See the monarch butterfly migration

“I remember the excitement I felt when we saw our first cluster, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the spiritual experience of being immersed in the flutters of a beautiful, endangered species. Walking deeper into the forest, they suddenly surrounded us. The term “butterfly kisses” took on a very literal meaning as they brushed past our faces and landed on our clothing. We sat and lay in silence, mesmerized as hundreds of thousands of monarchs glistened in the slices of light that shone through the trees. It took my breath away and I can still hear the sound of them when I close my eyes, like streams of water or leaves blowing in the wind.”

“It has been over 20 years since I’ve gotten on a horse, but guides at the Cerro Pelon Butterfly sanctuary recommended that a horse’s four legs were preferable to my mere two as I prepared to ascend the mountain where the butterflies wintered. I was very appreciative of the guides’ recommendation as the trail became steeper. [...] What would I actually see when I came to the top of the preserve where the monarchs were wintering? I was not disappointed. After leaving my horse and climbing an additional peak, I was rewarded with a blizzard of orange and near total silence. While they tend to move in swarms, occasionally an independent minded butterfly would come flit around me, land on a piece of foliage, and fascinate me for a period of time before continuing on its way. My family and the rest of the tour group were equally spellbound--no one said a word during the time we were engaged in this rare moment.”