Categories: Lifestyle

A thousand butterflies emerge weekly at this B.C. garden and here’s how to visit them

Photo via BC Parks Foundation

Did you know that a thousand butterflies emerge from Victoria’s Butterfly Gardens every week? What’s more, the world-class garden has recently launched a new initiative that cuts the cost of admission in half. So there’s never been a better time to visit!

In collaboration with the BC Parks Foundation, the PaRx program aims to provide B.C. residents and visitors alike with greater access to nature-based healing. It helps nearly 20,000 registered healthcare providers across the country prescribe time in nature to support improved physical and mental health, based on research that shows that even a few hours outdoors weekly can have a significant impact on overall well-being.

Discounted admission

Beginning Jan. 19, 2026, PaRx prescription holders visiting Victoria Butterfly Gardens can enjoy 50 per cent off admission for one, or take advantage of a buy one, get one free offer for a PaRx holder and a guest.

Whether you’ve been battling fatigue or seasonal depression, or simply want to immerse yourself in a tropical garden with over 75 different butterfly varieties, a visit to Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a great way to ground yourself and hit refresh.

Open year-round, the 11,000-square-foot, climate-controlled rainforest has a myriad of tropical plants and rescued animals, all in an accessible environment.

“Nature has a way of pulling you back to ground level,” says Travis, Lead Horticulturalist at Victoria Butterfly Gardens, sharing his own personal journey with clinical depression. “It reminds you that change is constant, that growth doesn’t follow rigid rules, and that it often happens quietly, over time.”

Through this work, Travis has witnessed how immersing oneself in nature can support others navigating significant life challenges, including youth and families. “Visitors feel calmer, more present, and more open to connection when surrounded by the Gardens’ vibrant plants and wildlife.”

Since launching in 2020, the PaRx program has grown into a national movement, connecting health, nature, and community well-being.

“As family physicians, we bring a holistic lens to care that focuses on physical, mental, environmental, and relational health,” shares Dr. Darren Joneson, President, BC Family Doctors. “One of the most powerful relationships an individual can have is their connectedness to nature.”

Normally, admission to the gardens is priced at $20 per adult and $9.50 per child. Annual passes are also available for $70 per adult and $30 per child, which gets you a 20 per cent discount on daily admission to a plethora of other museums and local attractions. This includes IMAX Victoria, Royal BC Museum, and the Malahat Skywalk, to name just a few.