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.

• Lunch: Enjoy a hearty meal of homemade Mexican dishes at Rancho Cumbres Monarca.
• El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary
• Option of Horseback Riding: Ascend the trail on horseback, individually guided horses by local caballeros, while enjoying sightings of hummingbirds and red warblers or hike the trail with a guide. Both option hike the last 20-40 of the trail to reach the butterfly colonies.
• Butterfly Viewing: Witness millions of monarch butterflies covering the oyamel fir trees, creating a breathtaking spectacle as they blanket the trees and take to the sky in a cloud of orange when warmed by the sun.
• Overnight at Hotel Agua Blanca in Jungapeo. 

Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary:· Breakfast at the hotel and then enjoy a scenic 1-hour drive to Chincua Sanctuary.

• Transport: Option to ride individually guided horses along the established trail or hike the trail with a guide - both options hike the last portion for about 20-40 minutes to reach the butterfly colonies. 
• Butterfly Viewing: On a warm day, observe the forest floor and streams covered with butterflies as they descend to drink.
• Conservation Efforts: Learn about the conservation work by local communities to protect the monarchs' habitat and understand the significance of ecotourism in supporting these efforts.
• Lunch at the Reserve- After lunch we depart for Angangueo town.
• Explore Angangueo: Spend time exploring the village of Angangueo, renowned for its murals that celebrate the monarch butterflies and their importance to the community.
• Evening relax and wander the lush hotel grounds, schedule a massage or swim in the warm natural mineral baths at the hotel.
• Dinner at Agua Blanca Hotel
• Overnight in Hotel Agua Blanca

Morning at Agua Blanca:

• Take an early morning bird watching tour and a hike to a nearby waterfall.
• Return Journey to Mexico City- road trip journey back to Mexico City. Arrive at the hotel around 4pm.
• Dinner: Group Dinner at a local restaurant. 

 · 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.