jmiguel rodriguez
Outside the north-coast city of Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Loro Parque is named for the 150 parrots it started out with in 1972. But 45 years later, it’s grown both in size – by about ten times, now 13.5 hectares (33 acres) – and in the diversity of fauna living here – not just parrots, now numbering around 4,000, but dozens of other land, sea, and air species, housed humanely and with affection in facilities that have earned Loro Parque a TripAdvisor reader rating of number-one zoo in Europe and number two in the world.
Those species include alligators, chimpanzees, gorillas, jaguars, dolphins, meerkats, red pandas, penguins, orcas, sea lions, sloths, and tigers. Furthermore, as of this month, they are joined by lions from Angola, housed in the new “Lions’ Kingdom“, expertly replicating conditions in their home territory, including arid scrublands, rocky outcroppings, and even a small river.
Other features include an authentically reproduced Thai village and a 3D movie theatre. It’s not particularly cheap – 35 euros for adults and 24 for for kids (under 8 free), but it’s an experience that will enrich your visit to Tenerife immeasurably!