ZOOS & ANIMAL PARKS URUGUAY

La India - Somos Naturaleza is a wildlife rescue and care facility located at km 3.700 on the road to La Macana in Florida, in the Florida Department of Uruguay. Operating from a historic property dating to the 1800s, this NGO provides a home for rescued, abandoned, and confiscated animals, offering them sanctuary and expert care. The facility houses a diverse mix of species including monkeys, mandrills, llamas, deer, pigs, snakes, spiders, and a wide variety of birds such as pheasants, ducks, and geese, alongside a reptilarium and serpentarium. A bonsai garden and ornamental fish ponds add to the natural charm of the grounds. Visitors can hand-feed animals, enjoy horseback rides, and explore the property's lush surroundings. Open daily from 2 pm to 7:30 pm, La India Somos Naturaleza is a warm, community-focused destination for nature lovers in central Uruguay.

Medina Municipal Park, also known as Zoo Parque Medina or Quinta de Medina, is a free-admission environmental educational park located in San Carlos, Maldonado Department, Uruguay, approximately 24 minutes from Punta del Este. Inaugurated in 1970 on a historic farmstead, the park spans 14 hectares of woodland featuring willows, oaks, pines, and eucalyptus trees. It houses a variety of native Uruguayan wildlife alongside some exotic species, including lions, tigers, monkeys, llamas, reptiles, sea lions, foxes, pumas, wild boars, capybaras, and birds. In addition to animal encounters, the park offers playgrounds, grilling areas, kiosks, and open recreation spaces, making it a welcoming family destination that combines nature, wildlife observation, and environmental education in a peaceful green setting.

The Reptilario del Cerro Pan de Azúcar is a serpentarium and wildlife exhibit located within the Estación de Cría de Fauna Autóctona Cerro Pan de Azúcar, a nature reserve and zoological park situated just 6 kilometers from the beaches of Piriápolis, in Maldonado Department, Uruguay. Created in 1980, the reserve spans 86 hectares of native woodland and houses around 250 animals of 53 Uruguayan species. The reptile exhibit highlights the outstanding herpetofauna of Uruguay, presenting aquatic turtles, various ophidians, and wide-snouted yacarés in outdoor enclosures. Visitors can also enjoy tours through animal enclosures, a hilltop viewpoint, and ascent of Cerro Pan de Azúcar. Welcoming approximately 300,000 visitors annually, including many school groups, the park is a beloved educational and family attraction.

Parque Lecocq is a zoological park located in Montevideo, Uruguay, established between 1946 and 1949 based on the design of architect Mario Paysée. Home to more than 500 animals representing 33 species from around the world — including mammals, birds, and reptiles — the park serves as both a wildlife destination and an environmental education center. It runs programs for schools and institutions, contributes to conservation efforts for endangered species, and features accessible facilities including improved pathways and amenities. With its diverse animal collection and educational activities suitable for all ages, Parque Lecocq is a welcoming family attraction in Uruguay's capital city offering a meaningful connection with wildlife and nature.

The Colonia del Sacramento Aquarium, known locally as the Acuario de Colonia, is Uruguay's first aquarium dedicated to native freshwater fish species, located in the historic district of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Colonia del Sacramento. Housed within a creatively converted former cinema space, the aquarium is built as an immersive artificial grotto spanning approximately 250 square meters, with windows in its walls that let visitors observe fish in naturalistic settings. Over 30 species of fish native to the Río de la Plata and the surrounding region are on display, alongside some exotic species, with tanks designed to replicate each species' natural habitat. An innovative headphone system allows visitors to hear the aquatic environment. Open daily except non-holiday Tuesdays, it offers guided tours, educational workshops, and family-friendly programming focused on conservation and biodiversity.

Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice, also known as Ecoparque Talice, is a sprawling recreational and educational park covering 75 hectares in the Flores Department of Uruguay, located along Route 3 near Trinidad. Established in 1991 and set within a UNESCO Geopark, the reserve houses approximately 1,500 animals representing 120 species, including peacocks, eagles, anteaters, llamas, deer, monkeys, and swans. A highlight is the Deer Valley, an expansive 40-hectare area dedicated to free-roaming deer. Visitors can explore the reserve on electric bus safari tours, enjoy swan boat rides, and engage in nature observation activities. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the park provides dining, parking, and emergency services, making it an ideal destination for families and nature lovers seeking immersive wildlife experiences in rural Uruguay.

