One of the most amazing phenomena in nature is the annual migration of millions of monarch butterflies southward from their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada to overwintering sites high in the mountains of southern Mexico.  Stand amid the fir-covered mountains and witness this awe-inspiring spectacle firsthand as the monarchs flutter, dip, and swoop overhead. With three full days at sanctuaries within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, you will have the opportunity to see monarchs in staggering quantities: on the roosts in the early morning, in flight at midday, feeding on wildflowers, and watering at streams. You'll also spend time in the colonial town of Angangueo and the massive ancient Teotihuacán complex, exploring Mexico’s rich history and culture.

  • Trip Itinerary

    Day 1. Depart the U.S. or Canada/Arrive Mexico City, Mexico
    Day 2. Angangueo
    Day 3. Angangueo
    Day 4. Jungapeo
    Day 5. Jungapeo
    Day 6. Mexico City
    Day 7. Transfer to airport for flights home

  • Trip Highlights

    • Hike or ride horseback to three different monarch reserves in Michoacán, where millions of individual monarch butterflies gather.
    • Photograph the dramatic colors of the butterflies as they hang in clusters from the trees, drink from streams, feed on wildflowers and soar in the air above.
    • Visit the pyramids at Teotihuacán, one of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican sites o pre-Columbian times.
    • Spend time exploring colonial Angangueo, which was once a mining town but now derives most of its livelihood from butterfly ecotourism and agriculture.