Mexico Butterfly Discovery

Mexico City, Zitacuaro, Patzcuaro, Morelia, San Miguel De Allende, Queretaro
10 Days 9 Nights – Land Only

Itinerary Day 1   

Day 1     International Airport – Mexico City Welcome to Mexico!! Arrival in the Benito Juárez International Airport, and then you will be transferred to the hotel you stay. You will have rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation: Hotel in Mexico City for 1 night Day 2    Mexico City - Zitacuaro (B) Breakfast will be served at your hotel. After breakfast, you will departure towards Toluca, capital city of the department of Mexico City for a visit of the Cosmovitral, the botanical garden of Toluca (closed on Mondays). It is situated in the old market of the city, built in the style “Art nouveau” it is since 1990 dedicated to the preservation of over 1,000 species of flora from all around the world. The artist Leopoldo Flores Valdés contributed to the creation of the big stained-glass. Cosmovitral is composed of 71 filled modules forming a set of 3,000 meters of stained-glass window. It is considered as one of the largest in the world. Continue towards the city of Zitácuarom and then visit the village which is considered the door of the Sanctuary of the Monarch Butterflies. You will be transferred to the hotel and enjoy rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation: Hotel in Zitacuaro for 2 nights 

Day 3     Zitacuaro (B) Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Departure towards the Sanctuary “El Rosario” situated at approximately 30 km from Zitácuaro. This place is characterized by a rich biodiversity, and offers the visitors the opportunity to walk until the Scotch pines which are the winter refuge of the monarch butterflies. The best months to take advantage of this natural phenomenon are from January until March. The Sanctuary “El Rosario” is the best one and it is adapted to prevent an impact on the environment in the reserve of the Monarch butterflies. The villagers accompany the groups and guide the visitors. The distance between the beginning of the path until the sanctuary is about 2.5 km. and there is another 1.5 km from the parking lot until the beginning of the path. Ideally, you should wear some walking shoes and warm clothes. Return to the hotel at the end of the visit for the night. 

Day 4     Zitacuaro – Patzcuaro (B) American breakfast will be served at the hotel. Today, you will have a second visit of the Sanctuary “El Rosario” or, if all members of the group are used to trekking, we could visit another Sanctuary known as “Sierra Chincuá”. It is more difficult to arrive to this sanctuary and visitors need to be in good shape. At the end of the visit, we will continue towards the city of Pátzcuaro (approx. 3 hours 15 minutes from the Sanctuary). Accommodation: Hotel in Patzcuaro for 2 nights 

Day 5    Patzcuaro (B) American breakfast will be served at the hotel. Today you will visit of the island of Janitzio and Patzcuaro. Pátzcuaro is a beautiful city in the heart of the country of the Indians Purépechas. It can be proud of possessing a colonial architecture of an elegant style. The city has been developed around three main public squares and it is famous for its crafters specialized in weaved textiles. You will make a cruise on the lake of Pátzcuaro to arrive at the most important island: Janitzio. It is a place of interest with its monument dedicated to Morelos, one of the heroes of the Independence of Mexico. Back to Pátzcuaro, you will visit the House with 11 patios, the basilica of Notre-Dame of the Health, the Library Gertrudis Sánchez Bocanegra which is decorated with frescoes of the Mexican painter Juan O’ Gorman. The visit will also include the Don Vasco de Quiroga square and the market. You will be transferred back to the hotel after the visit.

Day 6    Patzcuaro – Morelia (B)

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Your first stop will be Tzintzuntzan which located at 25 minutes away from the hotel. Tzintzuntzan was the capital of the Tarasque league during the Aztec invasions in the 15th century. Visit of the archeological site known as “Las Yacatas” that appears as a vast artificial terrace of 425 meters long  on which rise five buildings of a height of 15 meters. Then visit of the Convento of San Francisco, built in 1570 by the Franciscans. It is preceded by a vast atrium shaded by hundred-year-old olive trees, which is very rare in Mexico because of the ban made in New Spain to plant these trees not to compete with the production of the metropolis. Departure towards Morelia, capital of Michoacan, situated is 60 kms of Pátzcuaro. Morelia is a lively city endowed with a university where the cultural life is very active. The streets of the central district are lined with colonial buildings with arches, baroque facades and walls of pink stone. It is one of the most important colonial cities of Mexico and has been declared World Cultural heritage of the Humanity by UNESCO. We will admire the baroque facade and the neo-classic interior of its magnificent Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, the Palacio de Gobierno and the Palace of Clavijero. After visit, you will be transferred to check in your hotel tonight. Accommodation: Hotel in Morelia for 1 night. 

Day 7    Morelia – San Miguel De Allende (B/D) Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Departure for San Miguel de Allende (approx. 3 hours from Morelia) Situated 1,840 m above sea level, it is a charming colonial city. Its fame began in the 40s, when the famous painter David Alfaro Siqueiros began to teach giving mural paintings technique at the School of Fine Arts of San Miguel. He attracted numerous Mexican and American artists. The beauty of San Miguel holds in its old buildings and its paved streets on the hill. The city was classified National Monument and it benefits of a very pleasant climate and a very pure light which continues to attract the artists. It is also an historic city where Ignacio Allende was born, one of the heroes of the Mexican revolution. The Plaza Principal, also called El Jardín, is the heart of the city and it is bordered by the Gothic arrows in pink granite of the Cathedral. In the evening, you will walk to the city center for dinner at the restaurant called “Pueblo Viejo”. Return to the hotel. 

Day 8    San Miguel De Allende – Queretaro (B/D) American breakfast will be served at the hotel. After breakfast, you will departure towards Queretaro (approx. one hour). Queretaro was founded in 1531 by Franciscan monks. The old town is strewed with old colonial houses, with spotless pedestrian paths and with small historical squares. You will be transferred to the hotel and enjoy your dinner. 

Day 9    Queretaro – Mexico City (B) American breakfast will be served at the hotel. Today, you will departure to Tepotzotlán (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes from Queretaro) Visit of the church built in the 18th century, the convent built by the Society of Jesus and the Museum of Virreinato where you will discover paintings and sculptures of the characteristic religious art of New Spain. Continue towards Mexico City (approx. 1hour) and arrival at the hotel. 

Day 10    Mexico City – Departure (B) Breakfast will be served at the hotel, enjoy your time at leisure until departure. You will be transferred to the airport and onboard your flight home. B - Breakfast D - Dinner