Mexico’s Monarch Migration: Butterflies, Local Heritage & More

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: After checking in to the hotel and confirming the meeting room at the front desk, take some time to freshen up and relax. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our knowledgeable Group Leader will also serve as our Study Leader on field trips and other group activities, presenting important aspects of Mexican history, culture, traditions, and economy during transfers. Transportation will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the private room of the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking up to 3 miles on city sidewalks and museum, generally flat and uneven. Standing up to 2 hours. Climbing one flight of stairs.

Breakfast: On the scenic terrace of the hotel.

Morning: As the ancient center of the Aztec Empire and the first and most important of Spanish colonial marvels in the New World, Mexico City offers culture and history in a vibrant atmosphere. Today we will explore the most important sites of this fascinating city. We will board our motorcoach with our Group Leader and ride to the more visited section of Chapultepec Park. The origin of Chapultepec Park, one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the world, dates to the Aztecs who planted the first Ahuehuete trees — a few of which are still alive today — near a spring and built an aqueduct that was later destroyed by the Spanish. In addition to its wonderful variety of green spaces, the park contains nine museums, a zoo, an amusement park, lakes, and more. Chapultepec is an important social and cultural destination for local people as well as visitors. Among the many attractions, the park houses the world-famous Anthropology Museum, which we will explore with our expert Group Leader. Leaving the park, we’ll transfer to a taqueria for a traditional Mexican taco lunch.

Lunch: At a local taqueria.

Afternoon: Back on the motorcoach, we will drive along majestic Reforma Boulevard where every roundabout exhibits a monument. We will arrive at the historic Zócalo, the main plaza and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The large plaza is enclosed by the Cathedral, the National Palace, and other majestic colonial buildings. With our Group Leader, we will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, constructed with stones from the destroyed Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. We will also view from atop the recently excavated Templo Mayor archeological site where the base of Tenochtitlan’s main pyramid has been unearthed. Our Group Leader will explain the importance of the imposing National Palace, currently the home of Mexico’s President. Since the days of the Aztecs, the plaza has been and still is the site of political, religious, and social events. It is always busy and lively. The remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy the ongoing activities on your own, join the Aztec dancers or simply people watch. You may choose to relax at the hotel, located around the corner from the plaza.

Dinner: In a local Mexican restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 95 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2.5 miles, gravel paths with slight uphills; standing up to 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will board our motorcoach and leave Mexico City behind driving past the ultra-modern skyscrapers of Santa Fe neighborhood. The Group Leader will give an insight on the rich mestizo culture and the socioeconomic issues of today’s Mexico. We will then reach forested mountains and detour into “Desierto de los Leones” (Desert of the Lions). It was declared a Forest Reserve in 1876 and a National Park in 1917, the first in Mexico and Latin America. It is not a desert nor are there lions! In the 17th century, a Carmelite convent was established in its midst, and the monks, seeking peace for meditation, called the dense forest a “desert” because of its isolation. Leones is a last name linked to the history of the forest. We will arrive at the former convent, admire the setting, the gardens, and patios, and learn its intriguing history as we are led by a local expert though the chapel, kitchen, refectory, monk cells and tunnels.

Lunch: In the restored refectory of the convent.

Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll continue driving through the hills and countryside while trying to sight the snow-covered tips of the volcanos that form the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, ultimately arriving in Valle de Bravo and our hotel. Set in nature, the colonial town and surrounding villages are set on hillsides facing Lake Avandaro. Because of its natural attraction and proximity to Mexico City, the region has become a favorite vacation destination for Mexicans. Located among vegetation and including a golf course, the ample hotel grounds offer relaxing, hiking and strolling opportunities. After some time to freshen up, we will set out with our Group Leader to reach the nearby Velo de Novia (Bridal Veil) waterfall set in a wooded glen. We’ll then return to the hotel for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to relax at the bar with your travel companions, or take advantage of the hotel amenities.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 4 miles in sanctuary, approximately 1-3 hours roundtrip; uphills and downhills on gravely dusty uneven trail; standing up to 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Today we begin our Monarch encounters! In a lecture before we depart the hotel, an expert will help us to fully understand the complex, amazing migration of these beautiful little creatures. Every year, Monarch butterflies migrate over 2,500 miles from the United States and Canada to the Western Sierra Madre mountains in central Mexico, an incredible journey and a fascinating story of survival requiring four distinct generations – each generation with a different life span – to complete the journey. In Mexico, butterflies overwinter on Oyamel fir trees (Abies Religiosa) at elevations of 9,000 to 11,000 feet. in a particular microclimate and ecosystem necessary for their survival. We will depart by motorcoach to Piedra Herrada Sanctuary for a first encounter with the Monarchs. The exact location/altitude of the butterflies varies because the colonies shift according to weather conditions. Access to these remote areas is only by foot; however, the overwhelming sight of millions of butterflies filling the sky rewards the hike. Leaving the motorcoach, we begin the uphill hike. As we approach the Monarchs, small clusters begin to appear until we reach the main colony. The landscape fills with orange and we remain in awe. Sensitive to cool temperatures, these delicate creatures roost at night and on cooler days on tree branches bending and even breaking them with their weight. As the sun warms the atmosphere, they take flight glittering in the sky or posing on flowers; their fluttering can even be heard. When ready, we begin the downhill walk back to the base of the trail where we will have a well-deserved lunch.

