Kingdom of the Monarchs

The monarch butterfly migration to Mexico is at risk, with monarchs now listed as an endangered species. Local communities and WWF are protecting the forests where the butterflies overwinter. Now, we have the opportunity to help preserve monarch habitats here in the U.S.

Each winter, millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the fir forests of Mexico's Central Highlands—watch this visual preview to see what it's like to walk among them, take photos, and listen to the air hum with the vibration of their wings!

Find out how to take amazing pictures of the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico with nature photo expert Court Whelan. Get expert tips and techniques to enhance your photos of these butterflies!

Watch thousands of monarch butterflies gathering in and flying around Mexico's alpine fir forest.

Originally presented June 4, 2024
As you read this, can you tell which way is north? If so, how? Maybe you can tell from the location of the sun, your position relative to certain landmarks, or your mental map of your city or neighborhood. Expedition Leader Kristina Disney reveals some of the methods animals use to navigate—many similar to our own. Learn the astounding ways wildlife from gray whales and polar bears to birds and monarch butterflies map their worlds, and how some of their millennia-old cues are changing due to human-wrought changes in the environment.

Originally presented January 5, 2024
The oyamel fir forests of Mexico's Central Highlands play host to one of nature's most awe-inspiring spectacles: the annual migration of millions of brilliant orange-and-black monarch butterflies. Journey with Expedition Leader Charlie Reinertsen to explore the wintering grounds of this beloved -- but endangered -- butterfly. Learn about the ecological significance of the monarch migration, find out about conservation efforts to ensure this wonder persists, and discover how you can experience it for yourself on our Kingdom of the Monarchs trip.

Originally presented November 13, 2023
The autumn monarch butterfly migration from Canada and the U.S. to the highlands of Central Mexico is the greatest of all insect migrations and the only known butterfly migration on Earth. Expedition Leader Charlie Reinertsen unravels the mysteries of one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders and explains the when, where, why and how of the monarch migration. Plus, learn how you can help protect this beautiful but endangered butterfly and experience this natural phenomenon for yourself!