The Vallazoo Zoo

The Yucatan peninsula is chock-full of exotic wildlife which includes species not found in any other regions of the country. Many fall victim to the animal black market or other kinds of animal trafficking for the purposes of entertainment, such as circuses. Fortunately, places like the Vallazoo Zoo, near Valladolid, do all they can to rescue and rehabilitate these animals and maintain Yucatan’s—and Mexico’s—rich wildlife as intact as possible.

How places like this work

There are quite a few zoos around the Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya but calling them zoos is a bit of a disservice, as many are much more than that. They’re preservation centers and their animal “exhibits” are not made up of animals they caught in the wild. Quite the opposite: they’re animals that have been rescued from several forms of animal trafficking, private (and illegal) ownership, as well as places of entertainment, like circuses.

Places like Vallazoo Zoo don’t just put their animals on display but try to educate the public about their habits and importance to the overall ecosystem.

Where is the Vallazoo Zoo?

Vallazoo is on the outskirts of Valladolid, to the north, though it only takes a few minutes to drive there on highway 180, which surrounds the entire city. For reference, Vallazoo is close to the crossroads where highway 180 and the Mexican Federal Highway 295 meet.

What kind of animals can I see in Vallazoo Zoo?

As we said at the beginning, this area of Mexico has one of the richest varieties of animal species in the entire country, and here you can see a small sample living in extensive enclosures.

Here you’ll find the commonly found macaws and other types of birds, like flamingos, to the more exotic big cats, like ocelots and panthers (which, really, are just black jaguars).

Of course, the several kinds of monkeys, such as howler monkeys, couldn’t go amiss, as well as some amphibian wildlife, like turtles and crocodiles.

Other activities at Vallazoo Zoo

Other than seeing the animals, Vallazoo Zoo offers visitors a variety of other activities. There’s a picnic and camping site here, and you can spend the night at a cabin, too. Rent a bike to see the place on two wheels, or even play a round of mini golf.