CityBuddy
Zoológico de Cali
Best time to visit
Arrive right when gates open at 9 AM on weekdays to beat school groups and the midday heat. Morning hours are best for seeing active animals, especially the big cats and primates during feeding times.
Budget tips
General entry costs around COP 25,000-35,000 (roughly $6-9 USD). No free days are offered, but the price is already very affordable compared to US or European zoos.
Recommended for
Families with kids, Wildlife photographers, Nature lovers, Solo travelers
Plan your visit
3-4 hours
About
Quick facts: Home to over 1,200 animals from 180 species, this zoo focuses heavily on Colombian wildlife like jaguars, spectacled bears, and the colorful Andean cock-of-the-rock. Its breeding program has successfully hatched dozens of endangered yellow-eared parrot chicks, a species once thought extinct in the wild.
Highlights: The zoo's nocturnal house lets you watch kinkajous and owl monkeys in near-total darkness, illuminated only by dim red lights that mimic the night. You can walk through a walk-in aviary where hundreds of butterflies and tropical birds zip past your shoulders, landing on feeders just inches from your face.
Insider tips
- Wear closed-toe shoes and light clothing, the paths are well-paved but Cali's heat and humidity can be intense by noon.
- Skip the food court inside and grab a meal at one of the nearby restaurants on Avenida Roosevelt after your visit.
- Visit the butterfly garden before 11 AM when the butterflies are most active and the light is best for photos.
- Bring a reusable water bottle, there are free water refill stations scattered throughout the grounds.
Where to Stay in Cali
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