Instituto Butantan – Science, Snakes, and a Unique Peek Behind the Scenes

Tucked away in the green western part of São Paulo, Instituto Butantan is one of Brazil’s leading biomedical research centers—and also one of the most fascinating places I’ve visited in the city. Most people know it as a public science institution producing vaccines and studying venomous animals, but for me, it became something far more personal and memorable.

Thanks to my sister-in-law, who works in the veterinary field, I had the rare chance to see part of the snake research up close, including specimens from Ilha da Queimada Grande—better known as Snake Island, one of the most dangerous islands in the world. It’s not open to the general public, which made the experience feel even more special. Standing just a few feet away from snakes that are normally only studied by scientists felt like stepping into a real-life nature documentary.

What You Can See

Even if you're not lucky enough to go behind the scenes, Instituto Butantan is still well worth a visit. The complex is open to the public and includes:

• The Biological Museum, featuring live snakes, spiders, and scorpions in carefully designed enclosures.
• The Historical Museum, which shares the story of Brazil’s fight against diseases like yellow fever and rabies.
• The Serpentarium, one of the largest in Latin America, where you can observe a wide variety of reptiles and learn about their role in scientific research.

The grounds themselves are peaceful and green, with colonial buildings and towering trees—a surprising contrast to the high-tech work being done inside.