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10 Tips For Visiting The Monarch Sanctuaries in Mexico

2/25/2023

51 Comments

 

If you've always wanted to visit the Monarch Butterfly overwintering grounds in Mexico, it may be easier to get there than you think! Millions of monarchs migrate to the Oyamel Forests in Central Mexico every year around the first of November and stay until the beginning of March. 
​
Follow these tips to make the most out of your trip to the Monarch Butterfly Preserve in Central Mexico!

​If you are looking for a more detailed guide, check out my other blog A Guide to Visiting El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary.

Picture
Monarch nectaring at El Rosario sanctuary. Photo by Rebecca Chandler

Plan to stay the whole day!

Make sure to arrive between late morning and early afternoon for best chance at midday sun and a truly magical monarch experience as they fill the skies in flight!
If you visit when it’s at least 60°F and sunny, you’ll witness the monarchs being the most active. If it is a cloudy, cooler day don't let that deter you! They may not be as active, but they will be roosting which is a still a magnificent sight to behold. 
Picture
Roost of Monarchs at Sierra Chincua Sanctuary. Photo by Rebecca Chandler

Go on a weekday!

Weekends will naturally be busier visitation days. If you can, plan to visit during the week when there will be less people. Then you will be able to focus on the butterflies and get a much more personalized experience! ​

Dress in Layers

​Bring an extra jacket because it will always be colder in the sanctuary which is at an elevation of almost 10,000 ft or 3000 m. If taking a horse, you can ask to tie the coat onto your saddle. Also, don't forget sunscreen and a hat!

Drink a lot of water and bring snacks!

​Bring a water bottle, as it is important to stay hydrated, especially in higher altitudes. You can also buy bottled water at the sanctuaries.

​You may want to stay with the butterflies as long as possible so pack a few snacks. At both Sierra Chincua and El Rosario, you have the option of eating delicious traditional foods at the entry to the sanctuary. 

Help Your Horse Out

​​These horses work hard everyday so try to help them out as much as possible! On the uphill, help your horse out by leaning slightly forward in the saddle. On the downhill, press your feet into your stirrups and lean back slightly to stabilize your body and avoid being as sore the next day. 
The guide will lead your horse for you but you can hold the reins and give your horse lots of praise and pats!
PictureOne of the loyal horses at Sierra Chincua. Photo by Rebecca Chandler

Don't underestimate the hike.

​The elevation makes hiking much more difficult than it appears if you aren't used to it. You may want to opt for the horseback ride and you don't even need any prior horseback riding experience! The horseback rides are 150 pesos ($8) each way and you can always ride a horse up and hike back down. 

Tip your guides!

For many locals, they make their living and support their families by guiding butterfly tours. By supporting ecotourism, it helps to deter illegal logging and supports butterfly conservation. Generally, you don't need to pay the guides upfront but a 100-300 peso tip (about $5-15 USD) is customary. If you can, find a guide that speaks your own language! ​
Picture

Dress like a flower!

It is considered lucky if a Monarch lands on you and they are much more likely to do so if you dress in bright, flower-like colors!

Take a nice camera

You want to make sure and capture this once-in-a-lifetime-experience! A nice camera phone can sometimes make for great photos but also consider a DSLR wide-angle and/or telescopic lens. 
If you only have a phone, try the video feature. Better yet, use the slow motion video feature for some very cool footage! 

Watch where you are stepping!

​It would be a shame to come all that way and accidentally step on a butterfly! Walk carefully, especially in areas where the monarchs are 'puddling'. Puddling means that they are landing on the ground where it may be moist so they can acquire minerals and water from the soil.
51 Comments
Harold G. Whittaken
5/24/2023 06:37:28 am

Wonderful insight! I do hope to see some monarch butterflies in what I have left of my life time, I will save this article for later, thank you very much, you do wonderful work!
Best,
Harold

Reply
Rebecca C.
11/29/2024 11:01:14 am

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed my article!

Reply
S
2/14/2024 04:57:58 pm

All of your information is so helpful! Great insights and suggestions! I'm looking forward to using your excellent advice when I go to the monarch sanctuaries soon. Thanks so much!

Reply
Rebecca C.
11/29/2024 11:01:52 am

I'm so glad that this article was helpful for you. Let me know if you have any questions!

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4/18/2024 12:39:34 am

Staying hydrated and having snacks on hand is always a great idea, especially when you're out and about. It helps keep your energy levels up and ensures you're ready for whatever adventures come your way

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rise of link
7/18/2024 05:21:54 am

Timing is key for the ultimate monarch butterfly encounter. Aim for late morning to early afternoon to catch the midday sun illuminating these majestic creatures as they grace the skies in their mesmerizing flight the view and view of this post is very beautiful and thank you so much for posting this

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9/29/2024 07:27:15 am

Thank you for a great article! While visiting Mexico, I have tentatively planned (tracking flight prices) taking a side trip to the Butterfly sanctuaries 1/2/25-1/4/25. It will be an effort and costly. You are the first article to mention late-Jan/early Feb. I was fully expecting to see many in early Jan. Now I am concerned it will be a wasted trip. If weather plays a role, we could tentatively plan it with everything able to be cancelled, but that seems like a big hassle. As an aside, I plan to fly into MLM or TLC to limit drive time. I think they are the only 2 that can be visited without spending the day in car to get there. Your thoughts on going in Jan and/or my travel plans? Appreciate any advice you can provide.

Reply
Rebecca C.
11/29/2024 11:12:15 am

The "best" time to go varies slightly with each year. This year, they are just now starting to establish small colonies in Sierra Chincua and it seems the arrival is a bit "late" compared with other years. There are various pros and cons with what time you visit but early January is definitely a great time to go! They will have well-established colonies by that time and if you go on a sunny day, they will be fairly active. I've also visited in mid-November and had a great sighting of them! Hope that answers your questions. Let me know if you have any others. Enjoy your trip. I would tell anyone who has the chance to go, to just go for it because we don't know what the following years will bring.

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    Rebecca Chandler
    Garden Educator, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist

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