Many people think of butterflies as a sign of happiness. But in fact butterflies can be very useful. As the name suggests, they pollinate plants, and most of us are used to seeing them in our gardens. The best way to attract them to your garden is to provide suitable habitat. Butterfly gardens are a great place for people to observe these beautiful creatures up close. There are many butterfly sanctuaries around the world, and here are the top 3.

Top 3 Butterfly Sanctuaries

1. National Butterfly Centre, Mexico

If you’re looking for a place to visit that is perfect for children, this is the ideal destination. The National Butterfly Center is the first and largest butterfly sanctuary in the world. 

• In Mexico City there is an artificial lagoon where over 400,000 butterflies from around the world are kept.

Most of these butterflies are not native to this region of the world. They are mostly migratory and they live in this sanctuary from November to May. During that time they feed and mate on specially grown flowers that are used to attract them. The flowers are sprayed with insecticide to keep them free from predators, and they don’t get bothered with the tourists that come by.

The sanctuary is open to visitors from November to May, but it closes from July to September. The fee for the entrance is around 8 USD, and the guided tours are 50 cents.

2. Nanango State Reserve, Argentina

There is no doubt about it, Argentina has a lot of beautiful nature. With over 3,000 square kilometres of protected areas, they have one of the most diversified ecosystems in South America. The National Reserve of Nanango is located south of Salta and is the largest nature reserve in the country. 

• There are over 350,000 visitors in a year, and over 50,000 species of plants and animals.

The Reserve is open all year round and anyone can enter for free. The best time to visit is from January to March and April to June. During that time you’ll get to see the amazing annual migration of hundreds of thousands of birds and animals. You will get to see the Andean condor, the giant anteater, the golden-collared manakin, the great rhea, and many more. The only thing you will have to pay for is a meal at the reserve’s restaurant.

3. Réserve Diamantino, Madagascar

Réserve Diamantino is the oldest private reserve in the entire country of Madagascar, and it is home to over 50,000 captive butterflies. It is the largest private butterfly reserve in the world and has been in existence since 1978.

The reserve was originally established as a breeding facility, but the most recent expansion of the park saw it transform into a sanctuary for captive butterflies. Some of these butterflies are native to Madagascar, but there are some from Asia, Europe and the Americas. A number of them are endangered and they are the most important part of the park.

I would love to visit these three locations, but only one will get to travel with me! For a chance to win one of these trips, click here and follow the instructions.

Vienna Schmetterlinghaus

The Vienna Schmetterlinghaus, or Imperial Butterfly House, is a museum and the world’s oldest continuously running butterfly house. It is also one of the oldest continuously operating museums in Austria. 

• Located in Hofburg, it was originally founded as a private “Schmetterling-Haus’ ‘ (Butterfly House) in 1778 by Maria Theresia, and is located in Hofburg, in the Hofburg palace park (Hofburg Park). 

The Hofburg Palace is where the House’s founder, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, was born and is now the seat of the Austrian head of state, the President of Austria. The Butterfly House exhibits butterflies from many countries, including South America, Asia and Africa. Hofburg’s Hofburg Park, which is in the middle of the Hofburg Palace park, is home to the Vienna Schmetterlinghaus.

The House of Schmetterling-Hofburg, which was founded in 1778, moved to its current site in 1817.

In 1910, the House was closed to the public for renovations and reopened in 1913. Since 1974, the insect house has been fully restored.

Exhibits

The butterfly house is split into four parts: the first three of which are indoors, but the largest part is outside on the Hofburg Park. The indoor parts are a tropical, a temperate, and a tropical-temperate wing, respectively. The largest part, outside in the Hofburg Park, is divided into a southern part, where the tropical-temperate wing is, and a northern part, where the tropical and temperate wing are. This large part of the Hofburg Park.