MEXICO CITY — The town of San Miguel El Grande and the Sanctuary of Jesús de Nazareno de Atotonilco (San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato) and the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (State of Mexico and Michoacán) were named Mexico’s 28th and 29th World Heritage Sites by UNESCO during the 32nd annual World Heritage Committee in Canada. The committee also added 13 other new sites to their World Heritage List. This year’s session, taking place between July 2nd through the 10th in Quebec, Canada, also honored both sites for their historical, cultural (current and future) and natural place in the world.
Mexico now places third in the world for their amount of World Heritage Sites, after Spain and Italy. With 29 natural and cultural, World Heritage Sites, including the Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) and the new World Wonder Chichen Itza, Mexico is proud to also include well-known archaeological icons like Teotihuacan, to colonial cities such as Oaxaca, and Puebla and natural sites including the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, the Islands of the Gulf of California, and the El Vizcaino Whale Sanctuary.
The 16th century Mexican pueblo of San Miguel de Allende is known for its Mexican baroque architecture and cobblestone streets where natural hot springs provide for relaxation and the colorful atmosphere adds to an interesting vacation. During a short walk around the center of the city one can enjoy murals and paintings by local artists at the Instituto Allende, dance to the beat of the son in El Jardin, learn how to make a meal in one of its many cooking schools, relax at one of the local SPAs or study the Baroque architecture of its famous Parroquia and colonial mansions.
The outskirts of the town provide alternative opportunities for visitors. El Santuario Hotel has a golf course and Las Aves offers temezcal treatments. The ecological reserve of El Charco del Ingenio, is a natural spring and pool nestled within canyon walls ideal for hiking, rock climbing and horseback riding. At night, San Miguel’s moonlit Jardin is the place to be. The town’s center plaza hosts locals and guests alike for old school community interaction, including dancing and listening to music or people watching.
The Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries in the State of Mexico and Michoacán, (3 hours by car from San Miguel) have also attracted major international tourists- almost 250 million monarch butterflies. Originally from southern Canada and northern United States, the orange butterfly with black highlighting veins has become famous for its annual travel to its winter getaway. While in the colonial state, the butterflies cluster together by the thousands on Oyamel trees and making the forests glow the bright orange of their windows and attracting nature lovers from around the world.
In 1986, the Mexican government declared the 100 square-mile winter retreat a biosphere reserve and several of the sanctuaries are open to the public. Thousands of butterflies cluster together in the early morning and nights, covering whole trees and branches. The best time to see the butterflies is during the months of December and January.
The butterflies leave Mexico in late February and early March in a mass migration and the monarchs should reach the central United States by mid-April. By that time, the females will have laid their eggs for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip. They return home exhausted and with tattered wings after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will make just one round trip during its lifetime.
Before the butterflies take flight, visitors can join local festivities in the towns of Angangueo, Zitacuaro, Maravatio and Ocampo where Butterfly Festivals are held each February, featuring traditional dance, music and craft markets, in celebration of their annual winter visitors.
UNESCO’s World Heritage sites are cultural, natural, or mixed landmarks that represent the rich culture of a country and deserve international recognition. After a destination is deemed a World Heritage site, a country may receive financial assistance and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites. Since 1972, UNESCO has inscribed 812 properties in 137 countries worldwide on its World Heritage List. For more information, visit http://whc.unesco.org.