Butterfly Conservatory, El Castillo-Arenal
Who visits us?
Butterfly Conservatory is a Nature Regeneration Project dedicated to the preservation, growth, and study of the rainforest; with a focus on butterflies and other tropical Rainforest species of the Arenal region in Costa Rica. The Project is a Learning Center for understanding the butterfly life-cycle and incredible metamorphosis experience, and now contains the largest exhibition of butterflies in Costa Rica.
What to do here?
Our famous Guide-Assisted Metamorphosis Tour offers a practical educational adventure about nature, with diversified exhibits of how butterflies, frogs, insects, and plants are reproduced in a rainforest environment. Nature enthusiasts of all ages enjoy our interactive educational Tour. You will see a live demonstration of the Butterfly Life Cycle and our Insect Museum, the largest collection of tropical insects in Costa Rica. Visitors will also enjoy seeing Nature in the process of being recreated, when walking our various trails through the rain forest and seeing the largest Butterfly Exhibition in Costa Rica. We also have a Habitat for Frogs, Turtles, and other Anfibians of the Arenal area., and want to take photos of the great views of the Arenal Volcano and Lake.
Top 3 reasons to visit
- See the largest Exhibition of Butterflies in Costa Rica
- Be surprised by the incredible insects found in our Insect Museum
- Enjoy seeing and learning about exotic rain forest Frogs, Turtles, and other Amphibians
Our Story
Butterfly Conservatory, El Castillo-Arenal
The Butterfly Conservatory participates in the Awareness of Nature, by educating visitors about butterflies, frogs, plants, and other native biodiversity suffering a decline in their natural habitats. We believe that sustainable management of our resources and our economy are possible, and that the first step is awareness and commitment to making a difference in the future of the planet. Widespread deforestation is continuing to take place around the world and is causing a large part of the climactic problems that we are experiencing globally as temperatures and CO2 concentrations rise to alarming levels. Additionally, many species of amphibian and insect populations are becoming endangered as their habitats disappear. In Costa Rica everyone wants to experience the rich biodiversity in the rainforests, but these habitats have been diminishing due to overdevelopment and careless land management. Extinction is forever, but sustainable resource development provides a lifeline to the future. Forests left intact or regenerated, absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide and is vital to replacing what has been lost, and to preserve what remains. The tropical rainforest has immense biodiversity and our vision at the Butterfly Conservatory is to expand and maintain this demonstration project as an educational resource in Costa Rica to show what can be done in just a short period of time to regenerate previously cut rainforest. We hope to return as much of the Conservatory as possible to healthy second-growth forest for the sustainability of a healthy biodiversity that people can visit and appreciate for years to come. Our goal at the Butterfly Conservatory is to “think globally and act locally” providing solutions through sustainable tourism by educating visitors, which also benefits the local community by motivating local ranchers and townspeople about how to best preserve and regenerate the forest’s biological diversity. There is clear evidence that planting and regenerating forests contribute to healthier air and water quality, and even small measures can make large differences in the atmosphere and health of the region and its inhabitants.
Experience a practical educational experience about nature, with diversified exhibits of how butterflies, frogs, insects, and plants flourish in this natural environment. Six large atrium habitats provide representation of the plants, trees, butterflies, and frogs that live within the four distinct ecological areas that surrounds Lake Arenal. You will also see our laboratories, reproduction greenhouses, the exotic frog habit, host plant gardens and nurseries exhibition. For more adventure, take the Rainforest River Walk along Quebrada Mariposa, the creek running through the primary forest on the property, where it’s often possible to spot animals such as sloth’s, tayra’s and monkeys; or toucans and parrots. Or, just take time to reflect on the hummingbirds around the Volcano View Gazebo, that overlook the botanical gardens, with views to the Arenal lake and volcano beyond.