Each year, from mid-June to early August, Tlaxcala’s fireflies offer an incredible light show, as they embark on a quest to find the perfect mating partner. The privilege of being able to form part of it, surrounded by them, in the middle of the forest, will give you goose bumps; those that only nature’s wonders can give. A magical experience you’ll never forget…
We booked the tour and accommodation with Piedra Canteada, one of the eco-hotels available in Tlaxcala’s Firefly Sanctuary; the best option according to our research. And it didn’t disappoint. The cabins are simple and rustic, with a fireplace to light up at night, and the surroundings are beautiful. They even have a protected area with lots of deer, which you can see with some luck and help from the park guides.
Arrive between 5-6pm. They close the access around 7, because fireflies get easily spooked with light, especially bright car one’s.
The experience
All of us were asked to gather at 8:00pm sharp under the white tent, next to the restaurant. There, we got divided into several groups.
Choose yours well, because this will determine the whole experience… You want a fast looking one that will get you to the end of the path early, so that you can see the real splendor of the fireflies’ mating ritual –a small gap that only lasts 20-30 minutes, from 8:30 to 9:00 approximately.
Dance for Tláloc, god of the rain, to have just enough rain for more fireflies to come out, but not too much to get drenched.
The minute the sun sets and it gets dark, you’ll start noticing small sparse twinkling lights. As time goes by, many more will make an appearance, until you find yourself surrounded in bright yellow spots.
When you reach the top, take a moment to absorb the beauty of this spectacle, from the smell of wet forest to the rhythm of the fireflies’ dance…
Useful information
When: every year, from mid-June to early August.
Best views: mid-July. Go during the week or on Sundays when there’s less people.
Where: drive two hours from Mexico City to Nanacamilpa, Tlaxcala. From there, make your way up to the eco-touristic park of Piedra Canteada. People with green vests will give you directions along the way.
Reservation: write to [email protected] or call 01 (748) 766 0889, 01 (748) 766 1559, (045) 222 324 7397. www.piedracanteada.com.mx
How much: $1,750mxn per night, per 4-person cabin (there are cabins for 2 to 6 people) + $100mxn tour fee per person (this includes the guide, a hot beverage and a sweet bread).
If you don’t stay there, the tour fee is $200mxn per person. For those more adventurous, there’s also a camping site.
Payment: you’ll be asked to deposit half the amount to their bank account and pay the rest in cash at your arrival. There’s no signal there, so you can’t use your credit cards.
Tip: make your reservation two months ahead, because they only have 17 cabins and they fill quickly. And for your safety, do stay here. The experience ends at 10pm, and we wouldn’t recommend driving at night.
Accommodation warning: our cabin didn’t have hot water, which was quite unfortunate. When you make your reservation, ask for the nearest cabin to the boiler.
What to wear: fireflies choose this time of year to mate, because of the rain, so take a pair of waterproof boots, a raincoat (no umbrellas allowed) and something thick underneath to keep you warm.
Photography: to prevent people from using their flash by accident, cameras are usually not allowed. Besides, unless you have a tripod with you and set your camera to long exposure (we mostly used the ‘bulb’ mode), your photos will come out completely dark.
Basic rules:
- If you want to protect yourself from mosquito bites (they will attack all night), wear natural repellents. The chemicals found in others can kill the fireflies.
- Complete silence is required.
- Turn off your cell phone, because the light from the display disturbs the fireflies. Plus, you won’t have signal anyway.
