Kingdom of the Monarchs

The monarch butterfly migration to Mexico is at risk, with monarchs now listed as an endangered species. Local communities and WWF are protecting the forests where the butterflies overwinter. Now, we have the opportunity to help preserve monarch habitats here in the U.S.

Each winter, millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the fir forests of Mexico's Central Highlands—watch this visual preview to see what it's like to walk among them, take photos, and listen to the air hum with the vibration of their wings!

Find out how to take amazing pictures of the monarch butterfly migration in Mexico with nature photo expert Court Whelan. Get expert tips and techniques to enhance your photos of these butterflies!

Watch thousands of monarch butterflies gathering in and flying around Mexico's alpine fir forest.

Every winter, Mexico's Central Highlands host a charismatic visitor: the monarch butterfly. These migratory marvels travel 3,000 miles each year to overwinter in the region's oyamel fir forests, where they mate before flying north again in the spring. Explore Mexico's monarch sanctuaries with Expedition Leaders Melissa Silva and Diana Lopez, who reveal what makes the oyamel fir tree the perfect winter roost, hear the latest theories on how new generations of monarchs know exactly where to go on their migratory return, and much more.

Meet Mason Mirabile, a student film director whose short films raise awareness of pressing conservation issues. His new film about the monarch butterfly migration, Monarchs in Motion, has already received multiple awards and is debuting at film festivals around the world. Watch the 13-minute short, followed by a Q&A with Mason and Expedition Leader and videographer Charlie Reinertsen, who contributed footage and an interview for the film. Plus, learn about monarch conservation and how you can help protect these beloved butterflies.

You may know that Nat Hab is the world's first carbon-neutral travel company (humble brag), but our commitment to conservation goes beyond offsetting. Brooke Mitchell chats with Chief Sustainability Officer Court Whelan about our 2024 conservation successes and challenges, as well as our goals for 2025. Find out how sustainability and conservation travel go hand in hand, and learn more about our conservation programs, from philanthropy projects in the regions we visit to trip scholarships for inspiring eco-educators!