Monarch Butterfly Migration in Mexico: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Join us as we experience the monarch migration in Mexico, we share how we did it so you can plan your once-in-a-lifetime adventure too! Link to guide we used: https://learningtotravel.com/monarchtour

Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies from across North America travel thousands of miles to just 14 small sites in the high-altitude oyamel fir forests of central Mexico. This incredible migration is one of nature’s most extraordinary events and in this video, we take you along as we witness it in person at the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just a few hours from Mexico City.

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Our journey begins before dawn in Mexico City, meeting our tour group for a four-hour drive into the mountains. Along the way, we pass through small Mexican towns, fog-covered valleys, and winding roads before arriving at the El Rosario sanctuary gates. Here, local vendors sell walking sticks, crafts, and hot food which a warm welcome before the serious hiking begins.

Guided by Peter from Azteca Travel Tours (https://learningtotravel.com/monarcht..., we learn about the oyamel fir trees that make this region perfect for overwintering monarchs. These trees are strong, flexible, and able to support the weight of hundreds of butterflies clustered together for warmth. We also discover how the colony’s location can shift overnight, making a local guide essential.

The hike to the day’s butterfly colony takes about 75 minutes, climbing steps and dirt trails at high elevation. Along the way, Peter points out flowers that provide nectar and water for the monarchs, as well as facts about their migration. The butterflies need sunlight to fly, and we were fortunate after having our first trip canceled due to cold weather and snow, this day dawned bright and clear.

As we approach the colony, silence is requested. The forest atmosphere is reverent. Then, around midday, sunlight hits the clustered butterflies, and the air seems to turn orange. Millions take flight, filling the air with a sound like gentle rain, the rustle of countless wings.

The monarch butterfly migration in Mexico is even more remarkable when you understand the science behind it. The monarchs you see in winter are part of a “super generation” that lives up to nine months, long enough to travel from Canada or the United States to Mexico, overwinter, and then begin the journey north. It takes three to four generations to complete the full annual cycle. Even more incredible, none of these butterflies have ever been to Mexico before, yet they return to the same forests as their great-great-grandparents. How they navigate so precisely is still a mystery, though scientists know they use the sun and an internal magnetic compass.

We also learn about the two main monarch populations in North America:

Eastern population: overwinters in central Mexico and migrates through the eastern U.S. and Canada.

Western population: overwinters along the California coast.

Sadly, the species is in decline. Since the 1990s, the eastern population has dropped by more than 80% and the western by over 95%. As of December 2023, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists monarchs as vulnerable, though protections vary by country. In Mexico, monarchs have special legal status, and efforts are underway to protect the remaining 2% of oyamel forest.

Conservation is needed across their entire migratory range. Monarchs depend on milkweed, the only plant where they lay eggs and the only food their caterpillars eat. Habitat loss and herbicide use have drastically reduced milkweed in the U.S. and Canada, but communities and individuals are planting native milkweed and supporting pollinator-friendly habitats to help reverse the trend.

For travelers, visiting the monarch sanctuaries supports local economies and conservation. The best time to visit is late November through early March, with peak activity in January and February when sunny days trigger the most butterfly flight. Arriving in the late morning as the sun warms the forest offers the best chance to see the spectacle.

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the monarch butterfly migration Mexico, this video will show you exactly what to expect, from the journey into the mountains to the moment millions of wings fill the air. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (Michoacán)

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

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