The main reason for choosing Michoacán was to visit the monarch butterfly sanctuaries. The season is November to March.
I have vivid memories from my childhood of monarch butterflies and their caterpillar larvae feeding on milkweed. I think butterflies are magical, a feeling I shared with the Basha, who was like a gentle child around them.
The town of Angangueo is the gateway to two of the sanctuaries. I booked a hotel in a neighboring town, Zitácuaro, that said it was only 16 miles from Angangueo. Let’s just say that was optimistic. 😕 The property was beautiful, the room was sketchy, and it was WAY out of town. There was no place I could get food (restaurant or store) without driving for 10-15 minutes. And that “16 miles” was an HOUR drive! And that didn’t get you to the sanctuaries. 😞
I did something I’ve never done before. I walked out on a paid reservation. I chose to forfeit the money and stay in a place that was better for me. ¿Who is this person?
I got a place in Angangueo, with an on-site restaurant, a tiendita just up the road (2 to 3 minute walk), and very comfortable. It was perfect.
They even DELIVERED my dinner to my cabin!
The first sanctuary I went to was El Rosario. It is more developed and well known. There were tons of butterflies. It was magical to be able to hear the wings of THOUSANDS of butterflies vibrating as they started to warm up in the sun. And when they started to fly… I cried it was so beautiful. My photos do not do justice to the experience.
The hike was about 2km, from 3000m up to 3400m. My guide and I went slowly, and I felt good. The guides typically do 3 to 4 round trips per day! One was plenty for me.
My peace and bliss from the butterfly experience was shattered back at the car. Luckily a fixable problem.
I visited the second sanctuary, Sierra Chincua, the next day. Chincua is less developed. It has restaurants and shops at the base, but the trails are very rustic and narrow. I have to admit, even being more rustic and having fewer butterflies, I really liked Sierra Chincua!
My last night in Angangueo was also the Día de Nuestros Señora de Guadalupe. There were tons of fireworks, church bells, and celebrations. Mexico certainly knows how to put on a fiesta!!
I’ve dreamed of going to the Monarch sanctuaries. Thank you for sharing. We look for Monarchs at the end of their trip North. And we adjusted the mowing schedule at OSPP to allow for the late summer milkweed. It’s such a wonder.