Monarch Butterfly Tour (Departing from Morelia)
4.9

Monarch Butterfly Tour (Departing from Morelia)

By Yei Tours
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 12-90
Duration: 9–10 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More

Highlights

  • Bottled water
  • Box lunch
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Certified Tour Guide
  • Entry/Admission - La Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Souvenirs
  • Lunch


Start:Traveller pickup offered.
    Pickup details
    • We pick up in any hotel, AirBnb or private residence in Morelia. Only for private tours.
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Not wheelchair accessible
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 113860P1

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
      • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
      • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
      • No pets allowed
      • Rough terrain
      • 11,000 ft - 3,300 m above sea level
      • Not recommended for travelers with respiratory medical conditions
      • Not recommended for travelers with high or low blood pressure
      • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
      • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 113860P1

      From
      C$266.38
      per adult (price varies by group size)
      Select date and travellers
      Itinerary
      • 1
        Visit the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary "Sierra Chincua"
      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Yei Tours
        5.0 of 5 bubbles209
        Mexico
        Joined in December 2018
      • 502christopherh
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A great tour
        Our guide Rodrigo was simply superb showing us all of the interesting sights of the downtown area. It is a lovely area with many interesting churches, cultural centers and libraries.
        Written March 6, 2025
      • Roni642
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A Must do Tour
        We booked this tour for our family during our trip to Morelia. Our guide was Rodrigo Rosales with Yei Tours. He was able to give us the history of all the sites with enough knowledge to keep us captivated throughout the day. We had taken the Morelia walking tour with Rodrigo and he did not disappoint on this second tour, highly recommend him as your tour guide. It was amazing to see all the historical sights that were included in this tour from the archeological site, to the hands on experience from the maestro in Santa Clara de Cobre and the authentic and delicious lunch at Once Patios restaurant and getting to meet Chef Isrrael. You cannot go wrong with this tour. Highly recommend it.
        Written January 1, 2025
      • Roni642
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Walking Tour
        This was our first time in Morelia and this city tour was totally worth it! Our guide was Rodrigo Rosales with Yei Tours. Rodrigo was extremely professional and knowledgeable. As mentioned this was our first time in this city and through this tour we were able to see the highlights and hear the history of the city. If you have never been here this is a must and if you get Rodrigo, even better. This way you are able to see the main sights of the city and see what you would like to go back to see throughout your stay. This is a walking tour so be ready to walk a lot. My dad has back problems so it was a little hard on him but after a few breaks along the way he said he will totally do it again.
        Written January 1, 2025
      • vjleone
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Highly Recommended
        Excellent tour. I have a passion for the prehispanic history of Mexico, and Rodrigo filled in many gaps in my knowledge in a friendly and entertaining way. Our tour was in Spanish, but Rodrigo's command of English was obvious. I would love to take another tour with him.
        Written November 8, 2024
      • risa180
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Outstanding guide
        Rodrigo was an amazing tour guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the city and about the arts as well. His English is excellent. I would highly recommend this tour.
        Written October 24, 2024
      • MSalinas1119
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Informative historic center of Morelia tour
        Very educational and informative tour of the historic center of Morelia . Rodrigo is very knowledgeable and captures his audience with historical facts on how the city was established from the ancient civilizations and up to the Mexican independence where the city got its’s current name of Morelia.
        Written October 18, 2024
      • keiths309
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Beautiful
        Rodrigo was amazing. Very knowledgeable. Urupan was beautiful, a jungle and spring in the middle of the city. So worth it.
        Written September 11, 2024
      • dlea
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Learned More Than We Thought Possible
        Rodrigo Rosario was our Guide and absolutely outstanding. For English speakers ask for Rodrigo because his English is idiomatic. His knowledge of Morelia's history, its buildings and his love of Morelia make the tour go from interesting to really special. Morelia has far more history than we ever realized and we live in Mexico. Morelia is a special place to visit and do yourself a favor and start your trip with the City Tour done by Rodrigo. David Lea
        Written August 18, 2024
      • 269derekr
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Patzcuaro + - 5 Stars!
        An excellent one day tour of Patzcuaro and some of the surrounding areas. A great mix of culture, food and history. Rodrigo was a fabulous guide….extremely personable and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this tour.
        Written August 12, 2024
      • Josephlouis
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A very interesting tour with an amazing guide
        The tour was interesting and our guide, Rodrigo Rosales, was amazing. He is passionate about history and very knowledgeable. His English is perfect, and he kept us enthralled with his stories about the past and present Mexico. I would highly recommend him.
        Written July 5, 2024
      • 88jmap
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Awesome experience
        I did a solo tour of Uruapan! Rodrigo was a great guide. Picked me up at my Airbnb and we were off! Very knowledgeable of both sites you visit. He was able to give me the history and facts of both places. I was an English speaker and his English is great! You definitely want Rodrigo with you on any tour! He gave me great recommendations of other tours as well as food around the city! He brought a boxed lunches and cold water which was great on a long day of walking especially this time of year when it’s hot. He was mindful to give you time to take pictures and offered to take some for you! Great guide, awesome tour
        Written May 25, 2024
      • K7818ETjoep
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Learn about the Culture and History of Michoacán
        Excellent experience for those who are seeking to learn more about the history of Michoacán, especially for those who have roots in the region. Rodrigo is great! He is very knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommend
        Written March 27, 2024
      • alc602
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Yei Tours Morelia by Rodrigo was great 😊
        Rodrigo Rosales of Yei Tour Morelia gave me a fantastic walking tour of el centro. Very knowledgeable and personable. Gracias Rodrigo
        Written March 21, 2024
      • HValero559
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Morelia. A City of history and so much more
        Mr. Rodrigo R. Provided for absolutely every expectation of what a trip advisor would provide for. From city history, to cultural awareness, and everything in between. Perfect representation of what the grand City of Morelia has to offer. A cannot imagine a more informed representative of the city. A couldn’t have felt more comfortable and aware of what the city had to offer. Without doubt a tour advisor I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to again, again, and again. As a matter of fact, I did, and he provided for in timely professional fashion. Rodrigo, such an asset to both the City of Morelia, and Trip Advisor, as a corporation. How fortunate we’d all be if every tour guide was as professional, knowledgeable, and punctual, as Rodrigo is. We solute you Mr. Rodrigo R. We thank you for being you.
        Written March 20, 2024
      • Jeannems63
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Absolutely wonderful tour!!!
        What a great tour! Rodrigo was our guide and his passion for his city was evident throughout the whole tour! We learned so many interesting things from him and we asked lots of questions and he always had an answer and even added to what we wanted to know. The city of Morelia is beautiful - I had been there before but now, after this tour, I feel much more knowledgeable and can’t wait to come back and learn even more. He even could tell us about the beautiful flowers blooming and gave restaurant recommendations!
        Written March 15, 2024
      See all 209 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

