A 15-hectare botanical garden on a hillside above Calarcá, around 20 minutes by car from Armenia. The main attraction is the mariposario — a large glass-roofed butterfly house in the shape of a butterfly itself, housing more than 1,500 free-flying specimens from around 50 native species. There is also an insect museum, a small natural history collection, and several trails through native cloud-forest plantings.
A pleasant two-hour stop if you have a half day to fill. The gardens are well kept, the staff are knowledgeable, and the butterfly house alone is worth the trip for anyone travelling with kids.