BUTTERFLY TOUR
HOPE FOR THE MONARCHS

STARTS: Mexico City, Mexico

ENDS: Mexico City, Mexico

DATES: January 20-21, 2025

DURATION: 1 Nights / 2 Days

PRICE: $5200 MXN based on group of 18 Guests

Please Note: This tour departs and returns to Mexico City, but if you have your own transportation, you can meet us in Tlalpujahua. Contact us for more info.

WHY BOOK THIS TOUR?

We invite you to join us for a magical experience in the UNESCO protected Monarch Butterfly Biosphere in Mexico. You are probably wondering what makes our tour unique, or why you should choose our company over many others. If you enjoy educational pursuits and are willing to spend more than traditional day-trips to the reserves, this may be the right tour for you.

One should feel refreshed after spending time in nature, which is why we have not organized group day-trips to the reserves for several years. Making the pilgrimage from Mexico City, Morelia, San Miguel de Allende or Queretaro involves approximately 6-7 hours in a vehicle (return), which doesn't include bathroom breaks, hiking & observation time, or lunch!

This tour starts in Mexico City at 9:30 AM, with a 3 hour commute to the Pueblo Magico of Tlalpujahua. The remainder of your day will be spent exploring this enchanting village before our late-afternoon lecture about Monarch Butterflies with Dr. Jaramillo begins.

On the morning of our visit to the sanctuary, rather than rushing out the door at 6:30 AM half-awake for a fast-paced race to the colonies and back, you will be fast asleep or enjoying coffee in bed. Breakfast is scheduled for 9:00 AM, with departure from Tlalpujahua at 10:30 AM. By 11:30, we will be on our way to the colony on foot with Dr. Jaramillo, who will regale us with stories about his mentor, the famous late etymologist Dr. Lincoln Brower. Dr. Jaramillo will point out various efforts being made inside the reserve, some of which are problematic and none that are known to the majority of guides who offer day trips here. Learning is our passion, so our desire is for you to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

The joy of visiting the Monarchs with a scientist is amplified by Dr. Jaramillo's contagious passion for their migration patterns, habitats and survival. It is impossible to provide this kind of experience on a day trip from afar, when everyone is drained and worried about time. The whole point of coming here is to soak up the tranquility of the forest and to learn about our own trespasses against the survival of this migration, so we can personally work towards mitigating disaster through our own knowledge and choices.

By the time you've returned from the mountain with an inspired heart, we will break tortillas in the traditional Mazahua kitchens before the 3 hour commute back to Mexico City. While it's true that you will still return at around 7:00 PM (much like day-trippers), your day also began much later. It's been our observation that a leisurely morning sets an important intention for how guests approach this experience, because you arrive at the colony well rested, instead of needing a nap, a meal and a bathroom. (Well - we still recommend using the bathroom before our hike!)

If you are on a time crunch and insist on taking a day trip from afar, please contact us about our private tours. We can sometimes offer private experiences with Dr. Jaramillo, depending on how our schedules align with his.

We are honoured to work with Dr. Jaramillo and to offer educational eco-tours that raise funds for critical research, as it is one way of making sure our footprint is lighter and that our guests see this experience as an important investment for future generations. Please share whatever knowledge you attain from this journey and inspire your family, friends and colleagues to join us in our plight against the devastation of our environment and fragile ecosystems.

Thank you for considering this tour.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

WEATHER:

The flight of the butterfly depends on body temperature, which means they only fly when sunlight warms their wings. Climate can vary throughout the season, with warm days in all months, and cold days even in March. The weather is the most unpredictable challenge for butterfly tours, as a cold day means they will cluster with one another for warmth, being physically unable to fly.

ALTITUDE:

Tlalpujahua is seated at an altitude of 2590 meters (8,460 feet), so if you live at sea level and have trouble with altitude, please contact us to discuss what issues you have.

The monarch colonies move throughout the season and can reach altitudes of around 3350 meters (approximately 11,000 feet) above sea level. This puts guests in the danger zone for altitude sickness; however, as we go up and down within a few hours, it's rare for anyone to suffer here, so long as they are generally mobile and don't have COPD or breathing issues.

MOBILITY:

Aside from altitude, mobility in the reserves is a must. The reserve is a mountainous landscape with some steep hills, making it necessary to have decent stability and hiking stamina (especially if hiking at a high altitude is new). That all said, we have travelled with two ambitious women who were determined to make it, and did, One needed knee replacements, the other had just had hers replaced. The latter guest was so determined, she visited two reserves within two days! So if you have the strength of mind, this isn't an impossible feat. When you confirm your tour with us, please communicate any mobility issues you may have so we can offer feedback and suggestions.

Wooden walking sticks are available for rent in the park, or if you have your own sticks, they are helpful to have. Please wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots with ankle support.

