Day 1

Bienvenidos! -Arrival in México City

Welcome to Mexico! Our hotel is located in the historic center of the city. We are going to be there to help you with everything you need on your arrival day. At 5pm we will have a welcome meeting, where we can get to know each other and review important info about the trip. Afterwards, for those interested, we go out for our first dinner in the former Aztec Empire. We stay in Hotel Hampton Inn (or similar), which is only steps away from the historic center, Bellas Artes, Torre Latino and the best churros in town.

Day 2 

Mexico City - Day trip to Teotihuacán

After Breakfast we will head north east to Teotihuacán, an ancient Mesoamerican City, where we will have a guided tour of the site with its impressive pyramids and rich history. Sample some pulque and check the obsidian handcrafts of the area. Afterwards we will travel back to Mexico City and you will have a free evening to explore more of this virbant city. We stay another night in Hotel Hampton Inn (or similar).

Day 3

Angangueo - Sierra Chincua Reserve

Early start. We travel on a private van to the first Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, Sierra Chincua. It will be your first encounter with the strongest generation of butterflies that made the trip from as far as Canada to their overwintering site in the mountains of Mexico. We will hike at an altitude above 3000 m (10,000 ft) to find them and to be the witness of the unique show of one of the strongest little creatures in the world.  The length of the hike varies upon the actual site of the Monarch butterflies, it can take between one to one and a half hour. During the visit you will learn everything about the flora and fauna and the world of the Monarch Butterfly. We spend the night in rustic but charming Cumbre Monarca, very close to El Rosario Reserve. 

Day 4

Angangueo - El Rosario Reserve

Today we will drive (15 min) to our second Sanctuary, El Rosario. Accompanied by a local guide (ejidatario) we will hike through a beautiful forest to reach the clusters of the Monarchs. El Rosario has been having the highest number of Monarchs and with some luck and some sunshine, we will observe the Monarchs flying all around us, something that makes the whole experience special. After the hike you have time for shopping at the many stalls of the local people and to have some delicious freshly prepared lunch before we show you the colorful streets of Angangueo. After exploring the town we will drive back to our accommodation Cumbre Monarca (or similar) to share stories and laughs at the bonfire.

Day 5

Valle de Bravo - City tour and free time

 
Start the day with a delicious breakfast in the gardens of the hotel before we will leave the mountains and head towards Valle de Bravo. This picturesque town is a very popular weekend destination for Mexicans and it has a lot to offer: a colonial center, shopping, restaurants, mountain biking, boat tours on the lake, 360 degree viewpoints and much more. We spend the night in Hotel Meson de Leyendas (or similar), which is close to the main square and the perfect place to relax after the days outdoors.

Day 6

Valle de Bravo - Piedra Herrada Reserve

Today we visit the third Monarch Sanctuary, Piedra Herrada. Another chance to admire the beauty of nature and the show of the butterflies. Marvel one more time with the incredible journey they had to perform in order to survive the winter. As in the two previous reserves, there are horses available to help you climb part of the mountain. After the hike we drive back to Valle de Bravo where you can enjoy the afternoon in the picturesque colonial town. Get your souvenirs, indulge with a massage, visit a waterfall, take a boat ride or just enjoy a good coffee with the view of the main plaza and let the experience sink in. We spend another night in Meson de Leyendas (or similar).

Day 7

Mexico City - Cosmovitral in Toluca

Enjoy breakfast before we leave Valle de Bravo and go towards Mexico City. We will visit the Jardín Botánico Cosmovitral in Toluca on our way. Experience the jaw dropping stained glass windows of the world famous Cosmovitral, a botanical garden which happens to have almost an acre of impressive stained glass windows. A place that is delightful for art and plant lovers alike. After this pleasant stopover we will continue our journey to Mexico City, our final destination, where we will have our included farewell dinner. We spend the night in Hotel Hampton Inn (or similar), which is only a 30 min ride away from the international airport.

Day 8

Departure Day

Time to say goodbye and take the memories of an unique experience with you. We are sure you will remember the last 8 days for a lifetime.