Monarchs in Mexico : February 9-16, 2025

A tour of two Monarch overwintering sites in Michoacan, Mexico, with Natural Habitat Adventures. Our particular trip was sponsored by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as part of their Adventure Tours program.

Part 1 - Michoacan

February 9: San Diego to Mexico City via CBX

The Cross Border Express (CBX) was as smooth as all the online reviews said it would be. It made for a less expensive and non-stop flight from Tijuana to Mexico City on Aeromexico.

pIMG_93966.JPG	On the border	pIMG_93969.JPG	pIMG_93973.JPG
pIMG_93979.JPG	pIMG_93984.JPG	A derelict 747 on the field	Over Tijuana
Guadalupe, Zacatecas	Lago de Guadalupe	Mexico City; Bosque de Chapultepec on the right.	Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes
The wiring doesn't look particularly healthy	Altar a la Patria in the Bosque de Chapultepec

February 10: Mexico City to Angangueo and the El Rosario Monarch Sanctuary

We traveled by coach to Angangueo for lunch, then by pickup truck to the El Rosario Monarch Sanctuary. The butterflies were in the Oylamel Firs at an elevation of 3350m (11000'). From the parking lot elevation of 10000', we went about two-thirds of the way on horseback, and the remainder on foot. Seeing the Monarch groves was bittersweet. There were a lot of Monarchs, but populations are down about 90% from 20 years ago. Even so, when one large group burst into flight late in the afternoon, you could hear the faint patter of thousands of tiny wings.

Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta)	pIMG_3680.JPG	pIMG_3681.JPG	Hwy 15 outside Curungueo. The fuel price works out to about $4.5/gal.
pIMG_94066.JPG	Restaurante Don Gambino, Angangueo	cIMG_3698.JPG	School's out in Angangueo
pIMG_3707.JPG	pIMG_3727.JPG	pIMG_3729.JPG	Paper wasps
cIMG_3739.JPG	pIMG_3741.JPG	pIMG_3745.JPG	pIMG_3770.JPG
pIMG_3775.JPG	pIMG_3783.JPG	pIMG_3798.JPG	pIMG_3835.JPG
cIMG_3842.JPG	pIMG_3853.JPG	pIMG_3862.JPG	pIMG_3871.JPG
pIMG_3873.JPG	pIMG_3880.JPG	pIMG_3900.JPG	pIMG_3930.JPG
cIMG_3940.JPG	Thankfully, NatHab tours are allowed to be on site for 90 minutes.	cIMG_3960.JPG	cIMG_3979.JPG
pIMG_3989.JPG	pIMG_3994.JPG	pIMG_4019.JPG	pIMG_4031.JPG
cIMG_4038.JPG	pIMG_4054.JPG	pIMG_4086.JPG	pIMG_4090.JPG
pIMG_4106.JPG	pIMG_4120.JPG	pIMG_4130.JPG	pIMG_4176.JPG
pIMG_4184.JPG	cIMG_4206.JPG	cIMG_4207.JPG	pIMG_4213.JPG
pIMG_4217.JPG	cIMG_4230.JPG	White-eared Hummingbird	pIMG_4263.JPG
Slate-throated Redstart	pIMG_4278.JPG	pIMG_4284.JPG	pIMG_4287.JPG
pIMG_4293.JPG	pIMG_4297.JPG	Sunset refreshments from Claudia	cIMG_4316.JPG
pIMG_4329.JPG	cIMG_4334.JPG	pIMG_4341.JPG	cIMG_4343.JPG
pIMG_4352.JPG	Our hotel in Angangueo	cIMG_4358.JPG	pIMG_4362.JPG
cIMG_4365.JPG	cIMG_4367.JPG	cIMG_4368.JPG	pIMG_4371.JPG

February 11: Sierra Chinqua Monarch Sanctuary

The next morning, we visited the Sierra Chinqua preserve north of town. Of note, we saw a few Black-headed Grosbeaks feeding on the Monarchs.

