Itinerary

Day 1

(Saturday) Arrival
Your tour leaders will meet you in the airport of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico (MLM) when your flight arrives around 8 p.m. Our bus driver, translator and handyman, Hugo Huber Torres, will take us to Hotel de la Soledad in the central historic district of Morelia. After checking in, we'll enjoy a light supper together. Rest well. The adventure begins!

Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Hotel de la Soledad, Morelia

Day 2

(Sunday) Morelia and Hacienda La Cruz
Today we'll explore the lovely colonial town of Morelia, including stops at the Cathedral, Casa de las Artesanias (museum and store featuring local artists) and Museo de Dulces (candy museum). You'll also have the chance to visit the Mercado de Dulces, featuring stall after stall of beautiful handicrafts and traditional candies or explore the larger Mercado de San Juan to delight in the sights and smells of fresh produce, herbs, spices and an amazing array of fresh flowers. The iconic Tarascas fountain, remains of an 18th century aqueduct and larger-than-life paintings by muralist Alfredo Zalce may also be of interest. No
doubt you will also witness the enthusiasm for Morelia's soccer team, the Monarcas.

In early afternoon, we will leave Morelia and travel west to Hacienda La Cruz, our lodging for the night. Our host, Jose Luis Alvarez Alcala, bought this 400-year-old hacienda in 1983. It is his home and also headquarters for La Cruz Habitat Protection Project, Inc. ( an American non-profit organization dedicated to forest restoration and promoting sustainable forest management in Central Mexico. More than 2.5 million seedlings have been planted to date! We'll tour the tree nursery and learn about the efforts to reforest the area, protect the monarch sanctuaries, and provide a viable income source for the local people.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Hacienda La Cruz, Santa Clara del Cobre

Day 3

(Monday) Art, History & Culture in Pátzcuaro
After further exploring the grounds of the hacienda
in the morning, we'll make our way to
the colonial town of Pátzcuaro, a cultural and
artisan center for the state of Michoacán. Its
original name, Tzacapu-ansucutinpatzcuaro,
translates as “door to heaven.” Here we'll enjoy
a meal on La Plaza de Quiroga, where you
may see costumed dancers, sample the unique
ice cream called pasta or browse shops filled
with hand-crafted items.
We'll also learn more about the indigenous
Purépecha people. The Purépecha have had
a special connection with the monarch since
the days of the Aztec. In their language, the
monarchs are called harvester butterflies,
because they appear every year at corn harvest
time. The Mexican holiday, Days of the Dead,
on Nov. 1-2 also coincides with the arrival of
the monarchs in Mexico. And, according to
legend, the monarchs are the souls of ancestors
returning to Earth for their annual visit.
We'll also visit Casa de los Once Patios (House
of Eleven Patios). This former convent of
the Dominican nuns of Saint Catherine
now houses arts and craft outlets, many of which have
workshops where you can witness the art being created.
We may also visit the Museum of Arts and Popular
Industries, containing works by the Michoacán including
masks, lacquers, handcrafted jewelry and peribanas
(round wooden trays painted with brightly colored
fruits, flowers and other motifs). Our final stop will be
the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud, resting place
of Don Vasco de Quiroga and home to Our Lady of
Good Health who is said to perform miracles. We will
return to Morelia for dinner and lodging.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Hotel de la Soledad, Morelia

Day 4

(Tuesday) Sierra Chincua and Angangueo
Traveling east to “butterfly country” and the
old mining town of Angangueo, you may want
to enjoy the scenery, write in your journal, or
rest to renew your strength because today you
will have your first glimpse of the butterflies
at Sierra Chincua. When we arrive at the butterfly
preserve, our first order of business will
be to indulge in a delicious meal of quesadillas,
beans, nopal cactus and strips of beef at
a quaint local tienda. Then, the moment you
have been waiting for…
Depending on the distance, we may choose
to walk across the meadow and into the forest
to view the monarchs or hire local caballeros
(horsemen) to lead us. Among the towering
pines and firs, you may first see only a single
monarch fluttering about, but look closely at
the branches that appear to be hanging heavy
with leaves... they are actually hundreds of
monarchs! If we are lucky enough to have
sunny skies, you'll be amazed by the sound of their
flight. To experience this miracle of nature will surely
change your life!
As the sun lowers in the sky, we will return to town,
check into our rooms and enjoy a traditional Mexican
meal prepared at our hotel. Sleep well, as tomorrow is
yet another day of butterflies!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Hotel Don Bruno, Angangueo

