Monarch Butterfly Bike Route

Trip highlights:

• Discover the biggest city of the world. Enjoy the anthropology museum, in the museum you can see the the major archeological and ethnographic collections gathered in Mexico since the 18th Century.
• Discover the ruins of Zacapendo and the Ziráhuato ceremonial centre.
• Learn about the Monarch butterflies in the fantastic Monarch butterfly sanctuary. Each fall, monarch butterflies from east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to high-altitude oyamel fir forests in central Mexico, where they spend winter in extraordinary aggregations.
• Relax in the beautiful area called: Los Azufres. Los Azufres is famous for its sulfide thermal waters. These waters can be found in the middle of forest, mountains and lakes. This is the perfect place to be in touch with nature.
• Visit the cultural and artesenian center of Mexico: Patzcuaro. Enjoy the many historical buildings of this beautiful mountain town
  

Enjoy the national park named after Eduardo Ruiz, this historian wrote loving legends about the area. This park follows the course of the Cupatitzio river, which springs at the Rodilla del Diablo (Devil’s knee)

• Discover the small island of Janitzio in the centre of Lake Patzcuaro. This populated island is inhabited by Tarascan Indians. In the center, at the top of the island you can find the statue of Morelos, which is so huge it can be seen from Patzcuaro.

Trip includes:

o 12 passenger van and/or suburban for the duration of the trip
o Bi-lingual driver/guide
o 7 nights' lodging and all breakfasts, lunches and dinners
o Admission fees to Mayan sites, and protected areas
o Maps and clothing/gear lists (binoculars, insect repellant, etc.)
o Water and soft drinks

Day 1

Arrival in Mexico city international Airport. You are welcomed by your guide for the week and van transfer to the Majestic hotel in the beating hart of Mexico City, the Zocalo.

Day 2

07:30 Breakfast in the hotel.
09:00 Visit the amazing anthropology museum home of archeological and ethnographic collections gathered in Mexico since the 18th Centurybr> 11:15 Depart to Zitacuaro
13:00 Lunch in Zitacuaro
14:00 City tour of the beautiful colonial city of Zitacuaro and find out why this city is called the "Three Times Heroic Zitacuaro City".
16:00 Visit the ceremonial centre of Ziráhuato and the ruins of Zacapendo.
18:30 Check-in hotel Villa Monarca Inn.
19:30 Dinner in your hotel.

Day 3

07:30 Breakfast in the hotel.
09:00 Bike trip to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (34 km / 21 miles)
11:00 We will go hiking in this fantastic and special. Just imagine these Monarch butterflies make and incredible long journey to escape the hash winters in the USA and Canada. You will find an amazing amount of butterflies altogether in one tree. We will also be able to learn about the butterflies in the research centre.
14:00 Lunch in the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary.
16:00 Bike back to the hotel in Zitacuaro
18:00 Arrival in the hotel
19:30 Dinner in the hotel.


Day 4

07:30 Breakfast in the hotel.
09:00 Bike trip to Los Azufres ( 52 km / 32.3 miles

12:00 Arrival in Los Azufres. We go hiking through the park and don’t forget to bring your bathingsuit,
because you don’t want to miss a nice swim in one of Los Azufres’ lovely sulfide thermal waters.
14:00 Enjoy a nice lunch in this wonderful park full with mountains, forest, thermal waters and lakes.
15:00 Depart to Morelia.
18:00 Check-in hotel Aranzazú Acueducto
19:30 Dinner in your hotel


Day 5

07:30 Breakfast in your hotel
09:00 Enjoy Morelia colonial city. This town rests on a sloping hill overlooking the Valley of Guayangero. It is an UNESCO World Hertitage Artistic sight. Morelia is the cultural, educational and political centre of the state.
11:00 Bike trip to Patzcuaro
(60 km / 37.5 miles)
13:00 Here we take a small break to swim in “la alberca” (the pool). This is a lake in a crater.
14:00 After swimming we take a box lunch.
15:00 We continue our way to Patzcuaro en along the way we will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
17:00 Arrival in Patzcuaro and check-in Hosteria San Felipe.
19:30 Dinner in the hotel

Day 6

07:30 Breakfast in your hotel
09:00 Bike trip to Uruapan (61 km / 38 miles)
12:00 Arrival in Uruapan and visit to the National Park Eduardo Ruiz. We have the opportunity to discover this very unique park. This park is a tropical rainforest with trails along the Rio Cupatitizio, which springs in La Rodilla del Diablo (the Devil's Knee). We will be able to enjoy the wonderful crystal-clear water, we will also visit the trout hatchery in the centre of the park,.
14:00 Lunch in the park
15:00 We have some more time to explore this beautiful national park.
17:00 Van transfer back to Patzcuaro.
19:30 Dinner in your hotel.

Day 7

06:30 Early breakfast in your hotel.
07:30 Boat trip to Janitzio Island. Discover this fantastic island in the middle of lake Patzcuaro populated by Tarascan Indians.
In the middle at the top of the island you can find the statue of Morelos, which is so huge it can be seen from Patzcuaro.
10:00 Van transfer to Toluca
14:00 Lunch in Toluca.
15:00 Discover the highest city in Mexico,
which also had a rich history and
tradition. In the historic centre we can find historic buildings museums and cultural forums.
17:00 Depart to Mexico City
18:00 Check in Majestic hotel
19:30 Dinner in your hotel.

Day 8

Transfers to the airport are depending on the flights back.

The Monarch Butterfly Bike Tour price includes:

• 7 American breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
• Airconditioned transportation
• Lodging in: El Majestic hotel (2 nights), Villa Monarca Inn (2 nights), Aranzazú Acueducto (1 night), Hosteria San Felipe (2 nights)
• Biologist guide
• Entrance fees to the archeaological site and reserves
• Water and softdrinks during the day
• Maps and clothing/gear lists (binoculars, insect repellant, etc.)

The Monarch Butterfly Bike Tour does NOT include:

§ Alchoholic beverages
§ Personal expenses such as: laundry, phone calls, souvenirs
§ Breakfast, lunch and dinner on day 8

For all the tours we recommend bringing comfortable clothes and shoes, insect repellent, hat, swimsuit, long sleeve cotton shirt, long cotton pants, impermeable jacket, hygienic personal stuff and sun blocker.

We want to remind that 5 % of the tourist fee is donated for projects to PROTECT THE MAYAN NATURE.