The Butterfly People

It is the most welcoming and beautiful space. As we walked past, we just had to go in and take a look. The space is open, spacious and welcoming. They had beautiful exhibits with butterflies and also jewelry. We decided to buy a bracelet and a keychain. We liked other items there as well and definitely worth a visit for some unique pieces or if you love butterflies. Pieces are intricate and the space is beautiful.

I really love the pieces that I have from here! I have been a customer of this location for about 8 years. I have 9 or 10 pieces now. They are just beautiful and very unique. I have also purchased pieces as gifts for my mother and father.
The studio is always pleasant and friendly, and I am always able to find a unique piece that I do not have yet.
I am going to have to take photos that I have the next time I head to San Juan in order to make sure that I get a piece I don’t have with some unique colors, but no biggie! I’ll do that next time with my phone.
I was a little sad to hear that they don’t do the beetle pieces anymore, but the artist was willing to make some for me in the future as long as I contact them ahead of time. I thought that I had done that before this trip but maybe I was mistaken. I know that they had been having email issues as well, so that could have played a part in that.
Everything aside, I look forward every time I am in San Juan in visiting this studio and getting a new and unique creation to add to my wall! I truly enjoy all of my pieces every day!

«Sounds like a hippy cult!»
That’s what my friend said the last time I mentioned:
THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE!
I agree with Hannah C. that this is definitely a unique gallery! A tad macabre, but I believe the first of it’s kind. I know The Butterfly People have been around since at least 2001, that was also my very first visit here. It was my very first visit to Old San Juan too! Since then I’ve been back to this historic city three times and on every visit I take the time to stop here.
Why?
–It’s unique & colorful! I believe the first of it’s kind. It’s F-​R-​E-​E to browse and although the gallery part — photography is forbidden — still many areas to take pics near the entrance, the gift shop, or the café area.
Isn’t it only Butterflies?
–Yes and No! Yes, a ton of dead butterflies encased in acrylic cases, but no it’s not morbid, in fact, it’s quite beautiful.
And No, there’s other artsy things beside butterflies– I didn’t see any moths, but there’s a wonderful café here that offers breakfast & lunch. No butterfly on the menu!
Is this the entrance to some hippy cult?
–To my knowledge, No! No shady characters that I saw. I didn’t see David Koresh lingering, but I heard Jennifer Lopez owns a piece or two from here. Maybe it’s a cult, just maybe? If so, a pacifist cult with a name starting with «Butterfly…» Please.
Okay, I do admit the first time here was because my ex loved art and beautiful stuff. She literally dragged me to go with her… Y’know us macho guys, haha! I was like… «Butterflies? Say what? You go…» Nope.
She literally carried me in there! Now I have no regrets since it’s definitely a unique art gallery of dead butterflies! And for you animal rights types… No worries — none of these tropical butterflies are captured in the wild — these are «farm raised» in the tropics and realize it’s now permanent art. Prices are a wide range too… I recall my ex buying two pieces, both under $ 50 each. Some of the über large fancy types go for in the thousands. I wondered how this place could be around so long, well over 10 years, hmm probably because they have a very popular café, gift shop and I was told they have online clients worldwide— apparently very popular in Russia, China and Japan, oh and the Midwest, USA!
I would think moths would do well too, but hella not as colorful as pretty butterflies — that’s FO SHO!
The Butterfly People is located in the «artsy» section of Old San Juan. Look for the colorful Spanish buildings and it’s there at 257 Calle De La Cruz. The Gallery is located upstairs.
ADIOS & LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #251

Just walking in here is amazing. Years after my visit to Puerto Rico, this is still one of the handful of places I insist that people visit when planning a trip. There is no other place like it in the world. It’s an entomologist’s dream, and it’s an art collector’s surprise. A bright airy gallery of mounted butterflies of all sizes and colors arranged tastefully and beautifully with a very light sprinkling of the macabre… which makes it a great visit for a pathologist, too.