Tucked outside the city of Belize is an amazing little zoo. It is probably the best zoo we have ever visited – and we’ve been to a lot! We were on our way from San Ignacio to Belize City on the chicken bus (painted school buses that serve as public transit) and decided to spend the afternoon here since our coach bus to Mexico is not until late evening. It made the perfect activity for our last day in Belize and I highly recommend!
Getting to the Belize Zoo is a relatively simple affair. All chicken buses that run along this highway can stop here; just let the bus driver know when boarding and they will make this stop for you. The buses don’t call out the stop so if you don’t tell them they will skip it. As is typical for public transportation here, there is no official “stop” so once you are done at the zoo, you will need to stand by the road side and wait for the return bus, which should come eventually. Be aware bus service is extra spotty on Sundays.
A HAVEN FOR BELIZE’S NATIVE SPECIES
What we loved about the Belize Zoo is its focus on conservation and education, with all animals in their care in various forms of rehabilitation. There wasn’t a single indoor exhibit here; rather there were large open air enclosures nestled in the dense jungle. The animals are native to Belize and well cared for in their native habitats. School groups come through regularly and there are even accommodations available for overnight experiences.
Cheerful, hand painted signs gave endearing character to the animals throughout the zoo. Also throughout were little viewing huts where visitors could stand sheltered from the sun (and in our case the rain). The enclosures were sometimes so densely vegetated and large that we had to wait a while for any sighting or see none at all. Patience is key at this zoo and we appreciated that visitors were provided with such great structures to view from a distance and the animals are able to enjoy peace and solitude.
A DELIGHT FOR FELINE ENTHUSIASTS
Now I’m a cat person and it is no surprise that big felines were my most anticipated animals. They did not disappoint! There is a program here where overnight visitors can accompany the zoo keepers to feed the cats after dark. If there was any regret about this trip it was not booking a stay at the zoo to experience this 
.
Between enclosures are stretches of jungle so expect to see some bonus non-zoo wildlife as well! We really enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds here as well as admiring the lush native flora. After the cats, we went on to explore the birds. For the ones that are able to fly, their cages were large enough for them to do so. A fair number of them have wing injuries and their habitats have been designed to help them stay comfortable.
Although not big in comparison to a typical city zoo, we felt the intimate size and small number of animals made for an easy and enjoyable visit. We were encouraged to sit and observe, and the quirky signage made the experience so fun and personal. I would definitely recommend making a stop here if you are traveling along this road (many visitors use this route to San Ignacio). Since the zoo is in the jungle don’t forget to bring an earth friendly bug spray and a pair of binoculars would also come in super handy!
HOW TO GET TO BELIZE ZOO
From Belize City:
By Car on the George Price Highway:
- Head west on the George Price Highway (Western Highway). The zoo is located off Mile 29. There is a parking available once inside the gate
Public Bus:
- Public buses operate from Belize City to Belmopan, and in the opposite direction. Let the bus driver know that you want to get off at the Belize Zoo and they will make a stop there just for you!
Notes: There is a cafe on site that serves meals but picnic tables are also available if you brought your own food. As well, there are lockers to hold luggage and strollers if you are like us and arrived with all your bags.
Hope you love the zoo as much as I did.
Happy Travels!
