The Butterfly Kingdom of Travel Program

Transcription

1 The Butterfly Kingdom of Travel Program 124 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA Phone: or Fax: travel.hmsc.harvard.edu Highland Mexico February 4 9, 2018 with study leader Alfonso Alonso

2 (Cover) Monarch butterflies, El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary (main image). (Insets, top to bottom) Monarch butterfly; Angangueo; waterfall at Valle de Bravo (Above) Monarch butterflies cover a tree (Back cover) Monarch butterflies PHOTOS: Cover main image and mailing panel: Shutterstock.com Noradoa; Cover inserts: waterfall: Shutterstock.com Lemonpink images, Angangeo: Royal Adventures, and monarch: gracecavel; Monarch butterflies cover a tree and monarchs up close: Shutterstock.com Elizaveta Kirina; Sierra Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary and Don Bruno Hotel: Royal Adventures ; Accommodations; Stara and Avandaro Golf and Spa Resort; whale photos: Astrid Frisch Jordon. Each autumn the delicate and beautiful monarch butterfly undergoes one of the most extraordinary annual migrations on our planet. Nearly 300 million monarchs embark on a 2,500-mile treacherous journey across North America to their ancestral wintering grounds in the forest sanctuaries in the spectacular trans-volcanic range in Michoacán, Mexico. In this quiet, beautiful region of high peaks and dense forests, Mexico s largest (and oldest) royal family, the monarch butterflies, gather each winter to relax, reproduce and flutter their wings. For scientists around the world this annual migration is one of nature s greatest mysteries. Be one of the privileged few to witness the mysterious migration of the strong, yet ephemeral monarch butterfly. Space is limited, so call or us at hmsctravel@hmsc.harvard.edu soon to reserve you spot on this exclusive expedition to a vanishing treasure of our planet.

3 Itinerary Sunday, February 4 Arrive Mexico City, Mexico Upon arrival in Mexico transfer your hotel. In the evening gather for an orientation and welcome dinner. Hotel Stara Hamburgo (D) Monday, February 5 Toluca / Angangueo / El Rosario Sanctuary This morning depart for Toluca to visit the Cosmovitral and botanical garden. Built in 1909 as a market, the building now houses lovely gardens lit though 48 stained-glass panels created by Tolucan artist Leopoldo Flores. Travel on to Angangueo, a charming old mining village, surrounded by forested hills and the snowcapped peak of Xinantecatl volcano. This afternoon, make your first entry into the monarch kingdom at El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary. Drive high into the hills via a specially designed open-back truck. As you arrive, typically a few butterflies are flitting about, a hint of what awaits ahead. Continue up the trail until you reach the epicenter where millions of resting monarchs cover the tall fir trees. El Rosario Sanctuary usually receives the highest concentration of monarch butterflies in the area. As the sun warms their orange-and-black wings, the butterflies fill the air in dark-cloud like formations or flit between the forests trees. This generation lives the longest, up to six or seven months, a process heavily influenced by climate. In the quiet of the sanctuary you can actually hear the beating of the butterflies wings. Aztec legend says that the butterflies are the souls of the dead who return to visit the living. Later that afternoon return to Angangueo for lunch and a tour of the town. Hotel Don Bruno (B, L, D). Tuesday, February 6 Chincua / Angangueo After breakfast drive to the Chincua Butterfly Sanctuary. Travel is first by horseback and later on foot to where the butterflies are concentrated. Along the way enjoy scenic vistas across the valleys below. Later in the afternoon attend a lecture on the butterflies and the fascinating issues concerning their migration that have intrigued scientists from around the world. Hotel Don Bruno. (B, L, D) Wednesday, February 7 El Rosario / Valle de Bravo This morning return to El Rosario sanctuary to see the monarch for one last time. Transfer to Valle de Bravo, a magical pueblo along a winding and occasionally stunning mountain road to the shores of Lake Avandaro. The colonial lakeside town is peppered with white stucco house trimmed with wrought-iron balconies and red-tile roofs. The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotels forested setting or visit the nearby town. Hotel Avandaro Spa Resort or similar (B, L, D) Thursday, February 8 Valle de Bravo / Mexico City After breakfast enjoy short hike to a nearby waterfall. Transfer to Mexico City. Tonight, gather for a festive farewell dinner. Hotel Stara Hamburgo (B,L,D) Friday, February 9 Return to U.S. Transfer to the international airport for flights home or continue to Puerto Vallarta to see the humpback whales. (B)

