Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Nice place to visit, and of course you need to visit during the winter. The temperatures in December are about 30°F at night and 55°F during the day. The best time of the day to visit the sanctuary is 12:00 noon, we went to "Sierra Chincua" near Angangeo. The entrance fee is cheap, $30 pesos per person if I remember. As you enter you are assigned a guide, a little boy or girl, at the end you give them a tip. They suggest you to rent a horse to go to the sanctuary, they charge you $100 pesos per person each way. The way up is doable taking a few breaks, the way back is really easy. If you don't have good condition you can rent a horse on your way up, but for sure you don't need it in your way back. There are like 12 small restaurants in the area, all are the same, they are local and they prepare local food, cheap and delicious, you need to try it. Hope you enjoy your visit.

A Fabulous experience to walk among the butterflies. It was not busy with tourists when I visited on the second Monday in March. There were plenty of butterflies. As others have said middle of the day when the sky is sunny is the best time. Take the hike up to the butterflies slowly resting between the flights of stairs . If you like hiking and have good shoes after my visit I hiked down the road back to Angangueo ( pretty much down hill all the way) It only took an hour and a half (I thought it would take way longer ) and it’s a fabulous walk and you get to be among the butterflies for a little longer. I did find it difficult to get a bus from Angangueo to the reserve and lots of confusing and conflicting information so after waiting around unsuccessfully for a bus that never materialised, I took a taxi up for 250 pesos.

Visited Jan 16th, 2021. The fee to park is 50 pesos and it costs 80 pesos per person to enter the sanctuary. Horses are 300 pesos per person to get to the sanctuary spot where. Butterflies are. If you decide to walk by foot, it is a long hike!! If you a bringing an elderly or disabled person, be prepared to spend 1 hour hiking to the spot and 1 hour to get back. Dont wear a coat and bring shoes and clothes you dont mind getting dusty. There are places for pretty pictures as well. Bathrooms are on site, clean, and cost 5 to 7 pesos per person. The food in the local towns is good and cheap. PS. The butterflies weren't flying around this day because the sun wasnt out.

The most magical experience in the world. The walk is a bit long but quite bearable and definitely worth it. The forest is amazing and the views are breathtaking. But absolutely no words can describe the beauty of the sanctuary and the greatness of the place

It is great or disappointing depending on the year. It's all up to the butterflies. In 2019 they where all over the santuario and they settled near the entrance slopes. In 2021 they choose very remote trees and you had to walk for two hours to see only a few of them. Enquire before going, but not with the park as they always tell you it is great.

Be sure to go on a sunny day. Park in the top parking lot nearest to the horses. We didn't know and parked at the bottom. It's a very steep climb and a long way up. My daughter went ahead and sent a kind man with the horse down to get me. The ride was amazing and beautiful. Everything smells like pine trees and wood smoke. Then you leave the horses and hike uphill some more. It's very high so I needed a guide to help me hike. And I stopped to catch my breath often. When I got to where we could see the butterflies, I yelled out " Wow!" And everyone went " Shhhh!". It's a sacred place. Like an outdoor cathedral. We went to the closest viewing area. Butterflies were everywhere. Them they moved

An exceptional experience, I have fallen in love with this place.

Its one of the natures beautiful phenomenon you will ever witness. The moment you see the butterflies, its a jaw dropping moment. No photo or video can capture what your eyes will witness. Neither anyone will beleive you if you tell them what you saw. If you are planning a visit to the sanctuary consider the following things: - Direction on google map is not correct, use any other maps to reach the location - sanctuary is in forest area of michoacan better to reach and leave early, avoid travel during the dark - you will need a good car and good driving experience - you will need to pay toll before reaching the sanctuary which is about 60-100 pesos - after paying toll you go further inside the are which is steep so good car is a must - upon reaching the location you will get multiple options for parking, be careful as i noticed few kids trying to steal car logos - you will also see hotels and bathrooms - make your way towards the sanctuary and you will need to buy tickets 80 for adults and 50 kids above 5 yrs - you will have two options to reach the location which is by trek or by horse ride - trek is moderate and will take about 60-90 mins - horse ride will cost you 150 pesos for one way ride - upon reaching the location you will have to go inside the forest where the directions are marked and many forest rangers are there to help you out. - it will take about 10-15 mins of walk to reach nesting area of butterflies - its important you dont litter and maintain silence - you will stay there for about 30-45 mins and then your way back down Its a must visit place before climate change eliminates this experience.