This Friday, November 21, the monarch butterfly sanctuaries of El Campanario in the ejido El Rosario (Ocampo) and Sierra Chincua (Angangueo) officially open to the public, announced Homero Gómez Jr. and Rosalía Domínguez Vieyra, director of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.
As they do every year, millions of butterflies arrive in the oyamel forests of Michoacán and the State of Mexico. El Campanario is the most visited sanctuary of all wintering colonies; access is possible from Zitácuaro or Maravatío toward Senguio and Áporo. For the 2025–2026 season, ejido authorities report a strong recovery of monarch populations, now covering about eight hectares of El Campanario.
The monarchs will begin their return migration to the forests of the United States and Canada around March 21, 2026, after four months of hibernation. The sanctuaries will remain open until March 30.
The Monarch Butterfly Reserve spans 56,259 hectares across two states, eight municipalities, and 121 agrarian communities—making it one of Mexico’s most complex and important protected natural areas. For this season, ticket prices have been standardized across all sanctuaries, with a small increase approved by the Tourism Committee to improve sustainability and services. Current prices are 150 pesos for adults and 100 pesos for children.
The ejido El Rosario, home to around 10,000 residents, generates at least 100 direct jobs from the monarch migration season, not including local businesses.
Michoacán’s Secretary of Environment, Alejandro Méndez, stated that the reserve is generally well preserved, but the butterflies’ migratory route remains the biggest challenge.
“Researchers monitoring the monarchs’ path have placed tracking chips, and early data indicates that while many reached Michoacán, population recovery is slow and often hindered by adverse conditions. Along their thousands-kilometer migration, the butterflies cross extensive monocultures where herbicides and insecticides are heavily used, impacting their colonies,” he said.