Zoologico de Vallarta, Mismaloya: Hours, Address, Zoologico de Vallarta Reviews: 4/5
Zoologico de Vallarta
Zoologico de Vallarta
4
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.0
1,106 reviews
Excellent
425
Very good
364
Average
126
Poor
58
Terrible
133
Aliona S
Los Angeles, CA3 contributions
Dec 2021
the only zoo where the child can experience baby wild animals and feed real animals!
we absolutely enjoyed this place
we absolutely enjoyed this place
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
andycoldham
Crawley, UK825 contributions
May 2022
I was in the are and decided despite mixed reviews to give this zoo a chance. I call it the Marmite zoo as you either love it or hate it, I am somewhere in the middle. The entrance fee is US $ 12 which includes a pack of food or US $ 90 if you want the photo package with 5 animals at the end. Extra food can be purchased for US $5 a bag.
Visitors will love the place as you are actively encouraged to feed the animals and its quite rewarding, I have never been to a zoo that allows this before. Feeding the Giraffe and Ostrich in particular was great fun. Visitors follow a well defined route throughout the zoo and right at the end is where the photo session if chosen takes place and this is usually with a boa, a lemur and lion and tiger cubs.
All of the animals seemed to be in good condition and well cared for but some of the cages were a bit on the small side and those animals that lived alone, deed look very bored indeed.
There are toilets at the end and about half way round, but on the day of my visit neither had any paper so my top tip is to bring your own. On the question of tips, the Zoo is sited in a forest and bugs were plentiful, so bring a decent repellent and wear long trousers ( not shorts, my ankles were bitten badly).
Visitors will love the place as you are actively encouraged to feed the animals and its quite rewarding, I have never been to a zoo that allows this before. Feeding the Giraffe and Ostrich in particular was great fun. Visitors follow a well defined route throughout the zoo and right at the end is where the photo session if chosen takes place and this is usually with a boa, a lemur and lion and tiger cubs.
All of the animals seemed to be in good condition and well cared for but some of the cages were a bit on the small side and those animals that lived alone, deed look very bored indeed.
There are toilets at the end and about half way round, but on the day of my visit neither had any paper so my top tip is to bring your own. On the question of tips, the Zoo is sited in a forest and bugs were plentiful, so bring a decent repellent and wear long trousers ( not shorts, my ankles were bitten badly).
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stacy Chris B
Los Angeles, CA23 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
One of the best Zoo’s we’ve visited. You can choose to pay the interactive package and pet all kind of exotic animals. The package includes a bag with food to feed the animals while weakling through the Zoo.
Written 30 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Evan F
17 contributions
Dec 2021
This zoo is better than a lot of zoos we’ve visited in the United States and it’s well worth the visit! We’ve taken multiple groups of friends here and it’s always a great time. The zoo is off the beaten track and you’d be surprised by how many beautiful animals there are. We love how the zoo is built into the jungle.
The staff are very friendly which just rounds out the whole favorable experience. Highly recommend that everyone make the trip (at least) once to this hidden gem!
The staff are very friendly which just rounds out the whole favorable experience. Highly recommend that everyone make the trip (at least) once to this hidden gem!
Written 19 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ceejaym101
New Jersey2 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
To the people complaining who spent $90 to play with the cubs and other animals must not know how truly expensive this experience is in most places. You can be paying up to $500 for that experience. I had a blast feeding all the animals. One of the more open zoos you can visit without being baby sat feeding. I recommend
Written 14 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Donald Z
5 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
When we where there it was depressing to see the condition of this “zoo” some of these animals are in small cages and all alone no socializing.
The flamingos water was green like it hadn’t been circulating or cleaned.
The island that houses monkeys is surrounded by water that smells of urine.
The lone hippo’s water was the colour of and smelt of raw sewage when it ran into the water.
Alot of the animals where lethargic most likely from the flea infestation.
Both me and my partner had several flea bites that we found after leaving the zoo.
Would not recommend going to this place. Very poor conditions.
Travelled 2022/03/28
The flamingos water was green like it hadn’t been circulating or cleaned.
The island that houses monkeys is surrounded by water that smells of urine.
The lone hippo’s water was the colour of and smelt of raw sewage when it ran into the water.
Alot of the animals where lethargic most likely from the flea infestation.
Both me and my partner had several flea bites that we found after leaving the zoo.
