Butterfly Park Benalmádena: 1,500 butterflies behind a Thai temple

The Mariposario de Benalmádena is a tropical butterfly house behind a Thai temple facade, 3.5 km from Benal Beach Apartments a five minute drive up the hill.

What it is Inside one large climate controlled greenhouse, around 1,500 butterflies of roughly 150 species fly free among tropical plants, small waterfalls and koi ponds. There are also chrysalis cases where you can watch new butterflies emerge. The whole visit takes 45 minutes to an hour, which makes it easy to bolt onto a trip to the Pueblo or the Stupa nearby.

Getting there from the apartment Five minutes by car up towards Benalmádena Pueblo, or by bus from the stop 200 m from the door. There is parking outside; the building is impossible to miss thanks to the temple facade.

Good to know - Indoors and air-conditioned the obvious plan for a rainy or very hot day. - Wear light colours if you want butterflies to land on you; they are drawn to them. - Small and quick, so combine it with Colomares or the Pueblo in the same trip.

Best time to go Late morning, when the butterflies are most active. It is one of the few attractions here that is just as good in winter.

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