4 Study leader Alfonso Alonso Department Chair and Aramont Professor of the History of Science Alfonso Alonso is a conservation biologist whose interest in nature commenced early in his life as he traveled with his parents to different regions within Mexico, his country of origin. In college he studied the ecology and conservation of monarch butterflies as they overwinter in Mexico and he continued researching this endangered phenomenon for his Masters and PhD degrees at the University of Florida. Alfonso is passionate about how species of plants and animals are distributed in different ecosystems and looking for ways to assure their persistence. In his current position as managing director for field programs with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Alfonso develops assessment and monitoring programs to minimize impacts on biodiversity during oil and gas mega-infrastructure projects. Alfonso enjoys giving lectures and working with people, and has traveled extensively in North, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Optional Post-Trip Extension Puerto Vallarta Humpback Whale Extension February 9-12, 2018 This optional extension begins with a flight to the Pacific coast city of Puerto Vallarta. Enjoy a city tour of its charming cobble stoned streets, market and boardwalk as well as lovely vistas of the bay. Embark on a boat excursion on Banderas Bay to the breeding and calving grounds for humpback whales. Here you will have ample opportunities to look for marine mammals and humpbacks that frequent this area. Next, depart for the Marietas Islands, a wildlife sanctuary where flocks of booby birds and frigate birds nest. Explore the surrounding beach and snorkel in the warm waters. Enjoy a special sunset excursion with the humpbacks. This extension includes two days whale watching excursions with hydrophone, snorkel gear and lifejackets, a naturalist bilingual guide, three-night s accommodations at the Westin Regina Hotel, (taxes included), welcome cocktail, 3 buffet breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 box lunch and 2 dinners, sodas and beers with meals, water and juices on excursions, entrances fees, transfers and tip to guides and drivers. Airfare from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta is not included. upcoming HMSC trips CHILE: EARTH & SKY WILD AFRICA MOROCCO OCT 15 26, 2017 MAY 14 28, 2018 OCT 2018 DAVID AGUILAR JONATHAN LOSOS SOUTHERN ULTIMATE TANZANIA MONGOLIA AFRICA ODYSSEY SAFARI: EXPLORING MAY 27 JUN 8, 2018 OCT 18 NOV 4, 2018 THE CRADLE OF MARK VAN BAALEN JAMES HENCKEN HUMANKIND EXPEDITION TO ETHIOPIA NOV 4 18, 2017 GREENLAND & OCT 24 NOV 10, 2018 JAMES COSTA THE ARCTIC CIRCLE DANIEL LIEBERMAN BAJA CALIFORNIA ON AKADEMIK AND THE SEA OF SERGEY VAVILOV CORTEZ: AMONG AUG 1 12, 2018 THE GREAT WHALES JAMES MCCARTHY MAR 10 17, 2018 DAVID AGUILAR for more information please visit hmsc.harvard.edu/travel or call

