Monarch Trips to Mexico

[lmodrack]

I want to go to Mexico again with a group of monarch loving types and a good instructor or guide. Does anyone have recommendations -- or know where I can look? We took in other local sights the first time. This time I want to spend all the time with monarchs.
thanks
Leslie

[Vulgaris]

That would be my dream right there!!! I have always thought that I would like to follow them all the way. If I had money and a car I would just start driving south, but that of course is not realistic.

Good luck

[Mona Miller]

Dear D-plexers,
Monarchs Across Georgia's 2010 trips to the Mexican overwintering sanctuaries are filling pretty quickly now. Feb. 13-20 just closed but spaces currently remain for the week of Feb. 6-13. Our itinerary includes visits to three monarch colonies! In addition you will learn about local efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally sound economic activities through tours of Alternare and the tree nursery at La Cruz Habitat Protection Project. We also will visit at least one school near the monarch preserves to donate books that have been purchased through our Mexico Book Project. The trip cost is $1500 per person (double occupancy). If you are interested in joining us Feb. 6-13, 2010, please register soon.
*Complete itinerary - www.monarchsacrossga.org/documents/Mexi ... y_2010.pdf
*Trip application form and additional details - www.monarchsacrossga.org/trips.php
Please contact Susan Meyers at smmeyers@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Kim Bailey
Monarchs Across Georgia

[Mona Miller]

Monarch adventurers.
Bill Calvert and Bonnie chase have some opening for the trip below.
A TOUR TO THE MONARCH OVERWINTERING SANCTUARIES and THE HEART OF MEXICO

The Monarch Watch of Texas under the leadership of Dr. William Calvert and Bonnie Chase is offering a lifetime opportunity to see the monarch butterflies in their winter roosting grounds in the highlands of central Mexico. There are openings for the week of February 20th through February 27th, 2010. The trip includes a visit to the volcano Paricutin and the church that it enveloped, the delightful colonial town of Patzcuaro and two exquisite resort/ haciendas. We have designed this adventure to show you an aspect of Mexico not seen in regular tourist excursions – Mexicans living in a rural area grappling with problems of making a living off the land while trying to conserve the monarch butterfly. Emphasis will be on the monarch butterflies and exploring the natural history of the region, but the trip also will include many cultural and culinary delights. Please contact Bill Calvert (wmcalvert@sbcglobal.net) or Bonnie Chase (bchasemail@yahoo.com) for details.

[Mona Miller]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1438&p=6671&hilit=TOUR#p6671
Jim posted some good tour information.

I searched on "tour" upper right search engine.

[Paul Cherubini]

I want to go to Mexico again with a group of monarch loving types and a good instructor or guide. Does anyone have recommendations -- or know where I can look? We took in other local sights the first time. This time I want to spend all the time with monarchs. Leslie

I agree that two major problems with all the commercial tour groups is they waste alot of time visiting non-monarch places and they are expensive.

I've had pretty good luck getting monarch loving types to organize their own self guided tour where no one is an official paid "guide" and the group as a whole decides what to do, where to go etc. We get to know one another mostly via internet contact,then fly to Morelia to meet one another, rent 2 or 3 cars and then caravan to the sanctuaries and motels. I won't know until late November if I'm going to go this year or not. The third week in February is often the best time to visit the sanctuaries as the butterflies are more active than in January.

[Mona Miller]

I think I have finally found the perfect group to go with--a family. This past summer I met a couple, the husband is from Australia and the wife from Mexico. They have two girls. One of the girls loves insects. I shared some Monarchs and Luna moths caterpillars with her. The mother said to me, if you ever want to go to Mexico with us to see the Monarchs my mother doesn't live very far from the colonies. We would love to have you come with us.

[bflygardner]

I am strongly considering joining a trip that I've seen with the Florida natural history museum to see the monarchs in Mexico. I have two friends that went previously with the museum and Dr. Thomas Emmel, who led the trip, and said that it was absolutely the most amazing trip they've ever been on.

Has anyone here been on, or could advise about this trip with the Florida museum? I found the brochure on their website and saw that it was relatively inexpensive, and concentrated on the monarchs for the majority of the trip (like a couple of you've already recommended). Is there anything else I should look for in a trip? Any advice would be most appreciated! http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflies/mexico_feb2010.htm

Many thanks in advance!