Experience Nature's Miracles: Monarch Butterflies and Gray Whales in Mexico Feb 16-24, 2026
Every year Monarch Butterflies and the Pacific Gray whales undertake incredible migration journeys to Mexico- experience both with our Great Migrations tour. Begin your journey in Mexico City with a warm welcome and a classic Mexican feast. Travel to the charming town of Angangueo, where you'll visit the El Rosario and Chincua Butterfly Sanctuaries. Enjoy the sight of millions of monarch butterflies blanketing the oyamel fir trees in a spectacular display. Learn about local conservation efforts, savor authentic Mexican cuisine, and experience the vibrant culture of this picturesque mountain village. Enjoy your stay at Agua Blanca hotel. a retreat in the mountains with natural mineral spring waters, waterfalls and spa. This leg of the tour offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural immersion, making it an unforgettable start to your adventure.
Continue your adventure with a flight to San Ignacio Lagoon for an unparalleled whale-watching experience at Campo Cortez Ecolodge. Spend your days in awe of the majestic gray whales, exploring the serene lagoon, and enjoying hiking and tidepool walks. Led by knowledgeable local guides, you'll have twice-daily whale-watching excursions, gaining deep insights into these gentle giants. Evenings are filled with engaging lectures, delicious meals made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and breathtaking sunsets and starry skies. This unforgettable journey combines wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, and natural splendor, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Day 1 Mexico City, Mexico (Monday, Feb 16 , 2026)
Day 2 Angangueo—El Rosario Sanctuary (Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026)
Day 3 Angangueo—Chincua Sanctuary (Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026)
Day 4 Angangueo—Bird Watch Tour and Waterfall Hike / Mexico City (Thursday, Feb 19, 2026)
Day 5 Depart Mexico City- Fly to Tijuana then to San Ignacio Lagoon (Friday, Feb 20, 2026)
Day 6, 7, 8 Full Days whale watching in San Ignacio Lagoon (Saturday, Feb 21, 2026 - Monday, Feb 23, 2026)
Day 9 Depart San Ignacio Lagoon- charter flight to Tijuana and then to San Diego area hotel (Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026)
Two of nature’s most incredible journeys of beating the odds to create another generation of Life. Experience the Monarch Butterflies and Gray Whales in Mexico at their Winter migration destinations. Trip begins in Mexico City with visits to El Rosario and Chincua Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries, hike into the high forest to witness millions of butterflies in the forest clustering together to create warmth in the mornings and taking flight during warmer afternoons. Next you travel to Baja to see Gray Whales in their birthing and mating waters of San Ignacio Lagoon for four nights and 3 full days at Campo Cortez. Explore a variety of cultures within Mexico and see how small villages are integrating Eco-tourism to preserve the habitats for these migrating species.
Benefits of this trip: Visit the Central Highlands of Mexico and hike forests and stay in a lush retreat with thermal mineral waters, waterfalls and spa. Then journey to the remote Baja Coast to see the Gray Whales and their babies. An amazing opportunity for photographers to capture both the Monarch Butterflies & Gray Whales.
§ 6 up close whale watching trips
§ 2 Visits to Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries
§ 2 nights in Agua Blanca Retreat
§ 4 days and 4 nights at our private Ecolodge, Campo Cortez
§ Solar powered beach cabins with lagoon views
§ Naturalist led discussions & field excursions
§ All inclusive: meals, beer, wine, margaritas & happy hour
§ Hiking, beach strolling, tide pool exploration
§ Experienced and knowledgeable local resident staff
§ Evening presentations
§ Dark sky constellation gazing
§ Round trip transportation to San Ignacio Lagoon
§ Hiking in Mexico Central Highlands
§ Birdwatching
§ Natural Thermal Mineral baths
Tucked away in the lush mountains of Michoacán, Hotel Agua Blanca is a serene eco-retreat known for its rejuvenating mineral hot springs, stunning landscapes, and organic Mexican cuisine. Spanning 75 acres, the property features scenic trails through vibrant gardens and tropical bird-filled forests. With just 21 charming rooms, the hotel offers a cozy, nature-focused escape—free of TVs but with Wi-Fi and cell service. Guests can soak in clean thermal pools, enjoy spa treatments, or experience a traditional Temescal steam bath. Committed to sustainability, the hotel uses solar-heated water, eco-friendly products, and conservation efforts, making it the perfect getaway for relaxation and connection with nature.
Discover this beautiful hotel near Chapultepec in Mexico City.