Would not recommend going to this place. Very poor conditions.
Travelled 2022/03/28
Written 7 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Gilcro
Menlo Park, CA62 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
To be honest, I'm not too keen on the zoo scenario. But this was a gift for my wife and i , so we obliged and went on the vip tour. The highlight of the vip tour is the photo session and close encounters with the animals. I felt quite uneasy with the condition of the zoo and the animal enclosures. They are all very small and not very welcoming to the animals. The close encounter session was without doubt the price of admission. We held a python, lemur, baby tiger and 2 lion cubs
Written 27 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
VLD1029
3 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
Tiger cub interactive - what a huge disappointment! I took my 2 kids to the zoo for this experience, which in hindsight, was a terrible idea.
Firstly, since there were two of them (kids, I mean), the zookeeper decided to put them in together, which I thought would be fine. I asked him how much time they’d get to spend with the animals, he said 15 minutes. I said “15 minutes per person, right?” He IGNORED me and began the interactive.
Um, I paid for TWO bracelets, at $90 each, which I assumed would allow for each child to spend 15 minutes with the cubs. That was not the case. In total, they got 20 minutes, most of which time was spent sanitizing hands between animals, and waiting around for the zookeeper to retrieve the next cub. So in total, they probably had about ten minutes, which is 5 per kid. TOTAL. RIP.
Next, I had wrongly assumed that this would be somewhat educational, wherein the zookeeper would at least explain what each animal was and a little bit about their species. Nope, nada. He didn’t speak English and barely spoke to my kids at all. I brought all of this to the attention of the employee at the front desk, who basically shrugged it off and told me “that’s not really how it works”. Ok, dude. Well if it works this way, you’re overcharging. The vibes were bad, folks. Very bad, and shady. Needless to say, I feel very disappointed.
Also, those baby cats? They’re SO young. SO tiny. Why aren’t they with their mothers? This whole thing is very “Tiger King” and again, makes me say “what the hell was I thinking?!”
Aside from this, the other animals in the zoo made me sad. Most of the animals are in cramped spaces and look depressed. The giraffe, zebra, hippo, to name a few, are in TINY enclosures with no room to run around at all. It hurt my heart, y’all. I feel disappointed in myself for contributing to this racket. I tried to tell myself I was doing some sort of good by supporting them, so that they might provide better conditions for the animals, but that’s a crock. I feel I’ve made a terrible mistake in giving them my money. My kids did enjoy the day and seeing them smile so much made me happy, but wow. I would definitely not recommend this zoo or the interactive experience to anyone.
Firstly, since there were two of them (kids, I mean), the zookeeper decided to put them in together, which I thought would be fine. I asked him how much time they’d get to spend with the animals, he said 15 minutes. I said “15 minutes per person, right?” He IGNORED me and began the interactive.
Um, I paid for TWO bracelets, at $90 each, which I assumed would allow for each child to spend 15 minutes with the cubs. That was not the case. In total, they got 20 minutes, most of which time was spent sanitizing hands between animals, and waiting around for the zookeeper to retrieve the next cub. So in total, they probably had about ten minutes, which is 5 per kid. TOTAL. RIP.
Next, I had wrongly assumed that this would be somewhat educational, wherein the zookeeper would at least explain what each animal was and a little bit about their species. Nope, nada. He didn’t speak English and barely spoke to my kids at all. I brought all of this to the attention of the employee at the front desk, who basically shrugged it off and told me “that’s not really how it works”. Ok, dude. Well if it works this way, you’re overcharging. The vibes were bad, folks. Very bad, and shady. Needless to say, I feel very disappointed.
Also, those baby cats? They’re SO young. SO tiny. Why aren’t they with their mothers? This whole thing is very “Tiger King” and again, makes me say “what the hell was I thinking?!”
Aside from this, the other animals in the zoo made me sad. Most of the animals are in cramped spaces and look depressed. The giraffe, zebra, hippo, to name a few, are in TINY enclosures with no room to run around at all. It hurt my heart, y’all. I feel disappointed in myself for contributing to this racket. I tried to tell myself I was doing some sort of good by supporting them, so that they might provide better conditions for the animals, but that’s a crock. I feel I’ve made a terrible mistake in giving them my money. My kids did enjoy the day and seeing them smile so much made me happy, but wow. I would definitely not recommend this zoo or the interactive experience to anyone.
