Guadalajara Zoo

The most important zoo in Latin America, the Guadalajara Zoo is Mexico’s answer to the San Diego Zoo. The most important zoo in Latin America, the Guadalajara Zoo is Mexico’s answer to the San Diego Zoo. It’s home to more than 2,000 animals from 360 different species, and from giraffes and tigers to penguins, sharks and exotic birds, everyone will find their favorite animals here.

The perfect day at the Guadalajara Zoo starts with Sky Zoo, the zoo’s canopied chairlift. Ride it and you’ll get a preview of what’s to come as you glide over treetops with a bird’s eye view of gorillas, bison, lions and orangutans below.

After getting your bearings, it’s time to see the animals up close. First stop: Monkeyland, home to primates from the Americas and Africa. Don’t forget to feed the cute squirrel monkeys!

Next up is Herpetario, Latin America’s largest reptile and amphibian exhibit, where about 70 species of crocodiles, snakes, lizards, tortoises and arachnids call home.

After seeing all of the creepy crawlies, stop by Selva Tropical, where you’ll learn about rainforest ecology and see chimpanzees, tigers, capybaras and anteaters, as well as macaws and other tropical birds.

By this point, most people will be hungry, and the zoo has a couple of choices. The food court offers inexpensive food options or visitors can bring a picnic lunch. Either way, the views of the Barranca de Huentitan Canyon from the dining area are gorgeous.

After lunch, relax and let the zoo’s train chauffeur you around the zoo. Get off at any stop that interests you or take the entire 45-minute loop back at the food court and continue exploring the rest of the zoo.

Next, it’s time to check out Rancho Veterinario, where children can become veterinarians for a day. They’ll learn tips about how to care for pets and also have the opportunity to visit the ranch’s petting zoo.

Then comes one of the zoo’s highlights, Safari Masai Mara. Cheetahs, antelopes and other African animals run free on a vast savannah as visitors tour the area on a jeep and even stop to feed the giraffes.

From the hot African savannah, head to Antartida, the zoo’s Antarctica exhibit. The South Pole temperatures will be refreshing and the Gentoo and Adélie penguins are delightful.

Then, visit Aquarius, the zoo’s aquarium. Ninety-five species of fish and other aquatic creatures live in its fresh and saltwater habitats, including clown fish, jelly fish, piranhas and manta rays. Those daring enough can even swim with the sharks — or rather, in a see-through acrylic capsule that lets swimmers get inches away from them without being in danger.

The last stop includes animals unlike any other at the zoo. Dedicated to the extraordinary continent down under, Villa Australiana is home to kangaroos, wallabies and several kinds of Australian parrots and parakeets, among other animals.

TIPS

• Opt for the diamond package, which includes the safari, train and Sky Zoo
• Plan to spend about four hours at the zoo
• Be prepared to walk up and down hills
• Drink plenty of water, wear a hat and put on sunscreen

Zoológico Guadalajara Essential Information

• Av. Paseo del Zoológico 600, Huentitán el Alto, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, C.P. 44390
• Tel: +(33) 3674 4488
• Hours of Operation: Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00AM - 6:00PM
• Admission: adults: 80-265 MXN, children 47-185 MXN