Day 5

(Wednesday) Alternare, El Rosario Butterfly
Reserve & Agua Blanca
After a breakfast buffet at our hotel, we'll
board our bus and travel a short distance
to the training center of Alternare
( This Mexican non-profit
organization works in close partnership with
campesinos in the monarch overwintering areas
to promote sustainable and adequate food
production, forest conservation and environmentally
sound economic activities.
We'll then travel by bus to El Rosario Monarch
Butterfly Reserve where we'll enjoy a
picnic lunch, climb the 400+ steps and walk
to the place where the monarchs await us.
Although El Rosario is the most frequently
visited butterfly preserve, and a well-developed
eco-tourism site, be assured you will experience
a “monarch moment” in this magical
place! We encourage you to support the local
economy by purchasing a souvenir (perhaps a
monarch T-shirt) from one of the many shops
that line the route back to the bus.
Late in the afternoon, we'll journey to Agua
Blanca Canyon Resort, a descent of nearly
7,000 feet. You'll experience the amazing
contrast between the high altitude boreal forest where
the monarchs live, and the dry, deciduous tropical forest
on the upper slopes of the Rio Balsas. Perhaps we'll see
a White-naped Swift, the world's largest swift, flying
through the canyon, or a cluster of Zebra Heliconian
butterflies as they bed down in shrubs near the river for
the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Agua Blanca Canyon Resort, Jungapeo

Day 6

(Thursday) School Visit & Cerro Pelon Butterfly
Preserve or Agua Blanca

In the morning, we'll travel to the village of
Macheros, one of the ejidos responsible for caretaking
at the monarch reserve on the Cerro
Pelon massif. We'll visit their school, bringing
them books and much-needed supplies. We'll
dine on locally-raised trout at Rosa's café and
then mount our steeds and ride up the mountain
to the butterfly colony. This colony is the
most remote of the three and the ancient forest
is well protected. This day usually offers a very
different experience from the visits to the other
preserves, revealing the complexities that the
Mexican people face as they struggle to live
alongside the butterflies.
Instead of traveling to Macheros, you may decide
to spend the day relaxing at Agua Blanca.
We hope that you have packed your swim suit
as there will be an opportunity to soak in the
tepid mineral pools and doze in the dappled
sunlight. You also may choose to treat yourself
to a massage, facial or reflexology session, so be sure to save a few pesos (credit cards are not accepted).
The property features waterfalls, “bat caves,” and unique
geological formations. Swiss proprietor, Tomas Behn,
will be glad to point you in the right direction for any of
these delightful hikes. After dinner, you'll have the option
of a night hike to a nearby waterfall to see the mysterious
glowworms that live there.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Agua Blanca Canyon Resort, Jungapeo

Day 7

(Friday) Relax, Reflect and Bid Adios to
Mexico

This is our last day in the beautiful state of
Michoacan! If you spent Thursday visiting
Macheros, this will be your chance to enjoy the
grounds at Agua Blanca. A morning bird walk,
relaxing by the pool or taking a leisurely stroll
are just a few of your options before we depart
mid-afternoon on the journey back to Morelia.
We may decide to stop at a roadside market for
one last chance to shop for hand-painted talavera
pottery, pine-straw baskets or honey from
the monarch region. We will say our farewells
at dinner before arriving at the Morelia airport
hotel in the early evening. This should allow
time for you to pack up your precious cargo for
the flight home.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Hotel Aeropuerto, Morelia

Day 8

(Saturday) Departure

We're a short walk from the Morelia airport,
allowing you to easily catch your early morning
flight back home. We wish you a safe
return journey!

Extra Information

Inclusions -

All 19 Meals (starting with dinner on day 1 and ending with dinner on day 7)

Exclusions -

Optional horseback riding at Sierra Chincua

Extras -

We are offering two{italic} separate {-italic}weeklong trips in 2010. The dates are:
February 6 - 13 (Spaces still available)
February 13 - 20 (NOW FULL)
Each week will follow the same itinerary outlined above.

The fee for the weeklong trip is $1500.00 USD per person in a double occupancy room OR $1800.00 USD per person in a single occupancy room. A $750.00 per person deposit secures your place. The balance of the trip fee must be received by December 31, 2009.

The pre-trip meeting is scheduled to better prepare you for the trip, to answer your questions and to facilitate the educational/ service opportunities that are available. This meeting will be held at Stone Mountain Park on Saturday, December 5, 2009, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The location of the post-trip fiesta on Friday, March 26, 2009, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. is TBA.

Out-of-state participants are not expected to attend meetings but all information (map of the area we will visit, hotel contact information, a suggested packing list, etc.) from the meetings will be e-mailed or sent via USPS to them.

Five Professional Learning Units (PLUs) are available for Georgia certified teachers participating in this trip. Attendance at the scheduled pre-and post-trip meetings is required for PLU credit.

Applications with deposits will be accepted until all spaces are filled. Contact us to receive a trip application/registration form!