Guadalajara Zoo, Metropolitan zoo in Huentitan Canyon, Guadalajara, Mexico
Guadalajara Zoo is a zoological park in Cañón de Huentitán, a natural canyon on the outskirts of Guadalajara, Mexico. The facility includes several themed zones with habitats for mammals, birds, reptiles and aquatic animals, all connected by pathways and viewpoints.
Guadalajara Zoo began operating on 11 March 1988, inaugurated by President Miguel de la Madrid and Governor Álvarez del Castillo, and opened to the public on 25 March. It was the second zoo in the metropolitan area, after Villa Fantasía in Zapopan, but from the start the largest in Jalisco. A pedestrian entrance on Calzada Independencia opened on 20 July 1996, and in 2005 the park began operating as a safari.
The name comes from the city, and the park occupies the Barranca de Oblatos, also called Huentitán Canyon, a natural area the zoo works to preserve. Safari Masai Mara guides dress as members of the Masai people and explain both the savannah animals and Masai customs during the vehicle ride.
The entrance is located near the Macrobus station on Calzada Independencia, which provides a direct connection from the city center. Children between 3 and 11 years old receive reduced admission, and the pathways throughout the park are wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs.
The park houses the largest reptile building in Latin America, where visitors can see lizards, snakes and turtles from different climate zones. The aquarium was the first of its kind in an inland Mexican city and features marine animals from the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,469 contributors worldwide.
