Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca y Taxco

We got pretty early because yesterday the woman at the food stall had told us that there are incidents with the cartels around the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and she recommends going there early. We had also talked to the owner of the hostal who reassured us that it's pretty safe there. But we had wanted to go early anyways. So we were at 8 on the road and made good progress until 10km before "El Rosario", when the street got super steep, winding and rough 🙈 This kept on going until right before the parking but luckily the rental car still managed.

The Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is a large area where the Monarch Butterflies from Canada and the USA migrate to hibernate during the winter. When we arrived we were greeted by a cold wind chill at only about 8 degrees. I had only brought a light windbreaker being spoiled by the heat at the coastal regions. But we were pretty quickly on our way up to the butterfly colonies. It was an ascent of about 500 meters to an altitude of 3400 meters which warmed us sufficiently until the sun came out. We were the first ones there and when we arrived most of the butterflies were still a little frozen but after about half an hour in the sun they got active and were all over 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 It was a magnificent scenery watching thousands of them appearing out of the trees and flying around. One even sat on Julia's shoulder. They were everywhere and it wasn't even the season when they're most active. We could've spent all day there but there were other wonders waiting for us ☺️

Before driving on we had a Mexican café de olla (with Piloncillo), and Atole de chocolate (a thick hot corn chocolate flavored beverage). Then we drove for a while on and off the confusing Mexican toll roads to another pueblo mágico in the South of Michoacán, Ixtapan de la Sal. We just had a quick stop there to move our legs and have a small snack (I finally found a Torta Cubana again 🤤). The town center was pretty but not as spectacular as we've already seen.

The last stop of today was in the only pueblo mágico of the state Guerrero, Taxco. The drive was just an hour and at after a turn we could see the whole side of the mountain covered in small white houses... The sight was simply stunning! And so was the drive to the hotel through tiny roads, persons walking and down incredible steep slopes 🙈 I was relieved to have the car there and don't want to think of having to drive out again tomorrow 😅 But the hotel is beautifully made in a former convent, the old stones paired with the surrounding red and white stones and a lush green garden in the patio is a little piece of paradise.

We laid down in the hotel a bit and received news on poor little Ruedi 🥹 They had found a replacement and already installed it and he's almost good to go. Unfortunately they weren't able to find the replacements for the air filter and diesel filter. So we're not sure what to do about that...

Buuuuut we were too excited to go explore the city because everything about it was just so charming. The views over endless red roofs in contrast to the blue sky and white walls. The massive and at the same time detailed baroque church Santa Prisca de Taxco where we climbed up the tower and couldn't get enough of the magnificent scenery while the sun was setting. This was one of the most magical and beautiful things we've seen so far on our trip! ✨ Then we walked and enjoyed getting lost in the streets, checked out the local vendors and then went on a hunt for local specialities. There were some but the weirdest of them were Mexican stinkbugs called Jumiles 🪲 And of course, after seeing so many insects today, I needed to try them 😅 We found a restaurant which had many options (and also good vegan and vegetarian choices for a change) and a beautiful rooftop terrace. They weren't whole but mixed in a salsa verde but gave it a minty, lemony taste. It was okay to try but I wouldn't order it again probably. Julia had a baked breaded cheese in a green sauce with grilled onions that was amazing.

Before going back to the hotel we checked out another church that was pretty illuminated and saw a rooftop bar where we treated ourselves to some sweet cocktails 🍹🍸Read more