butterfly conservatory

556jena

We were staying at Rancho Margot and the conservatory was not far at all. It is very interesting and the volunteer tour guides are super enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the butterflies and reptiles there. Well worth the visit.

148SusanS148

Loved everything about our tour. Very knowledgeable guides, many beautiful butterflies, and the frogs were special. The place is run with volunteer help who are specialist in there field or trained by there cohorts. The place is Very special. Definitely a Must See!

bbeerbower

The road to Castillo is challenging. The road is terrible but is worth the hour it takes avoiding pot holes to see this amazing place. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. We learned so much about the rainforest habitat and plant life as well as seeing the most amazing butterflies and frogs. Castillo is a quaint little hamlet and off the beaten trail. The people who run this conservatory were very informative and friendly.

wendysH9701NE

Live Frogs, flower garden and exotic insect specimens. The tour was excellent and we learned so much about the area.

808Rich_P

The best part was the knowledge of the assistants and of course the butterflies themselves. they had many tented structures full of different butterflies and frogs. We spent about 3 hours touring/hiking the place and enjoyed it thoroughly.

D9455GYrichardt

we were there today and had a great time. we got a short introduction from glenn the owner of the house not only about the importance the conservatory for the region but also a bit about the history and developement of the region before and after the break out of the volcano.inside the conservatory there are several butterfly houses where the butterflies (small and big) around and you can watch them really close. guides are all around so you get useful information on the way. the walks there are very nice too. we were also at the snake house nearby and we would recommend the butterfly house over the sanke house if you have to choose!thank you!

DominickMagnotta

Not only is this place home to some of the most amazing nature my girlfriend and I have ever seen, but the work the do is truly noble. This place is a conservatory, obsevatory, and small nature reserve. The money they make goes to research and the work they do for butterflies and frogs is great. Super informative and such a treat to see. Plus, they have a little 1/2 Km long trail in the back that's really nice to explore.

DaisyG209

The conservatory is a gem! Very educational and fun. We learned lots of facts about butterflies and the species specific to Costa Rica. Each conservatory is considered a guided tour - each led by a very enthusiastic tour guide. The tour guides we had all speak perfect English: they all moved there from the States!! The three butterfly conservatories each housed different kinds of butterfly, based on habitats. Plenty of butterflies in each room - colorful, plentiful, mesmerizing! The frogs conservatory was a lot of fun but we felt REALLY rushed there. The guide literally went through all the species in about five minutes and ushered us out for the rainforest walk. I actually would have preferred to be left alone in the conservatory and spent some time looking at the frogs! The walk through the rainforest was relaxing. We saw a few howler monkeys in the trees along the way. It's a pretty easy walk for about an hour, and hardly a strenuous hike, so it is suitable for younger kids. All in all, a very visit!

AlisonE1980

Camilla did a great job explaining butterfly species and gave our little group plenty of time to enjoy the tour. There were 3-4 butterfly habitats with plenty of butterflies and local plants, and a separate frog habitat in cages. Their specialty is preserving, protecting and reintroducing butterflies to the wild. Before the tour we got an excellent explanation of the butterfly reproductive cycle from a staff member at the front desk. All of the staff were very knowledgable and could speak excellent English. Definitely recommend visiting if you are in El Castillo.

ClaraCT

Most of the people who work here are volunteers and they are really enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Our guide was Camilla and she was full of information and fun! There are four conservatories with different butterfly habitats and also a separate frog habitat, and all the butterflies are actually raised here. We then spent some time walking the wonderful trails which were well maintained. On a clear day there is also the bonus of a fabulous view of the volcano. Highly recommended!

yelenamarin

My husband and I visited the Butterfly Conservatory in February of 2014. We had a wonderful time! The guide was so informative and passionate about butterflies. We learned so much about the life of a butterfly. Also, seeing all of the beautiful, bright-colored butterflies flying around was an amazing experience. Tip: After visiting the Butterfly Conservatory, head over to La Mesa de Mama (you'll pass it on the way in) for a delicious, affordable meal.

GracielaR801

It was a perfect activity for our rainy day, it would have been a perfect activity for a beautiful sunny day, too. We loved it, they care for the rainforest by breeding and reintroducing all native species of butterflies. We followed the path from habitat to habitat, and then went back to every spot. Great pictures, learned a lot.

Camilla_ITA

The conservatory is made of 4 butterflyes habitat. If you love butterflies you are not going to be disappointed:they fly everywhere. Moreover there is a frog habitat. I was a volunteer in the conservatory for 2 months and I really reccomand to go to visit it. All the people that work there are moved by passion and you can see it because everything is well mantained:the trails are clean and there are animals everywhere, all the guides are full of knowlodge and funny. My suggestion is to visit it during the morning cause you can see butterflyes hutching out and you can take all the time you want to walk in the forest. If you are lucky you will see howlers monkeys, tucans and maybe anteater, surely you are going to see the massive volcano from the gazebo.

Caribbeancrazy243

Met by an Italian graduate student who spoke good English. She was very into her role with the butterflies and we learned a number of interesting facts. After you leave the enclosures there is a 20 minute hike back to the car through some amazing forest and over a beautiful river. Cost $14 USD and highly recommend.

786edwardd

The butterfly conservatory came surprisingly highly recommended by other travelers we knew, so we always planned on visiting. After visiting a small building on the side of the road with friendly English-speaking staff, you descend into the rain forest into a series of greenhouses with a variety of really incredible butterflies fluttering around. There's also some greenhouses that house the nurseries for the plants that sustain the butterfly habitats, as well as one for some frogs. The frog outbuilding was less impressive since everything - understandably - was in an aquarium. There was a limited amount of guiding and a 10 or 20 minute riverside hike that was a nice end to the visit. No wildlife apart from a lot of ants carrying leaves, but there are apparently monkeys at times (different seasons). A bit steep at $15/person, but easy to part with considering it's a non-governmental non-profit.