Experience the phenomenal Monarch Butterflies as they overwinter in the oyamel fir tree forests in the mountains west of Mexico City between November and March each year.
A customized tour makes your visit to the butterfly sanctuaries an effortless journey, enabling you and your companions to fully absorb the experience of this remarkable migration.
The butterflies arrive in November and leave in March
Our travel partner has been helping visitors to enjoy the Monarch Butterfly sanctuaries for over 15 years and their custom-made itineraries are underpinned by a depth of experience and close working relationships with local guides and travel specialists, as well as the local community leaders that run and caretake the protected butterfly sanctuaries.
The Monarch butterflies begin to arrive in Mexico during November and leave around mid-March. Peak viewing season runs from mid-January to late February—this is when the butterflies are most active. The oyamel forests are situated at elevation of up to 10,000 feet above sea level in the mountains west of Mexico City. Ascent on horseback is available for those who may need assistance with the climb.
An outstanding customized tour to the butterfly sanctuaries
A customized tour arrangement can begin in Morelia (Airport: MLM) or Mexico City (Airport: MEX). These carefully crafted tours provide a guide and transportation exclusively assigned to your party.
You will be met personally at the airport by your English-speaking guide and driver, and swiftly transported to your accommodations, so that you can settle-in and begin to get acclimatized the locality and altitude.
Every day of your tour, the guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin the day’s activities. The guide will also accompany you for your overnight stay near the butterfly sanctuaries.
Custom tours are offered with varying durations from three-to-six nights’ stay, to flex with your available schedule and budget. Tours can begin in Mexico City, or Morelia—as you prefer. Shorter itineraries of three nights’ stay focus primarily on a visit to one butterfly sanctuary, whereas the longer 6-night+ tours enable you to visit two or three sanctuaries and take in additional tours in the locality.
Monarch butterfly tours starting in Mexico City
Monarch butterfly tours starting in Mexico City include:
- Overnight stay in the historic downtown area of Mexico City
- Visit to the fresh and vibrant forested lakeside area of Valle de Bravo
- A visit to one, two or three sanctuaries, depending on your time scale, with at least one overnight stay near one of the three sanctuaries
- Ascent to the sanctuaries on horseback is available by request, at an additional cost
- You can optionally start in Mexico City and end in Morelia, or vice-versa
Day tour options for extra days:
- Take a guided tour of the historic center of Mexico City and visit the outstanding Anthropological Museum;
- Visit the holy shrine of La Virgen de Guadalupe and take a private trip out to the spectacular Teotihuacán archeological site;
- Discover more of Mexico City with a visit to the bohemian Coyoacán art district and the floating gardens of Xochimilco
Tour prices starting in Mexico City
Prices for customized butterfly tour packages starting in Mexico City start from US$875 per person, depending on duration, and based on two people sharing a room. There are surcharges for single-occupancy rooms and solo travelers. Optional add-on day tours and tour customizations around Mexico City and Morelia can be quoted and arrange by request. Prices are subject to change. Please request a personalized quote from our travel partner by completing the request form below.
Monarch butterfly tours starting in Morelia
Monarch butterfly tours starting in Morelia include:
- Overnight stay in the historic city of Morelia
- Visit to two or three butterfly sanctuaries, depending on your time scale, with at least one overnight stay near one of the three sanctuaries
- Ascent to the sanctuaries on horseback is available by request, at an additional cost
- You can optionally start in Morelia and end in Mexico City, or vice-versa
Day tour options for extra days:
- Enjoy a tour of the fascinating and insightful folk-art villages around lake Patzcuaro;
- Visit the ancient and mysterious Purépecha archeological site of TzinTunTzan;
- Take a historic walking tour of the regal colonial city of Morelia;
- Watch as copper is formed into art and homewares and buy unique pieces of copperware in the village of Santa Clara del Cobre
Tour prices starting in Morelia
Prices for butterfly tour packages starting in Morelia start from US$1,045 per person, depending on duration, and based on two people sharing a room.
There are surcharges for single-occupancy rooms and solo travelers. Optional add-on day tours and tour customizations around Mexico City and Morelia can be quoted and arrange by request.
Prices illustrated are subject to change. Please request a personalized quote from our travel partner by completing the request form below.
What your butterfly tour includes and excludes
Regardless of your tour’s start point or duration, your package always includes:
- being met personally with transfers to and from the airport;
- lodging at hotels that have been carefully chosen by our travel partner;
- a private driver and guide to the butterfly sanctuaries;
- entrance fees to the sanctuaries; and
- your morning breakfasts and in-tour transportation.
Tour package prices exclude
- your flights (or other transportation) to the start point in Mexico City or Morelia;
- meals other than your morning breakfast at the hotel(s);
- tips for the guide, driver, hotel and restaurant staff; and
- trip insurance.
Make a Monarch Butterflies tour request
Complete the request form below and receive a quote for a customized tour to visit the phenomenal Monarch butterflies in Mexico.
