Amaru Zoológico Bioparque in Azogues

Visiting a zoo by hiking is a unique concept. We had fun here, animals are happy, well-fed and their cages are big. Staff are friendly. The hike is also pretty easy and have lots of shade.

Best zoo ever. Large and natural habitats for the animals. They look very healthy and happy.

This was an incredibly difficult and strenuous adventure for me and my husband since we are older and out of shape. Lots of climbing, maneuvering, up and down the side of a mountain. Still a lot of beautiful scenery, plants, animals. If you’re older like us, drink a lot of water, take breaks.

The best zoo I have ever been to. More like a hike through the forest where you get to view animals up close. It is absolutely beautiful. It is unique in its collection of animals from the ecosystems of Ecuador. Saw animals I never knew existed.

A beautiful place to enjoy...

Best place to spend a afternoon with your family

Pretty good, but Im not sure that all the animals are rescued, at least some of them are zoo creatures. (Why are there African lions here?)The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly, they even talked to us about the animals and their behaviour.The enclosures seem reasonable, but maybe some z.B the jaguar could be bigger?

Excellent park to visit. $6 / person entrance fee and $2 / car parking. Well worth the price of admission. Its like walking through a jungle with a decent path (bring walking poles if you normally use them for hiking)Lots of different animals to see and a lot of them came out to be seen. It took us a full three hours, at a fair pace, to see the whole zoo. The views of the city were incredible too. So glad we found this gem.

Very nice hiking trail through the park. 2-3 hours of animals, birds, snakes and nature. Most animals have ample space for moving around and the viewing areas are very close to where they love to be. I have never seen lions so close.

One of Cuenca’s biggest surprises is the “zoo.” Focused on native, rescued animals (but they also have lions), this is like no zoo we’ve ever seen before. A single dirt path climbs the giant hill just outside of town as you wind around roomy, natural exhibits full of active animals.On weekends, arrive when the doors open to have most of the path to yourself. Or by arriving around 10:30, you can see the feeding of the Andean bears at 11am (at the start of your hikeand the lions at 1pm (toward the end of the route). The park staff give an educational talk (in Spanishand it is truly fascinating to learn about how they keep the animals healthy and active.Since the zoo is just on the outskirts of town (a hike up a road near Hospital del Rio), you can catch a taxi for about $5 from the center of town.For more recommendations on what to do in Cuenca, find our blog posts by searching: "Intentional Travelers Cuenca"

Wow- amazing amazing zoo. We had no idea how wonderful. Very long walk but worth every step-Wonderful exhibits and one of our kids favorite zoos! Must see in Cuenca

Fantastic place to spend a half day! Terrific walk-through aviaries and a unique hike through animal park with a variety of animals on offer. Can be muddy. Lots of up and down hiking, so average fitness likely required. Just loved it!

Amazing! Unlike any zoo Ive been too. Its like hiking and a zoo visit all in one. One of the little creatures seemed to have gotten out so that was an uber cute surprise.

WOW! Absolutely amazing place! This was a very fun experience as you can get quite close to the animals and even walk directly beside some of them. The terrain is quite rough and slippery in spots, but it feels as though you are walking through a forest (compared to a typical zoo). It takes about 3 hours to walk through, but there is so much to see, from the view, to the incredible range of animals, and so many informative signs, it is 100% worth it. We went on a Friday morning and it was very quiet - only saw 2 other groups of people visiting. A must see in Cuenca!

This place deserves 6 stars. Its an immersive eco zoo that demands your physical involvement since its all trails.Great selection of birds, cats are hit or miss since they usually sleep during the day, but for a few bucks its a great afternoon.Be warned: wear comfortable shoes and there are slippery, wet paths. Starting elevation is about 8200 feet and its all uphill from there.

Not your typical zoo. Much better. Be prepared for a 3-4 hour hike along difficult sometimes steep terrain. Worth it!

It was a very nice place to visit. They make it as natural as possible and the animals seem happy. Its a good place to take a nice nature walk. Not handicapped accessible.

Great but its a long trip y its very tired and heavy for little kids you need to be in good shape to enjoy it

This place is magical. You hike through the gorgeous andes mountains while looking at animals up close. I love how natural the enclosures and the trails are. Our favorite part is the bird enclosure where you can see incredible exotic birds up close, its an atrium with nothing between you and the birds, its so fun. Prices are extremely reasonable at only $6 for adults, $4 for kids. Weve lived here 4 months and been 3 times and every time was a unique experience.

