Mexico's butterfly phenomenon

13 December 2006

Travellers visiting Mexico in the next few months may be able to catch a glimpse of the millions of monarch butterflies that make their way there every year.

Around 250m of the creatures travel from North America to Mexico annually, reaching a distance of over 3,000 miles to the state of Michoacan.

It can take the butterflies up to a month to make the journey and is a spectacular sight for anyone who sees the creatures mid-migration.

During late October and early November the butterflies begin their journey, with nature lovers and those fortunate enough to live beneath the flight path often reporting seeing large groups flying over head.

The butterflies' destination is the Oyamel forests where they gather in huge crowds of thousands to cling to pine trees.

They gather in such large groups that branches are weighed down by their presence and the forests glow as the sun light reflects off of their bright orange wings.

Nature lovers from all over the world gather in Michoacan every year to see the phenomenon, which generally lasts until March when the butterflies travel back to North America.

The Mexico Tourism Board recommends February and early March as the best times in which to catch a glimpse of the butterflies.