El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve
El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve
El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve
5
Nature & Wildlife AreasObservatories & Planetariums
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Located next to the tiny village of El Rosario, this sanctuary is the winter nesting grounds for millions of monarch butterflies that migrate from the U.S. each year.
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Sigal K
Northbrook, IL39 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
I was a bit hesitant to take this tour as there were very scant reviews anywhere online from this year and there are many articles about the dwindling Monarch population in the Bioreserves in Mexico. Also, it is a 3-4 hour drive from Mexico City and requires a day dedicated to this adventure. I am sooo happy I suspended my disbelief and booked a tour with Aztec Explorers. Seeing the monarchs in the small habitat they return to every year is truly a miracle of nature and a bucket list experience.
Arriving at the reserve, you have the option to hike up or take horses. I think if you take the horses you still need to hike a bit. There were families holding babies, a couple of strollers (not recommended) and some older individuals making this climb. It is quite steep and at almost 10,000 feet at the top you definitely feel the altitude. The hike took me about 90 minutes. It can be done more slowly but it is definitely steep and really pretty challenging if you are not used to hiking.
Dubious about the presence of butterflies in the reserve, I was further concerned as you see essentially zero butterflies along the entirety of the path. At the very top, the miracle finally unfolds. The butterflies only cling to the Oyamel fir tres and there are literally thousands of them. The branches look like they have brown splotches on them. However, as soon as the sun shines on a colony of Monarchs, they start the flutter and the branch turns a vivid orange. Then they take flight and there are thousands of skittering monarchs all around. When the cloud cover returns, they fly back to their perch only to repeat this process.
A few tips:
1) bring binoculars
2) film them on slo-mo if your phone has this option
3) Come in February
4) check the weather. They fly above 50 degrees F and only in the sun. Partly cloudy is nice as you get to see the process of leaving and returning to the trees
5) plan on a two hour hike and to arrive around 11-12. If you can, stay up there an hour or two to maximize your chance of seeing the action as it is very weather dependent.
6) go!!! It is an incredible experience.
Arriving at the reserve, you have the option to hike up or take horses. I think if you take the horses you still need to hike a bit. There were families holding babies, a couple of strollers (not recommended) and some older individuals making this climb. It is quite steep and at almost 10,000 feet at the top you definitely feel the altitude. The hike took me about 90 minutes. It can be done more slowly but it is definitely steep and really pretty challenging if you are not used to hiking.
Dubious about the presence of butterflies in the reserve, I was further concerned as you see essentially zero butterflies along the entirety of the path. At the very top, the miracle finally unfolds. The butterflies only cling to the Oyamel fir tres and there are literally thousands of them. The branches look like they have brown splotches on them. However, as soon as the sun shines on a colony of Monarchs, they start the flutter and the branch turns a vivid orange. Then they take flight and there are thousands of skittering monarchs all around. When the cloud cover returns, they fly back to their perch only to repeat this process.
A few tips:
1) bring binoculars
2) film them on slo-mo if your phone has this option
3) Come in February
4) check the weather. They fly above 50 degrees F and only in the sun. Partly cloudy is nice as you get to see the process of leaving and returning to the trees
5) plan on a two hour hike and to arrive around 11-12. If you can, stay up there an hour or two to maximize your chance of seeing the action as it is very weather dependent.
6) go!!! It is an incredible experience.
Written February 4, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sundncr
Washington DC, DC1,128 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
It is about a 3.5 to four hour drive from central Mexico City. If you take traffic into account, it could be more. There are plenty of tolls to pay along the route, so be prepared to pay in Pesos at some locations. Some of the route is on highways and once you cross Toluca, it becomes a narrow two lane route and there are plenty of speed bumps and you cross many small towns where you slow down. The parking lot of the sanctuary is about a mile walk along a steep incline to the entrance. There are many restaurants and souvenir stores along the way. Just politely refuse the call-outs from the stalls. The entrance fee is 100 pesos. From here, the fun starts. Realistically it is a mile and high hike up a steep hill. You can take the horse ride to halfway. It costs 170 pesos one way, around 10 dollars. The horses or mules, are well trained, sure footed, and know how to climb the somewhat treacherous path. The horse guide walks with you. Once you reach the halfway point, you have to climb another 3/4 of a mile up the hills as the butterflies nest at those heights. It took me around a hour and half to navigate the path. Some may do it a lot quicker. Be sure to have good shoes with grip as you may skid along the path. You walk on your own. There is no guide to take you up there. At the top you get to see the butterfly nests on top of trees. If the weather is warm, the butterflies may fly around. It is wonderful sight to see the natural attraction. Specially, after one has climbed this high. There are no water fountains, bathrooms, or vendors along the path. So, be aware of that. There will be plenty of local Mexican tourists and may of the guides may not speak English that well. You may have some difficulty, if you only speak English. There is plenty of security along the way up as there are staff posted every 100 meters.
