Mexico | Mystical Migration of the Monarch

About this trip

Monarch butterflies have a fascinating life story. They winter in the high mountains of central Mexico and migrate to Canada for the summer. It’s a compelling story that takes five generations to complete. Each new generation flies further north, laying eggs that hatch the beautiful green, black, yellow, and white striped caterpillars which in turn form the iconic gold-ringed green chrysalis from which the new monarch butterflies hatch. The last generation will make the complete journey back to the mountains in Mexico to winter in the forests. It is this natural wonder that we will be filming and photographing high in the mountains of southern Mexico at the ends of the Earth. The sights and sounds of 100 million butterflies at first light is something I have dreamed of since I was a little boy! Join Gustafson Photo Safari for this slice of natural history: the Monarch Migration! With tips, techniques and personal instruction from a top digital photography expert, Todd Gustafson, you will return with an amazing portfolio of colorful images and a new sense of wonder about butterflies.

Highlights

• Visit two different monarch reserves on foot or horseback, where millions of individual monarch butterflies gather each winter.
• Photograph the dramatic colors of the butterflies as they hang in clusters from the trees, drink from streams, feed on wildflowers, and soar in the air above.
• Immerse yourself in the delicate sound of butterfly wings as tens of thousands of monarchs take flight when the sun emerges.
• Understand the story behind every photograph with site lectures on local wildlife, traditions, and history. 
• Discuss results of applied techniques and present suggestions during evening feedback sessions.

Meet your leader

Todd Gustafson

Todd Gustafson is a professional nature photographer and founder of Gustafson Photo Safari. Todd grew up in Tanzania and has won numerous photography awards. His work has been featured in many international publications and museum exhibits, including a display in a permanent exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History, publications by the United Nations, and product guides for NIKON Corporation, where he works as a clinician/teacher. Todd is also a highly accomplished trumpet player and has degrees in music education and trumpet performance.

Activity Level 4: Moderate-Strenuous

This journey is for fit and active nature enthusiasts. Daily activities last for 5 or more hours. There are challenging excursions to butterfly colonies that may require walking for approximately 2 miles at altitudes of up to 10,660 feet on some trails that are narrow and rugged. These may involve both steep uphill and downhill hikes of 30 minutes or more (hiking at your own pace), and require horseback riding for part of the way; please note there is a maximum weight limit of approximately 260 lbs to ride the horses. Restrooms are only available at the base of the mountain. Weather in the Central Highlands during the migration is typically cool and dry with average temperatures in the 50s. Though days are typically sunny, there can be some windy conditions, and nights occasionally drop below 30°F.

Additional Notes

During site visits, the days entail walking around the butterfly sites on your own and photographing and watching butterflies. Please be prepared to be independent during butterfly watching.

Please also see the information about Safety & Risk Management under the Travel Info tab.