{"id":76930,"date":"2024-05-22T12:16:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T10:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/visitanddo_1790.test\/?p=76930"},"modified":"2026-10-01T05:13:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T03:13:05","slug":"butterfly-park-of-benalmadena-butterfly-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/butterfly-park-of-benalmadena-butterfly-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Benalm\u00e1dena Butterfly Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"product\"><div class=\"product\">\n<p><strong>Firstly, what you need to know so you don\u2019t miss out:<\/strong> The Benalm\u00e1dena Butterfly House <strong>is now called Monowa<\/strong>. It\u2019s the same place, at the same address, but with a new name and website.<\/p>\n<p>If you search for \u00abBenalm\u00e1dena Butterfly Park\u00bb and \u00abMonowa \u00b7 Butterfly Park\u00bb comes up, <strong>it\u2019s this one<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What is<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Inside the tropical garden at the Benalm\u00e1dena Butterfly House\" class=\"wp-image-76925\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposario-benalmadena.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The tropical garden, inside the Thai-inspired building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Europe\u2019s largest space dedicated to butterflies.<\/strong> An indoor tropical garden covering an area of about <strong>2,000 square metres<\/strong>, standing <strong>eight metres high<\/strong> so that the butterflies can really fly, inside a Thai-inspired building.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More than 1,500 butterflies<\/strong> flying free, from <strong>up to 150 species<\/strong> throughout the year, from Asia, the Americas and Africa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And here\u2019s a fact that says a lot about the site:<\/strong> around the <strong>70% of the specimens are bred right there<\/strong>; only the 30% is imported. It\u2019s not just a display model: it\u2019s a fully operational machine.<\/p>\n\n<h3>They\u2019re not just butterflies<\/h3>\n<p><strong>This surprises almost everyone<\/strong>, because it isn\u2019t usually mentioned. Inside, there\u2019s also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A wallaby<\/strong>, a little kangaroo who is the park\u2019s mascot.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exotic birds<\/strong> and <strong>koi fish<\/strong> in the ponds.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Moths and stick insects.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Turtles<\/strong> and a few geckoes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When it comes to children, the ualabi is every bit as popular as butterflies.<\/p>\n\n<h2>\u23f0 When to go: in the morning<\/h2>\n<p><strong>This is the piece of advice people appreciate the most<\/strong>, and the one that comes up most often in the reviews from those who went in the afternoon:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Butterflies are much more active in the morning.<\/strong> In the afternoon, they slow down and perch, and some people come away feeling as though they haven\u2019t seen many. Same price, but a very different experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Open every day of the year, from 10.00.<\/strong> Closing times vary depending on the season, so it\u2019s best to check the official website before you go.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How to get there<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Address:<\/strong> Calle Mu\u00e9rdago (no number), 29639 Benalm\u00e1dena, next to the Stupa of Enlightenment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>By car:<\/strong> by the <strong>A-7<\/strong>, and there are <strong>free parking<\/strong> in the surrounding area.<\/li>\n<li><strong>By train:<\/strong> commuter trains to <strong>Benalm\u00e1dena\u2013Arroyo de la Miel<\/strong>, and from there by bus.<\/li>\n<li><strong>By bus:<\/strong> the lines <strong>103<\/strong> (Benalm\u00e1dena), <strong>112<\/strong> (M\u00e1laga\u2013Mijas), <strong>121<\/strong> (Mijas\u2013Torremolinos) and <strong>126<\/strong> (Benalm\u00e1dena\u2013Torremolinos).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s about <strong>20 minutes from M\u00e1laga<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What the visit is like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"A butterfly perched in the Butterfly Park in Benalm\u00e1dena\" class=\"wp-image-76926\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-2.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Between 45 minutes and an hour<\/strong>, on a single floor and indoors, so <strong>It doesn\u2019t matter what the weather\u2019s like<\/strong>: it\u2019s the perfect plan for a rainy day or one when the heat is unbearable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s hot and humid inside<\/strong> \u2014around the <strong>80% humidity and between 24 and 29 degrees<\/strong>\u2014, because that\u2019s what butterflies need. Light clothing.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Two things that make the visit even better<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>When you go in, you\u2019re given an illustrated leaflet<\/strong> with the species you might come across. It works really well with children: they tick off the ones they see.<\/li>\n<li><strong>There are talks by a biologist every hour.<\/strong> It\u2019s well worth timing your visit to coincide with one: they explain the life cycle and you get to see much more than you would on your own.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>And a practical tip:<\/strong> Watch where you\u2019re going. Butterflies land on the ground and on people.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What can be seen of the complete cycle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"A colourful butterfly in the tropical garden in Benalm\u00e1dena\" class=\"wp-image-76927\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mariposa-benalmadena.