The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Spanish: Reserva de Biosfera de la Mariposa Monarca) is a World Heritage Site containing most of the over-wintering sites of the eastern population of the monarch butterfly. The reserve is located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests ecoregion on the border of Michoacán and State of Mexico, 100 km (62 miles), northwest of Mexico City. Millions of butterflies arrive in the reserve annually. Butterflies only inhabit a fraction of the 56,000 hectares of the reserve from October–March. The biosphere’s mission is to protect the butterfly species and its habitat.Use our Angangueo itinerary planning site to arrange your visit to Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and other attractions in Angangueo.
Most of the over-wintering monarchs from eastern North America are found here. Researchers discovered these areas in 1975. Presidential decrees in the 1980s and 2000 designated these still privately held areas as a federal reserve. The Reserve was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1980 and a World Heritage Site in 2008. The reserve remains predominantly rural. Reserve administrators continue to be concerned with deleterious effects of illegal logging and tourism. Conservation efforts sometimes conflict with the interests of local farmers, community-based landowners, private land owners and indigenous people.
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Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve reviews
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So many butterflies you can HEAR them fluttering! Imagine a full-grown tree, with limbs so heavy with buterflies that they touch the ground! NOTE - The reserve is at 11,000 ft in elevation. Strongly..... more
So many butterflies you can HEAR them fluttering! Imagine a full-grown tree, with limbs so heavy with buterflies that they touch the ground! NOTE - The reserve is at 11,000 ft in elevation. Strongly..... more »
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The butterflies migrate in this forest 4 hours from San Miguel de Allende. It's a long trip, and can be done in one day, but I recommend staying overnight to break up the drive. We had a fantastic...
The butterflies migrate in this forest 4 hours from San Miguel de Allende. It's a long trip, and can be done in one day, but I recommend staying overnight to break up the drive. We had a fantastic... more »
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Is a wonderful experience!! real contact with Mother Nature and the butterflies talk to you. It is an enchanted, relaxing paradise where I experienced incredible sensations.
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Such a Beautiful experience. I just love being in this wonderful place. It's such a magical experience and I highly recommend visiting the reserve and the local vendors. ❤️❤️❤️
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