BeFly opened two years ago and operates seasonally, from May through the end of September – depending on the weather. Inspired by Eugene’s childhood passion for tropical butterflies, the business is now one of the most impressive vacation spots in the region.
At the beginning of each season, in May, the garden is populated by 8-10 species of butterflies adapted to cooler temperatures, and the number of species increases to 15 starting in June.
The butterflies are brought from tropical areas such as Costa Rica, the Philippines and the Americas. They feed on sweet fruits, mainly oranges and bananas, as well as pollen. The life span of the butterflies is only 15 days, so 600 to 700 pupae are brought in every week, and even 1400 at the beginning of the season.
Prices are relatively affordable: children under 3 years old have free access, from 3 to 12 years old pay 25 Romanian lei (100 MDL), adults – 35 RON (140 MDL). People with disabilities and pensioners enjoy a reduced price of 15 lei (60 Moldovan lei) on the basis of an ID card. There are also packages for families and a package for four people (2 children + 2 adults). The visit lasts an average of 30 minutes, but if the space is not crowded, you can spend more time in the company of butterflies.
For the full experience, administrators recommend visiting the garden in the afternoon, when the butterflies are active. After 4 p.m., they become less mobile. The garden is not open on rainy and cloudy days, when butterfly activity is minimal.
To protect these fragile creatures, the garden has strict rules. Visitors are not allowed to touch the butterflies’ wings. Running or shouting is prohibited, and butterflies may only be kept on fruit where they feel safe. Photography and videotaping on personal phones or cameras is allowed as long as no flash is used. Shooting for commercial purposes, such as wedding photo shoots or promotions, is only allowed with the prior consent of the BeFly garden administration.
These rules are not only to protect the butterflies, but also to preserve the calm and relaxing atmosphere that the garden offers to all visitors. Observing them guarantees a pleasant experience for both people and butterflies, which need a calm environment to pass through their short life cycle.
