Parque de las Leyendas, Zoo in San Miguel, Peru
Parque de las Leyendas is a zoological garden in San Miguel near Lima that houses over 2,000 animals from more than 200 species and spreads across a wide site. The facility divides into themed areas for coastal, mountain, and jungle animals of Peru, plus a zone for species from other continents.
The park opened in 1964 and received all animals from the former zoo in Barranco in 1970, including two Galapagos tortoises. Since then the site has grown into a complex that links animal care with archaeological findings.
The different zones display animals from Peru's three major climate regions and bring visitors close to the connection between nature and pre-Columbian sites. Pathways wind through Maranga ruins that sit among enclosures, showing how people lived here centuries ago.
The entrance sits on Avenida Las Leyendas and opens daily from morning until late afternoon. Visitors should plan several hours to explore both the animal areas and archaeological remains.
The site houses the Ernst W. Middendorf Museum, which displays findings from the Maranga complex and was named after a German researcher. Visitors can see artifacts from ancient times directly beside living animals from the same regions.
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