Daniel Behn
Daniel was born in the United States and raised in Panama and Mexico by Swiss parents. Growing up across cultures shaped his perspective and gave him an early familiarity with multiple languages, along with a strong connection to place and environment.
He studied sociology, international relations, environmental education and deep ecology, building an understanding of how human systems and natural landscapes intersect. This academic background informs his work as a guide, where he interprets ecological processes alongside the cultural contexts that shape them.
Working as a naturalist guide in central Mexico, where he has lived since 2004, Daniel leads expeditions focused on the monarch butterfly migration in the highlands. He helps travelers understand these seasonal movements, drawing on decades of observation in the region. His work connects the biology of the butterflies with the landscapes and people who live alongside them. He has also contributed to regional conservation efforts and participated in research related to the species, and he continues to engage with local communities connected to the monarch reserves.
What Our Guests Say
Daniel and Fernando complemented each other wonderfully and made the experience extraordinary. Their kindness, humor, knowledge and leadership made the entire trip a pleasure. Everything was so well planned out, and they showed us parts of Mexico I'd never seen before. I felt very blessed to have had Daniel and Fernando as our guides. They are two of the most caring men I've ever met.
Daniel was compassionate to guests needs, a lover of the environment and possessed a wealth of knowledge. Daniel and Fernando made each and every one of the travelers feel like an important guest, and at the same time, like a friend. They were very attuned to travelers needs, slowing down when they saw someone breathing a bit heavy or dividing the group when they saw others wanting to plow ahead. They were extremely knowledgeable, sharing their knowledge and expertise. These two Expedition Leaders were a GREAT duo, and each personality complemented the other. They truly are a 'Dynamic Duo.' We have already looked to see if they are guiding any other Nat Hab trips.
Daniel was very friendly and very knowledgeable about monarchs. He was also humorous, and we all felt like a family.