Our first and last night in Mexico City we stay at Grand Fiesta Americana Chapultepec. Considered by many to be one of the country's most beautiful hotels, it offers an unbeatable location in Mexico City, near the iconic Auditorio Nacional and the famed Paseo de la Reforma. The hotel features modern architecture, clean modern rooms and breathtaking views of the Castillo de Chapultepec and the Bosque de Chapultepec. Throughout your stay, you'll be treated to the distinguished service befitting one of Mexico City's most luxurious hotels.
Sierra Chincua and El Rosario are two prominent butterfly sanctuaries within Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Michoacán, these reserves serve as critical overwintering habitats for millions of monarch butterflies migrating from North America. El Rosario, situated in the municipality of Ocampo, is the most renowned and frequently visited sanctuary, offering well-developed facilities and trails for visitors. Sierra Chincua, also in Michoacán, provides a less crowded experience, allowing visitors to observe the monarchs amidst serene natural surroundings. Both sanctuaries play vital roles in the conservation of the monarch butterfly and offer unique opportunities for eco-tourism and environmental education.
Seemingly perched on the edge of civilization, Campo Cortez offers modern amenities that are clean, comfortable, and low impact on the environment. Campo Cortez is a completely off the grid solar powered Ecolodge. Constructed from local materials and by traditional building methods, our palapa is the gathering point for all our daily activities and meals. Powered by modern solar generation systems, our electrical system provides 110 ac or 12-volt dc power for all your charging needs. You can charge your phone, video, and camera batteries anytime in the dining palapa or your cabin anytime during the day. Our facilities include hot showers, flushing marine toilets, and numerous hand washing stations.
Always available in the palapa are:
§ Book and video library of Baja & marine mammals & plants
§ Television to view our daily videos & presentations
§ Science and weather monitoring station
§ Coffee and hot tea
§ Snacks and fruit
§ Sodas, beer, and wine
§ Fresh reverse osmosis drinking water
§ Games and activities
§ Gift shop of locally crafted goods including t-shirts and headgear
Our beachside cabins come equipped with electricity, comfortable beds and are well protected from the often harsh wind and elements of the coastal desert. Twelve of our cabins are double occupancy with a mixture of single and double beds while three cabins offer triple occupancy with a double and single bed. All our cabins are supplied with fresh linens, pillows, shelving and a countertop area with a small mirror. They are cozy, efficient and leave a small footprint on the land. You’ll find charging stations inside of each cabin with standard USB-A connections as well as two USB-C connections.
Special Accommodations: If you have any special needs, let us know and we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable.
CPAP users: we offer two cabins that provide standard a/c power throughout the night for your medical device.
Special Diets: We happily accommodate special diets like Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free or others.
7:00am Coffee, cereals, fruit
8:00am Hot breakfast
8:45am Whale watching
12:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Whale watching
5:00pm Happy hour
6:00pm Dinner
9:00pm Lights out-Palapa
Schedule WILL vary day to day based on tide movements and weather
§ Guided tide pool exploration & critter hunts
§ Naturalist led excursions & lectures
§ Up close whale observation & petting
§ Happy hour & incredible sunsets
§ Hike to Gray Whale boneyard
§ Beach strolling and dark sky constellation gazing
§ Bird watching
Because we value a small group size, availability is on a limited basis. Please make your reservations well in advance to secure your spots. Many of our guests plan and book their trips at least six to fourteen months in advance. For your comfort, space is limited at camp and all our reservations are made on a first come basis. Please call or email us to check our schedule for availability.
Before your departure, you’ll receive from us:
§ Comprehensive itinerary package & travel information
§ Camp guidelines & whale watching information
§ Guide information & contact information
§ Detailed packing list
We are consistently rated the #1 Travelers’ Choice on Trip Advisor year after year for one reason, our Staff and Owners - who are residents and locals to San Ignacio Lagoon. We are four generations of family living and working in the lagoon since the settlement of San Ignacio Lagoon. We take pride in our efforts at our Ecolodge to have a low-impact environmentally and the responsibility that we carry as Ambassadors to the lagoon and its many wildlife residents.
All Hotels and Ecolodge accomodations
Professional expedition leaders and guides
All meals from Dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day
All scheduled activities and optional activities like hiking and tide pool exploration
Entrance Fees to the Reserves
Transportation from Mexico City to Tijuana and from Tijuana round trip to San Ignacio Lagoon
Taxes and fees are added to your Invoice
Private Charter Bus Transfer to local San Diego hotel
Travel to and from the start point and end point of your trip
Restaurant meals include 1 alcoholic beverage. While at the Ecolodge in San Ignacio Lagoon, all beverages are included except certain premium liquors. alcoholic beverages
While traveling in Mexico City, we will tip the local staff. The gratuity for the guides, captains and other staff is not included.
