Marvelous Monarchs Still Make Magic

By Bill Wilson

Are Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly sanctuaries endangered? It depends.

And one observer and journalist thinks the Monarchs are still thriving in the Mountains of Mexico (the population seems to have its difficulties) but that the migration between Mexico and the United States and Canada is changing. Global warming, deforestation, pesticides, and other factors are forcing the migration further north into Texas, observes journalist Monica Maeckle.  At a lecture, last month in San Miguel de Allende about the Monarchs she noted their "migration is endangered, but the butterfly is not."

Texas writer and champion of the magical Monarch, Maeckle spoke as part of the i3 - Ideas that inform & inspire - lecture series. And a few agencies are considering placing the Monarchs on the endangered species list. Maeckle has written a book: “The Monarch Butterfly Migration: Its Rise and Fall” and is a steward of a butterfly ranch in Texas and an advocate for these delicate insects. Her lecture also touched on the discovery by different scientists and naturalists of the Monarch’s migration.

Observing The Magic By Tour

Everyone should experience of the magic the butterflies. To ride up the mountains at the El Rosario sanctuary on a horse is quite a thrill. The horse ride makes it easier when one arrives at the mountain top area more than 8,0000 feet in elevation. Hiking out to the overlook can leave you short of breath,

But what is breathtaking is to hear the flutter of the thousands of butterfly’s wings.It is pure magic and perhaps as climate change and other factors affecting these delicate creatures the next few years it might be last chance to see them in Mexico.

Three Local Tour Operators

Here are three tour operators offering visits to the butterfly sanctuaries. Please note the migration usually runs between October (Day of the Dead) and early March. Mark your calendar for the 2025-2026 migration.

Travellian Tours

Monarch Butterfly Adventure (Winter 2025 groups tours sold out). Visiting the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries in Michoacán with Travelian Tours is an unforgettable, three-day, two-night adventure that inspires wonder and connection with nature. Departing from San Miguel de Allende, you’ll journey with expert guides who enrich your experience with fascinating insights about the monarchs and their incredible migration. Upon arriving at the sanctuaries, the sheer beauty of millions of butterflies enveloping the trees takes your breath away. Wander the serene trails, surrounded by this vibrant display of nature, and hear the fluttering of the wings in the air as the butterflies dance around you.

Notes Rodrigo López, “After a day filled with wonder, enjoy a cozy overnight stay, and savor local cuisine. Rise early the next day to witness the butterflies in the golden morning light, a sight that will leave a lasting imprint on your heart."

For a more detailed itinerary, visit the Travellian Tours website,www.travelian.com.mx

Price per person: $1,100 USD

Contact: Rodrigo Lópezrodrigo@travelian.com.mx+52 415 100 2798.

Follow Me Tours

Emma Salazar has been running various tours for two decades here in San Miguel. Her email is info@fmtours.mx and phone 415-119-4402.

For overnight tours:

Shared: $3,500 mxn per person

Private: $4,900 mxn per person

Regarding the tours: they have both shared and private and also one and two day tours. Emma says they also have a special six-day tour visiting different towns and Monarch parks.

Private one-day tours

- By personal request

- Highly recommend weekdays - Monday - Friday

- $2,900 mxn per person 

- From 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Shared Tours

- Monday - Wednesday - Friday

- $1,900 mxn per person 

- From 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sanctuary visited at the moment: El Rosario

TASMA

José Arturo Morales, one of deans of tourism, has been running tours and giving lectures and writing for decades in San Miguel de Allende. His website is www.tasma.com.mx

For a group of four people or more, the price per person is $295.00 USD, considering the overnight in a double room.

Tour includes: Specialized guide throughout the trip; transportation from start to finish of the journey; entrance fees to the sanctuaries ("El Rosario" and "Sierra Chincua"), plus the horse rental. Also includes: The hotel in Zitácuaro (Casa Iturbe) in a double room. Box lunch, breakfast on the first day, lunch on the second day.

Arturo also has a one-day tour to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary: Leaving San Miguel de Allende at 7:00 a.m. returning at 7:00 p.m. The price per person is $130.00 USD. The price includes: transportation, a specialized bilingual guide throughout the tour, entrance fees, horse rental on the way to the main center of the Monarch Butterflies, thus having more time in the main center of the Monarch Butterflies.

It also includes a box lunch, and explanation of the exceptional phenomenon of migration, life cycle, and stay in Mexico of the Monarch Butterfly in its "Methuselah". To reserve, 50% of the total amount in advance is required.