After the hike, you can enjoy some delicious local food and drinks at may of the restaurants on the way back.
After the hike, you can enjoy some delicious local food and drinks at may of the restaurants on the way back.
Written January 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Godwin L
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Solo
Amazing experience, definitely recommend. A few tips:
Try to book more than one day. The butterflies only fly when exposed to sunlight so if you only have one chance and it’s cloudy you miss the best part.
As someone who has lived in Mexico and speak reasonable Spanish, I still had some difficulty taking the local bus out of Mexico City (there’s a direct one from Central Autobuses Poniente run by Zina bus), so it’s a good idea to hire a guide. I hired Oscar Reyes whom I found from a previous review here and would definitely recommend him. He grew up in Angangueo, speaks good English, and will facilitate everything for you - helping book the bus or picking you up directly from Mexico City if you prefer. Contact is rrosco@live.com or by Whats App at +52 715 127 2308.
Stay downtown in Angangueo! The town is picturesque and definitely worth exploring between your excursions to the sanctuaries, and offers a true Mexican experience very different from CDMX. There is one simple but charmingly adequate hotel run by locals, the Hotel Jardin Angangueo, right in the town square, and there’s a great taco stand in front to boot.
Try to book more than one day. The butterflies only fly when exposed to sunlight so if you only have one chance and it’s cloudy you miss the best part.
As someone who has lived in Mexico and speak reasonable Spanish, I still had some difficulty taking the local bus out of Mexico City (there’s a direct one from Central Autobuses Poniente run by Zina bus), so it’s a good idea to hire a guide. I hired Oscar Reyes whom I found from a previous review here and would definitely recommend him. He grew up in Angangueo, speaks good English, and will facilitate everything for you - helping book the bus or picking you up directly from Mexico City if you prefer. Contact is rrosco@live.com or by Whats App at +52 715 127 2308.
Stay downtown in Angangueo! The town is picturesque and definitely worth exploring between your excursions to the sanctuaries, and offers a true Mexican experience very different from CDMX. There is one simple but charmingly adequate hotel run by locals, the Hotel Jardin Angangueo, right in the town square, and there’s a great taco stand in front to boot.
Written February 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex M
9 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
El Rosario is definitely the best butterfly sanctuary to visit, but that can make it very crowded. I’d recommend going early, like 9 or 10am when they’re opening because by the time my family and I left around 1pm, the place was packed with people. We also secured a guide to take us up and down the mountain from our hotel (Don Bruno, incredible place) so it was nice getting insight about the town Angangueo and the sanctuary. Also highly recommend taking the horse ride up the mountain. Really cool experience that only costs $100 pesos ($5) but then hiking down was a nice way to enjoy the forest too. And while we got to see some butterflies flying around, the guide told us that they fly way more when it is warmer. There’s also an insane overlook on the road up to the sanctuary that’s a must see stop. It’s like a view from an airplane, it was so beautiful. Overall, a really fun and once in a lifetime experience!
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian L
Atascadero, CA19 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
Our experience wasn’t as great as some of the other reviewers. We arrived in the morning, and it seems that with your entry fee, you get a one-on-one guide. We were excited: two of us and two guides! As we began walking in silence, I decided to ask my guide some questions. She provided one word answers, and didn’t elaborate on anything. In fact, she said nothing whatsoever about the butterflies. My wife’s guide was silent. I had been expecting some explanation of where we were, so I asked, “why is the number of butterflies so much greater than in previous years?” She replied, “because there are more.” Once we were half way up the hill, she finally started talking. She wanted to let me know that if I wanted to, I could pay her $200 pesos, as guides don’t get paid. So, this was the full extent of the information provided by the guide. You could tell she was a little embarrassed to be mentioning this, as she was kind of hushed and looked back a few times at the other silent guide. Once we arrived, they let us sit for 20 minutes and wait. The sun was starting to hit the butterflies, and 3 had taken flight. Then it was announced that we had to leave. No one else was there, so it’s not clear why we had to leave, but we returned and I tried to make small talk with the guide since it felt so always in silence. It was a bit disappointing to have this experience with the guides and not to be allowed to wait for the butterflies to take flight. She said they would fly around 10am. It was 9:45 when we turned around.