Passport and visa fees (if any)
Any activities you select outside of the itinerary
Personal items (Laundry phone calls)
Airline baggage fees
If applicable
Travel Insurance and Medical evacuation insurance
On our travel day from Mexico City to Tijuana there are restaurants availble with meals and snacks at your own cost.
At Hotel Agua Blanca there are massage and facial services that you can book onsite.
Arrival and Transfer: Arrive at Mexico City's airport and transfer to the Grand Fiesta Chapultepec Hotel in an upscale neighborhood district.
Welcome Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner with your Guide, followed by an orientation session about the tour and the upcoming experiences. Enjoy a classic Mexican feast at a restaurant in the historic district of Mexico City.
Travel to Angangueo: Depart from Mexico City and drive through the trans volcanic belt of Mexico, passing by scenic views of the snowcapped Nevado de Toluca volcano.
Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary:· Breakfast at the hotel and then enjoy a scenic 1-hour drive to Chincua Sanctuary.
Morning at Agua Blanca:
· Depart- Our monarch butterfly portion of the tour concludes with a transfer to the airport for morning flight to Tijuana.
· Meet connecting flight to San Ignacio Lagoon at the Tijuana International Airport. Embark on a 2.5-hour aerial journey over the Baja landscape aboard our commercially chartered aircraft. Departing from Tijuana we fly out of the international terminal where there are restaurants and shops while you wait for the flight.
· Arrive in Campo Cortez late afternoon and enjoy a welcome Happy Hour with drinks and homemade guacamole and orientation to camp.
· Ecolodge Retreat
· Spend three days and four nights at our Ecolodge, nestled in the heart of the Gray Whale Sanctuary. Stay in simple yet comfortable solar-powered cabins with lagoon views, cozy beds, and electricity to charge your devices.
· Whale Watching Adventures
· Experience whale watching twice daily with our knowledgeable local guides and boat captains, who are residents of the lagoon. Learn about the Gray Whale Sanctuary and its inhabitants from those who know it best.
· Nature Exploration
· During the day, experience up close whale watching, beach strolling, hiking, and tidepool walks, enjoying the beauty of the natural surroundings.
· Evening Delights
· Relax in the evenings with informal lectures and discussions, reflecting on the day's adventures. Eat authentic meals made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and breathe in the colorful sunsets, sunrises, and starry skies.
Depart Campo Cortez and meet private charter flight back to Tijuana and then a guided trip across the border to a local San Diego hotel where our journey ends.
Our beachside cabins come equipped with electricity, comfortable beds and are well protected from the often harsh wind and elements of the coastal desert. Twelve of our cabins are double occupancy with a mixture of single and double beds while three cabins offer triple occupancy with a double and single bed. All our cabins are supplied with fresh linens, pillows, shelving and a countertop area with a small mirror. They are cozy, efficient and leave a small footprint on the land. You’ll find charging stations inside of each cabin with a standard USB connection as well as two USB C connections.
Special Accommodations: If you have any special needs, let us know and we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable.
CPAP users: we offer two cabins that provide standard a/c power throughout the night for your medical device.
Special Diets: We happily accommodate special diets like Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free or others.
Tucked away in the lush mountains of Michoacán, Hotel Agua Blanca is a beautiful eco-retreat known for its rejuvenating mineral warm water springs, lush landscapes, and organic Mexican cuisine. Spanning 75 acres, the property features scenic trails through vibrant gardens and tropical bird-filled forests. With just 21 rooms, the hotel offers a small group, nature-focused escape—free of TVs but with Wi-Fi and cell service. Guests can soak in legendary thermal pools, enjoy spa treatments, or hike the many trails. Committed to sustainability, the hotel uses solar-heated water, eco-friendly products, and conservation efforts, making it the perfect home base for our Monarch Butterfly adventure.
One thing we are passionate about is respecting and honoring the whales that come here each winter. Our boat captains are all local residents of San Ignacio Lagoon and they each have decades of experience. Why does that matter? Well, maneuvering close to whales and keeping the panga steady and in perfect position is truly an art. They make it look easy but if you observe less experienced captains, you can see the difference. We respect the rules of the Lagoon to not overcrowd the whales and are considerate of other boats. Not many other camps own their own pangas or are as fortunate to have the excellent captains that we have. Our pangas are specially designed with low sides and cushioned benches to make the up close experiences easy and comfortable for our guests. Owning our boats ensures that we can keep small group sizes on each whale watch.
