Butterflies
by islandgirl 
, Cowichan Valley, Thursday, January 02, 2014, 23:40 (4624 days ago)
I just watched a David Suzuki show on CBC, the Nature of Things. I'm sure you can find it at www.cbc.ca It was all about the Monarchs, and the Canadians Fred & Norah Urquhart, who with the help of Kenneth Brugger and Catalina Aguado Traill found out the Monarch's secrets. The IMAX film 'Flight of the Butterflies" tells the whole story. It was pretty amazing.
So the question is, has anybody been to see the butterflies this season? If so, please tell.
Butterflies
by Paulf , Mount Sterling, Ky 40353, Friday, January 03, 2014, 09:06 (4623 days ago) @ islandgirl
We are scheduled to fly into Morelia Jan 13. Last year we got to Morelia in Oct before they had arrived. Our taxi/tour guide is suppose to take us to the refuge- was told you had to have passes to get in. Everything that I have read is the population of butterflies is getting smaller in size each year- the articles could not put a total reason. Probably like the population of the honey bees. We are still waiting to hear back from our guide- he was making reservations at a hotel in Morelia for us at a good price. Last year we stayed at Casa Rosa the #1 rated B/B in Morelia.
Butterflies
by La Cumbre , Friday, January 03, 2014, 18:45 (4623 days ago) @ islandgirl
We went last year and really enjoyed the trip. We booked a private trip (4 of us) paid a bit more but also got a more personal trip and the drive to the sanctuary is also really nice and Morelia the historical area was pleasant and lots of outdoor dining and breakfast ops. Going back to Morelia this year and maybe even to the sanctuary but maybe the Anguangeo site this time, last year was El Rosario but if going again thought a different one would be a change but nothing wrong with El Rosario I think it depends on the type of vehicle your tour guide has as the road to Anguangeo may be rougher and harder on vehicles!
Butterflies
by MN Nice , MN, Saturday, January 04, 2014, 05:51 (4622 days ago) @ La Cumbre
How far of a drive is this? How much extra time would one allow?
Butterflies
We hired a car and driver from Zihua. Took about 7 hours with stops in Santa Clara del Cubre and Patzcuaro. We stayed overnight in Zitacuaro to help us get acclimated to the altitude at El Rosario. We walked, did not ride horses. We were both 65 at the time and took it very slowly. Challenging but so well worth it.
I have been the last 3 years in a row in Feb. ride the bus to Morelia spend the night in a hotel 30 pesos to hotel taxi about 300 for a nice hotel for 2 with breakfast book the room for 2 days . Take the tour ride with whoever maybe M&M and if you get a good guide he will explain the 4 hour ride . It goes by fast because it is beautiful the whole way . Get to the park which ever one has the most butterflies the last 3 years Angangeo spelling is wrong . It is a nice path up slow going for the elders but they all make it . You can see them lessening in the last few years so it is worth going now this year Feb. has been a steller month with a sunny day it is majic . watching silently listening to the sounds of z millions of monarca and then you make your way down to the banos and out to the left behind the site are a bunch of eateries( enramaddas) as well as tee shirts butterfly magnents, tortilla napkins all made by hand and adorned with of course butterflies. It is the tallest mountin in Morelia it is a long day have a snak and get your guide a snak and back to Morelia all for 500 pesos each person . Spend your night in hotel back to bus after touring round the city take the bus back round trip bus 800. pesos Zihu to Morelia hope it helps I can email photos but have no idea how to load them here.
