JM Butterfly B&B

Amazing B&B. Traveled with my family including children (6&7) and parents (60s) and everyone had a fantastic stay. The family was so welcoming. The B&B had all the amenities we needed. The property and surrounding area are gorgeous, felt like paradise and home at the same time. Our room was comfortable and charming but we found ourselves utilizing the grounds as much as we could and mostly just sleeping in our room. The tours the B&B runs are great, they transport you in a comfortable passenger van to the butterfly sanctuaries. They do everything they can to make sure you see the butterflies and have a good time, My kids enjoyed riding horses so much the B&B arranged for a horse ride around town and through the country on a down day for us. We loved the picnic lunches they provided for all the tours. Everyones English speaking was exceptional. We had laundry done which was quick and well done. I would say to expect a more rustic experience then being in a city, but we were very comfortable.

We had an excellent stay at the Butterfly BnB. Awesome family owned and operated business within a very small rural community in the mountains. The view is beautiful and the facilities exceeded expectations. They even had a pool! Unfortunately when we were there in early March the local butterflies had left, but they took us to another reserve to see the monarchs. What an awesome experience!

Beyond butterflies they offer many other nice opportunities for exploring the countryside and local culture as well as the abundant flora and fauna. Hope to return soon.

This was the most wonderful, relaxing, yet adventurous trip. The butterfly tours offered were indescribable. The food at the restaurant was delicious and nourishing. The hospitality is unmatched. Joel, Ana and their families treat their guests like a part of their family. I highly recommend staying here for several days. I promise you will feel energized and refreshed after your stay.

Such an amazing experience! I was here in mid-February of 2022 and loved the butterfly tour. The hotel was also lovely and they make a great margarita to enjoy on the beautiful rooftop overlooking the tiny village at the end of the day. The owner does conservation and community work year-round and tourism helps provide an alternative to logging in the region.

We also took a walk around the village and little hike up the mountain on our town the following morning before catching a bus back to Mexico City.

What an incredible place with the most friendly and helpful folks. Ran by a family, this small hotel and restaurant were extremely lovely and helpful. It’s more off the beaten path here but because that, feels way more special and less touristy than most other places. We loved our room, paid a little extra for a better view, the food was great at the restaurant too. The restaurant cooks breakfast and dinner and provides to go lunches if needed. The decor is all Monarchs and my wife really loved that.

I’ve just visited. What a magical B&B this family has built. It’s such a beautiful retreat for Monarch enthusiasts as well as for those of us who are excited to learn. The tours to see the butterflies are frequent, well planned and so much fun. And everyone on the property is so welcoming and helpful! The food at Restaurante Doña Rosa is absolutely delicious and the perfect enhancement to my experience. And Doña Rosa was so sweet and patient with me during my mole verde cooking class. Get to this place! You’ll love it!

No cookie-cutter mass produced here. Rooms were all unique, comfortable, relaxing but not high-technology. The location allowed for multiple potential colonies of butterflies which allowed guides to maximize your experience and ensure a viewing. Service needs to have a couple more stars. Your routine care and feeding was met effectively and efficiently but where they really shined was when challenges arose. I had a medical problem that Ana and Antonio always had an answer for and put in extra hours to ensure I not only survived, but thrived in their care. Fulfilled one of my bucket-list items that could have bend scratched due to my condition. Thanks, one and all.

I recently took a week's trip to see the monarchs in Michoacan, something I've been planning for years. When I learned about the majestic monarch migration to Mexico I knew immediately that that would be my next vacation. I researched the trip and came across this bnb. The reviews were all excellent and the way they mentioned cerro pelon being the most pristine of the sanctuaries helped me decide on staying here for my planned trip. I'm a solo traveler and have school Spanish which enabled me to travel to macheros easily. If you don't speak Spanish you might have a harder time getting there but once you arrive there are many staff that speak English. During my stay I we went to three monarch sanctuaries which were all amazing in their own way. I recommend visiting at least two so you can experience their unique wonder. During the trip to the sanctuaries I got to know Joel and his family members and met some of the most interesting, intelligent, compassionate people that share the common interest of butterflies. It was fascinating getting to see the local towns and culture in Michoacan on the way to the sanctuaries. And the sanctuaries themselves are of course breathtaking beyond words. The journey is truly a pilgrimage and watching the butterflies fly and cling to the trees by the thousands is such a surreal, special experience. I'm so glad I made this trip and chose to stay at cerro pelon BNB. I highly recommend staying here during your monarch journey.