      Popular mentions

      4.9
      4.9 of 5 bubbles50 reviews
      Excellent
      48
      Very good
      1
      Average
      1
      Poor
      0
      Terrible
      0

      E Villena
      20 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2022
      I booked this tour for my 30th birthday with my husband, and it was the best thing I’ve ever done. As an amateur monarch butterfly enthusiast, it was really amazing to see all the monarch butterflies practically dancing around you (like a Disney movie!!!)

      Rodrigo picked us up from our hotel in Morelia at around 6:30 AM, and we arrived at the Sierra Chincua Conservatory around 9:00 AM. From there, you hike about 30 to 40 minutes to see the observation point. It will require some physical excursion, so being somewhat healthy is a must. The time allotted to observe the monarchs depends on how busy it is. The more people there are, the less time there is for observation. For us, I think we were there for about 30 minutes. After observing the monarchs, we hiked back, ate our provided lunch, bought some souvenirs, and headed back to the hotel. I think we arrived between 3-4 pm.

      Make sure you wear layers. It is cold in the morning, but you will definitely warm up by the end of the hike. There are a lot of uphill/downhill portions.

      The cost of the booking includes everything: gas, tolls, park entrance fee, and lunch. The only thing we paid extra was souvenirs + tip.

      Rodrigo was super knowledgeable about the monarchs and was very eager to answer any questions we had. He also pointed out that the new version of the $100 MXN peso bill has an image of some mountains in Sierra Chincua, which are visible on the trail up!

      All in all, I was very satisfied with his service. I encourage any and all tourists to book with Yei Tours if you are interested in visiting the sanctuary. Thank you, Rodrigo!
      Written February 6, 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you Elaine for a wonderful experience. We really appreciate your words, it is a very nice and complete guide of what the travelers should expect when visiting the sanctuary. As you mentioned, the time at the observation area depends on how many people is at that point but we always do our best for the visitors to get enough time to see the monarchs and go back home with great memories of their visit just like you did. We are pleased you enjoyed the service provided by Rodrigo and we are grateful for all your recommendations! All our best for you and your husband.
      Written March 21, 2022
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Michael R
      Cumming, GA134 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2025 • Couples
      I'm NOT a morning person so getting up at 5am for a 6:30 start is anathema. With little sleep and no breakfast we were driven by Rodrigo, possibly the best tour guide ever to El Rosario Sanctuary. We had a wonderful, (use all the superlative adjectives here) experience. This was absolutely a once in a lifetime, bucket list experience. Transcendent. Can't recommend highly enough. Rodrigo BTW is extremely friendly, personable and a wealth of knowledge. Also, thoughtfully provided little touches like trekking poles and a boxed lunch for after in addition to bottles of mineral and natural water.
      Written February 25, 2025
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Jeff P
      5 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2023
      Rodrigo Rosales of Yei Tours has curated an excellent day trip to visit the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. Meticulously planned for your enjoyment, it kicks off with an early 6:30am start for several good reasons:

