Among the many miracles of nature, it’s difficult to match the marvelous and mystifying migration of the monarch butterfly.
Pacific Grove, CA, July 17, 2019 – Among the many miracles of nature, it’s difficult to match the marvelous and mystifying migration of the monarch butterfly.
Recognized by their vivid, orange-and-black wings, these slight insects (weighing less than a dime) are better known for an instinctive internal compass that guides them on an ancestral migration from the shores of Pacific Grove to central Mexico and back.
To honor this well-traveled butterfly (Danaus plexippus) more appropriately called “wanderer,” the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History invites the public to follow this remarkable path on a six-day trip to Mexico from Feb. 8-13, 2020.
Stand amid the fir-covered mountains and witness an awe-inspiring spectacle firsthand as the well-traveled monarchs flutter, dip and swoop overhead. Participants will see countless millions on the roost in the early morning, as well as in flight at midday, feeding on wildflowers and watering at streams.
Program highlights:
• Hike or ride horseback to two monarch sanctuaries, where the butterflies finish their 2,000-mile journey, flying up to 100 miles a day at heights of 10,000 feet.
• Spend time exploring the colonial town of Angangueo in far eastern Mexican state of Michoacán, home of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.
• Explore the pyramids of Teotihuacaìn, one of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican sites of pre- Columbian times.
• Visit Mexico City’s Zoìcalo, the heartbeat of the city and one of the largest squares in the world, along with the historic Metropolitan Cathedral.
• This interactive experience includes: expert naturalist guide; accommodations; activities and entrance fees; in-country transportation; meals and beverages; carbon offsetting; donation to Pacific Grove Museum; and departure tax.
Cost for this life-changing trip is $2,065, and does not include international airfare, gratuities or items of a personal nature.
I saw two wonders on our trip to Mexico. One wonder was the tens of millions of butterflies that we saw. The numbers were staggering. It’s hard to find words to describe what we saw. The other wonder was seeing firsthand how the local community protects the butterflies and the environment where the monarchs overwinter. Mexico City and the ruins were great, too! — Craig Noke, previous participant
For information on this excursion, contact Juan Govea (govea@pgmuseum.org) or visit holbrook.travel/pgmnh-mx20.
Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