5 ACCOMMODATIONS STARA HAMBURGO, MEXICO CITY Part colonial Spanish townhouse and part modern retreat, Stara Hamburgo promises a luxury stay immersed in Mexico City culture. Step inside this boutique hotel and you ll find a stylish setting that celebrates the best of contemporary design. The hotel is in the La Juárez district known for its grand French-style townhouses, artisan markets, art galleries and up-and-coming restaurants. The hotel s facilities include a bar, garden roof-top restaurant, a fitness center, business center, sauna, library, garden restaurant, and wi-fi. POSADA DON BRUNO, ANGANGUEO A simple rustic hotel appropriate for the surroundings with a lovely inner courtyard garden. Balconies overlook the garden and red-tile roofs of the small mountain village of Angangueo. Amenities are limited, but enormous charm and authenticity are the rule. Space heaters are provided in each room. Wi-fi is available. AVÁNDARO GOLF AND SPA RESORT, VALLE DE BRAVO In a forested setting, this elegant resort hotel is approximately one mile from Valle de Bravo lake. Rooms feature flat-screen TVs and fireplaces, and room service is available. Amenities include an elegant restaurant with open-air dining, a spa with a sauna, a whirlpool and a waterfall, plus a gym, a heated outdoor pool and wi-fi. There are also tennis courts plus an 18- hole golf course. Chincua Angangueo El Rosario Sanctuary Valle de Bravo Toluca Mexico Mexico City Land PROGRAM COST (per person) Double occupancy $3,495 SINGLE occupancy $4,120* (Subject to availability, first-come, first-served) *If you request to share a twin room, we will attempt to find a roommate for you. However, if at the time of final payment no roommate is available, a single occupancy rate will be charged. SAMPLE COACH AIRFARE FROM BOSTON TO MEXICO CITY $350** (**As of April 2017 and subject to change) OPTIONAL POST-TRIP WHALE WATCHING EXTENSION TO Puerto VALLARTA Double occupancy $1,735 Single occupancy $2,200 The price quoted is based upon a minimum of 10 passengers participating on the extension. Roundtrip airfare from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta is at an additional cost. See sample airfare below. ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE FROM MEXICO CITY TO PUERTO VALLARTA $170** (**As of April 2017 and subject to change) Royal Adventures will reserve this flight for passengers on the extension and bill you for it separately.

6 TERMS AND CONDITIONS PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS: Study leader s lectures and discussions Accommodations and meals as specified in the itinerary Professional tour director throughout program Bottled water on excursions and in bus Water at group meals Wine or beer with welcome and farewell meals Transportation via private motor coach Airport transfers and baggage handling for participants on recommended flight Guided field trips, excursions and tours and entrance fees Baggage handling Gratuities to tour director, guides, porters, restaurant staff, and service charges and taxes Pre-departure information $200,000 emergency medical assistance and evacuation insurance. PROGRAM COST EXCLUSIONS: International flights to and from Mexico City (and from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta for the optional extension) Passport and visa fees Meals not specified in the itinerary Room service Airport departure taxes Liquor Personal items such as laundry fax and phone calls excess baggage charges, travel insurance, meals not indicated, individual transfers Medical expenses Personal and travel insurance Optional extensions or deviations are not included. PROGRAM SIZE: This tour, (exclusively developed for Harvard Alumni Travels), is limited to 22 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The minimum group size is 12. Should the minimum not be met, we reserve the right to cancel the program, levy a small group surcharge, and/or send the program without a Harvard study leader. RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS, AND FINAL PAYMENT: To reserve a space on this tour, a $1,000 deposit per person is required plus $200 per person for the Puerto Vallarta whale watching extension, if applicable. Please either call us at or or fill out and mail or fax the registration form (to ). Reservations are acknowledged in order of receipt until the maximum enrollment has been reached. Deposits may be made by check, payable to Harvard Alumni Travels, or with a major credit card. Final payment, payable by check, is due November 6, 2017 and must be paid by check. Royal Adventures handles all bookings, ticketing, and invoicing. CST # CHANGES IN ITINERARY, PROGRAM, STAFFING, AND COSTS: The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of Harvard Alumni Travels and the tour operator. We reserve the right to change a program s dates, staff (including study leader), itineraries, or accommodations as conditions warrant. Harvard Alumni Travels reserves the right to cancel the program, levy a small group surcharge, and/or send the program without a study leader. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Refunds less a cancellation fee of $500 per person are made if we are notified in writing on or before November 6, No refunds are made after that date. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations or other trip features. INSURANCE: We highly recommend that participants purchase trip cancellation insurance. An application for trip insurance will be sent upon confirmation. The pre-existing medical conditions exclusion is waived if the insurance is purchased within 21 days of initial deposit. Neither Harvard Alumni Travels nor Royal Adventures accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. As a service to our travelers we automatically provide emergency medical evacuation insurance. You will receive detailed coverage approximately 30 days prior to your departure. RESPONSIBILITY: Certain other provisions apply regarding limitations of liability and rights of Harvard Alumni Travels and the tour operator. The statement of responsibility is available in the Terms & Conditions document at butterfly-kingdom-highland-mexico or call (617) As part of the consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release. QUESTIONS: Please call Harvard Alumni Travels at or , or us at hmsctravel@hmsc.harvard.edu please trim here and return reservation form The Butterfly Kingdom of Highland Mexico February 4 9, 2018 RESERVATION FORM name (as on passport) Name (as on passport) Date of Birth Date of Birth Address City State Zip Phone: (Home) (office) (fax) Enclosed is a check for ($1,000 deposit per person plus $200 per person for the Puerto Vallarta whale watching post-trip extension, if applicable) payable to Harvard Alumni Travels to hold places on the The Butterfly Kingdom of Highland Mexico program. OR Please charge my charge my $ to: AMEX Visa MasterCard Card number Expiration date CVV Name as it appears on the card I wish to have a single accommodation OR I will share accommodations with: I/We wish to join the optional Puerto Vallarta whale watching post-trip extension at an additional deposit of $200 per person. please make round-trip flight arrangements to Mexico City. I/We confirm that I/We have carefully read the Terms and Conditions including the Responsibility section of this brochure and agree to their terms. SIGNATURE SIGNATURE Please return this form with deposit to the address at the top right of this page or fax it to QUESTIONS? Please call us at or hmsctravel@hmsc.harvard.edu. HMSC Membership Harvard Museum of Science & Culture 26 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA phone: fax: A forum for thoughtful and informed exchange of ideas, the museum depends on membership to support its activities and its outreach to communities in Cambridge and beyond. I am currently a member of the HMNH or HMSC I would like to become a member at the following level: $35 Senior/Student $50 Individual $85 Household $125 Supporting $250 Sustaining $500 Patron Please enclose a separate check made out to Harvard University/HMSC for membership. Thank you. DATE DATE