pIMG_4378.JPG	cIMG_4381.JPG	cIMG_4387.JPG	pIMG_4392.JPG
Pinto	A really big thistle	pIMG_4404.JPG	cIMG_4408.JPG
pIMG_4413.JPG	pIMG_4422.JPG	cIMG_4446.JPG	pIMG_4449.JPG
pIMG_4464.JPG	A Black-headed Grosbeak is picking off butterflies	pIMG_4474.JPG	pIMG_4480.JPG
pIMG_4507.JPG	pIMG_4515.JPG	pIMG_4520.JPG	pIMG_4528.JPG
pIMG_4539.JPG	pIMG_4555.JPG	pIMG_4614.JPG	pIMG_4626.JPG
cIMG_4632.JPG	pIMG_4635.JPG	pIMG_4643.JPG	cIMG_4650.JPG
cIMG_4663.JPG	pIMG_4669.JPG	pIMG_4672.JPG	Princely Tiger Moth (Chrysocale principalis)
pIMG_4691.JPG	pIMG_4696.JPG	Orange-crowned Warbler (?)	pIMG_4722.JPG
pIMG_4739.JPG	I missed the exact shot, but this is the scene on the back of the 100 Peso note.	pIMG_6985.JPG	Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
pIMG_4763.JPG	Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Yellow-eyed Junco
pIMG_4812.JPG	pIMG_4820.JPG	pIMG_4823.JPG	cIMG_4828.JPG
cIMG_4832.JPG	pIMG_4833.JPG	pIMG_4844.JPG	This alley contains a historical mural for the town.
pIMG_4851.JPG	pIMG_4864.JPG	pIMG_4869.JPG

February 12: Back to the El Rosario Sanctuary

We returned to El Rosario the next morning for another visit. While sunny, it was a cool day, so the butterlies weren't too active before we had to leave around noon. I spotted one Monarch with a tag, but unfortunately couldn't read the ID number.

pIMG_4875.JPG	cIMG_4886.JPG	pIMG_4888.JPG	pIMG_4911.JPG
pIMG_4923.JPG	pIMG_4927.JPG	A little busier today	pIMG_4944.JPG
pIMG_4957.JPG	pIMG_4978.JPG	Something in this cluster is glinting in the sun.	cIMG_4996.JPG
The butterfly in the center has a tag! Unfortunately, the number was unreadable.	pIMG_5018.JPG	pIMG_5036.JPG	cIMG_5038.JPG
pIMG_5051.JPG	cIMG_5061.JPG	cIMG_5067.JPG	cIMG_5079.JPG
pIMG_5091.JPG	cIMG_5094.JPG	pIMG_5109.JPG	pIMG_5119.JPG
cIMG_5166.JPG	cIMG_5176.JPG	pIMG_5188.JPG	pIMG_5203.JPG
pIMG_5224.JPG	pIMG_5228.JPG	pIMG_5236.JPG	pIMG_5240.JPG
pIMG_5254.JPG	pIMG_5271.JPG	pIMG_5296.JPG	pIMG_5305.JPG
Our lunch venue

February 12-13: Agua Blanca Hotel, Jungapeo

After coming down the mountain from Angangueo, we spent one night in Jungapeo at the Agua Blanca Hotel. At an elevation of 1375m (4500'), it had a much more tropical feel.

Mineral spring pools	cIMG_94147.JPG	Praying mantis	Carpenter bee peeking out
Queen caterpillar	Probably a Queen egg	pIMG_5417.JPG	pIMG_5429.JPG
Canyon Wren	Hooded Oriole (?)	pIMG_5459.JPG	This dog led the way on our nature hike
pIMG_94162.JPG	pIMG_5486.JPG	Great Kiskadee (?)	Groove-billed Ani
Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)	pIMG_5513.JPG	2-stop HDR	Orb weaver
pIMG_5532.JPG	Juno Longwing (Dione juno)	pIMG_5539.JPG	Juno being pestered by a Julia (Dryas iulia)
pIMG_5552.JPG	Giant White (Ganyra josephina?)	Fatima (Anartia fatima)	pIMG_5586.JPG
Hairstreak (Parrhasius sp.?)	Picture-winged antlion (Glenurus sp.?)	pIMG_5610.JPG	This Monarch was laying eggs on the milkweed
Tropical Checkered Skipper (Burnsius oileus)	Queen (Danaus gilippus)	Victorine Swallowtail (Pterourus victorinus)	pIMG_5692.JPG
Crescentspot (Anthanassa sp.?)	Mexican Amberwing (Perithemis intensa?)	pIMG_94164.JPG	pIMG_5730.JPG
pIMG_5741.JPG	pIMG_5748.JPG	Mexican Dartwhite (Catasticta nimbice)	pIMG_5780.JPG
pIMG_5785.JPG	White-striped Longtail (Chioides albofasicatus?)	pIMG_5792.JPG	cIMG_5823.JPG
pIMG_5829.JPG	pIMG_5839.JPG	pIMG_5843.JPG	pIMG_5854.JPG

February 13: Toluca

On the way back to Mexico City, we stopped in Toluca to visit the botanical garden there, plus a surprise stop at a chocolatier.

Iglesia del Carmen, Toluca	Cosmovitral Jardin Botanico	pIMG_94187.JPG	pIMG_94194.JPG
cIMG_94196.JPG	pIMG_94201.JPG	I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition	Cacao pod at a chocolatier
cIMG_94217.JPG