Monarch Butterfly (Morelia)
Morelia – Monarch butterfly – Zitacuaro – Patzcuaro – Morelia
Welcome to discover the real wonder of Mexico on this journey! This is an exciting excursion to watch millions of black & orange butterflies that migrate to winter in central Mexico. Before & after we get there, we enjoy the ride from green valleys, large lakes & pine tree Mountains at 2500 meters, to look for the trees preferred by the monarchs to hibernate from November to March. To the end of season, when the weather changes to spring, we can see the new generation of monarchs, born on a site, as they will fly back to Canada to complete the migration flight. The Monarch Butterfly site is now recovering from the lack of butterflies in 2013, and remains protected by UNESCO from 2008.
Sightseeing Tour Highlights:
Day 1. Pick up at local airport in Morelia (MLM) and transfer to hotel in the city. According to flight schedules, the walking City tour (2 hr) can be provided in downtown. Stay overnight.
Day 2. Today the tour will start 7 AM to drive up to the mountains, in order to start the hike before the crowd comes. The further we hike in the woods, the more monarchs we can see, flying between trees and, sometimes around people!
Tour 1: Monarch Butterfly Tour effective Nov-20 to Mar-20. Wintertime only!
Visiting The El Rosario site in Angangueo
Tour 2: Mining towns tour, effective Mar-25 to Nov-15. All year round
Visiting Tlalpujahua and El Oro mining towns
Lunch time will take place at the Monarchs, to enjoy the local specialties. Bill not included. After this hike & lunch, the drive back to the green valley in Zitacuaro is by the sunset around 6 pm, to stay overnight there and to achieve all good memories and great photos taken.
Day 3. Today after breakfast, we´ll drive back to Morelia as we enjoy the scenic drive to find landscape with volcanic mountains and valleys having beans, chickpeas, corn & winter wheat, plus the lakeshore of Cuitzeo, a long shallow lake that looks like a winter paradise for ducks and birds from North America. Time for lunch will be provided but, the bill is not included. After lunch, enjoy walking downtown in a city listed as one of Mexico’s 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites from 1991, to admire the local baroque style, that goes like a combination of Madrid-Rome in architecture. As you discover the good state of conservation of pink stone buildings, learn about art, education & history of this colonial city, established by the Spanish 1541.
Day 4. Starting 9 AM, first we will do the boat ride to Janitzio Island to watch the volcanic landscape & meet the fishermen with famous butterfly nets. Time for lunch will be provided but, the bill is not included. When the boat ride is over, we do the walk of the city in downtown talking about local history, culture & traditions. When doing the walk of the city, many of the handcraft shops can be found on the way to see the important buildings from XVI century like the House of the eleven patios, the old Cathedral, The Jesuit College & the main church named Basilica after 1926. Return to Morelia is programmed by 6 pm to your hotel lobby.
Day 5. Check out and transfer to the local airport (MLM) to catch flight on time.
Tour lasts: 4 nights, 5 days. USD $375 per person. 2 minimum
Monarch Butterfly tour to “El Rosario” site is included
Included: Transport & bilingual Guide-driver, fuel, toll roads, parking and admission tickets.
Not Included: Tax, hotel rooms, meals & other means of transportation.
Effective: All year round (Monarch´s tour to wintertime only)
