| Each year, some 250 million monarch butterflies arrive | | | | rough terrain from the village of Ocampo. Common |
| to the luscious volcanic highlands of central Mexico. | | | | departure points to the sanctuaries are Ocampo, |
| Guided to the area by an inexplicable internal clock | | | | Zitacuaro and Morelia. |
| known scientifically as circadian, the monarch | | | | Spending a night in Angangueo is ideal because from |
| butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles to the state of | | | | there visitors can secure transport to the reserve |
| Michoacan, which becomes the butterflies' winter | | | | early in the morning, when the butterflies are still in |
| getaway. Nature-goers can visit the butterflies | | | | the trees. A comfortable hotel is the Albergue Don |
| anytime between November and March, although the | | | | Bruno (tel. 011-52-715-156-0026). Maruata (tel. |
| best time to see them is in February and early March, | | | | 011-52-443-324-2120) runs 10-hour tours to the |
| right before they head north again. | | | | sanctuary including transportation, food and bilingual |
| Originally from southern Canada and the northern | | | | guide for US$60. For those spending the weekend, |
| United States, the orange and black monarchs | | | | the 62-room Villa Monarca Inn (tel. |
| hibernate during winter and mate in spring before | | | | 011-52-715-153-5362), located in the outskirts of |
| returning back north. Each year from late October to | | | | Zitacuaro, is an ideal place to go. |
| early November, the delicate creatures flee the | | | | Angangueo, Zitacuaro and the nearby towns of |
| north's freezing temperatures and embark on a | | | | Maravatio and Ocampo hold a monarch Butterfly |
| month-long trip south, flying some 70 miles per day | | | | Festival each February, featuring traditional dance, |
| to reach the Oyamel mountaintop fir forests of the | | | | music and craft markets, in celebration of their annual |
| Mexican state of Michoacan. Those fortunate enough | | | | winter visitors. |
| to live along the monarchs' route south are | | | | Local tourist areas include the beautiful colonial town |
| frequently exposed to the site of large groups of | | | | of Morelia, Michoacan's capital and a UNESCO World |
| butterflies flying overhead on route to their winter | | | | Heritage Site, giving travelers yet another reason to |
| sanctuary. | | | | visit. Other popular tourist stops, including Lake |
| Once reaching the Oyamel forests, the monarchs | | | | Patzcuaro, the quaint town of Patzcuaro, Janitzio |
| cluster together by the thousands in pine trees, | | | | Island and the Tarascan Indian ruins of Tzintzuntzan, |
| weighing down branches with their sheer mass and | | | | are also nearby. |
| making the forests glow the like the bright orange of | | | | The beautiful butterflies leave Mexico in late February |
| their wings. These butterflies spend the entire winter | | | | and early March in a mass migration and the |
| in Michoacan, finally mating in the spring and then | | | | monarchs should reach the central United States by |
| returning north, laying eggs along the way. | | | | mid-April. By that time, the females will have laid their |
| The beautiful butterflies leave Mexico in late February | | | | eggs for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip. |
| and early March in a mass migration and the | | | | They return home exhausted and with tattered |
| monarchs should reach the central United States by | | | | wings after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will |
| mid-April. By that time, the females will have laid their | | | | make just one round trip during its lifetime. |
| eggs for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip. | | | | About the Mexico Tourism Board |
| They return home exhausted and with tattered | | | | The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the |
| wings after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will | | | | resources of federal and state governments, |
| make just one round trip during its lifetime. | | | | municipalities and private companies to promote |
| Witnessing this incredible migration is reason enough | | | | Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations |
| to follow the Monarchs down to Mexico. | | | | internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico's |
| In the easternmost part of Michoacan is an immense | | | | tourism promotion agency, and its participants include |
| monarch butterfly reserve spanning nearly 100 | | | | members of both the private and public sectors. The |
| square-miles. In 1986, the Mexican government | | | | MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, |
| declared the region a special biosphere reserve | | | | Japan and Latin America. |
| where thousands of butterflies cluster together in | | | | FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a |
| the early morning and nights, covering whole trees | | | | story or general travel and tourism information about |
| and branches. | | | | Mexico, please contact the MTB's North American |
| Several of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries are | | | | Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at , |
| open to the public, including Sierra Chincua and El | | | | or visit our press Web site at To access an online |
| Campanario. Sierra Chincua is about a 30-minute drive | | | | warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit |
| north of Angangueo, once an important mining town. | | | | # # # |
| El Campanario, also known as El Rosario sanctuary is | | | | Erick Laseca |
| much more frequently visited. It lies above the small | | | | Mexico Tourism Board |
| village of El Rosario, almost an hour's drive up some | | | | 312-228-0517erick. |