The Cerro Pelon Butterfly B&B (formerly the JM Butterfly B&B) is a unique place with a special charm. It is a family business, and i mean the whole family! From mother to son to sister to cousin. The facility is wonderful - comfortable beds, warm blankets, cozy fires, bright furnishings. I never had a problem with internet or hot water - a luxury in rural Mexico. The tours are incredible - Joel works with the community and modifies the tours based on where the butterflies go every year (they are wild animals, after all). No matter where the butterflies are, you will enjoy the private, quiet experience on Cerro Pelon. If you want to see the butterflies AND support the rural communities that care for their winter habitat, come stay at the Cerro Pelon Butterfly B&B. It will be the trip of a lifetime.

Edit: Forgot to mention below, there is STARLINK high speed internet. Such a game changer!!!!! We were able to edit and upload our photos with ease!

We had such a great time with Joel and his family at the Cerro Pelon Butterfly B&B. They were all so generous with their time and attention. Hot water, warm fire, nice beds with great blankets. Just what we needed after traveling so far! The other guests were great, all English speaking. The vibe was hygge as the Danish call it.

We stayed 4 nights (arriving late the first night and relaxing). Joel took us on two tours where we saw thousands of butterflies even this early in the season (Nov 25,2023).

We hiked the mountain trails next to the B&B with hummingbirds, wild mushrooms, turkeys, and other wildlife. The family dogs even followed us to keep an eye on us =)

I recommend you stay an extra day! We took a day to recover and relax at the B&B before heading back to the city.

Tip: We ate Moms vegetable soup in the restaurant at every meal. Talk about garden to table!

This truly a hidden gym, we will be back for sure.

Gracias Joel y Familia!

I recently went on a tour organized by the bnb to see the monarchs in Cerro Pelón reserve and absolutely loved it. The guides were knowledgeable and it was clear they were very passionate about the butterflies. A truly memorable day!

We ultimately weren't able to see the butterflies on this trip but wanted to leave a review for Melissa's superb communication and information. Hope to join them on a future trip!

We stayed 2 nights just to see this reserve. This was our favorite reserve because there were no crowds and no rush with the butterflies The cost of getting to the top of the mountain is a little more than the other reserves, but so is the amount of effort. The education, and work they do to upkeep there reserve is nice There is a significant elevation change to get up to the butterflies; which will make you grateful for the guide assisted horse. We loved connecting with the other visitors on the rooftop watching an amazing sunset and star gazing. It was the only place we stayed in the area where visitors were all English speaking. Beautiful grounds and I loved the hummingbirds.

We had a really wonderful stay here over the last few days. Although we were towards the start of the butterfly season (late November), the tour couldn’t have been any better. The weather was great and we saw more butterflies than we could have imagined! The mountain scenery is great too. Highly recommended and Joel is a great host.

cerro pelon bnb is a beautiful property with amazing vistas, very comfortable beds and cute rooms, and great hospitality. our group of twelve really enjoyed our stay

