Title: Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Tours - Book Now | Expedia.com

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# Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Tours

![Visiting the Monarchs in Mexico is an amazing adventure. The sight of over 89 million butterflies will leave you speechless. It’s an easy 3 hour drive to walk through the forest. ](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635640696513/52a924ab-2489-4d5c-b385-9a9fc4717c44.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Visiting the Monarchs in Mexico is an amazing adventure. The sight of over 89 million butterflies will leave you speechless. It’s an easy 3 hour drive to walk through the forest. ](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635640696513/52a924ab-2489-4d5c-b385-9a9fc4717c44.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![It takes 1,000 butterflies to weigh one pound (.45kg), and the branches on this tree were sagging under the weight.

The monarch colony here was quite different than at the more popular El Rosario sanctuary. 40 minutes outside Zitacuaro, near El Capulin, we chartered a couple of tiny mountain horses to take us up the rugged path to view the colony. The monarchs were clustered within a ravine, swirling around a few choice pine trees in search of sunny roosts. Whenever the sun went behind a cloud the butterflies scrambled into the air and back to the safety of the nucleus, knowing that settling down for the night outside the warmth of the colony would mean certain death.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635611986174/85ab66ae-c2d9-4ea4-ba3f-91f2695c36c3.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Up to 1 billion monarchs winter in the mountainous pine-oak forests of central Mexico after completing one of the most spectacular migrations on Earth.

From November to March they hibernate here, waking only long enough each day to sip water and gather pollen. As the weather warms they fatten up and mate. The males die quickly, but the pregnant females head north to Texas in search of a milkweed plant on which to lay their eggs.

Four days later each egg hatches into a tiny caterpillar that feeds non-stop for two weeks before molting into a small cocoon-like chrysalis. Hormonal changes lead to the "birth" of the next generation of monarch, which continues the northward migration. Over the course of the spring and summer three successive generations of butterflies repeat this cycle on their northward trek. By the time the fourth generation emerges it is once again time to head south - a journey last undertaken by this generation's great-great-grandparents.

The El Rosario sanctuary is open to visits, but it's a long drive from Zitacuaro and you need to get here early in the day to catch the monarchs when they are active. It also requires some steep hikes at elevations great than 10,000ft (3,000m).](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635612001165/70fc1609-2eaa-496c-bb82-fc8b73632ac0.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Those are millions of little Monarchs clumped on the threes! 

 Monarch Migration 🦋
Hands down one of the most special events we have had the pleasure to witness. Millions of Monarch wings fluttering to sound like a huge stream, the swarm of delicate orange overhead. Simply magical. .](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6341337/8976f136-d64b-461e-a73e-942f1f32e0b5.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

## Visit Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Activities

Reviews

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## Plan a trip to see Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.

![Naay Boutique Hotel](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/100000000/99200000/99196500/99196438/5fc5f372_y.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

### Naay Boutique Hotel

$691

per person

Apr 6 - Apr 11

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip flight included

Chicago (CHI) to Cancun (CUN)

8.6/10 Excellent! (199 reviews)

The room was spotless. The stuff was nice. It was a beautiful experience.

Reviewed on Feb 16, 2026

![Casa Gitano](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/102000000/101430000/101422500/101422488/bf77f38f_y.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

### Casa Gitano

Zona Hotelera

$1,053

per person

Apr 7 - Apr 14

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip flight included

Chicago (CHI) to Cancun (CUN)

8.4/10 Very Good! (68 reviews)

Everything was perfect

Reviewed on Mar 1, 2026

![Maya Tulum by G Hotels](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/17000000/16480000/16476900/16476867/7964f296_y.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

### Maya Tulum by G Hotels

Zona Hotelera

$706

per person

Apr 7 - Apr 14

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Chicago (CHI) to Cancun (CUN)

7.8/10 Good! (424 reviews)

