Letter from Estela

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Dear Friends:

Hello from the monarch’s winter home in Michoacán, Mexico!

February is here and tourist season is reaching its peak. Join me as I visit El Rosario Sanctuary.

Today, a wonderful, sunny morning awaited arrival for tourists at El Rosario Sanctuary and I was among the lucky visitors.

Being scarcely 10 o’clock in the morning, one can see how the parking area gets gradually full.

This season, the entrance fee for adults costs 50 pesos, while for children only 40. As usual, students and teachers should get a 50% discount. Every year, any increase to entrance fees is proposed, analyzed and authorized by both the State Ministry of Tourism and the local Ejidatario’s Assembly at each Sanctuary.

Once handing out your entrance ticket, the enjoyment starts as you go up hill along the only trail the next 2.5 kilometers to reach the Colony. Visitors will find informative signs on Monarchs’ phenomenon, their migration facts to central México and the local habitat in weather, flora and fauna in which they overwinter in their Oyamel forests.

The forest here in El Rosario seems to be retaining a good level of moisture. Monarchs with need water as temperatures rise and the dry season becomes more intense during the final weeks of the overwintering season.

As we reached the colony, located this weekend at “Los Letreros” site, we made our last steps really silent in anticipation.

Beautiful, dense, healthy, bright golden clusters were hanging from the trees at the core of the colony.

The Colony at Los Letreros reflects a healthy population of around 17 to 18 trees, very densely covered from foot to top. Last year at this site, more than 50 trees were covered with clusters!! It was the most breathtaking spectacle I will never forget!! However, though there were far more butterfly trees last year, the clusters were not as dense. So all and all, I would guess Los Letreros has half as many butterflies this year, at most. Los Horcones has around 10 trees the guides said.

The bright orange butterflies constrasted with the green trees - both being enlightened by the rays of the sun - made it a unique scene. One could stay at the Colony for hours.

Around noon time, huge and indescribable explosions of activity suddenly came to the delight of all attending such magic moments.

The site became filled with spellbound visitors, and by noon time, the waves of tourists increased impressively.

People dress warmly, knowing the high elevation sanctuary will be cold. Most everyone is surprised to see monarchs on the ground, too cold to fly.

Lost in the experience at the Sanctuary, regaining consciousness makes you realize that hours have passed by and that thirst and hunger may be a signal to start our way down.

Once at the bottom of the Sanctuary, the restaurant and souvenirs area is full of life, typical Mexican music, colors and foods.

Delicious smells come from the burning clay pots at the wooden stoves containing typical Mexican dishes, hand-made corn tortillas and fresh drinks are ready for visitors to enjoy.

Varied, colorful Mexican crafts going from t-shirts, cups, embroideries, cotton and wool knitted apparel, pine-needle hand-made baskets, fruits and typical candies make tourists’ trip a really worthwhile experience.

Like everyone, we are waiting eagerly to know how many monarchs are here this winter. We hope the official count will show improvement over the recent record-low years. Until next week, Estela Romero, Journey North local reporter.