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Enchanted Wings Butterfly House in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
We were looking for something a little different to do in the small town of Copan Ruinas (famous for surprise surprise, the Mayan ruins of the same name), so decided to check out the Enchanted Wings Butterfly House. When we arrived at the gate, we met by who we assumed was the owner. He showed us the process of how the butterfly eggs finally end up as butterflies. He was keen to give us all the information he could, and his genuine enthusiasm had me more interested in butterflies than I had ever been before. A range of native butterflies lay their eggs in the sanctuary. Each butterfly has its own preferred plant, and even location on the plant to lay the eggs. The staff collect the eggs, delicately placing them in hatching boxes. Larvae emerge from the eggs, eating away until they are ready to make a cosy home for their metamorphosis. Some of the cocoons were pretty crazy-looking, one even had shiny fake eyes on it to ward off potential predators. Once the butterflies emerge, they are released into the sanctuary, which comes complete with juicy vegetation and a waterfall. We were free to walk around, butterflies flapping by everywhere. They varied in size from huge owl-eye types to tiny white ones. A few hundred photographs later we left the sanctuary to check out the framed collection. Honduras is home to hundreds of types, apparently no-one is really sure exactly just how many. The display included some with incredible metallic blue colors. The Enchanted Wings Butterfly House is a great half-day trip, costing only about $5 US for entry.
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Beautiful photos. We visited a butterfly “garden” in Mindo, Ecuador. This was the first time we had ever really “seen” butterflies for what they are, insects. Suffice it to say that – in our opinions – butterflies are very pretty when you see one or two, but get significantly more “insect-like” when there are hundreds of them.
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Amazing photos of these butterflies. I was once in the Montreal Botanical Garden and wanted to go to the insect section but it was close due to a strike. I never get to see beautiful butterfly. Maybe I’ll see them in Honduras in day
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Beautiful photos. I absolutely love butterflies- must have been beautiful watching them fly around.
I love so much that the butterfly’s wings gain their strength to fly from their struggle out of the cocoon. It always reminds me that the difficulties of our own life are there to make us stronger and grant us the ability to fly.
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Wow that is so beautiful! I can’t wait to go back to Honduras!
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I didnt see this when I was in Copan, what a shame as the photos are really quite lovely.
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Love your pictures! They are really beautiful. This butterfly sanctuary looks interesting, a nice way to spend half a day enjoying nature.
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thanks for all the comments. we didn’t really know what to expect, and had a good time. we were really stoked on the photos we managed to get.
jamie and jess
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