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As they breed indoors, you can see <strong>the whole process<\/strong>: eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises and the moment when a butterfly <strong>it emerges and spreads its wings for the first time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do visible species change so much:<\/strong> An adult butterfly lives <strong>two or three weeks<\/strong>. This means that the population is constantly being renewed and that <strong>on two separate visits, you see different things<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What\u2019s next door?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Colomares Castle in Benalm\u00e1dena\" class=\"wp-image-76928\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/castillo-colomares-benalmadena.jpg 1640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The advantage of this place is that you\u2019re not the only one doing this.<\/strong> Within a few hundred metres, you\u2019ll find:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Stupa of Enlightenment<\/strong>, right next to it. It is <strong>the largest stupa in the West<\/strong> and <strong>Admission is free<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Colomares Castle<\/strong>, a monument dedicated to Columbus, erected in the 20th century and a popular subject for photographs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Benalm\u00e1dena Pueblo<\/strong>, with its white streets and viewing points.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Heading down to the coast:<\/strong> the <strong>cable car to Mount Calamorro<\/strong> and <strong>Marina Harbour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>More plans at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/?p=22141\">What to see in Benalm\u00e1dena<\/a>, and the beaches in the area at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/villages-malaga-with-beach\/\">the towns in M\u00e1laga with beaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>And nearby<\/h2>\n<p>Just a few minutes\u2019 drive along the A-7: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/what-to-do-in-fuengirola\/\">Things to do in Fuengirola<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/what-to-see-in-torremolinos\/\">What to see in Torremolinos<\/a> and, with children, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/torremolinos-con-ninos\/\">Torremolinos with children<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Day trips from Benalm\u00e1dena<\/h2>\n<p>We are a local tour operator based in M\u00e1laga with over 50 years\u2019 experience organising trips around Andalusia, <strong>with collection in Benalm\u00e1dena<\/strong>. If you spend the morning in the tropical garden, there\u2019s time for more in the afternoon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The whole destination, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/malaga\/\">day trips from M\u00e1laga and the Costa del Sol<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Is the Benalm\u00e1dena Butterfly House still open?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, and it\u2019s open every day of the year from 10.00. What has changed is the name: it\u2019s now called Monowa \u00b7 Butterfly Park, although it\u2019s the same venue and the same address, on Mu\u00e9rdago Street, next to the Stupa of Enlightenment. Closing time varies depending on the season.<\/p>\n\n<h3>What is the best time to visit the butterfly house?<\/h3>\n<p>In the morning. Butterflies are considerably more active at this time of day and you see far more of them in flight; in the afternoon they tend to alight, and several visitors have commented that they have seen very few. As the price is the same, there is a considerable difference in the experience between going early and going at the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n<h3>How many butterflies are there, and what species are they?<\/h3>\n<p>More than 1,500 butterflies flying freely, representing up to 150 different species throughout the year, from Asia, the Americas and Africa. Around 70 % are bred at the park itself. As each adult butterfly lives for between two and three weeks, the population is constantly renewed, meaning that different species can be seen on two separate visits.<\/p>\n\n<h3>What other animals are there apart from butterflies?<\/h3>\n<p>A wallaby, which is the park\u2019s mascot, as well as exotic birds, koi carp in the ponds, tortoises, moths and stick insects. This is a fact that is often overlooked, yet it is particularly appealing to children, as the little wallaby rivals the butterflies themselves in terms of interest.<\/p>\n\n<h3>How long does the visit last, and what is it like inside?<\/h3>\n<p>Between 45 minutes and an hour. The tour takes place indoors, on a single level and under cover, so it can be done in any weather. It is worth noting that the atmosphere inside is warm and humid, with humidity levels of around 80 % and temperatures between 24 and 29 degrees, so light clothing is recommended.<\/p>\n\n<h3>How do you get there by public transport?<\/h3>\n<p>Take the local train to Benalm\u00e1dena-Arroyo de la Miel station and then catch a bus from there, or travel directly on bus routes 103 from Benalm\u00e1dena, 112 M\u00e1laga\u2013Mijas, 121 Mijas\u2013Torremolinos and 126 Benalm\u00e1dena\u2013Torremolinos. 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If you search for \u00abBenalm\u00e1dena Butterfly Park\u00bb and \u00abMonowa \u00b7 Butterfly Park\u00bb comes up, it\u2019s this one. What is Europe\u2019s largest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":76929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[766,664],"tags":[767],"class_list":["post-76930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meeting-points","category-visit-and-do","tag-benalmadena"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}