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NEOhio

Sep 4, 2004, 4:56 PM

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Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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I have read that the time frame for monarch migration is usually December, and return in March. We will be in Jalisco over Thanksgiving, would a trip to the reserves be interesting then, or too early.

We are able to plan another trip over the December holidays if that is a good time, or in mid-February if that would be better. I would like to surprise my family with a side trip, and want to do it right the first time.

I would like anyone who has been, enjoyed their accomodations and possibly tour, to let me know the who, what, were and when of what they liked and what they would do differently. The most recent info in a search was from Winter 2003.

Any and all information is very much appreciated. Thank you. Anita

(This post was edited by NEOhio on Sep 4, 2004, 6:08 PM)

Carol Schmidt

Sep 4, 2004, 9:44 PM

Post #2 of 13 (980 views)

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Re: [NEOhio] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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We're going in February for the first time and have done research and heard from those who have done it. The big point to make is that you will have to climb something like 665 steps at the end of the journey to get to the best butterfly sites. You are already at high altitude, so the going is impossible for many people. I couldn't have made it last year but am in better health this year and want to try it.

I've also heard that it is best to allow a full day there so that you can take your time, rather than trying to fit it in to one day with travel time included. Some people who used to organize groups to go to the butterflies no longer do it because too many people can't make the walk up and then blame the tour guide, even though they were warned of the steps ahead of time. If you're planning on bringing anyone with health problems, take this into consideration.

Carol Schmidt

jennifer rose

Sep 4, 2004, 9:54 PM

Post #3 of 13 (979 views)

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Re: [NEOhio] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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Contact Luis Miguel Lopez Alanis http://www.mmg.com.mx/ to arrange a tour for you. Barring a repeat of the "Once in a century" snowstorm, the best time is toward the second half of the season, because there are more hours of daylight.

As part of your planning process, buy Western Mexico: A Traveller's Treasury by Tony Burton. http://www.mexconnect.com/...etailtravellers.html And if you really want to do up the trip right, consider hiring that chap as your consultant and tour guide.

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Sep 4, 2004, 9:59 PM)

Kip

Sep 5, 2004, 5:49 AM

Post #4 of 13 (971 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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If you're not used to the high altitude, you may want to put the butterfly excursion toward the end of your trip to give your body time to adjust.

Kip
kip

(This post was edited by Kip on Sep 6, 2004, 12:10 AM)

sfmacaws

Sep 5, 2004, 11:40 PM

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Re: [Kip] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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We were there on March 31st this year and everything was closed. I have no idea if the butterflies were gone or not, that seemed to be irrelevent - the vendors and the guides were gone. We drove our jeep up to the sanctuary and there were lots of tourist stalls but no one around. One man was walking by and told us that the sanctuary was only open from December to March - telling him that technically it was still March seemed pointless. There are no signs that we saw that would give us a clue about where to walk on our own, so we drove back down. It is very high altitude. I believe we started somewhere around 7k' where we left the RV and the drive to the sanctuary was long and all uphill. I wasn't really interested in walking around looking for closed trails as I could barely walk around the jeep. It's beautiful pine forest country, worth seeing with or without the butterflies, particularly since the continuous logging may mean it doesn't look like this much longer.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

jennifer rose

Sep 6, 2004, 6:42 AM

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Re: [sfmacaws] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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I don't have the actual dates of the closing of sanctuary at hand, and I'm not going to look them up, but the closing date is more like mid-March. This year there was about a week mid-season that the sanctuary was closed due to inclement weather, and tourists were discouraged from visiting the sanctuaries during a period of time afterward, because the snow killed so many butterflies, a reprise of a year or so past.

Even if the sanctuary is closed, it's still a beautiful area of the country to explore. Don't discount looking around the town itself and visiting Casa Parker.

Cynthia7

Sep 6, 2004, 11:53 AM

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Re: [jennifer rose] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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The Monarch are there from Jan.9 to Mar. 25th in 2005. They come in on a certain day and they leave on a certain day. Just like the birds in Capistrano. Sanctuary Rosario is the easiest -I think. There are 3 sancutaries. It is 10,000 feet and cool. If you stay in Anguiano take a warm blanket for sleeping.

Anonimo

Sep 8, 2004, 7:02 AM

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Re: [NEOhio] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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Mid-Februrary is a good time, and the butterflies should be there. If you stay in the area, try to make reservations far in advance. We stayed at Hotel Rancho San Cayetano, just south of Zitácuaro, and it was full up most of Feb. (The hosts put us up in spare bedrooms in their house.)

Saludos,
Anonimo

esperanza

Sep 8, 2004, 7:45 AM

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Re: [Kip] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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Kip, when you were there, where did you stay? What time of year was it, and was it hard to get reservations?

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Kip

Sep 8, 2004, 8:22 AM

Post #10 of 13 (829 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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Haven't been there...yet. My comment was more for anyone dealing with altitudes that they're not used to. If you've been looking forward to the trip for a long time (like me) it would be awful to get there and realize that you just can't make it.

Our first trip to Ajijic was by plane. Beside having my ankles imitating beach balls, I tired really easily for the first week..I wouldn't have even considered the butterfly excursion! The second trip we drove. No swelling problems and I was ready to rock 'n' roll from the get go. I think that driving allows your body to adjust more gradually.
kip

Karin

Sep 21, 2004, 5:28 PM

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Re: [Kip] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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Do you know that you can rent horses at the parking place?

Kip

Sep 21, 2004, 5:48 PM

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Re: [Karin] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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No I hadn't heard about that. Walking wouldn't be a problem now, but of course I do love horses....and fortunately so does my husband! We will definitely look into it.

Thanks,

Kip
kip

NEOhio

Sep 22, 2004, 4:36 AM

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Re: [Karin] Monarch Butterfly - When is best time

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Karin, thank you for mentioning the horses. I had decided after allthe earlier information that a trip this February wouldn't be possible as I had a bi-lateral hip replacement this recent February and although I am terrific and doing massive yard work and gardening for the first time in 3 years I didn't see how I could manage a long trek on unlevel ground.

So now I can go, or at least we'll all go and see if there are horses this year. Thanks again, I have been wanting to do this Monarch trek.