Santuario de las Luciérnagas - The Fireflies Mating

Another little trip we took from our residence in Tlaxcala was to visit the Santuario de las Luciérnagas (Firefly Sanctuary). July is the high season in the firefly forest, as it is the mating season during the rainy season, allowing visitors to witness a spectacle of illuminated fireflies at night.

We started by taking a combi (a small public bus in Mexico) to Nanacamilpa, a small town northwest of Tlaxcala, and then a taxi to Palangana Santuario de Luciérnagas, where we would stay in a cabin and go on a night hike to see the fireflies. Just as we got into the taxi, it started raining, which was good because it meant we would see many fireflies in the evening.

The cabins are located right on the edge of the forest, they are very small and there is no electricity. But otherwise very cozy.

Unfortunately, we once again came across a donkey standing in the enclosure next to the cabins in the rain. On our car ride through the mountains to Veracruz, we also encountered horses and donkeys tied up by the roadside in the rain. :( Apparently, this is quite normal for the locals. Our tour guide also saw no problem with the donkey being outside in the rain all the time. Well, a few cuddles from us at least made the wet donkey a little happier temporarily.

During the night hike, we were a small group of about 10 people. The forest was filled with a sea of fireflies right from the first few steps. Slowly and quietly, we walked through the forest, and everyone enjoyed the impressive natural spectacle and the magical silence. Our tour guide later provided us with a lot of information about the life of fireflies and the other plants and animals in the forest, along with some myths and stories - another good Spanish lesson for me. Afterwards, we had Pan Dulce (sweet pastry) with Café de Olla (a typical Mexican coffee with orange and spices - very delicious!). However, Julio and I were also looking forward to trying Pulque (a Mexican alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant), which unfortunately couldn't be organized in the end.

Although it was the high season, we were the only ones who stayed overnight at the Santuario. We learned from the volunteer workers, a Chilean couple who have been working at the Santuario through Workaway for a month, that it is always fully booked on weekends and very crowded. I enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and planned to get up early the next day to see the sunrise behind the mountains.

Getting up early was worth it. While Julio was still in dreamland, I was able to observe the sunrise at 7 o'clock together with El Burrito (the donkey).

And of course, I had to take the opportunity to go for a run and take some beautiful nature photos being in the middle of nature so early in the morning.

During breakfast, we had the opportunity to talk to the Chilean couple about their experiences in Mexico, our travel experiences, and the plastic problems in Latin America. Unfortunately, the fast-paced Chilean Spanish eventually became too much for my head.

Back in Nanacamilpa, we strolled around the town for a bit and I had the most delicious Quesadilla since I arrived in Mexico at the Mercado. :)

Overall, I highly recommend a tour to the Santuario de las Luciérnagas in July and August - but definitely stay overnight! The night hike through the forest allows you to find inner peace, making it beautiful to spend the night there as well.