Green Hills Butterfly Ranch

The captivating Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, which is home to most of the butterflies found in Belize is spread across a lush hillside, eight miles to the south of George Price Highway, opposite the mountain equestrian center, which is a popular horse-riding destination. 

Trails. Although it is primarily a place for research, it's accessible to the public whose main attraction is the well-groomed, 3,300 square feet of air space in which a multitude of beautiful tropical butterflies dances about, stopping occasionally on blossoms to drink nectar. More than eighty species have been reared in the area, and you'll typically be able to see between 25 and 30 at any given moment, based on the season and breeding season. 

Local guides who are enthusiastic and well-trained provide excellent information. Visitors who arrive early may be fortunate enough to witness butterflies emerge from chrysalises with jewels; many of these chrysalises are sent to be displayed in the US. You can also, through appointment, watch the flying of huge owls, which occur at sunset. In order to keep butterflies in your garden, you should be aware of their diet. 

The adjacent botanical garden houses Belize's national passionflower garden, along with a myriad of epiphytes (air plants) including cycads and heliconias, and orchids, as well as an orchard of tropical fruits. The ranch is managed by Dutch biologists Jan Meerman and Tineke Boomsma Both of them have published extensively - such as a Checklist of the Butterflies of Belize that covers reptiles, insects, amphibians, and flowers. They've also found several new species, like one tarantula Citharacanthus meermani - in Green Hills itself. So, Green Hills Butterfly Ranch is a must-visit place for all nature lovers.