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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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Start
Walking/HikingSmall GroupAnimals & Wildlife
Length
8 days
Rating (4.91)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,099
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
8 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 dynamic setting. 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 on our way to reach the most 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 (moctezuma cypress) trees near a spring. Some of these ancient trees are still alive today. The Aztecs also constructed an aqueduct here, which was later destroyed by the Spanish. In addition to its lush green spaces, the park is home to nine museums, a zoo, an amusement park, lakes, and more. Chapultepec is a favorite social and cultural destination for local people as well as visitors. One of the park’s main attractions is Chapultepec Castle, perched on a hilltop. Originally built as a summer residence for the Viceroy of Spain, the castle has served various purposes over the centuries and, since 1939, has housed the National Museum of History. With our expert Group Leader, we will explore the museum, delve into Mexico’s complex history, and admire the breathtaking view from above. We will then walk through a lively section of the park to enjoy its diverse vegetation and relaxing atmosphere. Afterward, we’ll reboard our motorcoach for a short ride to a taquería, where we’ll experience 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 110 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking up to 1 mile on gravel generally flat paths at altitudes of 8,000 ft; 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. As we approach the region of the butterfly sanctuaries, our Group Leader will delve into the importance of conserving 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. We will then arrive in Coatepec, where 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. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration. Stroll in the gardens and the surroundings, swim in the heated pool, schedule a spa, or find the perfect spot to read and relax. Regather for dinner at the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy the peacefulness of the ranch.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 65 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time (round trip) on winding mountain roads. Hiking up to 4 miles in sanctuary at altitudes of 9,000 to 11,000 ft, generally 2-3 hours round trip with approximately 800 ft altitude gain; gravely uneven uphill trail with some steep stretches. Riding horses can be an included option for part of the trail.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Today we will depart by motorcoach to Sierra Chincua for our first encounter with the Monarchs. Slightly away from the beaten path, the secluded Sierra Chincua Sanctuary provides an intimate plunge into nature. 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. The exact location and altitude of the butterflies varies because the colonies shift according to weather conditions. Leaving the motorcoach, we begin the 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, we remain in awe, our hike is rewarded! 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 at the base of the sanctuary.
Afternoon:
On our return drive to the hotel, we will drive past the colorful ex mining town of Angangueo set in a narrow canyon. At the hotel, you will again have some time for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Regather for dinner at the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 3,5 hours riding time mostly on winding mountain roads. Hiking up to 5 miles in sanctuary at altitudes of 9,000 to 11,000 ft, generally 3-4 hours round trip with up to 1,400 ft. altitude gain; gravely uneven uphill trail with steep stretches and approximately 500 steps. Riding horses can be an included option for part of the trail.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and depart by motorcoach for El Rosario Sanctuary for a second opportunity to be surrounded by Monarchs. 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 handrails 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. May ride horses to ease the uphill. Returning to the base, lunch awaits.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in El Rosario
Afternoon:
We will then board our motorcoach and continue to Valle de Bravo, an attractive mountainous region with a lake where homes, resorts and villages nestle along 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, the ample hotel grounds of our resort hotel offer relaxing, hiking and strolling opportunities.
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.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; walking up to 2 miles at altitudes of 7,500 feet on gravel paths and rustic stone city sidewalks with uphills; standing up to 1 hour; climb one flight of stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we’ll set off on foot for an invigorating walk through the lush, forested trails leading to waterfalls. We will see Velo de Novia waterfall whose name translates to Bridal Veil, inspired by its delicate, misty cascade After our morning excursion, we’ll return to the hotel to enjoy a relaxing lunch.
Lunch:
At the hotel
Afternoon:
The top of the afternoon is yours to unwind—whether you prefer a tranquil moment by the pool, a refreshing visit to the spa, or strolling in the hotel grounds, this is your time to enjoy at your own pace. After regrouping, we’ll board our motorcoach for a scenic drive to the charming colonial town of Valle de Bravo known for its cobblestone streets, red-tiled roofs, and a traditional Mexican plaza. Upon arrival, our Group Leader will lead us through the market, always colorful and varied. Free time follows to discover local artisan shops, quaint cafés, or simply people watch and enjoy the atmosphere. Dinner is on your own to choose a restaurant of your preference. If you’d like recommendations, your Group Leader will be happy to provide suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own in town
Evening:
Meet your Group Leader at the designated site. We’ll then return to the hotel by motorcoach and adjourn for the day. 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 feet; standing up to 1 hour.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will leave behind the Sierra and the peaceful solitude of the hotel and head out to Mexico City. Along the way 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 largest non-religious stained-glass window. Our Group Leader will lead us through the garden, giving insight into the stained-glass representations and the building’s rich history. Originally constructed as a marketplace in 1909, eventually transformed into 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 continue our final stretch to Mexico City. 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. In the Big City, we will get acquainted with one of its attractive niches – Coyoacan - a picturesque colonial neighborhood with a bohemian flair. Our visit to Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo’s home-turned-museum, will offer a glimpse into the artist’s life. We will then walk to the main plaza for free time to independently enjoy the ambiance. You may stroll in the plazas, step inside the historic church and courtyard, or taste a unique, exotic ice cream.
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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