Mexico’s Magical Monarchs
Every winter, cloud forests in central Mexico play host to millions, perhaps a billion monarch butterflies. This aggregation of monarchs ranks as one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles on the planet. When masses of butterflies take flight, the beating of their wings sounds like rain falling. The cumulative weight of massive monarch clusters on oyamel fir trees bends branches.
Journey to the heart of Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Reserve with award-winning photographer Cheryl Opperman. This small group photographic expedition offers unparalleled access with the maximum amount of time possible in the heart of the monarch reserve giving photographers plenty of time to capture the massive clusters, single butterflies, action as they take flight as well as the beauty of the surrounding area.
January 2026 – Dates coming soon or Customize your own Private Trip
$6750 per person based on double occupancy (Includes lodging, ground transportation, porters at the reserves, and most meals. Airfare, Visas, etc are additional. See list below)
$995 Single Supplement
*Prices listed are payment by cash/check. Credit card fees will be assessed at time of booking based on payment method.
- $750 Non-refundable Deposit due at booking
- Final payment due November 20, 2024
Group size: 4-6 photographers (we reserve the right to add a few additional spaces for non-photographer companions)
For questions or more information please contact Cheryl at 303-829-9453 or info@cherylopperman.com.
Why Choose Us?
Most butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico have visitation time limits around 20 minutes. As long as the butterflies return to the same locations, we have SPECIAL access to reserves that allow us to stay for several HOURS. This additional time makes it possible to wait for ideal lighting conditions and butterfly activity.
Our local guides are experts on the habitat and behavior of these magical monarchs and share their wealth of knowledge to make sure you take home the images you want while also protecting these fragile environments.
Our small group size of only 6 photographers also makes for a much better experience at a very reasonable cost that is competitive with most companies offering similar itineraries with larger group sizes.
Itinerary
DAY 1 (Jan): Upon arrival to Mexico City, we’ll be met by your local guide for the transfer to our hotel. Our hotel tonight is on the west side of town so that we may avoid traffic leaving the city tomorrow morning.
Accommodations: Hotel Room with Private Bath
Meals: Welcome Dinner
DAY 2 (Jan): Morning departure to the Monarch Butterfly Reserve. We’ll spend the afternoon at the reserve to allow for changing light conditions and activity levels of the monarchs.
Accommodations: Hotel Room with Private Bath
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
DAYS 3-5 (Jan): Three full days of photography sessions at the reserves. Sites will be selected based on current cluster numbers and locations. Expect hikes to take at least 30 minutes to over 1 hour each way at elevations between 9000-11,000 ft. Please call if you have concerns about hiking. The trail can be steep, but we go at a very slow pace.
Accommodations: Hotel Room with Private Bath
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6 (Jan): Today’s photography sessions will focus on local landscapes and waterfalls in the Valle de Bravo area. Relive trip highlights this evening during our Farewell Dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Room with Private Bath
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 7 (Jan): Transfer to the airport in time for our flights home. Flight departure needs to be at 12:30pm or later.
Meals: Breakfast
IMPORTANT NOTE: Accessing the monarch cluster sites includes sometimes strenuous hiking at elevations between 9000-11,000 feet. We go at a very slow pace, so no one should feel rushed and porters will carry your heavy photography gear. You only need to carry your own food and water. Please call if you have questions or concerns.
Inclusions:
- Accommodations
- Private transportation with driver
- Porters to carry camera gear at the butterfly reserves
- Full-time local bilingual guide
- Exclusive access to individual sessions and instruction with Cheryl Opperman
- Entrance fees
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 2 dinners
- Guide Gratuities
Exclusions:
- International airfare
- Passport/visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Optional activities
- Taxis
- Optional gratuities
- Personal expenses
Travel Insurance:
We strongly encourage you purchase comprehensive travel and evacuation insurance and we work with InsureMyTrip to offer our clients hand selected plans that will help protect your trip from a number of different perils. Feel free to follow the link below to visit the InsureMyTrip website. The site is easy to use to shop for plans and their staff is extremely helpful if you have any questions. They also have a number of informative articles about travel and insurance under the “Learn” tab on their website. Please be aware that some plans will not cover pre-existing and/or other conditions unless you purchase the policy shortly after making the FIRST deposit.
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