How to See the Monarch Butterflies of Mexico: Complete Guide

Last updated on June 26, 2025

There aren’t many experiences in life that you can say are once in a lifetime, but seeing the monarch butterflies of Mexico is undoubtedly one of them.

Each year millions of monarch butterflies make the long trek from Canada and the northern part of the United States and then venture on to Mexico where they stay for winter months. This is the largest monarch migration in the world and is truly a bucket list experience.

After learning about the migration of monarch butterflies of Mexico on our RV road trip, we knew we had to detour to Valle de Bravo for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If seeing the monarchs of Mexico is on your travel wishlist too, here is everything you need to know about the experience – from where you can see the monarch butterflies in Mexico, how much it costs, what to expect, and what to bring on your trip.

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About the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico

Each fall, millions of Monarch butterflies instinctively start their travel to Mexico to overwinter. They fly anywhere from 25 to 30 miles a day traveling around 3,000 miles to reach one of the three butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico.

The oyamel fir, pine, and oak trees found in Michoacan and Estado de Mexico are the perfect sanctuary for the Monarchs in winter.

The journey is long and challenging. To survive, the monarch morphs into a “super” monarch that can make it to Mexico in just one lifespan. The monarch butterflies will live here for several months, resting, eating, and reproducing fluttering around when the sun peeks out. Come March, the butterflies start their voyage north again.

However, unlike the super Monarch that made it to Mexico in just one lifespan, the butterflies returning home will go through as many as four generations before reaching home. Many places in the United States see large numbers of monarch butterflies stopping to rest and eat their beloved milkweed on this journey.

Sadly, due to diminishing food sources, increased pollution, and car traffic. Fewer and fewer monarchs are making this migration. Monarch butterfly numbers are consistently dwindling, with millions fewer being recorded here annually.

Being able to witness the monarch butterflies of Mexico as the population is dwindling makes it even more of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

When to see the monarch butterflies of Mexico

The Mexico monarch butterfly migration begins in October. However, most butterflies don’t arrive in Mexico until late November or early December. January to early February is the peak season for witnessing the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico.

The best time to see the monarch butterflies of Mexico out and about is midday. Since the butterflies come here for warmth, they huddle together on branches in clusters to keep each other warm until the sun comes out.

We reached the top of the mountain around 11:00 am and were there just in time for huge groups of the monarchs to wake up and start flying.

Visit one of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico on a weekday if possible. Understandably, it’s a very popular attraction and can be packed with people on the weekend.

Where to see the monarch butterflies of Mexico

There are three sanctuaries to visit in Mexico. There is one in the state of Mexico and two in Michoacán.

• Santuario Piedra Herrada
• Santuario Mariposa Monarca El Rosario
• Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca Sierra Chincua

All butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico are protected as a part of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de Biosfera de la Mariposa Monarca). This area encompasses around 350 square miles (560 sq. km) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most people coming to see the monarch butterflies of Mexico fly into Mexico City and then rent a car to get to the Sanctuary. Driving in and around Mexico City is a nightmare (we don’t recommend it on our worst enemy), so if you prefer not to deal with renting a car you can also take a bus or coordinate transportation with a tour.

If you are driving yourself, make sure you get there early. The sanctuaries are 2 or 3 hours from Mexico City and you’ll want to arrive at the Sanctuary around 9:00 or 10:00 am at the latest.

If you do drive read this ➡ Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Mexico

Santuario Piedra Herrada, Estado de Mexico

• 2-hour drive from Mexico City
• The closest town is Valle de Bravo
• Option to ride a horse part of the way
• $80 pesos to enter
• Open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Santuario Piedra Herrada is in Mexico State roughly 45 minutes outside Valle de Bravo. It’s the closest monarch sanctuary to Mexico City and is where we went to see the monarch butterflies of Mexico.

Given its proximity to Mexico City, it’s the most popular of the three but isn’t where you’ll see the most butterflies – if you want that, you’ll need to go to El Rosario.

We stayed in Valle de Bravo rather than going directly from Mexico City. Valle de Bravo is a charming pueblo magico and is a fantastic place for paragliding. It took about 45 minutes to walk up a very steep mountain before reaching the roosting place of the butterflies.

If you’re unable to hike uphill you can ride a horse part of the way on a designated horse trail. Eventually, you’ll reach the trail and need to hike the last quarter of a mile. The horses were 250 pesos more when we visited, and in our opinion, it wasn’t worth it since you still had to hike the last stretch (which is very steep).

Santuario Mariposa Monarca el Rosario, Michoacán

• 3-hour drive from Mexico City
• The closest town is Ocampo
• No option to ride a horse
• $80 pesos to enter
• Open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Has the most butterflies of the three

Santuario Mariposa Monarca El Rosario is in Michoacán. It’s around a 3-hour drive from Mexico City making it slightly farther than Santuario Piedra Herrada. However, it’s home to the most butterflies of the three sanctuaries.

Its sheer number of monarchs (in the thousands to tens of thousands) makes it the most popular Mexico butterfly sanctuary to visit.

Santuario Mariposa Monarca El Rosario is close to the towns Angangueo and Ocampo which has several collectivo (buses) that will take you to the sanctuary for cheap (less than $2). Many people drive three hours from Mexico to stay in Zitácuaro, the largest town nearby, and stay overnight. Then, they take a taxi from Zitácuaro to Santuario Mariposa Monarca El Rosario which costs around $5 to $10.

Again, this sanctuary requires a roughly 45-minute walk up a steep mountain. There is no horse trail up the mountain, so your only option is walking. We didn’t visit this sanctuary but we met a couple at Santuario Piedra Herrada who did and they said the experience was very different.

They said Rosario was less of a forest and had a larger open field where the butterflies would fly around in the thousands. They also said they opted for a tour that included horses and lunch in a nearby field. If you want a detailed guide on how to take the bus from Mexico City read this post.

Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca Sierra Chincua, Michoacán

• 3 hour and 15 minute drive from Mexico City
• The closest town is Angangueo
• Option to ride a horse
• $80 pesos to enter
• Open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca Sierra Chincua is another sanctuary in Michoacán. This is the least visited out of the three sanctuaries largely because of its smaller number of butterflies. The walk from the entrance to the top of the mountain is also longer, requiring around an hour and thirty minutes before you see the butterflies.

Like the others, you can hike or ride a horse. There are also other activities to do here, like walking over a suspension bridge or going zip lining.

What to bring when visiting the butterfly sanctuary

Mexico State and Michoacan can be quite chilly in the morning. It’s a good idea to wear layers and have a warmer jacket with you if you are visiting the Monarch Sanctuary in the early morning or evening. Check the weather during your visit and plan accordingly.

It’s also highly recommended to wear sneakers or sturdy shoes (like hiking shoes). If you aren’t riding a horse, you will be hiking up a mountain the entire time. The paths at Santuario Piedra Herrada and Sierra Chincua are dirt, not paved so you definitely want shoes with good grip.

The sanctuary had bathrooms on site which cost $10 pesos to use. There were also vendors selling food and refreshments. While you can buy water there, we recommend bringing your own reusable water bottle.

Our friend bicycled all of Mexico using this Camelbak with a life straw in it. It filters out dangerous contaminants and makes tap water safe to consume.

🌮 We highly recommend getting lunch from a vendor after your tour. The food was super affordable and fantastic! Try a huitlacoche quesadilla or sopes. Huitlachoce is a special mushroom that grows on corn and is a delicacy in Mexico.

What to expect when viewing the monarch butterflies

These forests are nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level. 😱 We struggled to hike up the steep mountain even though we were in (relatively) good shape. Elevation sickness isn’t unheard of here so give yourself time to acclimate to the high elevation surrounding Mexico City and these protected Sanctuaries.

➡ Read Next: 3 Days in Mexico City: The Best First-Time Itinerary ⬅

The butterflies are very active when the sun comes out, and will likely be flying overhead, munching on some milkweed, or mating. Once the butterflies mate and lay eggs, they die so don’t be surprised to see dead butterflies all around. It’s a part of their life cycle and one of the reasons they come to Mexico over winter.

Everyone was extremely respectful of the Sanctuary and remained quiet on the mountain. All we could hear was the breeze and the flapping of the butterfly’s wings. Watching the monarch butterflies of Mexico fly all around is truly magical and it was easy to see why silence is revered here.

I am very thankful we learned about the migration and made a point to detour for this special experience. If you’re planning to travel to Mexico to see the monarch butterflies of Mexico, I hope this guide helps you plan your trip and understand what to expect during your visit.