I stayed 4 days at this hotel and messaged them prior to my arrival asking that they provide me the best room available. A 4 night stay was C$1617– $400+ per night. I was brought behind the bar to a room, 3A, which, while it had an ocean view there was a concrete barrier and no beach access. Being beside the bar was also very unpleasant as the music was blaring and made it impossible to sleep. The room also did not have a television. one of the sinks would not drain, and the bathroom window did not close—which was unsettling as I could see right into the bar from the bathroom. The Safe was also inoperable. I informed the front desk that I was not happy with my room and of all the deficiencies. They accommodated my request to move, but insisted that I sign a document suggesting that they were doing so to “better my stay” not because the room was deficient. I was also asked to leave my room and not move into my new room until after check-in at 3 pm, such that I was denied access to a room during the day. I moved to room 41 which was significantly better and more in line with the photos advertised on their website. The difference between the two rooms is astounding. They also charged $10 USD extra per day when I arrived and for coffee pods when I checked out— there wasno warning that coffee was not included in the room Despite the fact that as a VIP/Platinum member, and entitled to a room upgrade, I believe I was given one of their worst beachfront rooms.

Reviewed on Mar 2, 2026

## Reviews of Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

4.5

Top Destination

5 - Excellent

9

4 - Good

8

3 - Okay

0

2 - Disappointing

0

1 - Terrible

0

### 4/5 - Good

Ulises

You should go early morning, because at afternoon is a little busy. If you have time visit both places to see Monarca butterfly El Rosario and Sierra chincua, is only 30 minutes distance between places.

### Popular places to visit

#### San Felipe de Los Alzati Church

4/5(2 reviews)

San Felipe de Los Alzati Church is just one of the places to see in San Felipe de Los Alzati, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Amble around the area's parks or visit its temples. 

[](https://expedia.com/San-Felipe-De-Los-Alzati-Church-San-Felipe-de-Los-Alzati.d553248621562854408.Vacation-Attraction)

#### San Felipe de los Alzati Archaeological Zone

4/5(5 reviews)

Find out about the history of San Felipe de Los Alzati when you spend time at San Felipe de los Alzati Archaeological Zone. Amble around the area's parks or visit its temples. 

[](https://expedia.com/San-Felipe-De-Los-Alzati-Archaeological-Zone-San-Felipe-de-Los-Alzati.d553248621562854409.Vacation-Attraction)

#### Station House

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Station House during your travels in Zitácuaro. While you're in the area, wander around the parks. 

[](https://expedia.com/Station-House-Zitacuaro.d849378673953234944.Vacation-Attraction)

#### Small Garden

Explore the great outdoors at Small Garden, a lovely green space in Zitácuaro. 

[](https://expedia.com/Small-Garden-Zitacuaro-Centro.d849233213267537921.Vacation-Attraction)

#### Independence Hill

Explore the great outdoors at Independence Hill, a lovely green space in Zitácuaro. While you're in the area, wander around the parks. 

[](https://expedia.com/Independence-Hill-Zitacuaro.d849232013147148288.Vacation-Attraction)

#### Rayón National Park

Explore the great outdoors at Rayón National Park, a lovely green space in Tlalpujahua. Amble around the area's parks or experience its museums. 

[](https://expedia.com/Rayon-National-Park-Tlalpujahua.d553248635998111833.Vacation-Attraction)

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## Best Lodging Options Near Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

## Check availability on hotels close to Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

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RANCHO CUMBRE MONARCA 

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Eucaliptos Med Spa

Mesa de Cedano Zitácuaro MICH

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Hotel Villa Monarca

CARRETERA FEDERAL 15 ZITACUARO MORELIA San Felipe de Los Alzati MICH

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HOTEL SOLACHE INN

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Hotel Casa Iturbe

José Ma. Morelos Norte 64 Zitácuaro MICH

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Apartment "La Carreta Rica" base capacity 5 people.

 Melchor Ocampo Mich.

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SOLACHE INN

Km 1 carretera Zitácuaro Zitácuaro MICH

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