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One of the best attractions in the city of Cali is the zoo. The Cali Zoo (Zoológico de Cali) is the best zoo in Colombia and regarded as one of the best in South America.
Introduction to the Cali Zoo
The Cali Zoo was founded in 1969 and originally administered by the city. In the beginning, animals were kept in less than ideal conditions in narrow cages with basic care. Everything changed in 1981 when the non-profit Cali Zoo Foundation (Fundación Zoológico de Cali) took over. With contributions and support from the local government, the zoo modernized and replaced the cages with spacious habitats. Feeding and medical care greatly improved, providing the opportunity to gather better data on each species, and a breeding program was introduced. This in turn allowed for more thorough research and preservation of Colombian species in the wild.
The Cali Zoo covers 25 acres and is divided into five sections: birds, butterflies, amphibians and reptiles, ocean and river fish, and primates. It’s home to roughly 2,500 animals representing about 230 species. A small collection are from Asia and Africa, but it mostly focuses on animals native to Colombia, which sets it apart from other zoos. You’ll see tapirs and capybaras rather than elephants and giraffes. Also, the Río Cali runs through the property.
Visiting the Cali Zoo
The zoo is open daily from 9am to 4:30pm. Admission for foreigners is COP$50,000 for adults and COP$40,000 for kids (as of January 2025). There are food and drink stands throughout the zoo and a food court near the entrance. It gets very hot and humid in Cali so we recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the heat. Check the official website for more information.
The zoo is very well organized into stations. At some stations, employees are there to answer questions about the animals. However, all information was posted in Spanish only during our visits. It took us about three hours to see everything and have a quick lunch at the end.
Biodiversity Plaza
The first animals you’ll likely see at the zoo are flamingos, which are in a habitat just inside the entrance called the Biodiversity Plaza (Plazoleta de Biodiversidad).
Aquarium at the Cali Zoo
Next is the aquarium, which is housed in a beautiful tiled building with a waterfall and koi pond out front. It opened in December 1997 and covers 400 square meters.
Exhibitions represent the Amazon region, the Orinoquía region, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. There are 9 freshwater and 10 freshwater tanks and you’ll see fish such as piranhas and angelfish.
Aviary at the Cali Zoo
From there, you cross a bridge over the Río Cali to visit the aviary. It represents a humid tropical forest containing exotic birds. About 20% of the world’s bird species can be found in Colombia.
The zoo also contains a section with Andean condors. Another section with five species of owls opened in 2011.
Primates
The primate section consists of six different environments resembling the natural ecosystems of the species living inside, complete with artificial trees. You’ll see several of the 30 species native to Colombia.
Reptiles and Amphibians
The reptile section had some of the biggest crocodiles I’ve ever seen and a snake house with a few venomous snakes, pythons, and boas. Colombia is third in the world in reptile biodiversity.
African Species at the Cali Zoo
African species, including ostriches, zebras, antelope, and lions, are found in large habitats in the center of the zoo. As I mentioned earlier, there were no elephants, giraffes, or hippos.
Butterflies
The butterfly house (mariposario) allows you to walk through a space where over 1,000 butterflies fly freely. There are exhibits on the life cycle of butterflies as well. The butterfly house opened to the public in 2003 and covers 450 square meters. New specimens raised at the zoo are released in the morning.
Colombian Species
Colombian species at the zoo include animals native to the Colombian Andes, including spectacled bears, wild boars, pumas, anteaters, and deer.
Species from the Orinoquía region include an interesting habitat with iguanas, capybaras, and tapirs living together. There’s also a habitat with anteaters and coatis but neither were visible. You’ll also see iguanas running loose on the pavement.
Asian Species
In the Asian section, you’ll find tigers, white tigers, baboons, and more.
Australian Section
The final section of the zoo is an exhibit on Australian species. It focuses on animals living in the Outback, including kangaroos and emus along with a few birds and reptiles. The exhibit also promotes water conservation.
