7 parks and reserves · within 60 km
There are 7 parks and reserves within 60 km of Zitácuaro in a straight line, an hour or a little more by road. The closest is Santuario Cerro Pelón, 10 km away; the farthest, Santuario Piedra Herrada, is 51 km. They are listed under the Pueblos Mágicos of Angangueo, Valle de Bravo, and El Oro, which make good bases.
Parks and reserves are best on weekdays and early in the day. Bring water, and check the opening hours, since some close one day a week.
Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
The Nature Parks 7
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Santuario Cerro Pelón · Nature reserve · 10 km from Zitácuaro · Near Angangueo
The wildest monarch sanctuary, reached on horseback from the village of Macheros; where the colonies were first documented in 1975. -
Santuario El Capulín · Nature reserve · 11 km from Zitácuaro · Near Valle de Bravo
A quieter monarch butterfly sanctuary in Donato Guerra, reached by a forest trail of about 4 km on foot or horseback. -
Santuario El Rosario · Nature reserve · 19 km from Zitácuaro · Near Angangueo
The largest and busiest monarch butterfly sanctuary, a steep forest climb above Angangueo, open roughly November to March. -
Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca La Mesa · Nature reserve · 25 km from Zitácuaro · Near El Oro
A monarch butterfly sanctuary in the forests of San José del Rincón, open in winter, with cabins, guides and horseback rides. -
Parque Nacional Bosencheve · Nature reserve · 26 km from Zitácuaro · Near Valle de Bravo
A national park of pine and fir forest on the Toluca–Morelia highway, with a lagoon, camping and quiet trails north of Valle de Bravo. -
Santuario Sierra Chincua · Nature reserve · 27 km from Zitácuaro · Near Angangueo
A quieter monarch sanctuary north of Angangueo, with a gentler trail, horses, and a visitor center with food stalls and a zip line. -
Santuario Piedra Herrada · Nature reserve · 51 km from Zitácuaro · Near Valle de Bravo
The monarch butterfly sanctuary closest to Valle de Bravo, on the road to Toluca, open roughly November to March.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
Nature Parks elsewhere
Names and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.