For a few weeks each winter, the highland forests of central Mexico hold one of the most extraordinary wildlife events on Earth. Millions of monarch butterflies gather in the oyamel fir forests of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, clustering by the thousands and filling the air in a quiet, continuous motion that has to be experienced to be understood.

This 5-day journey is designed differently.

Rather than covering as much ground as possible, this itinerary is intentionally focused. It’s crafted for travelers who want deeper access, more time in the sanctuaries, and a more personal connection to the monarch migration. With a small group size and an expert-led approach, you’ll experience the colonies at the pace they deserve, when conditions are right and the butterflies are most active.

You’ll be guided by Ruben Encalada, our lead guide in Mexico, whose longstanding relationships in the region open doors to a more meaningful experience. His knowledge extends beyond the migration itself, offering insight into the cultural traditions, local communities, and conservation efforts that make these sanctuaries possible.

Each day at the butterfly sanctuaries brings extended time by hiking into the reserves. The sound of wings, like soft rainfall, fills the air as monarchs take flight. While clustered, branches bend under the weight of thousands of butterflies. With fewer people and carefully timed visits, you’ll have space to observe, photograph, and fully take in the scale of this phenomenon.

This experience is designed for those who want more than a standard tour. It’s curated for those who value access, expertise, and immersion over a checklist of stops. In just five days, it delivers something rare: a focused, deeply felt encounter with one of the natural world’s most remarkable migrations.

Ruben Encalada is a natural connector who moves seamlessly between landscapes, cultures, and communities, opening doors that most travelers never see. 

With a background rooted in land-based work, hospitality, and immersive, place-driven experiences, Ruben has spent years cultivating relationships across Mexico. Those relationships aren’t transactional. They’re personal. They’re built on trust, respect, and a shared love for the places he calls home.

When Ruben guides, it’s not just about where you go. It’s about who you meet, what you feel, and how deeply you connect. Whether navigating hidden ecosystems, sharing a meal with local stewards, or translating the rhythm of a place, he creates moments that feel both intimate and expansive.

His love for Mexico is unmistakable. It shows up in the way he tells stories, the way he introduces people, and the care he brings to every detail of the journey. With Ruben, guests don’t just experience Mexico. They’re welcomed into it.

Arrive in Mexico City, one of the world’s great cultural capitals, where layers of history and modern life unfold side by side. We’ll settle into our hotel in the Condesa neighborhood—an area known for its tree-lined streets, local cafés, and creative energy.

In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner to meet your fellow travelers and your lead guide, whose deep connection to the region will shape the days ahead. This is more than an introduction - it’s the beginning of understanding the landscapes, communities, and migration you’re about to experience.

Accommodations: Círculo Condesa
Meals: Dinner

We leave the city behind and travel into the forested highlands of central Mexico, where the monarchs overwinter. Our destination is the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a protected landscape where timing, conditions, and local knowledge determine the experience.

With a small group and flexible approach, we visit the sanctuary offering the best activity that day, an important distinction that allows us to experience the monarchs at their most dynamic.

Hike into the oyamel fir forests, where clusters of butterflies gather in astonishing density. As the sun warms the trees, the forest begins to stir - wings opening, shifting, and eventually lifting into the air in a quiet, continuous motion.

By late afternoon, we arrive in Avándaro, a peaceful mountain retreat near Valle de Bravo. Surrounded by pine forest and cool mountain air, it offers a welcome contrast to the city and a comfortable base for the days ahead.

Accommodations: Las Caballerizas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

No two days in the monarch sanctuaries are the same.

Today, we return to the reserve to experience a different expression of the migration shaped by light, temperature, and subtle changes in conditions. With more time in the field and a pace that allows for observation, you’ll notice the nuances: shifting clusters, changing flight patterns, and the quiet intensity of millions of butterflies moving as one.

Your guide’s experience and relationships in the region allow us to adapt throughout the day, prioritizing where activity is strongest and access is most meaningful.

This is where the benefit of this itinerary becomes clear: more time where it matters and space to fully take in the experience.

Accommodations: Las Caballerizas
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we step away from the sanctuaries to experience another side of the region with a hike through forested trails to the Velo de Novia waterfall, where water spills through lush vegetation in a dramatic cascade.

By midday, we begin our return to Mexico City.

In the evening, we gather for a farewell dinner to reflect on the experience. It’s an opportunity to share stories from the sanctuaries, the forests, and the moments that made this journey memorable.

Accommodations: Círculo Condesa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Mexico City for your journey home, carrying with you a deeper understanding of one of the natural world’s most remarkable migrations.

Meals: Breakfast