El Rosario Sanctuary in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Our visit to the monarchs was magical! We found the walk up to the butterflies from the parking lot a challenge. The parking lot lies at an elevation of around 9,500 feet and the monarchs are at 11,000 feet. Our pace was slow, with many stops to rest along the way, and thankfully our young guide was gentle and accommodating. I joked when we finally reached the top that I was happy to be alive after the climb! One lady actually fainted at the top and was given something to breath in. We've been to Yellowstone National Park, which lies at 8,000 feet and Cusco, Peru which is at 11,200 feet, but this experience was more exhausting, but we're also a few years older.

When we arrived at the tall, fir trees where the butterflies where sleeping, we were told to be silent. A handful of people stood in a small clearing taking in the wondrous experience. There was a lot of cloud coverage, and at first look the trees were a dusty, gray colour, as the butterflies slept quietly on the trunks, and long branches. Slowly, the clouds vanished and the butterflies became quickly alert, and the trees and sky turned to a bright, fluttering  orange. Everyone stared in awe, as if a miracle was happening before us! It was truly an amazing sight!

I scoured the internet to purchase tickets for the butterflies, to no avail. The only place you can buy them is at the gate.

                                                       Our sweet little guide
 

                                         Our first glimpse of what was to come!

                                    A slow 45 minute(ish) walk up many stairs.

                       And then the steps stopped.... and the path flattened out a bit.

                             My camera does not do justice to what we actually saw!

               Our guide pointed out some butterflies feeding on flower nectar.