Butterfly Conservatory Experience: An Insight into Costa Rican Nature and Wildlife

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Costa Rican nature and wildlife at our Butterfly Conservatory. Explore butterfly habitats, witness the butterfly life-cycle, encounter exotic frogs and turtles, and discover tropical insects and botanical gardens.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Butterfly Conservatory - Arenal - The Butterfly Conservatory is an initiative focused on the regeneration of nature, emphasizing the conservation, expansion, and research of the rainforest ecosystem, particularly highlighting butterflies and other native species of the Arenal region in Costa Rica.
    The initiative serves as an educational hub for…
What's Included
  • Natural Rainforest River Walk and other trails.
  • All-day guide-assisted tours with stationed staff.
  • Live butterfly life cycle demonstration and Insect Museum.
  • Panoramic views of Arenal Volcano and Lake.
  • Extensive exhibition of butterflies, exotic frogs, turtles, and more.
Additional Information

On our famous Guide-Assisted Tour you will experience being surrounded by butterflies while going through our four large Butterfly Exhibition Habitats, including a Live Demonstration of the Butterfly Life-Cycle and the Amazing Metamorphosis, but you see so much more on this tour.
The Conservatory is a Forest Creation Project demonstrating natural…

Location
Butterfly Conservatory
On the corner at the School El Castillo, turn left on the Cement road, and go 800 meters up the hill to the Conservatory.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(75 Ratings)
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Ashley_p
Mar 8, 2025
Tons of butterflies and... - Tons of butterflies and frogs. Our guide was amazing. You can go at your own pace and go back through the exhibits if you’d like. It was a magical day and I would do it all over again.
Review provided by Viator
Sue_s
Feb 27, 2025
Underrated attraction - This was an absolutely brilliant experience. It was educational and extremely enjoyable. The volunteers were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Review provided by Viator
Y9240sgsuzannes
Feb 2, 2025
Not to be missed experience with Butterflies and other Friends - My daughter and I walked to the Butterfly Conservatory from our hotel, Essence Arenal Hotel & Biofarm. Entrance is not free but this should not be missed. The butterflies are everywhere! We took so many great pictures. One even landed on my head! There are other "friends" to see such as frogs, turtles, insects, etc. Very educational and beautiful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beth
Jan 23, 2025
A Magical Experience with Nature’s Jewels - Visiting the butterfly conservation center was absolutely enchanting! The variety of butterflies was breathtaking, with vibrant colors and delicate wings fluttering all around us. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the life cycle, habitats, and conservation efforts for these beautiful creatures. It was amazing to see butterflies up close as they landed on flowers. The center’s dedication to protecting these species is truly inspiring. We enjoyed the jungle walk. It was so quiet and peaceful. This tour is perfect for nature lovers of all ages. Don’t miss the chance to connect with these incredible insects while supporting a vital conservation mission!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gracespillane04
Jan 15, 2025
Amazing experience with great views! - Amazing experience! Very underrated and not crowded at all. Close to La Fortuna. Huge butterfly greenhouses and frog house with awesome guide. Beautiful trails and river with amazing views. The volcano view at the end of the trails is gorgeous. There are different length trails for activity level and time. Definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luxtraveller69
Jan 14, 2025
Informative and beautiful - Great visit. I found the venue very interesting. Fab to see so many beautiful butterflies. Also learned about frogs and insects. They need to signpost the venue better. It’s off the main road signed to Arenal Observation Post and Arenal Lodge, also worth a visit, and then left at the school in El Castillo, which also needs a sign!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annika
Dec 28, 2024
Very nice - A lot of different animals like butterflies, turtles and frogs get a lot of interesting information. Very well maintained living spaces. We loved it here!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Catherinemg5319om
Mar 14, 2025
Wonderful little tour with many butterflies, frogs and turtles, in the middle of the forest. - The Butterfly Conservatory is within walking distance of the Esscence Arenal Hotel and certainly worth a visit if butterflies fascinate you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul
Jan 22, 2025
Poor value for money - Although it is lovely to see the butterflies, it was did not feel like good value for money. We arrived as a group of four at 3 pm, an hour before the official closing time. We were told there was no electricity so they would only take cash. Yet somehow the electricity for the water pumps seemed to be working, strange huh … mmm? Then having asked if we’d have enough time to complete the tour and told yes, we paid the $22 per person and wandered to the first poly tunnel to see the first batch of butterflies.. very pretty, followed by some more tunnels. After half an hour we were urged to vacate the site as we were told we needed to get out before the gates closed or we would be locked in! So basically we were ripped off! If we’d known we would only get half an hour when we arrived, at $22 per person we would have not gone into the attraction. Maybe the site should consider a reduced rate after 3pm ?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Perrouault
Dec 1, 2024
Really not great. - Really not great for the price of $22. 3 butterfly greenhouses with few species and a greenhouse with frogs, few also. All in a nice park, but frankly, very disappointed as quite a few private parks visited in Costa Rica. Frankly at the Orléans-La Source floral park in France, there is a butterfly greenhouse with lots of varieties, very beautiful, for 6€ with the visit of the park included. The price here in Costa is not justified for what there is to see. Tourists are mistaken for cash cows in this country.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $26
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).