Hikes to the
Monarch Butterfly Reserves
Monarch Butterflies overwinter between 3100 and 3400 meters (10,000 and 11,000 ft.) above sea level in the mountains of Mexico. Therefore, altitude plays a role while hiking in the area. The air is thinner, the oxygen levels lower and you might feel you are breathing heavier while moving. Some people, especially when you are living at a higher altitude, might not be affected by it. But it is important to take it easy and to observe yourself to avoid feeling mild symptoms of altitude sickness and to acclimatize slowly. The hikes in each one of the three reserves vary in terms of length, steepness and mainly depend on the place where the butterflies are at the time of our visit. The hiking time required to get to the sites will depend mainly on the level of fitness and most importantly, how each person adapts to altitude. As an average, it will be a 1hr-1.5hr hike. In all the reserves, horses can be hired to save the longest and steepest part of the walk, but it is necessary to hike the last stretch to get to the butterflies (approximately 15-20 min). We will brief you before each hike, so you can decide in which way you want to visit the reserve. And, most importantly, we will make sure that you can walk at your own pace, as this is the best and safest way to visit!
Read more about each Reserve
Sierra Chincua Reserve
This is the first reserve we visit. It is usually the easiest hike. We will move slower and take several stops along the way to learn about the flora of the forest. This is the perfect way to acclimatize to the altitude. During the hike we will point out local plants and you will learn about the difference of oyamel and pine trees. This way you will understand the place where the Monarchs overwinter better. The hike is about 3.5-4 km (2-2.5 miles) in total, starts at 3100 m (10160 ft) and you will gain in total about 200 m (600 ft). Horses are available and can be hired on the spot.
El Rosario Reserve
This reserve was the first one to be opened to the public and provides the best infrastructure to receive visitors. The first part of the trail is the steepest and it has steps, so it is easier to walk. You also have the option to take horses to avoid the steepest part. In fact, this is the reserve where several of our guests option for a horse. The hike starts at 3000 m. (10,000 ft.) and might get up to 3400 m. (11,150 ft.). In total you will walk around 3 km (1,86miles). The forest contains a lot of salvias and you might spot hummingbirds along the way.
Piedra Herrada Reserve
This hike starts at 2.800 m (9.200 ft.) and takes you up to around 3.200 (10.500ft.). It starts with a paved and relatively steep section. After ca. 400 meter we head into a beautiful, more humid forest. Depending on the exact location of the Monarchs, the last part of the trail can be steep. By the time we visit Piedra Herrada your body will have already adjusted better to the altitude and the acclimation process will help you a lot while hiking up the mountain. Obviously, you have the opportunity to hire a horse for most of the way. Nevertheless, the last 200 -400 meters will be on foot.