fir-covered slopes on which the colony is located. Additionally, there is a nearby stream where the butterflies may fly at midday to drink water. Have a bagged lunch while enjoying this spectacular phenomenon and watch the butterflies go through their daily cycle of activities. At this time of year, they may take flight for an hour or more to secure water, nectar, etc., before returning to their roost on the tree limbs or trunks. Please be prepared to be independent today during butterfly watching. In the late afternoon, return from the mountains to Angangueo. You will have free time to enjoy the hotel gardens, walk and photograph the interesting scenes and people in this beautiful town, or to just relax.

After breakfast, check-out and depart for Jungapeo, en route, visit Alternare Center which has more than 20 years’ experience working with rural communities with the goal of helping conserve the butterfly habitat. They also teach sustainable farming techniques, the construction of adobe houses, wood-saving stoves and water conservation practices. Continue to Agua Blanca, check-in, have lunch and then have free time to soak in the mineral pools. Later this afternoon bird the surrounds of the hotel's subtropical climate and hike to a nearby waterfall. This evening, have dinner and then receive a brief orientation on the visit to Cerro Pelón. Elevation 4,371 feet

Today have the full day at leisure to enjoy the hotel amenities.

Depart this morning for the Mexico City area and the pyramids at San Juan Teotihuacán and its Quetzpapalotl Palace or "Palace of the Butterflies". After a delicious lunch nearby, you'll have the afternoon to explore this world-famous archaeological site, which covers 32 square miles and contains many structures, including two large pyramids. The Pyramid of the Sun, at a height of more than 200 feet, is one of the largest known pre-Columbian structures in the Americas. After time to explore the ruins on your own, return to the hotel on the Zócalo and have a farewell dinner at nearby restaurant.

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.