Monarch butterflies 2026-2027: sanctuaries, prices and how to get there from Mexico City

If the calendar of recent years holds, the 2026-2027 monarch butterfly season will open around the third week of November 2026 and close at the end of March 2027. Conanp, the federal protected-areas agency, confirms the exact date in mid-November; last season the sanctuaries opened on November 22, 2025 and closed on March 31, 2026. The best months to see them fly are January and February, admission in Michoacán is 150 MXN per adult, and from Mexico City a bus to Zitácuaro costs about 311 MXN. Here is everything you need to plan the trip.

When the 2026-2027 season opens and how to confirm it

The monarchs reach the oyamel fir forests of Michoacán and the State of Mexico in the first days of November, but the sanctuaries stay closed until the colonies settle. The opening is announced jointly by Semarnat, Conanp and the state governments; in 2025 they did so on November 22 with four visitor sites: Sierra Chincua, El Rosario and Senguio in Michoacán, and Piedra Herrada in the State of Mexico. That season the butterflies began heading north on March 21 and the official close was March 31.

For 2026-2027, start checking the Conanp press room on gob.mx and the Michoacán tourism office's social channels from November 10. The encouraging backdrop: last season the colonies on Cerro El Campanario, home of El Rosario, covered eight hectares, a strong recovery after several thin years.

The sanctuaries open to visitors

El Rosario (Ocampo, Michoacán): the most visited and best equipped. A stepped trail climbs to the colony; allow 40 minutes to an hour on foot at over 3,000 meters.
Sierra Chincua (Angangueo, Michoacán): fewer people, a longer but gentler trail, and a good pick with kids or anyone who would rather skip the stairs.
Senguio (Michoacán): the smallest and quietest of the four official sites.
Piedra Herrada (Temascaltepec, State of Mexico): about 20 km from Valle de Bravo on the road to Toluca. The most practical option from Mexico City or Toluca if you want to pair it with Valle de Bravo.
La Mesa and El Capulín (Sierra Campanario, State of Mexico): community-run sanctuaries with fewer services and lower prices.

What admission, horses and guides cost

These are the 2025-2026 season rates, published in January 2026, and the reference until the new ones are announced:

El Rosario and Sierra Chincua: 150 MXN per adult and 100 MXN per child. Open 8:00 to 17:00.
Horse to near the colony: 400 MXN round trip or 200 MXN one way. The horses belong to community members, and it is the surest way to keep money in the forest that shelters the butterflies.
La Mesa (Sierra Campanario): 80 MXN from age 13 and 50 MXN for ages 6 to 12.
Piedra Herrada: the fee has been around 70 MXN per adult in recent seasons, plus about 40 MXN for parking; confirm at the gate since it changes yearly.

At El Rosario and Sierra Chincua a local guide is included in the ticket: one is assigned at the entrance and walks with you to the colony. Tips are optional and very welcome.

The best time: month, day and hour

In November and December the butterflies hang in dense clusters on the firs, a striking but static sight. From mid-January and through February temperatures rise, the colonies wake up and monarchs fly in huge numbers, especially between 11:00 and 14:00 on sunny days. That is the show. In March they begin to leave and the colonies scatter.

Go on a weekday if you can: January and February weekends and long weekends pack the trails. If Saturday or Sunday is your only option, arrive at the 8:00 opening and climb before the tour buses.

Getting there from Mexico City by bus

For El Rosario and Sierra Chincua the gateway is Zitácuaro. Buses from Autovías, La Línea and Excelencia leave Terminal Poniente (Observatorio) for Zitácuaro; as of September 2026 tickets start around 311 MXN and the ride takes 2 h 20 min to 3 hours depending on the line and traffic on the Toluca exit. At the Zitácuaro station take a colectivo van to Ocampo (40 to 50 minutes) and in Ocampo another van or taxi to the El Rosario gate. For Sierra Chincua, the van goes to Angangueo and a taxi takes you up from there.

For Piedra Herrada, the route runs through Toluca. Zina buses leave the Toluca terminal for Valle de Bravo every hour and take about two hours; ask the driver to drop you at the sanctuary entrance, right on the Los Saucos road about 20 km before Valle de Bravo. Without a car this leg is easier on a tour or with a hired taxi from Valle de Bravo.

