There are many ways to be in contact with nature beyond trails and excursions. One of the evidences that demonstrate this is the fact that in the Community of Madrid there is a museum of those that do not usually appear in the lists that is entirely dedicated to the most numerous -and most unnoticed- group of the natural world: It is InsectPark, the Insect Museum of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Located at the gates of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, this original Center for Scientific and Cultural Dissemination on Nature shows specimens of both live and naturalized insects that have been gathered “after more than 40 years of expeditions and scientific work”, as can be read on its website.
Among them, “beetles that look like jewels, fierce armored warriors, walking leaves, spiny bacilli, metallic butterflies and impressive bird-eating spiders,” the museum says.
Parallel to the exhibitions, the center offers activities such as “sensory workshops where you can see, smell and touch tropical insects”, explains Pedro Velasco, founder of this pioneering space.
In this way, both the little ones of the house and adults can get to know this microfauna much more closely and with the five senses either as a family or, as InsectPark also recommends, as part of organized visits for schools.
InsectPark schedule
Summer
- Monday: closed.
- Tuesdays: from 10:30h to 14:30h
- Wednesday to Saturday: 10:30 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
- Sundays: from 10:30h to 14:30h
The schedule for the rest of the year is updated on the webpage of the center, so just check it at the time you plan to make your visit to see what is current.
Prices
Tickets can also be purchased through the website and prices are as follows:
- General admission (adults and groups of less than 10 people): 8€
- Reduced admission (children from 4 to 10 years old, seniors and groups from 10 people): €6
- Free admission: children under 3 years old
- General guided tour (adults and groups of less than 10 people): 11€
- General guided visit (adults and groups of less than 10 people): 11€
- Reduced guided tour (children from 4 to 10 years old, seniors and groups from 10 people): €9
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How to get to InsectPark
The museum is located within the recreational area El Tomillar, at km. 5.800 of the M-600 road, which connects Guadarrama with El Escorial. At car via the A-6 it takes just over three quarters of an hour to get there from the center of Madrid.
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