Mariposas Unite!

Thousands of monarch butterflies roost on a branch at the Sierra Pellon Monarch Butterfly Biosphere in the mountains of Central Mexico. Each year hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies overwinter in the high-altitude oyamel fir forests.

Butterflies are nearly weightless, silent creatures. Unless you find yourself in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere zone in central Mexico where millions of monarch butterflies roost for the winter. The weight of the butterflies cause branches to break and trees to bend. The sound of the butterflies fluttering around is so loud it makes it hard to  think. In other words, an amazing, other worldly experience!

The preserves, a world heritage site, are located in the states of Michoacan and Mexico, west of Mexico City. I recently spent four days in the area visiting 4 of the 5 preserves including the most remote and undisturbed at Sierra Pellon, a 10,000-foot mountain which only has a ragged trail up the mountain accessible only by horseback or all day trek. The journey was well worth the effort, when I reached the roosting area on Sierra Pellon, my guide were alone with millions of butterflies for four hours. If you travel to one site – make it Sierra Pellon!

Thousands of monarch butterflies rest in the sun on a cool day at the Sierra Pellon Monarch Butterfly Biosphere in the mountains of Central Mexico. Each year hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies overwinter in the high-altitude oyamel fir forests.

The monarch’s begin their journey thousands of miles away in the eastern United States traveling close to the ground, moving 100 or so miles daily. By late October, early November they begin arriving on the southwestern slopes of the mountains in the preserve where they cling together in massive clusters which weigh down the thick branches of the fir trees. When the temperature is cold the monarch’s hibernate in masses which resemble dead leaves stuck to the sides of trees, once the sun warms them they take to the air and carpet the forest floor. They hang around until March when they mate, the male butterfly dies and the female begins the long journey back to the US. Talk about cross border immigration!

It’s an amazing place and one which is being preserved through the efforts of the Mexican government and multiple non-governmental organizations. If you chose to go you can reach the zone from the historic beautiful Mexican town of Morelia with direct flight from many US cities. From Morelia you can easily join a tour group or rent a car making the 70 mile trip through the lush mountains by yourself. There are plenty of places to stay in the regional center of Zitacuaro or better yet in the tiny town of Angangueo near the entrance to several of the preserves.

Sierra Pellon Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in central Mexico. Each year millions of monarch's from the eastern USA migrate to the high-altitude oyamel fir forests.

Thousands of monarch butterflies gather together on the trunk of a fir tree at the Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterfly Biosphere in the mountains of Central Mexico. Each year hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies overwinter in the high-altitude oyamel fir forests.

Sierra Pellon Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in central Mexico. Each year millions of monarch's from the eastern USA migrate to the high-altitude oyamel fir forests.