If you would rather skip the connections, driving the Mexico City to Toluca to Zitácuaro highway in your own or a rental car is the most flexible option: about three hours to Angangueo, with tolls on the Toluca motorway stretch. Our guide to buses in Mexico explains how to buy tickets and which lines run from each terminal.

Day tours from Mexico City and Morelia

Tours solve the connection problem. From Morelia, a local operator sells the 2026-2027 trip to El Rosario or Sierra Chincua for 1,250 MXN per person, with hotel pickup between 8:00 and 9:00, a licensed guide and insurance; admission and horses are not included, and you are back around 19:00 or 20:00. From Mexico City, Turibus usually opens a special route to Sierra Chincua from mid-January to mid-February (in 2026 it ran January 16 to February 15) with departures from several points in the city and a three to four hour drive; several agencies do the same to Piedra Herrada combined with Valle de Bravo. Always compare what the price covers: transport, admission, horse and food rarely come together.

Where to sleep and how to build a weekend

To reach the butterflies early, sleep nearby. Angangueo is a former mining town with simple hotels 20 minutes from Sierra Chincua and half an hour from El Rosario; Zitácuaro has more choice and better bus connections; Valle de Bravo is the comfortable base for Piedra Herrada and a Pueblo Mágico in its own right, with a lake, sailing and good food. Morelia works if you prefer a big city and do not mind an early start.

Saturday: early bus from Observatorio to Zitácuaro, van to Angangueo, lunch, a walk around town and the night there.
Sunday: up to Sierra Chincua for the 8:00 opening; the colony in late morning sun; lunch at the visitor site and back to Zitácuaro for an afternoon bus to Mexico City.
State of Mexico alternative: Friday to Valle de Bravo, Saturday morning at Piedra Herrada and the lake in the afternoon, Sunday home.

To stretch the trip, Pátzcuaro and other Pueblos Mágicos in Michoacán are a couple of hours away, and Morelia has direct flights from several Mexican cities.

What to bring and the rules inside the sanctuary

You are above 3,000 meters. Mornings start near 0 °C and the midday sun is strong. Bring layers, a hat, sunscreen, water, snacks and shoes with grip: the trails are dusty and rooty. Thin air tires you faster than you expect; climb slowly and rest.

Silence at the colony: noise makes the butterflies fly and burn energy they need for the trip north.
No flash, no drones and no stepping off the marked trail.
Do not touch or pick up butterflies, even ones that look dead on the ground.
No pets and no litter: whatever goes up comes down with you.
Pay admission and horses in cash; the visitor sites often have no signal or card terminal.

Practical tips

Mark November 10 to check the official opening announcement; travel before November 20 and you risk finding the sanctuaries closed.
Book lodging in Angangueo or Valle de Bravo weeks ahead for January and February weekends.
Carry enough cash: admission, horse, guide tip, food and vans add up to roughly 800 MXN per person for the day.
With small children or older travelers, choose Sierra Chincua or ride a horse at El Rosario.
Leave Mexico City before 7:00 to beat traffic on the Toluca exit.
Respect the 17:00 closing: descending the trail after dark is not an option.

Frequently asked questions

When do the monarch butterfly sanctuaries open in 2026?

The official date is announced in mid-November. Last season they opened on November 22, 2025 and closed on March 31, 2026, and that third-week-of-November pattern has repeated in recent years.

What is the best month to see the monarchs?

January and February, on sunny days between 11:00 and 14:00, when the colonies become active and thousands of butterflies take flight. In November and December they hang in clusters, and by March they are leaving.

How much is admission to El Rosario and Sierra Chincua?

150 MXN per adult and 100 MXN per child in the 2025-2026 season, open 8:00 to 17:00. A horse costs 400 MXN round trip or 200 MXN one way.

Can I do it as a day trip from Mexico City?

Yes, but it is a long day: about three hours each way plus the climb. On a tour or with a car it is doable; by bus and vans it is better to sleep in Angangueo or Zitácuaro.

Which sanctuary is best for kids or older visitors?

Sierra Chincua, with its gentler trail, or El Rosario on horseback. Piedra Herrada also has horses and sits close to the road.

Do I need to hire a guide separately?

No. At El Rosario and Sierra Chincua a community guide is included in the ticket and walks with you to the colony; tipping is optional.