Absolutely magical. To be in rural Mexico with crowing roosters and bellowing cows...to be awe inspired by skies so full of stars...to enjoy the sweet resident dogs...to sit with other intrepid travelers in a big circle outside at the close of the day and share stories....
I simply cannot say how special it is. Joel and his family have a wonderful oasis; a beautiful compound decorated authentically Mexican, clean beyond belief, complete with rooftop terrace for spectacular sunsets. The restaurant on site is run by the female members of the family and welcomes you with a blazing fire. There is an honor bar in the main house with decent wines.
The butterfly tours and classes offered will keep you busy. I chose the Cerro Pelon tour for it's privacy as this was somewhat of a spiritual pilgrimage for me and the beautiful young woman who would been my daughter in-law. It is an amazing climb on horseback up the mountain. Each horse is led by it's handler; I don't know if I'm more impressed with the strength of the horses or the handlers who trek up the mountain! There are no words to describe the majesty of the pristine environment and the monarchs that grace your presence...you simply must experience it yourself.
Bring warm clothes, plenty of small pesos for tips as there is no commerce in the town, and if you love dogs, dog treats for the ubiquitous pups that will make you smile.
Thank you Joel and family for doing what you do so us lucky few who stay with you have an unforgettable experience!

I recently spent 3 nights at the B&B and can not speak highly enough of the experience. The two mountaintop excursions to the butterflies were the draw, but the setting was a dream - wonderful staff, beautiful views, clean and comfortable space, and delicious food. There was nothing better than a return from the mountain, a warm solar-heated shower to wash away the dust, and then to simply sit in the garden and watch the hummingbirds buzz around the flowers. Thank you, Joel and Ana and family, for all you do for both the butterflies and your guests!

Tremendous experience in a peaceful, comfortable and very welcoming B&B. Our 3 day visit is our strongest memory from our trip to Mexico City surrounds. CP Butterfly handled all the arrangements. They answered our preplanning quickly via email. We journeyed by horseback to see the butterflies, and we were very glad we did. It is a steep climb. Each horse had a guide. The Cerro Pelon trail is not heavily traveled so we had plenty of time to look around, enjoy the view, be informed about the flowers and tree that make this the perfect place for butterfly migration. Mind-blowing butterflies. In the evening, we joined guests and Joel in a drink, before a delicious dinner, to watch the sunset from the rooftop; I prefer Mexican produced wine, and my husband was ecstatic about the Hibiscus Mescalito. Our experience was deepened by 2 other tours: the cottage industry tour, and the avocado tour. These had a profound impact on us, we really appreciated these tours. I could have stayed longer!!!

An absolute gem of a place to stay! I went to see the butterflies with my mom and sister and by the time our trip was coming to an end we did not want to leave Cerro Pelon B&B. Joel, Ana, Vicente and the rest of the family are incredible hosts and we immediately felt welcomed (especially by the friendly pups!). We did two butterfly tours while we were there - El Rosario and Cerro Pelon. Both were absolutely amazing and it was so special to be surrounded by the butterflies in their habitat. We were lucky enough to see them in clusters on the trees and also flying around. The tours include lunch, a tour guide, horse handler (make sure to bring pesos to tip), and transportation which makes it very easy to experience the magic of the butterflies. The rooms we stayed in were beautifully decorated with Pato's art and very comfortable. There were plenty of blankets to keep us warm throughout the night and having our own bathroom and a hot shower after the tours was a very nice treat. The restaurant has a great selection of food and we enjoyed all of our meals. The enchiladas were some of the best I've ever had. The rooftop is set up to encourage a social setting, so make sure you don't miss out on sunsets on the rooftop with a glass of wine and a bowl of fresh guacamole! It's a great chance to meet new friends that are fellow butterfly and nature lovers. The views of the mountains and night sky (and let's be honest...those enchiladas) has me dreaming of coming back! Also, always make sure to say yes if someone brings the tequila out. The people you will meet are just as beautiful and unforgettable as the butterflies :)

We took a family trip to Cerro Pelon Butterfly B&B in early February, 2023 and it could not have been a better experience. Joel and Ana's hospitality is outstanding. The B&B is clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated. The trips into the sanctuaries to see the monarchs (we did three) were unbelievable. Don't miss the optional tours of the home-based businesses in the town (Macheros), and of an avocado grove where the challenges of the avocado business are discussed while enjoying some superb guacamole. This is one of those reviews that I hesitate to post, because I know it will make it harder for me to book a room next time we go back, and we will be back!!