Magical Mexico with Denver Botanic Gardens

      Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

      Rt
      Reefs to Rockies
      • Email address verified
      49 reviews
      Jan 15 - 21, 2023
      Group size: 6 - 10
      Magical Mexico with Denver Botanic Gardens
      Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

      Reefs to Rockies
      • Email address verified
      49 reviews

      Jan 15 - 21, 2023
      Group size: 6 - 10

      About this trip

      Every winter, montane cloud forests in central Mexico host millions of over-wintering monarch butterflies. This aggregation of monarchs in Mexico’s central highlands ranks as one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles on the planet. When masses of butterflies are in flight, it sounds like rain falling. Their cumulative weight can even bend branches of towering oyamel fir trees. 


      In addition to spending two days at monarch butterfly sanctuaries, travelers will also explore vibrant Mexico City known for its thriving art scene, charming neighborhoods, world-class gastronomy, and its unique blend of old and new. 

      About Your Host

      Born and raised in South Texas, with a bilingual-bicultural background, Yvonne Garcia Bardwell brings a great mixture of experiences and knowledge to the tour. As the Associate Director of Community Relations at Denver Botanic Gardens, she is responsible for diversifying the Gardens’ constituency by establishing and strengthening relationships with community organizations across the Denver metro area. Since 2011, she has orchestrated Denver Botanic Gardens’ observance of Día de los Muertos – a celebration that has grown into a vibrant annual event celebrating one of Mexico’s greatest cultural legacies. Her multicultural orientation has developed through not only extensive world travel but also significant work and volunteer experiences as well as an academic focus on international and Spanish-language marketing. This tour offers an opportunity to educate and inspire, to create a connection to our past, and to learn about the cultural traditions of Mexico.

      What’s included

      • Accommodations
        Suite at Green Park Hotel; loft at Rodavento; standard king or family room at Zócalo Central
      • Airport transfers
        Day 1 and Day 7
      • Private transportation
        Days 2-6
      • Trip Leader
        Ruben Encalada - Lead Guide for Mexico
      • Trip Host
        Yvonne Garcia Bardwell - Associate Director of Community Relations at Denver Botanic Gardens
      • Entrance fees
      • Meals
        6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners
      • Folk art workshop
        Hands-on artisan workshop with renowned artists Ruben Mica and Oscar Becerra
      • Ejido guides
        At monarch butterfly sanctuaries
      • Horseback rentals
        At monarch butterfly sanctuaries
      • Gratuities
        For trip leader, ejido guides, and included meals
      • Travel insurance
        Basic $0 trip cost policy; upgraded policy with pre-departure cancellation and trip interruption benefits can be added at pro-rated cost

      What’s not included

      • Flights
      • Passport fees
      • Meals not listed
        3 dinners
      • Hotel gratuities
      • Optional activities
      • Taxis
      • Personal expenses

      Available Packages

      Price: $3475/person, double occupancy

      This price is per person based on two people sharing a room.

      $3,475
      Deposit: $750

      Available options

      Itinerary

      Day 1
      Arrival to Mexico City

      Upon arrival to Mexico City, we’ll be met for our transfer to Green Park Hotel, our home for the next three nights. Green Park is located across the street from Chapultepec Forest, the largest urban park in Latin America. For those arriving by early afternoon, an optional tour of Chapultepec Castle is available.

      Accommodations: Green Park Hotel

      Meals: None

      Estimated Drive Time Today: 30-45 mins from airport to hotel depending on traffic.

      Your Organizer


      Rt
      Reefs to Rockies
      49 reviews
      Our specialty is nature and wildlife travel. We know when and where to go for the best experiences. Travel time is limited. It’s important to choose a travel company that knows how to personalize a trip just for you. Our travel specialists will help you plan a custom trip that matches your travel style, budget, interests, and ideal dates.

      Reviews

      This was an extremely well run trip with fantastic wildlife viewing and very comfortable accommodations. Sheridan kept everything running smoothly, and her choice of the local Maasai guides for the large part of the trip, Ping and Peter, was outstanding. I particularly liked the more rustic lodge, Enaidura, that Ping and his partners owned. Having a small group of eight was great, and bird identification by Sheridan and the guides was amazing. The highlight of the trip for me was seeing the big cats( lion, cheetah and leopard), but the extension to Uganda was also an experience of a lifetime. Getting to observe two different mountain gorilla families was such a thrill. I look forward to traveling again with Reefs to Rockies in the future.
      By Lucy H for Kenya Big Cat Safari w/ Optional Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension​ on Mar 17, 2024
      I have booked personal trips before with Sheridan and reefs to Rockies and they have been amazing. This was my first time doing a small group trip. My trip with Sheridan was amazing. From the well communicated schedule to the other people in the group to the quintessential Kenyan and Uganda vistas, everything about this trip was perfect. I saw so many animals, had so many experiences with our guides Ping and Peter, and had delicious food and drink. , If I could give this trip and my experience with Reefs to Rockies more stars I would.
      By Rebecca H for Kenya Big Cat Safari w/ Optional Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension​ on Mar 13, 2024
      This was truly the trip of a lifetime. Sheridan and her team always deliver an excellent experience and this trip was no exception. All the camps we stayed at were wonderful and I loved that they employed so many local people. Sheridan put a real focus on ensuring we were supporting the communities we visited and giving back to those communities, which I truly appreciated. While you are often at the mercy of the Mother Nature when looking for wildlife, having such knowledgeable and professional guides who knew the area, knew the individual animals and their behaviors, and knew just where to look ensured that we got to see as many species as possible. I have used Reefs to Rockies now for custom trips where I self guided and group travel. In both situations Reefs to Rockies is a class act that you can count on to deliver a truly wonderful and well-thought out wildlife experience. Thanks Sheridan and team for making this a truly extraordinary trip!
      By Scott S for Kenya Big Cat Safari w/ Optional Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension​ on Mar 12, 2024
      This was our second trip with Reefs to Rockies and it did not disappoint! In Search of Big Cats Safari was absolutely wonderful. Guides were outstanding, accommodations wonderful and food delicious. Sheridan and R2R does an excellent job of putting together top rate trips! We plan to have them arrange a few more for us.
      By Lorraine L for Kenya Big Cat Safari w/ Optional Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension​ on Mar 12, 2024
      This was a wonderful trip. There wasn’t anything we had hoped to see that we missed. We enjoyed the group, the guides, and the accommodations. It was a pleasure having Sheridan along with the group. Her knowledge and commitment to assure that all the participants had an exceptional time helped make it a special experience. Thank you. We recommend Reef to Rockies to anyone looking to plan a special vacation.
      By Victor S for Kenya Big Cat Safari w/ Optional Uganda Mountain Gorilla Extension​ on Mar 12, 2024
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