One of the world’s most most astounding wildlife photography opportunities features one of its tiniest creatures, the delicate monarch butterfly. While monarchs may be familiar sights during a New England or California summer, nothing prepares you for the marvel of their migration, when they congregate by the millions in Mexico’s Central Highlands each winter. Entering a grove of fir trees on a remote mountaintop, we see trunks and branches that appear to be blanketed with rusty autumn leaves. A closer look reveals they’re quivering. Then, as the sun emerges from behind a cloud to warm them, our cameras capture hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies as they take flight—so many that we actually hear the beating of their wings, which glow translucent orange against the blue sky as they flutter overhead. Sometimes, they even float down to alight on our hats and cameras. Guided by our Expedition Leader, who is both an expert naturalist and photographer, learn to capture amazing images of this moving phenomenon.
Trip Highlights
Varied Photography Settings in Two Migration Groves
On foot and horseback in the fir forests of Central Mexico, enter protected sanctuaries to photograph millions of monarchs that roost here each winter
Listen to the Hum of Gossamer Butterfly Wings
When the air warms, photograph hundreds of thousands of monarchs taking flight, with sheer wings that look like orange stained glass backlit by the sun.
Authentic Cultural Photo Encounters
Photograph scenes of traditional mountain villages, soak in healing mineral springs, and witness the benefits of butterfly ecotourism for local communities
Our Monarchs Photo Expedition is a Nat Hab Exclusive!
For nature photographers, few spectacles are more dazzling than the sight of millions of monarch butterflies massed together in their winter roosting grounds in Central Mexico. And when you’re after amazing images of this phenomenon, you’ll want to spend as much time among them as possible, with excellent guidance to attain the best shots. To our knowledge, no one else offers a specialized photography tour to the Kingdom of the Monarchs!
Photograph More Butterflies on More Excursions into Monarch Habitat
While other companies may offer day visits to a single monarch sanctuary, our in-depth itinerary includes three excursions into two different butterfly sanctuaries, to maximize an assortment of settings and lighting situations. Catch them as they take to the air in a cloud of fluttering wings, backlit by the sun, or snap thousands of monarchs in one shot, as they upholster the tree branches like autumn leaves—then focus on a single butterfly for a perfect close-up.A Small Group for Personalized Photography Coaching
Because we limit this trip to just 12 guests, guided by two Expedition Leaders, you’ll get exceptional personal attention and coaching. Ask all the questions you want, and get detailed advice for improving your photos. Fewer people also means quieter photo encounters, as well as the flexibility to remain at a site longer if it shows a lot of photographic potential, or to move on to a new location if it doesn’t. Our 1:6 guide-to-guest ratio is a key element of your photography success!Cultural Experiences Round Out Your Trip
Unlike most butterfly tours, we also visit several cultural sites that invite photography. Among them are Toluca, originally a 13th-century Indigenous settlement, where we photograph the Cosmovitral Botanic Gardens and the conservatory’s famous stained glass panels. Anguangeo, filled with charming architecture and brightly painted murals, is another highlight: the village got its start as a silver-mining town and today is primarily devoted to butterfly tourism.Authentically Mexican Lodgings & Cuisine
From a cozy inn in the small mountain hamlet of Anguangeo to a family-owned spa and wellness hotel known for its thermal springs, our accommodations are chosen for their setting, atmosphere and access to nature. We also enjoy home-cooked meals sourced from fresh local food that reflects the cultural heritage of the places we visit.Expert Naturalist Guides Who Are Also Accomplished Photographers
Nat Hab is internationally lauded for employing the highest-quality Expedition Leaders in the industry, with additional training and resources provided by WWF’s top scientists. On this tour, your guides are butterfly naturalists and expert photographers adept at helping you capture outstanding images of the butterflies. See Expedition Leader bios with traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.Your Presence Makes a Difference for the Future of Monarchs
Your experience is enhanced by knowing that our presence is essential to the butterflies' continued survival: visitors demonstrate to locals that ecotourism can be a more viable and sustainable source of economic well-being than resource exploitation.Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Photo Tour
Natural Habitat Adventures offers an exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.Feel Good About the Way You Travel
We all care about the planet, and you can travel with us knowing that the emissions from your trip are 100-percent carbon-offset. Natural Habitat Adventures is the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company, a feature that is especially critical when considering that many of the species and habitats we visit are under substantial threat from our planet’s warming temperatures.Natural Habitat Adventures Is World Wildlife Fund’s Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund—the planet's leading conservation organization—has named Natural Habitat its worldwide travel partner — a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
