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 a Nature Regeneration Project committed to the conservation, development, and research of the rainforest, with a special emphasis on butterflies and other tropical rainforest species in the Arenal region of Costa Rica.
    This Project serves as an educational center for learning about the…
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 the renowned Guide-Assisted Tour, participants will be immersed in a world of butterflies as they explore four expansive Butterfly Exhibition Habitats. This includes a Live Demonstration of the Butterfly Life-Cycle and the Incredible Metamorphosis, along with many other fascinating sights.
The Conservatory is a Forest Creation Project showcasing…

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
(88 Ratings)
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327vickieb
Jan 24, 2026
Learned a lot - This was a great experience. The staff and volunteer was very knowledgeable and helpful. After we went through the butterfly and frog section me and my friend took the 25 minute hike through forest. If you have bad knees I would opt for the shorter hike. We saw an iguana by the bridge which was cool.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Klaus_ksc
Jan 20, 2026
Worth a visit! - We really liked the Butterfly Conservatory in Arenal. There was a lot of information about the insect world, especially butterflies.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bikerbarb
Dec 7, 2025
Beautiful butterflies and good education. - Enjoyed the tour. Volunteer Dave did a great job showing us around and explaining life cycle and the different species of butterflies and frogs. We watched frogs eat a roach! Listened to howler monkeys the entire hour and watched them up in the trees. Very nice farm. Great education for all.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeanaustria
Nov 17, 2025
A piece of Paradise in El Cadtillo - An amazing experience in a piece of Costa Rica paradise.It was lovely to be welcomed by the American owner and he gave a great introduction to his life work. The volunteer guide did a great job of showing us around the butterfly houses and explaining their habits. Not only are there butterflies but frogs too. Gorgeous riverside walk and stunning views out over Lake Arenal and the volcano. For many in my group it was definitely the highlight of their Costa Rica stay. Thank you Glen and your amazing team of volunteer guides.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ronald_s
Aug 30, 2025
Your experience begins... - Your experience begins with your ride to the Conservatory. Outstanding drive and views. Once there, it is simply magnificent. Well maintained, with outstanding plants and animals as well as the incredible butterflies.
Review provided by Viator
Christine_g
Jul 24, 2025
Lovely - Lovely to see all of the different butterflies frogs. It’s crazy to see them actually land on you. Worth the drive.
Review provided by Viator
Z5083iyvaleriaa
Jun 16, 2025
A lot of biodiversity and nature!!! - A must if you are going to visit fortune, very educational and entertaining. Variety of butterflies and frogs. Excellent for reconnecting with nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y5365srstacyr
Jan 19, 2026
Don’t miss this experience - Our tour was very interesting. Our tour guide was a volunteer and very knowledgeable about all the exhibits. We saw beautiful butterflies and learned a lot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Isaac_g
Dec 2, 2025
Worth a visit if you've hit the other big highlights in the area. - This was a beautiful property. The staff were friendly and doing their best though it appears they were all recently arrived volunteers, so the depth of knowledge about the animals and Costa Rica were more limited than the professional tour guides we found at other experiences in the area. Still it was beautiful and the staff were pleasant and did appear to really enjoy the work. The back hike was nice and more natural than some others in area, and lower traffic. Personally I would recommend this experience after you've done the following, which are in the area: Arenal volcano hike Mystico hanging bridges hike / Zip Line Experience Floating raft river tour Chocolate and Coffee Tour La Fortuna Waterfall Hot Springs
Review provided by Viator
Kristyp835
Jun 15, 2025
Pretty butterflies - Nice place to get some basic butterfly knowledge. We got to see a variety of butterfly’s and a few frogs. The taxidermy butteries are way cheaper here than at the souvenir shops. We hiked the long trail. There are a lot of steep steps 12” +. I wouldn’t recommend for people with mobility issues. There is also a lot of up and down.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $30
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).