The Educativo Ambiental Quinta de Medina Park is an environmental educational park located in the Maldonado Department of Uruguay, near the city of San Carlos. Spanning approximately 14 hectares of woodland planted with willows, oaks, pines, and eucalyptus, the park is home to a variety of native Uruguayan fauna alongside some exotic species, including lions, tigers, monkeys, llamas, reptiles, sea lions, foxes, pumas, wild boars, capybaras, and birds. Originally inaugurated in 1970 on a historic farmstead, the park has evolved into a collaborative environmental education project developed in partnership with the Regional University Center of the East. Free to enter, it offers playgrounds, recreational areas, and green spaces, making it a relaxed and family-friendly destination for wildlife appreciation and environmental learning.

Zoological Garden Bioparque Javier Ferreira is a biopark and zoological reserve located approximately two kilometers from the center of Artigas, in northern Uruguay. Founded by animal enthusiast Javier Ferreira on land belonging to his family, the park houses more than 210 animals of 70 species, including a wide variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles, with an emphasis on native Uruguayan wildlife. The biopark plays an active role in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, returning recovered animals to their natural habitat when conditions allow. It serves as a practical learning environment for veterinary and biology students and is recommended by the Departmental Tourism Board as one of the area's premier attractions. Open from morning to early evening, the biopark offers visitors an engaging and educational encounter with the region's rich biodiversity.

Bioparque Melo is a wildlife park located in the city of Melo, in Uruguay's Cerro Largo Department. The facility houses a variety of animal species spread across a large property, offering visitors the opportunity to observe native and regional wildlife in an open natural setting. Among its notable features is a replica of the house where Fructuoso Rivera, the first president of Uruguay, passed away, adding a historical dimension to the visit. The biopark welcomes families, school groups, and nature enthusiasts seeking an informal encounter with Uruguayan wildlife in the rolling landscapes of the country's northeastern interior. Admission is modest, and the site provides a glimpse into the region's natural heritage alongside its historical significance.

Zoológico Villa Dolores, also known as the Jardín Zoológico Municipal Parque Pereira Rossell, is one of Uruguay's oldest zoological institutions, established in 1894 and donated to the municipality of Montevideo in 1919. Located in the Villa Dolores neighborhood of Montevideo, the zoo is part of the city's integrated departmental park and educational system. It is particularly noted for its jaguar exhibits and dedicated programming such as Día del Jaguar, which raises awareness about this endangered species. The zoo also features strong environmental education initiatives, including ornithology programs focusing on native Uruguayan bird species. With scheduled visiting hours and educational activities for all ages, Zoológico Villa Dolores offers an accessible and historically significant wildlife experience in Uruguay's capital city.

Zoo San Jose was a public zoological park located within Parque Rodó in San José de Mayo, the capital of San José Department, Uruguay. Over the course of its history, the zoo grew to house 735 specimens, primarily native bird species, and also maintained an aquarium containing more than 400 fish of various species. The facility served as a traditional family attraction and educational destination for the community for many decades. In 2026, the zoo completed its transition away from captive animals, with the last resident transferred to a new home, and the grounds are now being repurposed as a facility dedicated to the rescue and temporary care of animals, continuing to serve the community in a new conservation-focused role.

My Zoo De Rivera, locally known as Mi Zoo S.C., is a small ecological refuge and zoo located in Rivera, in northern Uruguay near the Brazilian border. Founded about 20 years ago by a couple with a deep passion for animals, the refuge houses a variety of rescued exotic and native species that are cared for with dedication by the founders. Open every afternoon, the park welcomes families, school groups, and animal lovers who wish to observe the animals up close in an intimate setting. Admission fees are modest and go directly toward the animals' food and care, giving visitors an opportunity to contribute to the welfare of the rescued animals while enjoying a personal and meaningful wildlife experience in Uruguay's northern interior.