Written December 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keickhoff55
Yankton, SD4 contributions
Jan 2022
The El Rosario reserve is beautiful, and well maintained. The people are friendly and anxious to help you enjoy your time there. We chose to rent horses and were glad we did, it is a 3 kilometer hike back to where the monarchs chose to spend the winter, and the horseback ride led by our guide added to the experience. You can not get up lose to the masses of butterflies in the trees, but rightfully so, as you don’t want to disturb there wintering grounds.
Written February 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura D
Mill Valley, CA17 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
Friends and I stayed in zitacuaro and drove to El Rosario. We made sure to have a good breakfast and chose to hike up to the monarch wintering grounds. We are all in our mid 60s to 70s and in shape and easily did the hike in an hour or so. Sunny day and perfect temp for a hike (a bit cool). Public bathroom at the bottom was very clean. 80 peso to enter the reserve.
We arrived at the top around 11 and stayed for over 2 hours to allow the sun to waken the butterflies deep in the Pine trees. Truly magical experience!!
(Tip: wear white hat or shirt if you want monarchs to land on you)
We arrived at the top around 11 and stayed for over 2 hours to allow the sun to waken the butterflies deep in the Pine trees. Truly magical experience!!
(Tip: wear white hat or shirt if you want monarchs to land on you)
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penny S
1 contribution
Feb 2020
To see this many Monarch butterflies in clumps, before they are warm enough to fly, and then take off in flight, is pure magic and unforgettable.
My advice:
1. Dress in layers as it is chilly in the morning and after an hour of walking, you will feel much warmer!
2. B
ring a small pair of binoculars. A traveler loaned me his while we were gazing at the clumps of butterflies and it gives a whole different perspective.
3. Do hire a guide, a paid guide who speaks Spanish. The guides have a deep love and respect for the monarchs. Our guide David, picked us up at the hotel and drove us to the two different locations for several days and took care of the entrance fees etc. He said he would have picked us up at the airport if we had contacted him. Honestly the hardest part of the trip was travel from the airport to the hotel. David Hernandez Reyes was wonderful. Contact him if you wish at davidguiamonarca@hotmail.com. +52 1 715 123 9007. His fees are very reasonable.
4. It is really a lot of walking. Take it slow and enjoy it! You can ride a horse at some locations.
My advice:
1. Dress in layers as it is chilly in the morning and after an hour of walking, you will feel much warmer!
2. B
ring a small pair of binoculars. A traveler loaned me his while we were gazing at the clumps of butterflies and it gives a whole different perspective.
3. Do hire a guide, a paid guide who speaks Spanish. The guides have a deep love and respect for the monarchs. Our guide David, picked us up at the hotel and drove us to the two different locations for several days and took care of the entrance fees etc. He said he would have picked us up at the airport if we had contacted him. Honestly the hardest part of the trip was travel from the airport to the hotel. David Hernandez Reyes was wonderful. Contact him if you wish at davidguiamonarca@hotmail.com. +52 1 715 123 9007. His fees are very reasonable.
4. It is really a lot of walking. Take it slow and enjoy it! You can ride a horse at some locations.
Written July 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LvnLaVidaLoca
Dallas, TX73 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
You have already heard how wonderful this place is so here are some tips. If you take the collective up, try and get the driver’s number so you can text him when he will return. There is no set schedule. The butterflies come out when it is sunny so keep an eye out for the weather (no joke). The venders will swarm you when you leave the sanctuary so be prepared and be firm but nice. They are trying to make a living. The food was delicious at several places that we tried. I assume they are pretty much all good. Ask the sanctuary guide questions they are a wealth of knowledge. Dress in layers, you will get hot, cold, hot, cold. We went twice. Once we rode horses and once we walked it. Horses are nice if you’re in a rush but you don’t get the guide information. Enjoy your time!
