Privérondleiding door Butterfly Sanctuary en Spice Plantation

The communication between the taxi driver (arranged by the tour company) and the tour times was not clear, and resulted in me getting to the butterfly sanctuary an hour early and then to the spice farm earlier than they opened. The butterfly tour was fine- a beautiful location with an interesting pile dwelling style that encouraged the garden to grow on top. The tour started with the owner showing me his fossil and stone collection, including ones for sale, and then I was passed to the guide, who gave some information, but mostly pointed at plants and told me their names. Butterfly sanctuary: 3 out of 5 Then, we headed to the spice farm where there was a lot of waiting because they weren’t easy for me. Lunch is served at 1230, so plan accordingly when communicating with your taxi driver. The tour itself was very informative and in a beautiful location. The guide knew a lot about all of the plants and answered my questions. At the end, I was brought to the store, and all of the spices are well priced. Then, more waiting until lunch was served. Lunch was good and plentiful. Spice tour: 4 out of 5 All of the miscommunication could be because I’m here too early for tourist season (I’m here in mid September), but there are definitely improvements to be made. I would recommend booking only the spice farm tour.

This tour was a pleasant escape from the hustle bustle of Goa. We were picked up in a small private vehicle with an attentive driver who navigated safely throughout the day. The butterfly tour was pretty ordinary and as it is “open” the butterflies are seasonal and we didn’t see any. The overall complex was pretty underwhelming but the host was friendly and we enjoyed a pleasant chat and cuppa afterwards. The 45 minute spice tour was interesting and we purchased a few spices afterwards. The buffet was really great and all the staff were really attentive and the surroundings around the spice plantation were really delightful. Overall, the tour wasn’t particularly spectacular, but it was a nice day out of Goa and represented average value for money. If you want a short day out of Goa it was comfortable enough and ok.

Although it was a bit off season for butterflies, it was still a lovely visit at the sanctuary. Both the owner and the guide were welcoming and gave us a nice tour. The place was peaceful and beautiful. The spice farm was nice as well and the guide gave us a tour and told us lots of interesting things. The chauffeur, on the other hand, seemed to be new. He drove an unnecessary crowded route and didn't seem to know which ways were the best during different times of the day. He also seemed a bit stressed and took some unnecessary risks in traffic. Altogether, a nice and pleasant trip.

The butterflies are mainly seen from September to December and so not guaranteed sighting outside these dates. The sanctuary is located up a steep hill so no good for those with young children or with mobility issues. Spice plantation worth a visit. The guides are knowledgeable and a short tour is provided before buffet lunch

The Butterfly Conservatory of Goa was an unforgettable and magical place! We saw a handful of different butterflies and had the chance to see India’s largest butterfly, Golden Birdwing. My family and I also saw 2 giant spiders! Our guide was very sweet and shared his story of he and his wife began this place over a decade ago. The facility also features a display of gemstones along with a box full of them which one can mix and match to purchase. The Tropical Spice Plantation came with a warm welcoming when passing through the bridge by means of having flowers tossed at us. It was delightful and we were given a lemongrass & ginger tea before our tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the different spices we saw! To conclude the tour she gave us each a lavender oil drip down our backs to cool us off and promote a feeling of relaxation. There’s a cute small shop to purchase spices, oil, honey, and other natural handmade products for sale, so be sure to make a pitstop there! Just before leaving my family and I enjoyed an array of buffet style Indian cuisine. I highly recommend this tour!