The Butterfly Farm opened in 1983 and was the first commercial butterfly farm in Latin America. It has a presentation about the ecology of these delicate insects and gives you a chance to observe and photograph them up close. Informative guided tours (in English, Spanish, French, and German), take you through tropical gardens filled with hundred of butterflies of many species. You can see and learn about all the stages of the complex butterfly life cycle as well as find out about the importance of butterflies in nature. 

It's best to visit the farm when it is sunny (mornings in the rainy season), when butterflies are most active. Every Monday and on Thursdays from March to August, visitors can watch thousands of pupae being packed for export all over the world.

There is also a bee garden, traditional ox cart rides, and tropical birds abound in the gardens. Once your tour is over, you can stay as long as you want. There is a restaurant serving snacks and lunch.

La Guacima, Alajuela

Opening hours: Daily, from 9:00 to 16:00