Nature reserve 4 km southeast of Angangueo
The largest and busiest monarch butterfly sanctuary, a steep forest climb above Angangueo, open roughly November to March.
El Rosario is the best known of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries, high in the fir forests of the Sierra El Campanario just south of Angangueo. It belongs to the ejido of El Rosario in the municipality of Ocampo and lies inside the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. It was the first sanctuary opened to visitors, in the mid-1980s, and it is still the largest and most visited.
Every autumn, monarchs from Canada and the eastern United States fly thousands of kilometers to spend the winter in these oyamel fir forests, at around 3,000 meters above sea level. They gather in such numbers that the branches sag under them, and on warm, sunny afternoons the air fills with butterflies and the soft sound of their wings.
The colonies move a little every season, and their size changes from year to year, but El Rosario usually holds one of the largest. Visits are run by local guides from the ejido, who lead you up the mountain and keep the groups at a respectful distance.
What to see and do
Climb the forest trail with an ejido guide to the butterfly colonies; the walk is steep and takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
Rent a horse at the entrance if you would rather not walk the whole way up.
Go around midday on a sunny day, when the butterflies warm up and fly.
Keep quiet and stay behind the ropes at the viewpoints; the stop near the colonies is short so every group gets a turn.
Eat corundas or barbacoa at the food stalls by the entrance after the hike.
Getting there
From Angangueo it is about 20 to 30 minutes by car on a paved mountain road through the village of El Rosario; local taxis and pickups in Angangueo also make the trip during the season. Entry is with a local guide, and the sanctuary usually closes at the end of March. Bring layers: it is cold in the morning at this altitude.
4 km southeast of Angangueo
Directions from Angangueo on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather cool
Santuario El Rosario shares the climate of Angangueo, 4 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov.
Make Angangueo your base
Santuario El Rosario is an easy trip from Angangueo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Angangueo
-
Santuario Sierra Chincua
· Nature reserve · 6 km away
A quieter monarch sanctuary north of Angangueo, with a gentler trail, horses, and a visitor center with food stalls and a zip line. -
Ocampo
· Town · 7 km away
The small municipal seat below Angangueo, the gateway town for the road up to the El Rosario sanctuary. -
San Felipe los Alzati
· Archaeological site · 17 km away
A hilltop ceremonial center with one of the largest pyramids in Michoacán, built where it could watch the road from central Mexico.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.