Angangueo, Mexico

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monarch butterfly and the only one officially accessible to visitors.

Millions of these butterflies (Danaus Plexippus) fly here every November from Canada and North America and leave this more than 3000 m (9846 ft)-high coniferous forest the following April. The butterflies cover up to 140km/87mi a day on their long flights. This and two other wintering areas, in Michoacán and in the Estado de México, were discovered by American scientists in 1975 but not made public until ten years later. In recent years deforestation, too many tourists (1997: 200,000) and the frequent cold winters have all resulted in a considerable fall in the numbers of the butterflies. The official figure is now given as 35 million and so, in the interests of the species, visitors may like to think twice before intruding into this area.

From San Felipe de Alzati it is 9km/5.6mi more to Zitácuaro, from there a further 97km/60mi to Toluca and another 70km/43mi to Mexico City.