Cuenca is a magnificent city with colonial touches but a great passion to evolve and be at the forefront in environmental and technological aspects that make it a more livable city, its clean streets, its buildings, the places to go shopping are wonderful. In this city there are many beautiful churches that are worth a visit and constantly recall the Spanish occupation, the churches are full of gold details, as if that were not enough, its parks are very beautiful, it is a city that is surrounded by rivers, thats why it is Called the city of the 4 rivers, there are archaeological ruins and numerous museums, a city that is worth visiting. The biopark is a sample of what humans can do to maintain a balance between the development of cities and nature, the animals look happy, there are a large number of well-maintained exotic animals in environments that perfectly simulate their habitats natural, simply beautiful, I wish all cities had these types of ecosystems with microclimates that help not only reduce the carbon footprint but also reduce the mental tension caused by a big city.

Amazing trails and hicking!Not your average Zoo .

Go into this with good shoes and a decent level of fitness and youll be able to fully appreciate the beautiful animals and environment. I really enjoyed this place, but you cant deny that the paths are in a terrible state and when it rains it becomes downright dangerous.

It was an amazing experience, my son truly enjoyed it. I highly recommend the visit, you learn how to appreciate and give thanks to our almighty God for the creation. We love Nature and obviously animals.

This zoo is more wild than others. Has a lot of animals, like pumas, llama, birds, etc. Also it’s a nice place for hiking.

Amazing sanctuary, you get to see so many different animals, especies and the park is just designed in a way that you feel the nature. Also they have different stations that are meant to raise awareness on pollution, fires, animal trade and other very important issues that are extremel

Great place. Lots of animals to see. Quite a hike for the loop along the hillsides dirt trail. Can be wet and muddy in places. Wear good shoes. Be prepared, there is no food allowed in the park, only water. Also only one bathroom that we encountered. Check in whatever food you have at the entrance.

Must be ready to hike a bit when you get there. Animals being able to roam, and allowing us to go into some of the animal habitats was the most amazing experience ever in a zoo.

Interesting place. Took us over 3 hours to walk around the whole thing and see all the animals. On weekends they give talks (in Spanish). Definitely worth a visit. Wear good shoes.

Wonderful little zoo. Involves hiking up a (sometimes challengingdirt trail through mountain forest with nice animal exhibits. Some (parrots, macaws, monkeysare quite interactive and most are impressive, with lots of rescued animals. Only $6 per person. Great views. As per usual in Cuenca, sun can burn quickly and afternoon rain can make things muddy.

What a hike. This zoo is in the hills that surrounds Cuenca. Not the typical leisure walk through a zoo. It was a hike that lasted us 5 hours. Some in our group were elderly and with mobility issues but we all made it through. We got to see them feed the lions. That was an experience. Only thing between you and 9 hungry lions is a chain linked fenced. So if you want a hike through jungle like conditions with periodically stopping to see animals, this is the zoo for you.

Like being in the jungle. Surrounded by nature and the exhibits feel like you are really looking at the animals in their natural surroundings. Very reasonable entry fee also. And a place to get lunch there.

A natural setting complete with dirt trails and some steep slopes (dont go after a heavy rain). Ive been told it is a sanctuary for injured animals. Incredible views of Cuenca! 🥰

This zoo is amazing. I have never experienced such an amazing time in a zoo as I did here, been to some others abroad. Definitely bring comfortable clothes, and shoes as you have go up tons of stairs on certain areas. Wear sunscreen, bring water, or buy it at the kiosks.

Fabulous zoo. Really just a hike up the side of the mountain with really cool animals along the way. Amazing cats.

So many animals and such a great environment for the animals - happy they used some of the space for education & awareness - great setup on the hill and trails - highly recommend - plan for 3 hours

Visitor of the Park on Jun30/2019Pro:* Excellent Zoo Concept.* Excellent Guides and presentation. (Birds & Lions)* Beautiful Animals.Con:* NO information about the Physical preparation You must have to attend the visit. The way the road were designed makes people goes up & down through a mountain which demand very good preparation.* It is not appropriate for OLD PEOPLE, Diabetic, or sick persons* All roads are very poor, No pavement, NO Cemented ways , NO Handrails.* There is no any emergency exit in case anybody has an accident.

