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Aruba Donkey Sanctuary and Butterfly Farm: 2026 Family Guide
The Aruba Donkey Sanctuary and the Butterfly Farm are the two animal stops I recommend most to families. Neither takes long, both are gentle, and they sit on opposite sides of the island’s day: butterflies are at their best early, donkeys are happy whenever you turn up with apples. Here is how to do both.
Aruba Donkey Sanctuary
Why it exists
Donkeys have been part of island life for around 500 years and were once Aruba’s main way of getting around. Once cars took over, many were turned loose, and wild donkeys became a road hazard. A volunteer-run non-profit opened the sanctuary in 1997 to give them a safe home. In 2016 it moved from Santa Lucia to a larger plot at Bringamosa, and it now cares for more than 130 donkeys, according to the sanctuary.
Visiting basics
| What | Details (sanctuary site, at the time of writing) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Regular opening hours 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Entry | No admission fee, donations welcome |
| Location | Bringamosa, on a dirt road a short way off the road to Frenchman’s Pass |
| Time needed | About an hour |
The sanctuary says a donation also gets you some cuddle time with the friendliest donkeys. There is a visitor centre with a covered porch, a small gift shop and restrooms.
Feeding the donkeys
Bring apples or carrots. The donkeys are fed from the enclosed porch. Cut apples into small pieces and offer them on a flat open hand, the way you would with a horse. Some donkeys came from rough situations, so let the staff tell you which ones are happy to be touched.
Getting there
You need a car or a taxi. The sanctuary’s directions have you take Route 4a inland from the hotels for about 14 km, turn at the Frenchman’s Pass sign, then follow the small signs. The sanctuary’s own GPS coordinates look wrong, so use a map app with the name instead.
How the sanctuary looks after them
When it moved to Bringamosa, the sanctuary set up stables for sick and pregnant donkeys, a vet and dental station with washing facilities, and a separate pen for donkeys that do not trust people yet, often because of past abuse or road accidents. Water, feed storage and fencing are constant costs, which is where donations go. Early visitors can sometimes help with the daily feeding and care, which kids love. Ask on arrival.
A quick note on hours: older guidebooks list shorter weekday hours. Go by the sanctuary’s own current hours, and check holiday opening before you drive out.
The Butterfly Farm
The Butterfly Farm is a netted tropical garden on J.E. Irausquin Boulevard in Palm Beach, across from the Divi Phoenix. It is an easy walk for many hotel guests.
| What | Details (Butterfly Farm site, at the time of writing) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily, last guided tour at 4:00 pm |
| Adults | $19 |
| Seniors and students (with ID) | $16 |
| Children 4 to 17 | $10 |
| Under 4 | Free |
| Return visits | Free for the rest of your vacation, up to a month |
Guided tours run all day and last about 20 to 25 minutes. After that you can stay as long as you like. The guides explain the life cycle from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, and they can show kids how to handle butterflies without hurting them.
Go early
Guidebooks say early morning is when the butterflies are most active. Because the ticket covers return visits, go in the first days of your trip, then pop back on a cloudy afternoon.
Good to know
- Photos and video are allowed inside.
- No booking needed unless you are a group of 20 or more.
- You can stay as long as you like after the guided tour.
Doing both in one morning
- 8:30 am: Butterfly Farm as it opens.
- 10:00 am: drive inland to the Donkey Sanctuary. Stop at a supermarket for carrots and apples on the way.
- 11:30 am: Ayo Rock Formations nearby, for a short scramble among giant boulders.
- Afternoon: back to the beach. If the kids are still up for animals, the turtles at Boca Catalina and Tres Trapi are another easy win, by snorkel or on our clear boat tour.
What it costs a family
For two adults and two children aged 4 to 17, Butterfly Farm tickets add up to $58 at the prices listed at the time of writing, and that covers every return visit during your stay. The Donkey Sanctuary is free, so set aside whatever you would like to donate, plus a few dollars for apples and carrots. Frommer’s places the sanctuary about half a mile from the Ayo Rock Formations, which are also free, so the whole morning costs very little next to most tours on the island.
Who will enjoy this
- Toddlers and young kids: both stops are short and hands-on.
- Grandparents: little walking, some shade at both.
- Photographers: the butterfly garden in the early light is lovely.
- Not ideal for: anyone expecting a big zoo. These are small, personal places.
Quick answers
Is the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary free?
Yes, there is no admission fee at the time of writing. A donation is the polite thing to do and keeps the place running.
Can you touch the donkeys?
Yes, with the friendly ones, under staff guidance. The sanctuary describes petting and hugging sessions with its most sociable donkeys.