Monarch butterflies are the only type of butterfly that migrates to Mexico during the fall, therefore, it the most famous butterfly in Mexico as it is the only one that you are able to see in their natural habitat. Therefore, I decided to visit the sanctuary while visiting Mexico City.
The monarch butterfly is native to North America, and it has a very recognizable pattern of black and orange with white spots. The butterfly was named after King William III of England as he was known as the Prince of Orange.
The monarch butterfly resides in different forests depending on the season during summer on the West Coast of California and during autumn in Central Mexico.
The southern migration starts between September and October with an estimated population of 500,000 monarch butterflies and they arrive in November to their roosting sites in Central México.
The population of monarch butterflies from southern Canada and United States migrate to the sanctuaries of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve located a long the pine-oak forest in Michoacán State in México.
The curious fact is that no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip as female monarch lay their eggs for a subsequent generation during the northward migration. The annual migratory cycle involves four generations with the generation going southward living eight times longer than their parents and grandparents.
The northern migration starts between March and May with the initial wave of the migration being the offsprings of the monarch that have overwintered in situ. The lifespan of the monarch butterflies is two months, therefore, the first generation leaving the overwintering sites only migrate as far as Texas and Oklahoma. The second generation, third and fourth generation return to their breeding location in the United States and Canada in the spring.
The visit to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve was done as a driving day trip departing from Mexico City.
The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is located in Michoacan State and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2008 in the category of wildlife refuge, and was declared a Biosphere Reserve since 1980. The reserve is located in the trans-Mexican volcanic belt pine-oak forest ecoregion on the border between Michoacan State and Mexico State, which is around 100km northwest of Mexico City.
Researchers discovered this area in 1975 but is unknown when this migration started. The reserve is located on the highest mountains of the state, including a peak that reaches 2,700 meters above sea level (masl).
There is a vast fauna in this area including white-tailed deer, coyotes, long-tailed weasels, grey foxes, rabbits, ravens, vultures, owls, hummingbirds, reptiles, and amphibians.
There reserve consists of 14 major butterfly’s colonies located in rugged forested mountains accounting for more than half of the colonies of the monarch butterflies from easter USA and Canada. The population is estimated of up to a billion individuals during the winter season with eight out of the 14 colonies located in protected areas.
Only five colonies are opened to the public and they are located two in Michoacan State which are Sierra Chincua (Angangueo) and El Rosario (Ocampo); and three in Mexico State which are La Mesa, Piedra Herrada and El Capulin. They all receive visitors between November and March.
Our trip started after breakfast and we left Mexico City around 10am. The drive took around 3 hours and we arrived at Angangueo around 1pm.
Angangueo is located in the far easter Michoacan State in central Mexico. It is best known for its mining history and the location of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. The town was founded in late 18th century and after the mining industry gave out tourism raise due to the proximity to both butterfly sanctuaries in the state. It is considered a Magic Town (Pueblo Mágico) as it is the classic mining town in Mexico with great churches, red clay houses and evergreen forest.
Angangueo is best known for the monarch butterflies as it has a festival in February focusing on promoting awareness of the butterfly habitat including food, music, dance, art exhibitions and handicrafts.
After a short break in the city centre, we arrived at the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary around 2pm.
The Sierra Chincua Sanctuary is a research facility dedicated to the monarch butterfly and a nursery for reforestation. Although the most notably sanctuary in the area is located in El Rosario, we decided to visit the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary as it has a handicraft and food market, as well as an excellent background information about the centre and the butterflies.
After paying the entrance fee, I decided to hire a horse for the ride as it was a 2km uphill hiking to the roosting area.
The roosting area is a remote area within the Chincua mountains at an altitude of 2,400 to 3,600 masl.
After a very long ride, we arrived at the roosting place for the monarch butterflies around 3.20pm. As this is a reserve area, the only way to reach this place is with the help of the guide. The guide is there to help you find the roosting ground and to see the butterflies up close. There are restrictions about accessing the roosting place to avoid disturbing them, so you are not too close.
The guide carefully picked a death butterfly from the ground as those are the only ones that you can see up close. However, you are not allowed to remove them from the sanctuary as they help the next generation.
The sensation of being surrounded by thousands of butterflies is majestic as you do not know where the roost starts, and the tree ends. You are only able to see that the tree has butterflies as the cluster morphs with the autumn colours of the trees, when the butterflies decided to change locations and fly.
After a great photographic session, we decided that it was time to return to the research facility. We left the roosting area around 4pm and arrived at the entrance around 5pm.
We decided that the first order of business was to have lunch. However, since shopping was more important, I had a fast lunch with my parents and left them while I did a lot of shopping as I have been a butterfly fan for many years, and this was the place to buy.
After an hour shopping, we decided to return to Mexico City and on the way have a substantial dinner. We arrived at my parents’ home around 8pm.
The monarch butterfly has a special place in my heart as I am a butterfly fan, and this is the only butterfly that roost in Mexico. I also think that their structure and pattern are unique.
Due to the illegal forestry the butterflies are moving from the tourist locations to more seclude areas making the sites difficult to reach. However, it is important to understand that the area is a sanctuary and as all sanctuaries they need to be treated with respect if we want the butterfly to continue migrating to Mexico.
There are many conservation efforts, however, information about the butterflies is insufficient as they do not know the effective size of the reserve and also depends on the habitats across North America. However, you can always contribute by keeping the area free of clutter and be mindful when arriving to the roosting areas.
Therefore, if you go to any Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Mexico respect the area and remember:
1. Do not try to reach on your own as you may disturbed their habitat more than required so only attempt to visit with a guide.
2. Do not take the butterfly as a souvenir. Let the guide pick it up from the floor and then make sure it is returned to their location.
3. Do not buy any souvenirs made with death butterflies as this is illegal according to Mexican law.
I love butterflies and see them in their natural habitat is a sight that I highly recommend and if you keep the area clutter free, the sanctuary will last for many generations.
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