Mexico | Monarchs of Mexico with Dallas Zoo

Upon arrival in Mexico City, you will be met in the airport and transported to your hotel, situated in the historic district on the Zócalo. The Zócalo is the largest plaza in Latin America, and it is surrounded by the National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, and many restaurants and historical architecture. This evening, meet in the hotel lobby at 7 pm for a welcome dinner and program orientation on the 7th floor. Check-in starts at 3 pm.

Begin today with a short exploration of Mexico City to have a brief walking tour of Zócalo, Cathedral, andTemplo Mayor. Depart for the colonial town of Angangueo, located high in the mountains in the state of Michoacán, about 100 miles west of Mexico City; boxed lunch en route. Check in at Hotel Don Bruno. After settle in your room you will enjoy a delicious Mexican dinner. Please note that it can get cold at night and in the early morning so it is recommended that you bring warm sleeping clothes. After dinner at the hotel gather for a briefing to help prepare for the next day.

This morning visit Sierra Chincua, one of several nearby Monarch sites that are more isolated than El Rosario, which will be visited tomorrow. The journey starts with a hike up the mountain to about 10,000 feet. Horses will be available to rent for a portion of the trail. The cost is about 100 Mexican pesos, cash only. Some walking is required, but you may walk at your own pace and stop and rest as needed. Once you reach the site, the entire day is free to enjoy and photograph the spectacular Monarch colony. A boxed lunch will be provided on-site. Please note: Restrooms are located at the base of the mountain; there are no restrooms in the reserve. There will also be a short time to buy souvenirs at the craft market located at the bottom of the mountain. If time permits, visit Alternare Center, which has more than 20 years’ experience working with rural communities with the goal of helping conserve the butterfly habitat. They also teach sustainable farming techniques, the construction of adobe houses, wood-saving stoves, and water conservation practices. Later this afternoon, take a walking tour through Angangueo town with your guide. Founded in 1792, the town served as a main mining center, providing wealth for the area. Today, it derives its income from butterfly tourism and agriculture. As you explore the cobblestone streets, your guide will share sites of interest and the importance of butterfly conservation to the town. Dinner at the hotel.

Early this morning, check out of the hotel and visit the monarch sanctuary of El Rosario, the largest overwintering site. The colony normally contains well over 100 million adult monarchs. An excellent trail system winds through the fir covered slopes on which the colony is located. Additionally, there is a nearby stream where the butterflies may fly at midday to drink water. At this time of year, they may take flight for an hour or more for water, nectar, etc., before returning to their roost on the tree limbs or trunks. The hike to reach the colony may again reach up to 10,000 feet and will require hiking up the mountain. The hike is at your own pace, and birding can be done along the way. A portion of the hike can again be done by horseback rental. Once at the site, the day will be spent enjoying the colony with a boxed lunch, to be eaten at your leisure. Restrooms are located at the bottom of the mountain and not in the reserve. In the late afternoon, continue on to Hotel Agua Blanca. After dinner, gather for a briefing on Cerro Pelón and what to expect in the morning.

After breakfast, visit the Cerro Pelón reserve. Though local residents had known about the monarchs' wintering sites for centuries, in 1975 a team of researchers under the direction of Canadian entomologist Fred Urquhart encountered Cerro Pelón, and it became the first confirmed site described to the broader scientific community. This visit will be a little more challenging than the previous days, with a steeper hike and altitudes starting at about 10,400 feet. Horses will be available for rent for the beginning portion of the hike and may be required due to trail conditions. Depending on the location of the colony, a 30 minute steep uphill hike may be required after the horse ride. Cerro Pelón is the least known monarch reserve, and because of the rougher conditions is also the least visited, making it a more intimate experience. As on the previous days, you will take a boxed lunch and there will be no restrooms in the reserve. Those who choose not to visit Cerro Pelón will be able enjoy the mineral pools at the hotel. Return to the lodge for dinner.

After breakfast, depart for the Mexico City area and the pyramids at San Juan Teotihuacán. After a delicious lunch near the pyramids, you’ll have the afternoon to explore this world-famous archaeological site, which covers 32 square miles and contains many structures including two large pyramids. The Pyramid of the Sun, at a height of more than 200 feet, is one of the largest structures created in the pre-Columbian New World. After time to explore the ruins on your own, return to your hotel located on the Zócalo for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast will be included depending on your departure time. Airport shuttle service transfers out are included and will be coordinated based on flight times. Check-out time at 12:00pm