Nature reserve 6 km north of Angangueo
A quieter monarch sanctuary north of Angangueo, with a gentler trail, horses, and a visitor center with food stalls and a zip line.
Sierra Chincua is the second great monarch butterfly sanctuary near Angangueo, in the high forests north of town on the way to Senguio and Tlalpujahua. It sits in the central part of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, and it was one of the overwintering areas named in the 1986 decree that first protected the butterflies' forests. The land ranges from about 2,400 to 3,600 meters above sea level and is covered in oyamel fir, pine and oak.
From November to March, millions of monarchs that flew in from Canada and the United States hang in clusters from the firs. Chincua usually draws fewer visitors than El Rosario, and its trail is longer but less steep, which makes it a good choice for families and for anyone who finds the climb at El Rosario too hard.
The visitor center has a parking area, small restaurants, craft stalls and a few adventure activities, so a visit can easily fill half a day.
What to see and do
Walk or ride a horse with a local guide along the forest trail to the colonies, roughly 2 to 3.5 km each way.
Watch the butterflies take off from the firs when the sun comes out around midday.
Try the zip line, hanging bridges or climbing wall at the visitor center.
Warm up with mushroom soup or quesadillas at the food stalls before heading back.
Getting there
The visitor center is about 10 km from Angangueo, roughly 20 minutes by car on the mountain road north toward Senguio and Tlalpujahua. During the season, taxis and pickups from Angangueo can take you. Visits are with a local guide, and the sanctuary usually closes at the end of March.
6 km north 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 Sierra Chincua shares the climate of Angangueo, 6 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov.
Make Angangueo your base
Santuario Sierra Chincua is an easy trip from Angangueo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Tlalpujahua · 20 km away
More around Angangueo
-
Santuario El Rosario
· Nature reserve · 4 km away
The largest and busiest monarch butterfly sanctuary, a steep forest climb above Angangueo, open roughly November to March. -
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.