Arrested Development - Ex-Pats Mexico

There are quite a few different tours leaving from different times and places during the butterfly season from Morelia and other towns/cities within the region.
Like the info tour, Sparks posted from Melaque, Jalisco on the Pacific coast.

Have wanted to visit the Monarch's for awhile. So last winter, put a visit onto my wish list. No arranged tour though. Wanted to visit the newest(third) sanctuary, that had opened in recent years.

Weather turned, cold(near freezing and windy) around the time, mid-January, that was my targeted date to visit.
Had read that during a cold snap, the butterflies, stay, in the trees. It takes the sunshine, to get them out by the thousands fluttering around.

Then made the mistake, of taking the bus, from Guanajuato to Morelia, by the most 'direct' road route, at least via the map. Not completely sure, there would have been any faster route, but by the end of five hours, with no time, at the many stops, to go to the bathroom...(guess could have begged or tipped heavily if nature really called) plus the cold.

Didn't get to see the monarchs. Maybe next time.

(oh yah) Among other pursuits, flower, fruit and vegetable garden to attract butterflies, both adult and larvae state plus the host of other 'beneficial insects' like parasitic wasps, lady-bugs etc. Few if any Monarchs ever find their way, this far north. Although recently heard on the news, that California has an over-wintering Monarch population, that one small town there, has evolved its tourism industry around that.

In Michoacan, there have been ecological projects, involving ejidarios, which have attempted to give local economic benefits to replace the necessity of the cutting down of the forests(timber and firewood for survival)in this highly sensitive ecological area, that the butterflies have wintered in for millenia.

The lot next to us is full of wild flowers that look like the predecessors of sunflowers. Butterflies have been feeding by the hundreds for the last few months. Now that the dry season is here I guess they go into hibernation or something because all the plants have dried up. Monarch like ones as well

That flower looks like Tithonia, nick-named Mexican Sunflower. Some butterflies love it.

Helianthus annus, is the common annual sunflower, many people would recognize. There are other perennial helianthus.

Names of genus, species, varieties, aside...everything has evolved alongside...every other thing. As is said, in some circles, "It's all good."

Our butterfly tour was from Patzcuaro and was really nothing more than a combi ride for $400-450 pesos a piece. The site above Anguangeo requires you hire a guide at the trail head for about $50mx. They also have horses for non hikers - for the uphill portion only

If you want to attract monarchs you will have to have milkweed in the garden. We do and have plenty of monarchs in Ajijic. I believe they need the milkweed in order to reproduce or in order for the larvae to grow.
We were in Angangueo last week and the weathe was wonderful. The season for the Monarchs end Mar 15 so we did not take the hike but the forest is magnificent even without the butterflies and the mining town of Angan gueo is something to experience.
From Angangueo it is a 45mn driv up the mountain and 45 mn hike from there.