Butterflies – A Nature-lovers Paradise and the Top Spot for Nature Experiences.
Andromeda is a dedicated haven for wildlife and a nature sanctuary. The wildlife enjoys this organic landscape and are free to come and go as they please. Most stay. We have provided nectar rich plants – local and exotic to keep our pollinators happy. And we must not forget the other wildlife. You would be very lucky to see the velvet worms and the stick insects but you should see hermit crabs and hummingbirds, especially if you take part in the guided Curator’s Tour
The hermit crabs live on land and migrate to the ocean where the females spawn. Beautiful creatures and there are hundreds at Andromeda.
Barbados anoles are everywhere – you just need to stop for a while. The fungi is fun!
As well as hummingbirds, bananaquits (yellow breasts) and our endemic Barbados bullfinch, you might spot the Caribbean Elaenia and monkeys, of course, that sleep on-site, right next to our Pollinator Zone. The best time to see the monkeys is either very early – 6am! or late 4.30pm. The best place? If they are not foraging, just sit and wait in Nic &Nina’s African Connections Garden or the Infinity Deck – both gardens are located in our Ethnobotanical Garden –
People enjoy seeing monkeys. These are beautiful animals and captivating to watch. There is a bigger picture: They are not native to Barbados and have no natural predators. They are omnivores and do eat our native wildlife.
We call them crayfish but are they freshwater shrimp? We have huge ones that find their way upstream, having been born in the brackish water where the stream meets seawater.
Butterflies
We spend a lot of time and effort trying to protect and conserve our wonderful butterflies.
We have planted numerous milkweed plants in the Ethnobotanical Garden at Andromeda. In the same area we have sown celosia and zinnia seeds with their nectar-rich flowers, and native wildflower species such as those from the Bidens genus. We hope the monarch butterflies (click here for a short video of monarch butterflies in the Bougainvillea Garden), as well as the buck-eye, gulf fritillary and the rare gold-rimmed swallowtail butterflies remain in this area so visitors can enjoy all these gorgeous butterfly species, and others, found at this wonderful organic garden. In 2026, a painted lady butterfly was spotted on celosia plants in our new African Connections Garden – a first!!! For a nature experience in Barbados, Andromeda is top of the list – an organic space providing habitats for our biodiversity. Walk through a garden full of butterflies overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Immerse yourself in nature at Andromeda Botanic Gardens – the top spot for biodiversity!
Andromeda is organic and committed to protecting our island’s biodiversity, we actively plant nectar-rich species for our butterflies. The best time of the year to see butterflies in between April and September, although you will see some throughout the year. There is so much nature and wildlife – hermit crabs, butterflies, hummingbirds and much more. For things to do in Barbados, Andromeda has it all! Discover the amazing wildlife as you walk through this garden paradise, via numerous hidden pathways leading to amazing pleasures and delights!
“Andromeda is the best place to see butterflies in the West Indies”
“You can stand in one place and see 10 species of butterfly”
“You see butterflies here that I’ve never seen anywhere else in Barbados”
The fun doesn’t stop here! Read and enjoy the stories of Andromona, a monarch butterfly, whose sense of wonder, bewilderment and mischief will delight and enthral. Follow here.