Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Tours and Activities

Visiting the Monarchs in Mexico is an amazing adventure. The sight of over 89 million butterflies will leave you speechless. It’s an easy 3 hour drive to walk through the forest.
Visiting the Monarchs in Mexico is an amazing adventure. The sight of over 89 million butterflies will leave you speechless. It’s an easy 3 hour drive to walk through the forest.
It takes 1,000 butterflies to weigh one pound (.45kg), and the branches on this tree were sagging under the weight. The monarch colony here was quite different than at the more popular El Rosario sanctuary. 40 minutes outside Zitacuaro, near El Capulin, we chartered a couple of tiny mountain horses to take us up the rugged path to view the colony. The monarchs were clustered within a ravine, swirling around a few choice pine trees in search of sunny roosts. Whenever the sun went behind a cloud the butterflies scrambled into the air and back to the safety of the nucleus, knowing that settling down for the night outside the warmth of the colony would mean certain death.
Up to 1 billion monarchs winter in the mountainous pine-oak forests of central Mexico after completing one of the most spectacular migrations on Earth. From November to March they hibernate here, waking only long enough each day to sip water and gather pollen. As the weather warms they fatten up and mate. The males die quickly, but the pregnant females head north to Texas in search of a milkweed plant on which to lay their eggs. Four days later each egg hatches into a tiny caterpillar that feeds non-stop for two weeks before molting into a small cocoon-like chrysalis. Hormonal changes lead to the "birth" of the next generation of monarch, which continues the northward migration. Over the course of the spring and summer three successive generations of butterflies repeat this cycle on their northward trek. By the time the fourth generation emerges it is once again time to head south - a journey last undertaken by this generation's great-great-grandparents. The El Rosario sanctuary is open to visits, but it's a long drive from Zitacuaro and you need to get here early in the day to catch the monarchs when they are active. It also requires some steep hikes at elevations great than 10,000ft (3,000m).
Those are millions of little Monarchs clumped on the threes! Monarch Migration 🦋 Hands down one of the most special events we have had the pleasure to witness. Millions of Monarch wings fluttering to sound like a huge stream, the swarm of delicate orange overhead. Simply magical. .

Popular places to visit

San Felipe de Los Alzati Church

San Felipe de Los Alzati Church is just one of the places to see in San Felipe de Los Alzati, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Amble around the area's parks or visit its temples.

San Felipe de Los Alzati Church

San Felipe de los Alzati Archaeological Zone

Find out about the history of San Felipe de Los Alzati when you spend time at San Felipe de los Alzati Archaeological Zone. Amble around the area's parks or visit its temples.

San Felipe de los Alzati Archaeological Zone

Station House

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Station House during your travels in Zitácuaro. While you're in the area, wander around the parks.

Station House

Small Garden

Explore the great outdoors at Small Garden, a lovely green space in Zitácuaro.

Small Garden

Independence Hill

Explore the great outdoors at Independence Hill, a lovely green space in Zitácuaro. While you're in the area, wander around the parks.

Independence Hill

Rayón National Park

Explore the great outdoors at Rayón National Park, a lovely green space in Tlalpujahua. Amble around the area's parks or experience its museums.

Rayón National Park

Best Lodging Options Near Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

RANCHO CUMBRE MONARCA

RANCHO CUMBRE MONARCA

2 out of 5
CAMINO AL SANTUARIO EL ROSARIO sn Ocampo MICH
RANCHO CUMBRE MONARCA
Cabañas La Palma

Cabañas La Palma

3 out of 5
Jesus de Nazareno Mineral de Angangueo MICH
Cabañas La Palma
La villafranca del Cid

La villafranca del Cid

3 out of 5
Domicilio conocido mesa de cedano Zitácuaro MICH
La villafranca del Cid
Eucaliptos Med Spa

Eucaliptos Med Spa

3 out of 5
Mesa de Cedano Zitácuaro MICH
Eucaliptos Med Spa
Eucaliptos Med Spa

Eucaliptos Med Spa

3 out of 5
Mesa de Cedano Zitácuaro MICH
Eucaliptos Med Spa
Hotel Villa Monarca

Hotel Villa Monarca

3 out of 5
CARRETERA FEDERAL 15 ZITACUARO MORELIA San Felipe de Los Alzati MICH
Hotel Villa Monarca
HOTEL SOLACHE INN

HOTEL SOLACHE INN

2 out of 5
8 Cipres Manga de Clavo Zitácuaro MICH
HOTEL SOLACHE INN
Hotel El Conquistador Monarca

Hotel El Conquistador Monarca

3.5 out of 5
2 Leandro Valle Norte Melchor Ocampo Zitácuaro MICH
Hotel El Conquistador Monarca
Hotel Casa Iturbe

Hotel Casa Iturbe

3 out of 5
José Ma. Morelos Norte 64 Zitácuaro MICH
Hotel Casa Iturbe
See all 420 properties in Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
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