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Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour
4.6
64 Ratings
Monteverde
Discover Costa Rica's bugs and butterflies with passionate guides. Explore unique gardens, see caterpillars transform, and enjoy unlimited visits during your stay.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Monteverde Butterfly Garden (Jardin de Mariposas) - Here at the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, we have been teaching people about Costa Rica’s insects and arachnids for over 30 years. We have made it our mission to change the way people think about these small, misunderstood creatures. This may seem like a daunting task, but our bugs and tour guides can win over even the most skeptical visitor! With up to 30 species of butterfly in 4 different habitats, over 20 species of live insects and arachnids in our nature center, an active leaf-cutter ant colony and the best guides in the business, we truly have something for everyone!
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Photo opportunities
What's Not Included
- Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information
Our tours are a little over an hour in length, and include the following: An introduction to Costa Rica bugs, and an orientation to the Gardens An up-close experience with a variety of insects and arachnids A look at our rearing chamber, where caterpillars are becoming butterflies A stroll through our 3 unique gardens, full of spectacular butterflies. The most valuable part of every admission to the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens is a tour with one of our dedicated and passionate guides. Available in English or Spanish our tours will take you through each section of the insectarium and gardens. With our guide at your side, you will see and learn far more than you ever would by yourself. Our guides love bugs! Our guide will provide lots of interesting information as the tour progresses. Once the tour is over, you are welcome to continue exploring on your own for as long as you’d like. Pay your entry once and keep coming back as long as you are in Monteverde!
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Location
Monteverde Butterfly Gardens
Cerro Plano, 20 minute walk or short cab ride from downtown Santa Elena
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(64 Ratings)
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Emmp2013
Apr 13, 2024
Great place! - Really enjoyed the butterfly garden. The tour was informative and enjoyable; there was plenty to see across a the initial room (tarantulas, scorpions, a cute cockroach) and the four butterfly gardens. We could enjoy morphos close by to our hearts’ content, as well as several other species.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emmett
Apr 12, 2024
Best butterfly experience of our trip - Not just butterflies! Tour guide walked us through scorpions, stick bugs, tarantulas and more, great overview of bugs in Costa Rica
They have multiple small butterfly exhibits, you will get much closer to butterflies here than you do in the large houses. Wide variety of butterflies, great 1.5 hour experience right near town
Be aware that the road in has some unpaved bits, and is quite steep
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T5954onedwards
May 20, 2023
A must-see! - Absolutely loved it here! So many beautiful things to see. We took a guided tour with Emmy who was absolutely fantastic, gave us lots of information not just about butterflies, but lots of other insects too. She passed around some examples of the insects exhibited, some living, some not, and we were able to hold them. We were shown around the different butterfly houses, saw many wonderful butterflies. Tour not compulsory but highly recommended. Lovely gift shop on site and very reasonable admission. Great activity for kids.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeselistewart
Jan 26, 2023
Best tour I did in Costa Rica - I don't think I've ever left a Tripadvisor review before but this place earned it. Guides are extremely informative, enthusiastic and generous with their time. The locals running the place are super chill and nice also. Easily the best tour I've done in years
Emmy was my guide and did a fantastic job
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bradziker1
Jun 12, 2022
Super interesting - An informative lecture from a very animated British lecturer on insects. She was super funny, and passionate, and handled all the big bugs like she was their personal friend. We walked into several butterfly enclosures and got great pictures up close. There were not as many butterflies as I would have expected, but it was definitely worth a visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cynthiapt4707wp
Jan 13, 2022
Excellent butterfly and insect garden! - This was a remarkable visit with an excellent guide. We saw dozens of butterflies in three different environments and many fascinating insects, which we were permitted to handle and photograph up close. I would highly recommend this garden which is far superior to other local butterfly gardens. The staff there also shared with us a detailed map of other special places to visit nearby. So helpful!!,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julianaxloaiza
Dec 21, 2021
beautiful place - so many butterflies! definitely join a guided tour for this place, they explain how the place works. there are bugs and beetles in the beginning of the tour that you learn about and can even hold! depending on the season, you will see different butterflies, but they have habitats for all sorts of butterflies!! recommend for visitors of any age :) plus, across the street is a great pizza place with an amazing view.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J1340vjolivierc
May 7, 2024
Fun quick activity - This was a fun quick activity in Monteverde. Expect to start your tour seeing insects / scorpions / tarentulas (all in aquarium).
The guides are all passionate students doing a 10 weeks internship.
Since the butterflies are all in closed gardens, you are guaranteed to see them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chuckhh2014
May 15, 2023
Fun with bugs - This was an interesting departure from the adventure activities offered around Monteverde. Driving up and down the hill to the parking area was interesting, especially in the rain. Our guide, Max, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. All of the staff was friendly and helpful. The lobby was a nice place to wait out the pouring rain or just chill out. The butterflies are most active in the morning so an early tour is best.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hélène
Apr 19, 2024
Mixed interest - A little disappointing because few varieties of butterflies in the greenhouses. The guides give good explanations about insects. The 4 greenhouses can be visited in barely an hour. We did the tour twice
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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