| A blanket
of orange and black coats the volcanic highlands of
central Mexico.
Each year, some 250 million monarch butterflies arrive
to the luscious volcanic highlands of central Mexico.
Guided to the area by an inexplicable internal clock
known scientifically as circadian, the monarch butterflies
travel up to 3,000 miles to the state of Michoacan,
which becomes the butterflies' winter getaway. Nature-goers
can visit the butterflies anytime between November
and March, although the best time to see them is in
February and early March, right before they head north
again.
Originally from southern Canada and the northern
United States, the orange and black monarchs hibernate
during winter and mate in spring before returning
back north. Each year from late October to early November,
the delicate creatures flee the north's freezing temperatures
and embark on a month-long trip south, flying some
70 miles per day to reach the Oyamel mountaintop fir
forests of the Mexican state of Michoacan. Those fortunate
enough to live along the monarchs' route south are
frequently exposed to the site of large groups of
butterflies flying overhead on route to their winter
sanctuary.
Once reaching the Oyamel forests, the monarchs cluster
together by the thousands in pine trees, weighing
down branches with their sheer mass and making the
forests glow the like the bright orange of their wings.
These butterflies spend the entire winter in Michoacan,
finally mating in the spring and then returning north,
laying eggs along the way.
The beautiful butterflies leave Mexico in late February
and early March in a mass migration and the monarchs
should reach the central United States by mid-April.
By that time, the females will have laid their eggs
for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip.
They return home exhausted and with tattered wings
after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will
make just one round trip during its lifetime. Witnessing
this incredible migration is reason enough to follow
the Monarchs down to Mexico.
In the easternmost part of Michoacan is an immense
monarch butterfly reserve spanning nearly 100 square-miles.
In 1986, the Mexican government declared the region
a special biosphere reserve where thousands of butterflies
cluster together in the early morning and nights,
covering whole trees and branches.
As the day warms up, they begin to flutter around,
descending to the humid forest floor for the hottest
part of the day. By mid-afternoon they may cover the
ground completely, making it nearly impossible to
walk around them.
Several of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries are
open to the public, including Sierra Chincua and El
Campanario. Sierra Chincua is about a 30-minute drive
north of Angangueo, once an important mining town.
El Campanario, also known as El Rosario sanctuary
is much more frequently visited. It lies above the
small village of El Rosario, almost an hour's drive
up some rough terrain from the village of Ocampo.
Common departure points to the sanctuaries are Ocampo,
Zitacuaro and Morelia.
Spending a night in Angangueo is ideal because from
there visitors can secure transport to the reserve
early in the morning, when the butterflies are still
in the trees. A comfortable hotel is the Albergue
Don Bruno (tel. 011-52-715-156-0026). Maruata (tel.
011-52-443-324-2120) runs 10-hour tours to the sanctuary
including transportation, food and bilingual guide
for US$60. For those spending the weekend, the 62-room
Villa Monarca Inn (tel. 011-52-715-153-5362), located
in the outskirts of Zitacuaro, is an ideal place to
go.
Angangueo, Zitacuaro and the nearby towns of Maravatio
and Ocampo hold a monarch Butterfly Festival each
February, featuring traditional dance, music and craft
markets, in celebration of their annual winter visitors.
Local tourist areas include the beautiful colonial
town of Morelia, Michoacan's capital and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, giving travelers yet another
reason to visit. Other popular tourist stops, including
Lake Patzcuaro, the quaint town of Patzcuaro, Janitzio
Island and the Tarascan Indian ruins of Tzintzuntzan,
are also nearby.
The beautiful butterflies leave Mexico in late February
and early March in a mass migration and the monarchs
should reach the central United States by mid-April.
By that time, the females will have laid their eggs
for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip.
They return home exhausted and with tattered wings
after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will
make just one round trip during its lifetime.
About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the
resources of federal and state governments, municipalities
and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism
attractions and destinations internationally. Created
in 1999, the MTB is Mexico's tourism promotion agency,
and its participants include members of both the private
and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout
North America, Europe, Japan and Latin America. |