Written 23 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Melody M
Seattle, WA24 contributions
Jan 2022 • Family
First off, this is a zoo in Mexico, not the US. It’s going to be a different experience. It surpassed our expectations! We took our 4 and 5 year old here and had a blast. You get to be so up close and personal with the animals, and even feed them. I’ve never been so close to these animals before at US
Zoos. I paid extra and got to hold a baby python, jaguar, tiger and lemur. Totally worth it. The staff was very friendly and I witnessed several of them cleaning and feeding the animals. The younger man who helped me with holding the animals was extremely nice and obviously cared about the animals. He was handling them with great care and had a connection with them. We would definitely come back again.
Zoos. I paid extra and got to hold a baby python, jaguar, tiger and lemur. Totally worth it. The staff was very friendly and I witnessed several of them cleaning and feeding the animals. The younger man who helped me with holding the animals was extremely nice and obviously cared about the animals. He was handling them with great care and had a connection with them. We would definitely come back again.
Written 17 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lacey
3 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Despite the negative reviews we had an amazing time! Yes the cages are small and there isn’t much grass however it’s Mexico. It’s super hot and it’s in the mountains it’s to be expected. We paid $90 for the interactive package and was able to hold a baby tiger, lion, snake and raccoon and it was amazing! We recommend purchasing extra bags of food (they’re cheap!) and also bringing inspect repellant as we got bitten so much!!! The zoo wasn’t very busy (4 other families around) but it was very clean and well kept and we would deffo return!!
Written 1 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
memoryseeker
Bluffton, IN2,030 contributions
What babies/cubs will be able to be held in Jan. 2020??
ttrovato
Manhattan Beach, CA4 contributions
When is the best time of day to visit the animals?
Leoslayy
New York City, NY14 contributions
I went inn October, in the afternoon and the animals were active. I don't think the time of day matters too much, as long as the zoo is still open and maybe daylight makes for better pictures.
aleahA1902
Abbotsford, Canada3 contributions
My boyfriend doesn't want to hold the animals but I do. Can he get a regular ticket and still be with me while I hold the animals? To take pictures and such
Kris B
6 contributions
Yes. He can stand behind the half wall and watch you and take pics. They won’t let him inside the area, but he won’t be more than 6 feet from you.
Ariana R
San Diego, CA10 contributions
So we are going to puerto Vallarta for 6 days, 3 days staying at a condo and 3 days at a all inclusive resort, we plan to do a snorkeling tour that we will pay for before we leave and we plan to go to the zoo and hold the baby animals so figured that price out also. We are two adults and a 9 and 3yr old. The first three days we will be eating out and maybe light shopping, how much should we plan to Spend? Is 11500 pesos enough? So 600 US dollars? Or should we plan to take 1200 US DOLLARS? Help ♥️
smalltalker65
Foxborough, MA105 contributions
Honestly, I never bring enough. And my bank allows me to re-exchange what I do not use. So split thebdiffernce, maybe?
When going to the zoo, if the petting area is not busy when you get there, do that first. Most people don't on the way out, and thus a line gets backed up, ad there is only one keeper allowing one person time in the petting area.
Have a blast!
What is the price include? And is it per family?
Thank you!
memoryseeker
Bluffton, IN2,030 contributions
Sorry, but I do not remember the price. It was just my husband and I, so I do not know if family pricing was available. It did cost per person to add on holding the cat kittens. I think it was an additional 85 (pesos) per person extra.
Melissa T
Huntington Beach, CA32 contributions
Hi! We are visiting next week, does anyone know what baby animals are there now (and perhaps their ages)?
Shane S
Calgary, Canada54 contributions
we were there March 28, 2019 and they had a lion, tiger and 2 jaguars. the lion was 4 weeks old, tiger ?? and the jags were 4 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zoologico de Vallarta
- Zoologico de Vallarta is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Hotels near Zoologico de Vallarta:
- (0.84 km) Barceló Puerto Vallarta
- (0.56 km) Hotel Casa Iguana
- (0.59 km) Villa Mia
- (3.20 km) Hotel Mousai
- (3.92 km) Villa Lala Boutique Hotel
- Restaurants near Zoologico de Vallarta:
- (0.31 km) La Choza My Tony
- (0.32 km) El Patio del Cuale
- (0.31 km) La Choza Restaurant-Bar
- (0.64 km) El Jacalito
- (0.37 km) La Choza de Toño