Written December 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
grip652
Collierville, TN733 contributions
Jan 2020
We went to see the winter home of Monarch butteflies and we were not dissapointed. Clumps of resting Monarchs hung from trees, covered tree trunks of the Oyemel trees. They warmed as the sun hit them. For us, this did not happen in a huge burst of thousands of butterflies, There were hundreds at a time, first here, then there and they all floated (towards plants with nectar) like wonderful orange snow flakes. We were there on a Monday and a Wednesday and it was not crowded. One day a group of school children came--they walked all the way rather than taking horses like we did. Honestly, I was one to lag behind because even though I had gotten to Mexico a day before our tour started, I could not shake the affects of the high altitude and huffed and puffed for the twenty more minutes that it took to walk to the viewing spot. Please keep that in mind. Stopping to catch your breath gives you time to look around at the plants and listen to the birds, but if you are on a tight schedule with a group, you need to push on. Be sure to carry plenty of water. Also a scarf for your nose and mouth when riding the horses because they kick up a fine, powdery dust. The first time we walked down after our viewing, the second time we rode horses. At the complex there is a souvenir shop, but you will be approached by children selling a wide variety of items before you get anywhere near the exit. There are restrooms here for 5 pesos a lady will provide toilet paper, and places to buy snack items. The prices are good, and it's nice to help boost the local economy by spending a few pesos. If you like to see wildlife in its natural habitat, you will enjoy seeing the Monarchs here and putting their resting place in perspective with its surroundings.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it feasible to drive from Mexico City to the reserve and back in one day? We're comfortable with the driving time and distance, but unsure if the roads between the two are safe to travel at night. Thank you!
Written January 24, 2024
Odyssey530713
Chambly, Canada
Hi, I've tried to find the answers on the many questions/answers here, but couldn't find it. What is the best way to get to the sanctuary from Mexico International Airport? Did some of you rent a car and drove? Thanks
Written December 19, 2023
Is the Sanctuary open Christmas Eve, Christmas or the day after Christmas?
Written October 17, 2023
My family and I are planning a trip here. When is the best time to visit? And where is the best place to stay and how do we get here? Thank you so much!
Written May 25, 2021
The butterflies only visit the reserve in the winter. We were there last February and it was spectacular. Hotel Casa Iturbe in Zitacuaro was a fantastic hotel. Small, safe, great pool and great breakfast.
Written August 9, 2021
My husband and I, 60 and 66 have booked a trip to the Monarch migration. Can someone please tell me just how strenuous this hike to the sanctuary is? What should we expect? Do we have to be in top notch condition? Thanks.
Written June 21, 2020
Can we drive ourselves easily from lake Chapala/aijic. Are the roads safe? We are hoping that mid January will be a good time
Written December 26, 2019
We are hosting monarchs at our home in Texas - we currently have over 30 caterpillars! Our 4 year old is completely into monarchs and we want to bring her to El Rosario. Where should we fly into, where do we stay, how do we get there?
Written June 22, 2019
It is an amazing experience! When we went, we flew into Mexico City but we were also visiting the pyramids. So I guess it depends on your travel plans. Visitors can fly into Morelia, Toluca, or Mexico City. If you are just visiting the butterfly biosphere, then flying into Morelia or Toluca would be closer.
I have a website that gives more information about how to see the monarch migration. Where to stay, how to get there, and more of those logistics.
Feel free to send me an email or message and I can pass that along to you. I can't post the link on this thread.
Good luck! I hope you get to go! We took our 2 kids last year and they loved it. It is an experience we will never forget.
Written June 24, 2019
Do you recommend the horse ride for people over 65 with no experience riding horses?
Written April 8, 2019
It’s really whatever you are comfortable with. Keep in mind that it is a long walk at a high elevation.
A guide does lead each horse at a walking pace.
I would choose to ride each time. It saves on time and effort. And it puts money in the pockets of the local people.
You can always ride up and choose to walk down if you didn’t like it. You could even stop and dismount the horse at anytime if you are uncomfortable. Nothing is set in stone and the cost is so minimal.
I hope this helps.
Written April 8, 2019
I am in Morelia. Can I go there by bus? How? And if join an eng tour, any recommendation? Price range please. Thx
Written March 4, 2019
Hi there.. sorry I got your question this late.. I was traveling... hope you got to do it.... but yes... you can get the bus from Morelia...
Written March 29, 2019
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