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Mexico

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

Program No. 24845RJ
Come to the mountains southwest of Mexico City for the Monarch butterflies, stay for the opportunities to learn about art, natural wonders and local life!
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Walking/HikingSmall GroupAnimals & Wildlife
Length
8 days
Rating (4.67)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,899

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
18 meals ( 7B, 6L, 5D )
10 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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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 with the front desk, take some time to freshen up and relax. 6:00 p.m. Gather in the hotel lobby to register with the program staff and walk a short distance to a local restaurant. Settle in a private room for orientation and the welcome dinner. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will receive a welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, and other important information. We will then 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. For meals designated on your own, you may join the Group Leader at a designated restaurant, if desired. 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. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet and instructions from the Group Leader at the hotel front desk when you check in.
Dinner:
In a local restaurant
Evening:
Return to the hotel, 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 2 miles on city sidewalks and museums, generally flat and uneven, at an elevation of 7,200 ft. 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. We will board our motorcoach and begin to explore this fascinating city. We’ll ride along majestic Reforma Boulevard where every roundabout exhibits a monument, to reach 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 Chapultepec Castle sitting on a hilltop, now a museum, in which we will have an expert-led exploration to learn about its intricate history and admire the stunning view from atop. We will then walk through a lively section of the park to reach a botanic garden. Back on our motorcoach, we will ride a short distance to a “taqueria” for a traditional Mexican taco lunch.
Lunch:
In a local restaurant
Afternoon:
Back on the motorcoach, return to the city center to get to know the zocalo. Led by the Group Leader, we will enter the Metropolitan Cathedral, constructed with stones from the destroyed Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. We will view from atop the recently excavated Templo Mayor archeological site where the base of Tenochtitlan’s main pyramid has been unearthed. We will also learn 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 and the evening are free to explore on your own. The group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
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 transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 95 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles at altitudes of 8,000 ft on 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 socio-economic issues of today’s Mexico. We will then reach forested mountains and detour into “Desierto de los Leones” (Desert of the Lions). 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 ex-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 ex-refectory of the convent.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll continue the drive through hills and countryside while trying to sight the snow-covered tips of the volcanos that form the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. During the drive, our Group Leader will lecture on the incredible journey of the Monarchs to fully understand the complex, amazing migration of these beautiful little creatures. We will thus arrive in Valle de Bravo, an attractive mountainous region where homes, resorts and villages dot the steep hillsides. Because of the area’s natural beauty and proximity to Mexico City, it has become a favorite vacation destination for Mexicans. Set in nature and including a golf course, the ample hotel grounds of our resort hotel offer relaxing, hiking and strolling opportunities. After some time to freshen up, we will set out with our Group Leader to reach the near-by Velo de Novia (Bridal Veil) waterfall hidden 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 / lounge with your travel companions or take advantage of the hotel installations.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time on winding mountain roads. Walking up to 6 miles in sanctuary at altitudes of 9,000 to 11,500 ft, generally 3-4 hours roundtrip with steep uphill and downhill on gravely uneven trail, may ride horses for the uphill: standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Today we begin our Monarch encounters! 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, possibly riding horses to ease the uphill. 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.
Afternoon:
On the return drive to the hotel, we will get to know the charming colonial town of Valle de Bravo and have some free time to wander along its cobblestone streets and traditional Mexican plaza. We’ll then return to the hotel and adjourn for the day. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions for dinner. Please note that the period scheduled as free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 120 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time, partly winding mountain roads. Walking up to 4 miles in sanctuary at altitudes of 9,000 to 11,500 ft, generally 2-3 hours round trip; steep up hills and downhills on graded dusty trail; may ride horses for the uphill; standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and depart for Sierra Chincua Sanctuary after breakfast. The motorcoach drive takes us deeper into the Sierra Madre Mountains into the heart of the Butterfly Reserve. As we drive, the Group Leader will delve on the importance of conservation of the ecosystem. Monarchs face severe threats to their survival. Along their migration path, the diminishing availability of milkweed needed to feed on and to lay their eggs is reducing the population. Protecting their overwintering sites in Mexico from logging and irregular land use has also been a challenge. Protection began in the 1980s when sanctuaries were established and a biosphere was declared. Finally, in 2008, the mountainous region which houses the majority of the overwintering sites was recognized as the Monarch Butterfly Reserve World Heritage Site. The recent changes in climate have added another obstacle to their migration pattern. Arriving in Sierra Chincua, we will have a quick lunch before setting out to pursue the colony.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in Sierra Chincua
Afternoon:
Sierra Chincua Sanctuary is secluded, slightly away from the beaten path, a more intimate plunge into nature. A hike in a dense forest is rewarded by a more private experience with the butterflies. Along the drive to reach our hotel, 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. 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. Our Group Leader will lecture on its important past as a mining center, then lead a brief walk along the main street and plaza 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.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy the peacefulness of the ranch.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 45 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 5 miles in sanctuary at altitudes of 9,000 to 11,500 ft, generally 3-4 hours round trip, steep uphill and downhill on graded trail with approximately 600 steps; may ride horses for the uphill; standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out by motorcoach to visit El Rosario, our last sanctuary visit. Depending on the weather, the time of day, minor changes in migration, and the diversity of the location, each sanctuary offers a different experience. El Rosario has been regarded as the main sanctuary, generally receiving the highest number of butterflies and of visitors, as well as restaurants and shops at the base. The trail includes steps and handrail for the initial part of the hike. Butterflies slowly begin to appear fluttering and drinking in puddles along the way, increasing as we reach the colony where we are again delighted at the sight of millions of Monarchs filling the air or covering the trees.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant at the base of the sanctuary
Afternoon:
We then return to the hotel. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Stroll in the gardens and the surroundings, swim in the heated pool, schedule a spa, or find the perfect spot to read and relax.
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 at altitudes of 7,200 ft; 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 – Coyoacan neighborhood. On the 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, the world’s biggest non-religious stained-glass window. Our Group Leader will lead us through the garden, explain the stained-glass representations and provide insight into the historic building that began as a marketplace built in 1909, eventually becoming a botanical garden and art center in the 1970s. The monumental project combines 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 Frida. We will then walk to the main plaza for free 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 to arrange your transfer, explain departure details, and check your passports, permits and flights 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. 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!
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