{"id":1837,"date":"2021-05-12T20:30:03","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T18:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parapente-mexico.com\/?p=1837"},"modified":"2021-05-14T12:26:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T10:26:09","slug":"papillons-monarques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parapente-mexico.com\/en\/travel\/monarch-butterflies\/","title":{"rendered":"The journey of the Monarch butterflies"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual migration of the monarch butterfly from North America is a unique and astonishing phenomenon. It is the emblem of Valle de Bravo, gave its name to a paragliding competition, and inspired a paraglider for his latest challenge.<\/p>\n

The kings of free flight!<\/h2>\n

The monarch is the only butterfly known to perform a round trip migration like birds do. Unlike other butterflies which can hibernate as larvae or pupae, monarchs cannot survive the cold winters of northern climates. Monarchs know when it's time to travel south for the winter. Scientists still don't know how they manage to travel so many kilometers without getting lost.<\/p>\n

They use a combination of air currents and thermals to travel long distances.
\nDoesn't that remind you of anything? This is precisely what we are trying to do by paraglider<\/strong>.
\nSome fly up to 5000 kilometers to reach their winter house ... which is located at Mexico<\/a>, a few kilometers from the village of Valle de Bravo<\/a> !<\/p>\n

\"monarca<\/a>
Migration of monarchs from Canada to Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where is it, When is it?<\/h2>\n

Piedra Herrada<\/strong> is one of three sanctuaries of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve located in the State of Mexico. Located between Temascaltepec and Valle de Bravo<\/a>, visitors from all over the world can experience the most spiritual experience nature can offer. It's a one-of-a-kind show, which you won't see anywhere else.<\/p>\n

On good days, it is even possible to go there by flying a paraglider. The itinerary is detailed in the section cross-country (xc)<\/a> of the site : Saucos and Monarcas<\/a>. Otherwise you can go there by taxi, for a well-deserved rest day, after hours of paragliding flights. However, avoid going there on a cloudy day, because like us, on those days, they stay quiet. On site, you can take a guide, who will take you to the oyamels (milkweed in French), these endemic trees, which serve as refuges. You can also go there on horseback, because it trudges a bit.<\/p>\n

Butterflies arrive in November, around the time of \u201cthe feast of the dead\u201d. It's here Toussaint<\/em> with us, and it's a big event in Mexico (el dia de la muertos<\/em>). In fact, for many Mexicans, it is as if their ancestors came back to visit them. Their habitat is threatened by the exploitation of the forest by man.
\nThey go back to their home country in March, after spending the winter there. I decided to do the same \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n