Living in such a big city, it’s normal that we don’t get to see as much wildlife as many of us would love to. However and fortunately, there are places with animals in CDMX and very close to the city that allow you to live closely with them.
Love for animals is a taste that never goes out of style, and regardless of age, the fascination for the different living beings that inhabit planet earth is something that many of us have in common. That’s why we made a list of must-see places that any ‘animal lover’ has to visit at least once in their life.
Places with animals in CDMX
– Chapultepec Zoo
This enclosure of the list of places with animals preserves and cares for different species of animals, being one of the largest in Mexico, after the Guadalajara Zoo, and the oldest in the country.
It was inaugurated by Mexican biologist Alfonso Luis Herrera with a collection of 243 animals. Today it is the most visited zoo in Mexico, with more than 5 million visitors a year.
Today it has a population of 1930 animals of 250 different species, in addition to a Herpetarium and a Mariposario, which has more than 40 tropical species of butterflies native to Mexico.
There are 116 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, 93 species of mammals, 40 species of reptiles and 1 species of amphibian. Can you guess which one is the amphibian? That’s right! The salamander.
The Zoo occupies 17 hectares of the First Section of the Chapultepec Forest, and has 7 areas with special climatic and plant conditions to recreate the desert, grasslands, coastal strip, tundra, an aviary, temperate forest and tropical forest.
⏰: Open from Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
🎟️: Free tickets
Calz. Chivatito s/n, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo
– Amphibium
Amphibium, Museum of the Axolotl and Amphibian Conservation Center, is the new space of the Chapultepec Zoo. Here you will not only learn more about salamanders, but all about amphibians in general.
Its mission is to protect salamanders, as well as to promote amphibian research. It even has an artificial wetland and laboratories, where the reproduction of these animals, as well as their breeding and care, will be supported.
You will have the opportunity to see the salamanders in their natural habitat. Within the facilities there are laboratories where the reproduction of these animals will be supported and their research and care will be promoted. In other words, you will see the researchers in action during your visit.
⏰: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m
🎟️: Free tickets
Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo
– Inbursa Aquarium
This is the only aquarium on the list of places with animals and the only subway aquarium in Latin America. It measures 3,500 square meters, has five giant fish tanks and more than 40 exhibition rooms.
Here you will find crocodiles, jellyfish, corals, penguins, sharks, manta rays, piranhas, among other species.
It is worth mentioning that one of the main objectives of the site is to make visitors aware of the importance of conserving the marine universe.
⏰: Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
🎟️: General admission ticket of $260 MXN per person
Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 386, Amp Granada, Miguel Hidalgo
– San Juan de Aragon Zoo
This zoo was inaugurated on November 20, 1964; its architectural conception of “Radial Design” with semicircular exhibits, allowed the observation of the animal from any point where the visitor was located.
The San Juan de Aragón Zoo conserves approximately 709 specimens of 135 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, of which the jaguar, the Mexican wolf and the volcano rabbit stand out as endangered species.
⏰: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
🎟️: Free tickets
Av. José Loreto Fabela S/N, Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón, Gustavo A. Madero
– Farm of the Americas
This place is a theme park where children and adults alike can have fun and learn. Here the purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of the environment in which we live. You will be able to live closely with cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, puppies, ducklings, chicks and ponies.
⏰: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
🎟️: General admission ticket of $250 MXN per person
Blvd. Pípila s/n, Acceso nº 3, Lomas de Sotelo. Inside the Hipódromo de las Américas Gate 3
– Abraham Lincoln Aviary
This space began as a dovecote built in 1938. However, the bird community grew rapidly and they had to be moved to where they are currently located.
This space in one of Polanco’s most famous parks is an oasis in the middle of the chaos. Here you will find different spices from different parts of the world. Most of them are birds rescued from domestic abuse and exotic species trafficking.
The aviary and all the spaces mentioned in this list have rules and we recommend that you respect all the indications in order not to disturb the animals in any way.
⏰: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
🎟️: General admission tickets are $7 MXN per person
Av. Emilio Castelar 163, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Miguel Hidalgo
– Granja Feliz and Venadario del Bosque de Tláhuac
La Granja Feliz y Venadario del Bosque de Tláhuac is a space where children, youth and adults can live together, cuddle and feed different animals such as ducks, rabbits, cows, deer, among others.