This bioparque is incredible! You are very close to the animals and its a foundation rather than a typical zoo. I expected to only spend a couple hours there, but we ended up staying for 4 hours. We probably wouldve stayed much longer if we didnt already have other plans that we were running late for! This is a definite must visit for all ages as long as you are able to walk a fair distance!

It was a fun experience for the whole family. I recommend wearing shoes adequate for hiking. The zoo is a labyrinth of trails that zigzag through the forest on a mountainside that overlooks the city of Cuenca.You have the opportunity to come into close contact with monkeys and many other exotic animals. The trail is mostly covered by trees so you’re not exposed to the sun.The path can be a little difficult. I would not recommend it for people with limited mobility or the elderly. It takes about three hours to walk through and there’s not an easy way to exit midway through.

Amazing zoo up in the foothills of Cuenca. It is hilly and steep so bring hiking shoes. If its rainy might be muddy and bad. The squirrel monkeys at the restaurant were so funny they stole lots of food from us we had a wonderful time here.

Amazing. Not for anyone having trouble walking. The zoo is on a mountain. You walk through trails on the mountain to see the animals. Its so worth it. Great for kids.

Very cool! Winding dirt paths tucked into the hilly forest (wear good footwear!). Animal enclosures are super close to path and the inhabitants are active and easy to see. Kids (9 and 5never complained about the long, sometimes steep trail because the rewards around every bend were so worthwhile. You aren’t allowed to bring in food and the options available are pretty limited, but decent.

Súper cool zoo like I’ve never seen before. Lots of walking but always something to see. Great for kids.

Really amazed at the animals at this zoo. There are so many! You can easily spend 2-3 hours walking around looking at the animals. and reading the information about each specific species. They also have parts that discuss humans impact on nature and the adverse effects we play on nature.Many of the enclosures allow you to get very close to the animals. I was surprised by the open air bird sections! Its so cool!Come early and be prepared for a hike!

It is a wildlife rescue park with loads of animals safely taken care of. It is definitely worth a visit. It is not just about seeing the animal but you can learn a lot about animals and the environment.It costs less than 5 USD by taxi from the historical centre but costs about USD 6-7 to get back.It takes about 6 hours to go around the whole park.Bring plenty of water as you will be walking all day.

Awesome experience, lots of animals (watched and eagle eat a little chicken!! Or the alpha lion, Simba, fight of other Male lions that came close to the food!Its just a bit demanding since the trail goes for +5kms and with kids may take around 2:30hours

A fabulous zoo. I will try to get some photos off my camera that are better than this from my phone. Go on a dry day as the walkways are mountainous dirt trails that could get slippery. Natural setting. Pure at heart as the animals are rescued from circuses and illegal possessions. The rookery is wonderful for getting close to the smaller birds. I think I saw five Condors in flight. Remarkable views of the city. The office will call you a taxi for your ride out if needed.

A different and dinamic zoo experience, wildlife in a wild setting full of adventure and discovery for all🐯👌🏼 A wonderful conservation, research, rescue and educational center!

Its a beautiful zoo with a great view of Cuenca, sadly i went with an elderly person and my 5 years old child and it was not easy to access. It is a place for hiking and you must be aware that the rain can come any moment...as happened to me. I was stucked there for 2 hours until I decided to go down no matter the mud ...it was challenging as I was worried for my child to fall (btw..she thought it was super fun!). Besides, as soon as the rain started ...there was not one member of the staff around to show the right way to exit.

The greatest zoo I have ever been, a good place to do some hiking meanwhile you enjoy the view and the place.

This is a fantastic zoo. The setting is on the side of a mountain in the middle of a forest. Not the greatest number of animals we have seen at a zoo. However they have the best enclosures. The view of Cuenca alone is worth the visit. Be prepared to spend at least two hours here. You should know that there is a good bit of hiking and elevation changes. If it has rained recently you will be hiking through mud as the majority of the trail is dirt. NE aware that there is no chance of making the trail with a stroller, wheelchair, crutches, etc. I highly recommend visiting just be prepared for a strenuous hike. Which is a good thing as if you are like me you have been eating too many large, heavy meals.