Lunch: At a local restaurant. We’ll then return to the hotel and adjourn for the day.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Walking up to 4 miles in sanctuary, approximately 1-3 hours roundtrip; uphills and downhills on graded trail with approximately 400 steps; standing up to 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel and depart Valle de Bravo after breakfast. The motorcoach drive takes us deeper into the mountains into the heart of the Butterfly Reserve. As we drive, the Group Leader will delve on the importance of conservation of the ecosystem. Protection of the overwintering sites began in the 1980s; sanctuaries were established and a biosphere was declared. Finally, in 2008, the mountainous region was declared a Butterfly Reserve World Heritage Site. Deforestation of the Oyamel Fir forests and the diminishing availability of milkweed for Monarchs to feed on and to lay their eggs are the two most important threats to their survival. Aqua farms specializing on rainbow trout production have recently developed within the Reserve. Taking advantage of the fresh clean mountain water to grow the trout, the farms offer a productive low-impact activity. In a visit to a farm, we will learn about the social, economic, and ecological importance of this venture for the communities.

Lunch: At the farm, we’ll have a pond-to-table trout meal.

Afternoon: We will continue to El Rosario – the most important of the Sanctuaries – generally receiving the highest number of butterflies. It is also the most accessible with a well-adapted trail that includes steps to help with the uphill hike. Again, as we reach the colony, we are delighted at the sight of millions of Monarchs. Mazahua indigenous people live in the villages sprinkled throughout the mountains. We will stop in a traditional village to get to know their traditions and lifestyle, see their crafts with unique weaving patterns, and learn about the importance of keeping their language as well as the complex dress of the women – including symbolic earrings – in order to maintain their identity. We will then reach the hotel and check in. The following two overnights are in a ranch set in nature. The rustic yet well-equipped cottages and the charming gathering and dining areas face a lovely garden surrounded by a forest. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy what you like. Stroll in the gardens and the surroundings, swim in the heated pool, schedule a spa, or find the perfect spot to read and relax. Before dinner, we’ll join the Group Leader on a brief walk to see a 16th-century Franciscan chapel.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy the peacefulness of the ranch.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 55 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking up to 4 miles in sanctuary, approximately 1-3 hours roundtrip; uphills and downhills on rough dusty uneven trail; standing up to 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will set out by motorcoach to visit our last sanctuary, Sierra Chincua. Depending on the weather, the time of day, minor changes in migration, and the diversity of the location, each Sanctuary offers a different experience. Sierra Chincua Sanctuary is secluded, slightly away from the beaten path, a more intimate plunge into nature and a more private experience with the butterflies. The site is somewhat more challenging yet the hike in the dense forest with spectacular views are rewarding with the Monarchs always the reward.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: On the return drive, we will stop in the former mining town of Angangueo. Because of its historic importance as a silver mining center in the 18th century, it is included in the listings of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos – Magical Towns – a designation given by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism to towns characterized by a “magical” quality, whether it be their architectural beauty, historical importance, natural wonders, or cultural manifestations. Rows of colorful homes with red-tiled roofs stretch along a very narrow canyon honoring its name: Angangueo, meaning “town between mountains” in the indigenous language. We will get to know its important past as a mining center and stroll along the main street. We then return to the hotel with time on our own to relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: We’ll gather with the Group Leader and fellow participants to share thoughts and any unanswered doubts in regard to our small fluttering friends. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, flat paths, and city sidewalks; standing up to 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will depart the Sierra and the peaceful solitude of the ranch, and head out to Mexico City where we will get acquainted with another attractive niche of the Big City: the Coyoacan neighborhood. On our return drive, we will stop in the city of Toluca to visit the Cosmovitral Jardín Botanico, a unique botanical garden enclosed in over 30,000 square feet of stained glass, featuring the world’s biggest nonreligious stained-glass window. Our Group Leader will lead us through the garden and provide insight into the historical building that began as a market place built in 1909, eventually becoming a botanical garden and art center in the 1970s. The monumental project represents Mexico’s art, culture, history, and nature.

Lunch: In a restaurant in Toluca.

Afternoon: We will drive the last stretch of the program while the Group Leader will impart a lecture on Mexican art, specifically on Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, a leader of the muralism movement. We’ll arrive in Mexico City where we will get to know another of its highlights: Coyoacan, a picturesque colonial neighborhood with a bohemian flair. Restaurants and markets abound around its plazas and cobblestone streets. We will visit Casa Azul, the home-museum of Khalo. We will then walk to the main plaza for time to independently enjoy the atmosphere. You may stroll in the plazas and through the Mexican crafts or produce markets, enter the church and courtyard, visit a local museum, or just sit in a café to people watch. If desired, you may join the Group Leader for an expert-led walk.

Dinner: At a restaurant in Coyoacan. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll board the motorcoach and transfer to a hotel by the Mexico City International Airport to provide easy departures the following morning. We’ll check in and confirm the time for your shuttle to the terminal in the morning. The Group Leader will assist you in arranging your transfer, explaining departure details, and checking your passports, permits, and flight status for the next day. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a shuttle; minimal driving. Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers. Personal travel permits must be returned upon leaving Mexico; the airline will collect them during check-in.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Shuttles are provided at the hotel to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of the Mexico City International Airport for your return flight. We’ll depart independently, and the Group Leader will be available for assistance. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!