Butterfly Gardens From Around The World

Comparing Butterfly Havens In Different Regions 

Butterflies are fascinating creatures, and we never pass up an opportunity to visit a sanctuary or conservatory that houses them. As a result, we have visited several across the world and always enjoy seeing how each location highlights the different species. 

From tiny, private collections to large-scale operations, we have seen a large variety of butterflies. In this article, we will showcase many butterfly gardens that you can check out in your travels.

Highlights of Butterfly Gardens

Mariposario Nathaly, Mindo, Ecuador

During our first time in a cloud forest, in Mindo, we were introduced to this small facility that has a dedicated breeding program. Upon entering, the first thing you see is a cabinet where the crysalis are in different life cycle stages. In this tiny spot, they house more than 1000 butterflies.

The enclosed area is very lush with both an orchid garden and many different tropical plants.

We loved walking around the area, admiring the brilliant, colourful flowers and watching the butterflies flit from plant to plant. There was a water feature with a waterfall and open paths to easily navigate this oasis.

This was the first place we had the experience of a butterfly landing on our finger, and it was pretty special.

Also on site is a fabulous hummingbird display. Feeders are set up amongst a backdrop of greenery, where you can check out these amazing birds swooping and then hovering at the feeders. It is a wonderful, serene spot to engage in nature with classical music playing in the background.

✅ If you are looking for an excellent tour from Quito to the Mindo Cloud Forest, be sure to consider the private tour that we took. Our guide, Alejandro, was fantastic and shared a wonderful day in the cloud forest, and we had lots of time at the butterfly garden.

Entopia, Penang, Malyasia

This was one of the most impressive butterfly sanctuaries we have seen. It originally started as a butterfly farm, and when it opened in 1986, it was one of the first of its kind in this region. Over the years, it has evolved into a much larger facility that has educational programming and on-site breeding.

The first thing we did upon arrival was participate in a butterfly release. You are given a plastic cup with a baby butterfly enclosed inside. You lift the lid and set the butterfly free for its first flight. It was a magical moment and one we enjoyed very much.

This location is very large, with a glass enclosure that houses 15,000 butterflies of 60 different species. So you certainly have no problems seeing a lot of these flying creatures everywhere.

The area is covered with tropical plants and has numerous water features. Even though it is a large facility with two floors, it has a very natural feel to the habitat. 

We were also very impressed with all the educational information that was provided. Presented on signs throughout the garden, it was a great way to learn loads of facts about butterflies and moths.

As a bonus, this complex also offers a look at animals and insects that live in the dark, plus an entire section with reptiles and creepy crawly critters, thankfully, inside display boxes.

It was very well done and offers a look at so much of the native wildlife in this area.

We could have spent several hours here, as there is so much to see and learn. It’s safe to say that this is one of our most favourite exhibits.

✅ Skip the line and purchase your entrance ticket in advance for easy access to the sanctuary.

Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara Falls, Canada

A wonderful option that we have very close to home is the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara. Located inside the Niagara Botanical Gardens, you can enjoy a nice walk around the grounds in conjunction with the inside conservatory.

This huge glassed in space houses 3000 butterflies and 12 different species and is one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America. 40% of the butterflies are bred onsite, and the remaining are flown in from around the world.

They have a hanging cupboard where the pupae can be viewed. When we visited, one of the keepers opened it and released a few new butterflies whose wings had dried enough to take their first flight. It is such a nice thing to witness.

The layout is very beautiful with many tropical plants, trees and a waterfall in the centre. Considering how cold it gets in this area, it is pretty impressive that such a tropical rainforest environment can be maintained.

A highlight at this location is to see the Monarch butterflies, which have been classified as an endangered species.  Their striking orange and black patterns are slowly increasing in population, and now we are beginning to see them more in our own garden during the summer season.

✅ If you are visiting the Niagara area sights, the best value is to purchase a Niagara Parks Pass. It includes admission to many attractions, including the Butterfly Conservatory. It also provides transportation, too!

Selvatura Park, Monteverde, Costa Rica

While in another cloud forest, this time in Monteverde, we visited the Selvatura Park. This eco park has a variety of attractions, including zip lining, hanging bridges and a butterfly garden, so it isn’t specifically the main event. 

While Costa Rica has over 1400 types of butterflies, at this location, they only have 30 of them. However, at the time that we were there (in the morning), we didn’t see as many as other conservatories. 

While the structure is a large glass enclosure, with lots of plants, there aren’t as many flowers, so mostly you will see them congregating at the plates of bananas, where they are enjoying their breakfast.

One of the highlights was a cabinet that showed various types of cocoons in all different stages. It is very interesting to see how the crysalis looks so different depending on the breed. We had a nice walk through the enclosure, but thought it perhaps wasn’t as spectacular as it could be.

Parque das Aves, Iguazu Falls, Brazil

This establishment is actually a bird sanctuary focused on preserving animals from the Atlantic Rainforest. They have an amazing collection of birds that have been rescued or rehoused due to habitat issues. You can enjoy seeing macaws, parrots, flamingoes and many, many more types of endemic birds.

However, aside from the numerous aviaries, they do have a small butterfly house. Amongst the very vibrant plants and flowers, you can see hundreds of butterflies flitting around doing their important pollinator job. It is a delightful area to walk, where you can have a personal interaction with them. And there are also many hummingbirds in the same area.

✅ For a guided tour of this amazing place, check out this tour that makes things easy with transportation and your entrance ticket included.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda, Australia

This incredible sanctuary houses more than 1200 butterflies with 14 different kinds. The enclosure is substantial and very lush, with several water features incorporated into the design.

Butterflies are swooping around everywhere, and many like to land on your clothing and hitch a ride. We loved seeing all the educational plaques with details about the types of butterflies and their behaviour. 

But most remarkable was the ability to see the laboratory where the breeding process takes place. They have created an entire area where you can see the technicians doing their important work, plus cases showing them in different stages of development. It was fascinating!

We really loved this location. It was a great combination of beauty, an immersive interaction and education. Well recommended for a drop in.

✅ Pre-purchase your ticket for the sanctuary to skip the lines and have quick and easy access.

The Final Word….Visiting Butterfly Gardens

As you can see, we have seen many butterfly gardens around the world. We enjoy exploring and supporting the conservation efforts of these facilities. And honestly, it is a really pleasant experience walking amongst these amazing creatures. If you are in an area that has a butterfly sanctuary, be sure to stop in and check it out.

If you are curious about some of our other favourite collections, read on at the following link.