Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Private Tour from Mexico City
Description
The annual Monarch butterfly migration is one of nature’s great spectacles and a top attraction for visitors to Mexico’s central highlands. From 60 million to one billion Monarch butterflies goes from eastern Canada to central Mexico for more than 2,500 miles. The Monarch butterflies spend their winter hibernation clustered in small areas of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Your tour begins with hotel pick-up in Mexico City followed by a scenic 2-hour drive to the Piedra Herrada Sanctuary. Upon arrival, a local guide will lead you on an approximately 1-hour hike through mountain trails with beautiful views. At the observation area, you’ll experience thousands of butterflies flying, resting on the trees, and filling the forest with vibrant movement. Visitor time is regulated to protect the habitat. After the visit, you may enjoy a traditional meal at a nearby restaurant (optional), before returning to Mexico City.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Every year Monarch butterfly travel around 3200 miles to spend the winter in the forests of Mexico. On this period, when we have these amazing guests, forests turn into orange color.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
WE PICK UP ALL CUSTOMERS FROM HOTELS LOCATED IN THE MEXICO CITY CENTRAL AREA. OUT OF THIS AREA, PICK UP WILL HAVE AN EXTRA CHARGE (200 PESOS WHICH WILL BE PAID DIRECTLY TO OUR GUIDE) OR WE CAN MET CLIENTS IN A MEETING POINT.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Pick up at hotels outside the downtown area will have an extra charge of 200 pesos which must be paid directly to our guide
- The Private service inlcude private transportation and private guide to the Butterfly Sanctuary. The entrance to the Sanctuary is public and management decide how they settle the entrance. Usually tourists are joined in small groups with local guide that know safe paths.
- The assistance of a local guide is included in the price, who will join the clients along with an English-speaking tour guide.
Reviews(25)
Oscar Reyes is the best guide for the monarch butterfly migration to Mexico He is trustworthy and informative You will not be disappointed He will pick you up from Mexico City, San Miquel and other cities I would rate him10 out of 10 His number on WhatsApp is 527151272308
Adan was our guide. We hiked up with Celina the horse guide. I walked and Susan rode the horse.the forest was spectacular. I loved all the butterflies flying around me!
This private tour for 2 was well worth it. Discussed what our agenda would be on the way to the nature preserve and encouraged us to ride horseback to the walking point. This was very good advice! Stopped along the way to vi ew a dormant volcano. Delicious lunch at the end of our trip.
Adan was interactive and lively with his enthusiasm for this amazing country. He shared his wealth of knowledge about Mexico City and the region where the sanctuary is located. Jesus was the best driver! He navigated the chaos of Mexican traffic and did not bat an eye! I highly recommend the tour.
Hello It’s great to hear that you had an amazing day at the butterfly sanctuary and that the experience was everything you expected! Our team always strives to make each moment special, and we’re thrilled to know you enjoyed it. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. It would be our pleasure!
I do not recommend in ANYTHING the Tour To date there are no butterflies and it is a real fraud the walk Plus you go up a mountain for 2 hours and very tired, you arrive and swim. No butterflies
Buenas tardes, no has utilizado nuestros servicios, por lo que no puedes valorar este tour. Todos los turistas que viajan con nosotros ven al 100% las mariposas, y esto lo confirman las reseñas positivas.
This was truly an AMAZING experience! Our guide, Alan, was GREAT. It was a 2.5hr long drive from Mexico-City, but it was a nice drive with a lot of beautiful scenery. Alan was very knowledgeable, and told us a lot about the Mexican history and culture. He even helped us getting horses when we got there! Seeing the butterflies was a dream come true. The weather was perfect, and it was magical seeing the butterflies fluttering in the skies and draping the trees making them look orange. I highly recommend this trip, and definitely get horses!
We were thrilled with our Monarch Butterfly Tour! The butterflies were stunning and weather perfect, and our guide Ivan was very attentive. It’s a big hike, but well worth the effort!
Francisco was a great guide setting a gentle pace and giving us plenty time to enjoy the ambience. The views of the butterflies were amazing.
Dear Stuart So nice to hear you had a great experience! That´s is our goal. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, we are glad that you had a fantastic time. Your comments are much appreciated and will help other travelers to choose and experience our tours. Come back soon our country!
The tour guide was outstanding and friendly. The guides at the reserve really helped us old folks get up the trail. We took horses most of the way, but had to hike the last part of the route. Our escorts looked after our well-being and safety. We didn’t see the monarchs fly, but we did see lots of them on the trees. We had a great experience thanks to the local guides and their attentiveness.
Dear Tazmoc We are so happy to know that you had a great experience in this activity. Our guides are trained to provide an entire experience, both in the activity, as well as in the service from the moment they go to your hotel for pick you up. We are very grateful that you have chosen us and we hope to be able to serve you very soon. Come back to our country soon. Sincerely
We took a private tour from Mexico City. The drive is around three hours one way. Our tour guide George was great and shared lots of information about Mexico and the culture along the way. At the sanctuary we chose to ride horses up the mountain to the location where the Monarchs migrate. The horses take you part of the way and then you are on foot for the remainder of the hike. The hike is challenging. The terrain is rugged. At the migration point, we were only allowed to stay about 15 mins. Seeing the Monarch’s was outstanding! They flutter and land everywhere! Our guides from the sanctuary were kind, patient and friendly. After we hiked back down we enjoyed authentic food made by locals. Overall a wonderful experience. Viator does not share the amount of time spent at the migration point and this is why I rated it four stars. However Monarchs are magical and I highly recommend this experiment!
Dear Tiffany It was a great pleasure for us to be able to organize your Monarch butterfly service. When we assigned Jorge as his guide, we knew that you would have a great experience, since Jorge shared our passion to give to each client who visits the destination has an unforgettable experience. His comments encourage us to continue improving our services and regarding the time of 15 minutes to admire the butterflies, it was a rule that was established in these last months in the sanctuary, however we are trying to change this with the local people give more time. We hope to return to our country soon and serve you again. Sincerely
