may-2010

TRAVEL MEXICO
Mexico fact fi le
GETTING THERE
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
operates one direct daily fl ight
to Mexico City’s Juarez
International Airport from
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
WHEN & WHERE TO GO
This year, Mexico is
celebrating the 200th
anniversary annive of its
independence and many
special events are planned
throughout 2010.
40 Holland Herald FREE
Pacifi c
Ocean
The Monarch butterfl ies start
arriving in the Santuario
Mariposa Monarca butterfl y
reserve in early November and
leave around March 21. The
best time to see them is in
January and February, when
numbers peak and colonies
are densest. The butterfl ies
congregate at several regular
sites, the most popular of
which is El Rosario, about 12
kilometres from the village of
Ocampo, and a 45-minute
Michoacán
Morelia
drive from the scenic old
mining town of Angangueo.
Sierra Chincua is an epicentre
eight kilometres beyond
Anguangueo. Cerro Pellon is
the newest sanctuary open to
the public. However, since the
terrain is not as open as El
Rosario, you see only a small
portion of the epicentre.
Expect to pay around $10
for the guide and $10 for a
horse, as well as a fee for
entering the reserve and for
parking your car. This is money
well spent, as it gives locals a
vested interest in protecting
the reserve. Opposite the
church in the village of
Donato Guerra at the base of
Cerro Pellon, is a simple
restaurant with wonderful
mole negro, fresh trout and
corn tortillas.
WHERE TO STAY
Zitacuaro
Angangueo
The best place near the
butterfl ies is Rancho San
Cayetano (left), a couple of
kilometres south of Zitacuaro,
USA
Mexico
Mexico City
Michoacán
le
run by butterfl y afi cionados
Pablo and Lisette Span
(+52 715 153 1926; www.
Woodhouse/Masterfi
ranchosancayetano.com).
They have an excellent library Jeremy
and can recommend good
Stock,
local guides. They serve
wonderful Mexican and
French food, much of it home-
Geographic
grown. Villa Montana (www.
villamontana.com.mx) is a
lovely hacienda-style hotel in Lewis/National S.
Morelia, the elegant colonial
city and capital of Michoacán,
Michael
two-and-a-half hours’ drive
from the butterfl ies. Photos: