Experience the Monarch Butterfly Migration in Mexico

Following a nearly 3,000-mile flight path established at least 10,000 years ago, tens of millions of monarch butterflies migrate south from the northeastern United States and eastern Canada each fall to winter breeding colonies in central Mexico.  

The Monarch Butterfly is also known as the “King of Butterflies”.  This is because the life cycle of a Monarch is different from other butterflies. They go through four stages during one life cycle and four generations in one year. The four stages are the egg, the larvae, the pupa and the adult butterfly.

Monarch butterflies begin life as eggs and hatch as larvae that eat their eggshells and the milkweed plants on which they were placed. The eggs hatch after four days and turn into small caterpillars. They grow many times their initial size over a two-week period and when they are big enough, they form a chrysalis and go through metamorphosis. The chrysalis is green with yellow spots and after a 2-week period, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. They become to weigh only 0.27 to 0.75 gram. The adult butterfly is born September and October and the difference between the first three generations and the last, is that they don’t die after two to six weeks.

Each year 60 million to one billion Monarch butterflies makes the journey from eastern Canada to central Mexico, more than 2,500 miles. This is because they cannot withstand the freezing weather in Canada and the USA. Besides, the larval food plants don’t grow in their overwintering sites, so the generation must fly back to places where the plants are plentiful. They arrive in late-October and make their winter homes in the tops of the trees high in the mountains of the reserve. The trees offer the monarchs protection from extreme temperatures, predators, and precipitation (rain and snow).

Top food to try in Mexico

Chilaquiles

Tex-Mex fans, this is probably your equivalent to “nachos.” Only without the beans and American cheese and pretty much everything you’re used to. You’ve got toasted tortillas covered in green or red salsa, shredded chicken, and a little crema (kind-of like sour cream).

Tostadas

Literally meaning toasted, tostadas are a simple but delicious dish involving corn tortillas fried in boiling oil until they become crunchy and golden. These are then served alone or piled high with any number of garnishes. Popular toppings include frijoles (refried beans), cheese, cooked meat, seafood and ceviche.

Elotes

Elote is similar – it looks a lot like corn on-the-cob but it will be a little tougher than the summer sweet-corn from the States that you might be familiar with. It’s almost always topped with a messy but delicious mixture of chile, lime and mayo.

Tacos Arabes

The city of Puebla about an hour away from Mexico City is especially famous for it’s “Arab Tacos.” Much like shawarma, the meat is heavily seasoned, cooked on a spit and shaved off to order.

Mole

Mole comes in many different flavors and varieties depending on where you are in Mexico.  It’s famously difficult to make and contains a complex mixture of more than 20 ingredients from chili peppers to chocolate.

Practical Tip

The butterfly colonies are located in high-altitude mountainous terrain (typically 9,500 to 11,500 feet). Although horses are available to transport you part of the way, hiking is required. The actual hiking distance depends on where the monarchs are located during your visit.

Get Around

The most central town for visiting the reserves is Angangueo in central Mexico’s Michoacán state, about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Mexico City. Since tourist services are limited and getting to the colonies can be difficult, book an all-inclusive excursion such as Natural Habitat Adventures' Kingdom of the Monarchs tour, which includes ground transportation, lodging and meals, and naturalist-led butterfly hikes.

Shopping

Vendors stationed outside the colony entrances sell a mixture of handmade crafts (such as sweaters, scarves, and gloves) and mass-produced souvenirs (including monarch T-shirts). The sturdy pine-needle baskets for sale are woven (often onsite) from needles collected in the surrounding forest.

Handicrafts of Mexican

Hotels

The best choice among Angangueo’s limited lodging options is the 30-room Posado Don Bruno(website in Spanish), a family-run hotel with a small onsite restaurant. If you’re not traveling with a group, it helps to know basic Spanish, since the staff doesn’t speak English. Some rooms have fireplaces (worth the extra fee if available); otherwise, the hotel is unheated. Ask for extra blankets, and, at bedtime, bundle up in sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and a fleece or knit cap.

Posado Don Bruno Hotel

Access Nathab page to book a flight ticket to Mexico right now, you only need to pay 2,995 USD for 6 days or call (800) 543-8917 to get more information. In addition, access page Hoteldonbruno to book a room online.

We introduce a video to show the incredible journey of  the Butterflies Migration in Mexico