HORSEBACK RIDING:

We always encourage guests to ride horses in the reserve simply because the guides only enjoy a short season and this income is an important part of encouraging the locals to surrender illegal logging for environmental tourism. Many in our group will choose to hike, so those of us who ride will meet them at the area where riders must dismount. Upon dismounting, our group will have a discussion and commence our walking tour through the reserve, as Dr. Jaramillo shares information about the habitat. Horseback riding is optional and will cost about $150 MXN each way. (You are not required to ride both ways)

TLALPUJAHUA IS COLD AT NIGHT:

If you live in Mexico, consider packing a warm blanket for the hotel - including an electric blanket if you have one. Night time temperatures in this enchanting village can be frigid and the hotels are not equipped for heating. We thought we had found one hotel that was warm, alas, their heating system failed last year and they have yet to fix it. Please bring warm pajamas, warm socks, and for the hike - a toque and mitts in case it's a cold day.

HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT LOCALS?

This tour raises money for important research in the biosphere, whose creation has actually had adverse consequences for the local indigenous villagers who have relied on logging for decades before the Biosphere was declared a UNESCO site and thus protected from logging. Illegal logging persists because the locals still require income for sustenance.

We highly recommend riding a horse in the reserve if you are comfortable, as this provides seasonal employment for the dozens of Mazahua guides who work in the reserves. We will enjoy lunch in the traditional kitchens, as this keeps many Mazahua families employed here. There are a few shops that sell embroidered tortilla cloths, wool mittens, toques and locally made snacks that you can purchase. We will hire a watchman to travel with us, as this program also encourages the locals to protect their local habitat. We are continually looking for ways to benefit the locals, and welcome suggestions.

If you would like to make a private donation for science research, please ask us for more information.

PRICE INCLUSIONS & RESERVATIONS

The tour price of $5,200 MXN includes your hotel based on shared accommodation for 2. If you are travelling solo, the single supplement is $600 MXN. If you are willing to share a room, we will try to match you with a roommate, but if we cannot, you are responsible for the single supplement.

Ground transportation from Mexico City (return) is included.

The price includes breakfast in Tlalpujahua. All other meals are separate.

Dr. Jaramillo's Hope for the Monarchs lecture is included, as is your entrance fee for the monarch butterfly sanctuary.

Horseback riding is optional, as some guests may prefer to hike.

This tour raises funds for important scientific research. Please contact us if you would like to contribute an additional donation.

Tips for your team leaders are discretionary and appreciated.

WHAT HAVE OTHER GUESTS SAID?

Please Note: Our company was registered as Soul of Mexico Tours in 2018, but was Trademarked by someone unscrupulous in 2023. We changed our company name to Copper Moon Travels in April 2023.

From Mariah 2024

While other tours may cost less, this one is well worth the expense. It felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the monarch sanctuary with an expert on preserving the reserves and researching the migration of these butterflies. I enjoyed all aspects of the trip!

From Stan 2024

This was an amazing experience. We stayed overnight in a quaint village, "Tlalpujahua: the Mexican Magic Town where Christmas is eternal". We were provided with a fascinating lecture of the Monarch migration by an equally fascinating scientist. Meals were provided as well. There was a problem with the (lack of) heating in the hotel, but your guide was at least on top of that, advocating for a remedy.

The next morning we traveled the rest of the way to the monarch reserve. We chose the horseback ride for part of the journey up the mountain, others chose to hike it. At the top we witnessed an incredible display how thousands of monarchs, some filling a field and others huddled in the fir trees for warmth. After that incredible experience we headed back down the mountain for some more incredible food. Then it was back into the private bus for the trip back..

From Maja 2020

We participated in the 2020 eco-science monarch tour hosted by Soul of Mexico Tours. I can’t say enough about this experience. We began our adventure by having dinner at a top-rated restaurant in Morelia. GREAT food, wonderful entertainment by Dusty Fingers, a local gypsy jazz band,and an interesting, educational talk by the charming Dr. Pablo Jaramillo Lopez, a renowned expert in Monarch butterfly research. This was followed by another interesting presentation by two professors researching sound and soundscapes in our environment. It was a lovely evening of learning in community and was the perfect lead-up to the next day in the Sierra Chincua reserve. The trip to see the butterflies was magical. We were lucky to see thousands of butterflies in flight in flight,and having Pablo along to answer questions was fabulous. Jennifer was a perfect host, taking care of all details, providing us with a wonderful picnic lunch, and generally making sure that everyone was having a good experience. What a memorable experience...thanks to Jennifer,Galy, Gerardo, Pablo, David and Rob for an unforgettable day.

From Benoit 2020

We were also lucky enough to have been on the 2020 Monarch Butterfly tour on January 11th and 12th. As per Maja's testimonial, this tour was simply fabulous from start to finish. We were a small group that connected well together. The dinner and presentation the night before the tour really helped everyone get acquainted and set the atmosphere for the next day. We'd like to give a special thanks to Jennifer, at Soul of Mexico Tours, for planning, and executing this event perfectly. This tour was truly a magical experience that we will never forget. We have already highly recommended this tour to our family and friends

To read more reviews, please click here. We also have some reviews on Trip Advisor, which we are trying to grow. If you come on tour with us, please consider leaving us a review, as they are so crucial for small businesses like ours!