7 WHAT TO EXPECT Travel Program 124 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA phone: or FAX: travel.hmsc.harvard.edu The Butterfly Kingdom of Highland Mexico February 4 9, 2018 with study leader Alfonso Alonso This exclusive expedition is designed for HMSC members and friends who are interested in the migration of the monarch butterfly and the natural and cultural heritage of Mexico. This is an active program that is at times physically demanding and busy. Daily programs involve one to two miles of walking, often on uneven terrain or in parks or nature preserves where paths can be slippery or rocky and may involve ascents or descents on steep hills. Roads and pathways can be dusty at times. The town of Angangueo is located at 8,064 feet above sea level. At the Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary passengers need to climb paved stairways and uneven terrain to reach the butterfly habitat. Horses will be available to ride (at an easy pace) in the Chincua Sanctuary. Horse trails can be narrow and rugged. The maximum rider weight each horse can carry is 260 pounds. At the butterfly sanctuaries altitudes reach between 10,300 to 10,660 feet above sea level. Mexico City is at an altitude of 7,400 feet above sea level. Temperatures in Angangueo average 65º F during the day dropping to the 30 s at night. Be prepared with warm, windproof clothing to wear while in the mountainous areas. For the extension, Puerto Vallarta temperatures vary from an average of 80 º F during the day to 62º F in the evening. Travel is by motorcoach and jet plane and small boats for the extension. Accommodations are at a five-star hotel in Mexico City, a simple but pleasant hotel in Angangueo, and five-star resort hotel in Valle de Bravo. Highlights Enhance your experience with lectures and discussions from Dr. ALFONSO ALONSO, an expert on the monarch butterfly and Dr. Leeanne Alonso, a conservation biologist working with Global Wildlife Conservation. Travel to the pristine central highlands of Mexico to witness the amazing migration of 300 million butterflies. Travel on horseback and foot surrounded by towering fir trees which offer roosting sites for millions of bright orange and black monarchs that cluster and rest during their winter period. Visit the colonial town of Valle de Bravo and the nearby Avandaro Waterfalls. Explore the El Rosario and Sierra Chincua Sanctuaries located within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. for more information please visit hmsc.harvard.edu/travel or call