This space, in addition to promoting healthy family coexistence, is ideal to have a nice time and encourage the proper development of our community, as well as love and respect for animals.
⏰: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
🎟️: General admission tickets are $4 MXN per person
Av. La Turba S/N, Miguel Hidalgo, Tláhuac
– Los Coyotes Zoo
This is considered a multimodal zoo, with a space for the protection of species and an environment for sports and family and social activities.
This site maintains only wildlife species considered native or endemic to the Valley of Mexico Basin.
⏰: Open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
🎟️: Free tickets
Av. H. Escuela Naval Militar S/N, Coapa, Ex-Ejido de San Pablo Tepetlapa, Coyoacán
– National Museum of the Ajolote
Also known as Axolotitlán, this is a space that seeks to bring people closer to this emblematic amphibian. Through a documentary and other activities, they share information about the current situation of the salamander, its characteristics and the causes that have brought it to the brink of extinction.
This museum is the home of Gorda, the little bird that posed for the development of the $50 bill. As you can see in the photo, she can be distinguished by the white spots on her head.
⏰: Open from Thursday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m
🎟️: General admission ticket of $50 MXN per person
Prol. 5 de Mayo 521, 2do Parque las Águilas, Álvaro Obregón
– National Biodiversity Pavilion
Here you won’t find animals alive and kicking, but that doesn’t take away from how interesting this space is on the list of places with animals.
The interactive museum has six permanent rooms with samples of vertebrates such as fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds and mammals. In addition to an impressive Wood Collection.
It also has two laboratories: Genomic Sequencing and Molecular Biology. And, on the lower level, there are artistic pieces from Museo Soumaya related to the animal kingdom.
You will find biological samples of fungi, lichens, aquatic and vascular plants, seeds, insects, algae, mites and mollusks, among others. As well as instruments (ancient and modern) that scientists use to observe them.
⏰: Open from Friday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
🎟️: Free tickets
Cto. Centro Cultural, C.U., Coyoacán
Places with animals near CDMX
– Africam Safari
Africam Safari is undoubtedly one of the main attractions in the state of Puebla, and is located just 2.5 hours from Mexico City.
This 200-hectare site is a conservation, education and research center where 2,000 animals of 250 different species live.
A different space from the list of places with animals, as here they are not caged, and it is mostly traveled by car, very safari style. You will be able to observe the animals in areas very similar to their original habitats.
⏰: Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
🎟️: General admission tickets are $350 MXN per person
Rt. to the Oasis 17302-22, Blvd. Capitán Carlos Camacho Espíritu Km 16.5, Oasis, Puebla
– Burrolandia
Burrolandia Mexico is a project dedicated to the protection of the Mexican donkey. According to Inegi data, taken up by this association, between 1991 and 2016 there were more than one and a half million donkeys in our country; however, there are currently less than 250 thousand left. That is why this park was created to protect them.
As of March 8, 2023, this sanctuary reported 86 donkeys living in its facilities. Some of these animals had been abandoned or mistreated before arriving here, while others were born on site. At Burrolandia they all receive food, veterinary treatment and the necessary care.
⏰: Open from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m
🎟️: $100 MXN general admission ticket
Calle Estación 6, La Estación, 55880 Otumba de Gómez Farías
– El Nido
Considered the largest aviary in Latin America, this space is the sanctuary and home to more than 200 species of birds, mostly endangered or threatened species.
Here you will find quetzals, horned guans, golden eagles, elegant eagles, macaws and more. It is an ideal place to connect with nature.
El Nido is a civil association dedicated to the conservation and reproduction of endangered birds. This space is kept alive thanks to donations, as it is a 100% non-profit space.
⏰: Temporarily closed
🎟️: General admission ticket of $270 MXN per person
C. Progreso S/N, Santa Barbara, 56538 Ixtapaluca
– Zacango Ecological Park
What used to be called the Zacango Zoo is now the Zacango Ecological Park. This space features animals from all over the world, including endangered species.
It was inaugurated in 1980 and declared a Natural Protected Area on August 29, 1981 thanks to the efforts of the Government of the State of Mexico.
The curious thing is that it is built in what used to be an old Franciscan Hacienda XVI century, which later belonged to the Counts of Santiago and Calimaya, is considered one of the largest and most beautiful in Latin America.
⏰: Temporarily closed
🎟️: General admission ticket of $50 MXN per person
Metepec Km 7, 52200 Santa María Nativitas