Monarch Butterfly Migration in Mexico

Every February, Mexico is home to a spectacular natural phenomenon: the migration of monarch butterflies. Each winter, hundreds of millions, perhaps more than a billion monarchs migrate to the forests of Michoacan. Scientists are still unsure how these creatures find their way to rural areas of Mexico, where they have never been before, but where they are always drawn. Spectacular gatherings of monarch butterflies are of great interest to ecologists and biologists around the world. Tourists come to the monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and at the same time learn unique facts about the history and culture of this region. Millions of black and orange butterflies in the rays of the sun are a stunning sight that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

Patzcuaro is the cultural and craft center of the state of Michoacan, San Miguel de Allende - colorful streets, unusual markets and original art galleries. Amazing local cuisine and developing wine regions.

Sample program and itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Morelia, city tour, transfer to Patzcuaro. After arriving at Morelia International Airport (flights arrive before 2:00 PM), the guide will take you on a sightseeing tour of one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico - the capital of the state of Michoacan. You will visit remote areas of Morelia and the beautiful historic center of the city, see masterfully restored colonial mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries and the main attractions of the city. We can have lunch on our own in one of the many restaurants in the city center, and then we leave for Patzcuaro (the trip takes about an hour), where you will spend the next two nights. Upon arrival, check into your hotel, located right on the central square of the city, allowing you to spend an interesting free time in the evening.

Day 2: Private full-day tour of Patzcuaro, Tzintzuntzan and Santa Clara del Cobre. After breakfast, a private guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a tour of the atmospheric highlands of Purépecha. You will see one of the most rarely visited archaeological sites in Mexico: Tzintzuntzan, the capital of the ancient Tarascan kingdom on the shores of a lake. Here you will see unique oval temples (yacats). Then we will go to Santa Clara del Cobre, a city with the status of "Magic Town", where copper mining was active in the past and where craftsmanship is still alive. You will visit a copper forge and see exclusive handicrafts, thanks to which local artisans have gained recognition in New York, Paris and London.

In Santa Clara del Cobre, we will see from the inside the famous copper workshops of this region. Although the copper mines in the town are closed, copper crafts still exist. Three or four generations of families work in the workshops. You will walk around the central square, named after Vasco de Quiroga, the Spaniard who built the town after the Spanish conquest. Walking along the cobblestone streets of the town, you will feel its colonial chic, and your guide will tell you about the history of this amazing town. You will have panoramic views of Lake Patzcuaro and the rocky island of Janitzio. In the colonial village of Patzcuaro, you should definitely try the local food of the Tarascan people. Then return to the hotel and free time.

Day 3: Free time in Patzcuaro and private transfer to Zitacuaro via Cuitzeo. After breakfast in Patzcuaro, we will go to the wintering grounds of the monarch butterflies. You will spend the night surrounded by pine and fruit trees, and spend the next two days observing the monarch butterflies. On the way to Zitácuaro, we will stop in Cuitzeo, a charming town with narrow streets, whitewashed buildings and tiled roofs. Here we will visit the former monastery of Santa Maria Magdalena, a 16th-century architectural complex in the town’s main square. It is also a great place for birdwatching in winter.

Day 4: El Rosario Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. After breakfast at the hotel, accompanied by a guide, you will go to the first reserve (the drive takes about 35 minutes). Upon arrival in El Rosario, we will go on a walk for about an hour along the well-kept, but sometimes very steep, paths of the reserve and enter the pine forest where the monarch butterflies spend the winter. There are between 60 million and more than 1 billion of them here. They gather here after an 8-month migration, during which four generations change. On the way to the wintering site, you will notice how the forest becomes denser.

The wings of numerous butterflies, glowing in the rays of the sun, make an incredible impression. With the help of an experienced guide, this unique and magical phenomenon will become much more than just a beautiful sight for you: we will discuss issues of ecology, natural history and conservation.

Please note that in the reserve, the altitude varies from 2400 meters to 3000 meters, so the descents and ascents are quite steep. We will walk along them for an hour.

Day 5: Sierra Chincua Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Transfer to Morelia. After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, private transfer to the Sierra Chincua Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. The monarch butterfly weighs barely 1 gram, but plays a major role as a pollinator and has a significant impact on the ecosystem. After butterfly watching, we continue our journey and head to Morelia (3 hours). Estimated arrival time: 18:00.

Day 6: Private transfer from Morelia to San Miguel de Allende. Evening private tour of Dos Buhos winery, wine tasting. After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart Morelia for San Miguel de Allende (2.5 hours). Upon arrival, we check into the hotel, then free time. At 17:30 (time may change due to daylight saving time) you will meet your guide for a private tour and wine tasting atDos Buhos Winery (3-3.5 hours). Immerse yourself in the world of local wines on an evening tour of Dos Buhos, a boutique winery located on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende. You will tour the winery and finish with a tasting of five wines, paired with a light gourmet dinner.

Day 7: Gastronomic Walking Tour of Traditional and Modern Markets. Mexico is famous for its open-air markets, where a variety of products are sold that reflect the uniqueness of Mexican culture and cuisine. San Miguel de Allende is a small colonial city with a cosmopolitan, international charm. There are traditional markets and modern markets where you will find local, organic and local products of the region.

The tour will take you first to a traditional market and then to a new organic market. We will walk through the heart of this city, stopping along the way at a churros factory, a local wine shop, a chocolate shop and a modern market. There we will attend a cheese tasting from the best local cheese dairies. You will also have the opportunity to taste and buy many other interesting products. Tastings are included in the price.

Please note that the distance to be covered on foot is more than 3 km. A private transfer can be arranged upon request.

Day 8: Departure from San Miguel de Allende. After breakfast, the driver will transfer you to the airport of Leon (Guanajuato) or Queretaro for your flight home.