      1) You skip heavy traffic getting there,
      2) Parking isn’t an issue once you arrive,
      3) You avoid the crowds that arrive later in the day (e.g. schools make this
      excursion part of their curriculum),
      4) The butterflies are just beginning to wake up with the warmth of the sun so you
      get to see tree branches drooping with the weight of 4-5K monarchs, and
      5) You return before the hot mid-day sun at an altitude of 11K feet bakes you into
      the landscape.

      Having worn shoes fit for a hike, we were nonetheless very appreciative that he offered hiking poles as most of the 3.5 km dirt path to see the butterflies has uneven surfaces (stones, tree roots) and moderate changes in elevation. He supplied us with water, carried a first aid kit for our safety, and provided a box lunch afterwards (sandwich, juice, and cookies).

      Rodrigo expertly navigated the hairpin curves on the mountain roads; his vehicle is immaculate and comfortable. He takes care of all the transportation from toll booths to entrance fees, etc.

      Honestly, all you have to do is show up to experience of one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders!!
      Written March 12, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you for living this wonderful experiences with us. We feel honored to be your tourist guides and we hope we can meet again in the future for more exciting experiences. Thank you very much for your very kind words.
      Written March 12, 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Blaine S
      3 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2023
      My favorite part of the experience was seeing the multitude of butterflies leaving the trees, filling the sky and landing en masse on the flowers and plants nearby that were in direct sunlight. The walk up to the site was a little challenging for us (4 people 65-70 years of age) but our EXCELLENT and very knowledgeable guide - Rodrigo - stopped for several, short breaks during which he told us about the lives of the butterflies, their migration, the biosphere itself and the caretakers of the area. We left Morelia at 6:30am and because we were there before the onslaught of other tourists, we had a lengthy period of time to enjoy the experience with unobstructed views. The migration is truly a marvel of the insect world!
      Written February 15, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Dear Wendy, It's wonderful to know that you had an excellent experience on your monarch butterfly tour with us. Seeing the butterflies filling the sky and landing on nearby plants is indeed an incredible sight. It's great to hear that your guide, Rodrigo, was able to provide a wealth of knowledge about the butterflies, the biosphere, and the caretakers of the area. Even though the walk up to the site this year was a little challenging, it's good to know that Rodrigo made sure to take short breaks to make it more manageable. We agree that starting early and getting there before the other tourists allowed you to enjoy the experience with any disturbance around. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
      Written March 6, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      BarbaraAG
      Hotchkiss, CO8 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2022
      Our YEI tour to see the Monarch butterflies with Rodrigo was fantastic! Rodrigo has a passion for guiding and sharing the wonders of his beloved Mexico. He gave us a fabulous tour. We appreciated the early AM departure and good conversation on the drive. Rodrigo is knowledgable about the butterflies, their migration, and clearly enjoys sharing details and answering questions. Beyond the butterflies and while he wasn't with us as we toured the city of Morelia the next day, he spent a solid 30-45 minutes after the tour helping us orient ourselves and pointing out noteworthy sites of artistic, cultural, and architectural interest. Without his guidance, our city tour would not have been so rich. I can't wait to go back!
      Written February 20, 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you very much for all your words. We are really happy to know you had a great time along with Rodrigo as your guide. We are passionate about our state and its traditions, natural areas and history and we love sharing every single detail we can like we did during your visit to the Monarch Butterfly Reserve. Please get in touch in the future, we are sure we can arrange an amazing adventure to go visit many more interesting places in Michoacan.
      Written July 26, 2022
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Nahenahe01
      Oahu, HI31 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2023 • Friends
      Did the butterfly tour with Rodrigo today and can't say enough on how amazing this tour was. It was not only the opportunity to be a of this amazing experience, but it extend to our tour guide, Rodrigo. He was so warm and weighing and welcoming. He put us at eaze the entire time. He is extremely knowledgeable in the butterflies and shared many insights about the butterflies and their habits.

