Monarch Butterfly Private Tour (Morelia)

We were two girlfriends (Americans) traveling together, and seeing the monarchs was the ultimate reason for our trip to Mexico, so we were willing to splurge a bit to see them. In reality, while the cost of this tour seemed like a splurge at the time of booking, when you take into account the distance from Morelia to the sanctuaries, it would have been very difficult to find a better deal that was both as convenient and as efficient as this tour was. We had read such fabulous reviews about Alfredo as a tour guide, and we were excited to meet him, but instead he brought in his partner Rubén to serve as our guide for the day. However, Rubén was amazing, and we had a wonderful time with him. He was friendly, funny, hospitable, and even helped me practice my Spanish a bit! He spoke English well (he lived on the south side of Chicago for many years!) and we were able to communicate easily (I have some Spanish, but my travel partner had less, so I was specifically looking for an English tour so that she would not miss out on any aspect of the experience). Alfredo and Rubén both communicated with me via WhatsApp before our tour so that we would know what to expect. We were picked up and dropped off directly at our hotel in Morelia, which was awesome and unexpected as the booking listed Burger King as the meeting point. Rubén was right on time for pick-up. The booking indicated that meals would not be included, but we stopped for breakfast about halfway through the drive in Maravatío. When my friend and I went to pay, Rubén informed us that breakfast was included. Another nice surprise! We had packed snacks, so we did not end up stopping for lunch, but I am confident that Rubén would have taken us somewhere for lunch if we had asked. He did a great job of offering at multiple points during the trip to stop for bathrooms or water. Notably, I am prone to motion sickness, and the drive was at times steep, windy, and absolutely full of speedbumps - but I never felt the least bit sick the whole drive - a testament to Rubén's smooth driving! The drive was between 3 and 4 hours each way. We visited El Rosario and not Sierra Chincua - Rubén told us that Sierra Chincua is more "rustic." When we arrived, Rubén left us in the capable hands of the guides that El Rosario provides to each group hiking or riding horses up the mountain. Our wonderful guide was Elvia, who has been serving as a guide at El Rosario for 22 years! Fair warning: If you are not used to altitude, the hike is strenuous and challenging! But it is relatively short (just over 1 mile to the top, then 1 mile down), and you can choose to ride a horse to the top if you don't wish to hike. The horses would have cost an additional 300 MXN/~17 USD, but admission to the sanctuary was included in the cost of the tour. After the tour, Rubén sent us some great photos he had taken of us and some recommendations for the rest of our brief stay in Morelia. We couldn't have asked for a better way to see the monarchs!

Great experience - Alfredo is a very knowledgeable guide and a local with decades of knowledge. We had an amazing time and Alfredo got us there safely and quickly. I would recommend this tour to anyone - with this, you are also supporting local businesses and Alfredo as well.

We had the most wonderful experience visiting El Rosario Monarch Sanctuary with Alfredo. He took us a day later than our original reservation since we had a travel delay, which we are so grateful for. He made a stop for breakfast on the way in a small town and then a lunch place in the mountains. It was great to meet people that he knows and also enjoy a taste of the real Mexican food and culture. He has so much knowledge and insight, and spoke English so well! We are so appreciative for the experience with him and seeing the Monarchs was a dream of ours. It was a dream come true! Thank you ever so much, Alfredo. If we return to Morelia we will definitely see you again!

We traveled a long distance to see the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary site (as far as the butterflies travel!). It was important to us, after such an investment, to have a quality private guide. Alfredo was perfect. He is top notch. He did an excellent job of communicating with us prior to the tour. His English is absolutely flawless, very easy to understand. His knowledge of the butterflies is extensive. He provided a comfortable vehicle for us and is a safe and careful driver. Alfredo is commited to providing a top notch experience. He selected restraurants that serve local and regional specialties. He will engage in any topic you wish to discuss and cheerfully answer all your questions. He is in tune with what his guests need every step of the way. He is patient and kind. I have hired many private guides over the years and feel Alfredo is among the best. He provides excellent value for the fee and you will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The day was perfect. Keni was a great guide. He brought us to the santuario after a good breakfast where we saw so many butterflies. It was an unforgettable experience.

I can’t begin to express how life-changing this experience was! I have set up milkweed plants and different parts of my yard and have made sure so that my pups and cats stay away from these beautiful creatures when they are going through their metamorphosis. I learned so many new things not only about but about how the migration happens and how brave these little creatures are despite the odds. Definitely a line to cross off my bucket list and very, very happy I was able to come while I’m still

Seeing the Monarchs wake up and fly around when the sun hit the trees where they rested was a remarkable experience. Everyone was in awe, silently witnessing the flights - and taking great photos and videos, of course. Our guide, Kenny, was very good at navigating the way. It’s a strenuous trek up to 11,000 feet elevation but it is so worthwhile.

We did see butterflies, but driving there and back was 6 hours on very winding roads. Entire day was 10 hours which is more than we planned for. Also, our guide spoke little English which made conversation extremely difficult. However, he was very good with helping us see the butterflies.

Alfredo was a phenomenal guide. The communication with him was clear and consistent. The personal car ride was enjoyable. He is very knowledgable and a great conversationalist. We had originally booked Alfredo for 2 tours, but enjoyed our time with him so much, we booked a 3rd day with him. Without Alfredo we would not have experienced nearly as much in Michoacan.

We had the best time! I booked this tour for my birthday and can't think of a better way to have spent it. From the moment we were picked up to the moment we were dropped off, Alfredo was kind, helpful and so knowledgable about the area and the monarch butterflies/migration sharing facts and telling us stories. The whole day felt like a roadtrip with a good friend. Highly recommend anything he offers and would book this again in a heartbeat!