      When we got to the viewing sight he has glad to answer and questions we had making the experience more meaningful. We left the sanctuary with a greater knowledge of these magnificent creatures.

      He's very intune with his clients needs to make then feel comfortable. He even played music from his play list that was familiar to our age. He is as professional as they get.
      Written February 24, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      We are very happy to hear that you found the tour amazing and that your guide, Rodrigo, made you feel warm, welcome and at ease throughout the tour. It is wonderful to hear that Rodrigo's knowledge about the butterflies and their habits added to the meaningfulness of your experience. We believe that educating our guests about the environment and wildlife is an important aspect of our tours. We are also glad to hear that Rodrigo was able to cater to your needs and make you feel comfortable during the tour. At Yei Tours, we strive to provide a professional and personalized experience for all of our guests. It was a real pleasure to meet you both and we sincerely hope we can meet again in the future. Mahalo!
      Written March 6, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Scubadiver2014
      Ottawa, Canada5 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2023 • Friends
      Thanks to our exceptional guide Rodrigo from Yei Tours , my friend and I had an amazing visit to the Monarch Sanctuary at Sierra Chincua. His knowledge of butterflies, and his great enthusiasm and love for them, made this a truly magical experience.
      He ensured that we left early in the morning to avoid crowds. This was a blessing as we didn’t see one person until we were on our way back on the trail. Being early we could also see the early clusters and then the transition as the butterflies started to fly around in the sun.
      Wear layers of clothes as mornings are chilly. Be prepared to experience high altitude breathlessness, which does disappear as one gets acclimatized. Mature travellers ( like us!) just need to take things slowly.
      Written February 15, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you so much for your kind words and review! We were happy to share one of the wonders of nature with you. We work every day to make sure all our travelers have a nice experience admiring the Monarch Butterfly daily transition. Thank you for sharing this tips with others, we are sure will be very helpful to anyone who visit the reserve. We hope to see you again in the future and live many more interesting adventures!
      Written March 9, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      mkaytravelready
      Merida, Mexico20 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      I took Yei's Private Tour of the Monarch sanctuary several years ago, and it remains a once in a lifetime experience. Arriving by private vehicle before bus loads of tourists, you will travel a more expedient route, hike the trails with undisturbed ease, and hear the soft flutter of winged life as the sun warms the swarms and readies the butterflies for flight. This tour allows your guide to share insight and information with you in quiet real time conversation, undisturbing to the waking nature. And by the time you are ready to descend the mountain, the horses will be coming to meet you. This is an experience too special to be compromised if it is likely your first and last visit to the monarchs.
      Written November 17, 2022
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      RxVacation
      San Dimas, CA1,168 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      We booked 2 tours with Rodrigo and really enjoyed our days with Yei Tours.
      Arrived on a Sunday and were able to get the city tour the next day which was great so we were able to start our vacation in Morelia with some knowledge of the city.
      Our 2nd tour was to Sierra Chincua to see the Monarch Butterflies. This was a fantastic day and we loved having this experience. We liked that with Yei tours, they get an early start out to the butterfly reserves because by the time we were leaving, it was getting very crowded!!
      Rodrigo also gave us many restaurant recommendations that turned out to be great places to dine. Don’t hesitate to contact Yei Tours if traveling to Morelia, yiu won’t be disappointed :)
      Written February 17, 2020
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you so much for an amazing couple of tours. We love to know that you had a wonderful time in Morelia. We hope to see you again on your next visit to Michoacán, sure we can have more wonderful adventures. Thank you a lot for your review. Best wishes!
      Written March 6, 2020
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Marcy K
      Duluth, MN8 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Mar 2020 • Couples
      Our guide Rodrigo picked us up at our hotel in Morelia at 6:30 and this is much earlier than most tours leave so we were the first to arrive there and had the place virtually to ourselves for the first 45 minutes we watched the pods of butterflies coming alive. As we hiked back we saw lots of people coming and were so grateful to have that quiet time with the butterflies in their natural habitat. Rodrigo explained the background and research that has been done about this phenomenon and was full of conversation about Mexico and Michaocán on the drive to and from the sanctuary. We are so happy to have chosen a personal tour and had this experience as part of our time in Morelia. Truly magical!
      Written March 5, 2020
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thank you so much for your review, Marcy! We are very happy to know this was a magical tour, we work hard to make every trip special for all our travelers. We hope to see you again in Michoacan real soon!
      Written May 6, 2020
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Showing results 1-10 of 38
      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      Monarch Butterfly Tour (Departing from Morelia) provided by Yei Tours

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