Caricuao Zoo

Caricuao Zoo, formally known as Parque Zoológico Caricuao, is one of Caracas' largest and most significant zoological parks, established by government decree in 1974 and opened to the public in 1977. Located in the Caricuao parish in the southwest of Caracas, the park covers a vast 630 hectares, of which 594 hectares are dedicated to the protection of natural fauna, flora, and the park's watershed, with the remaining 36 hectares developed into a zoological exhibition. The zoo features seven distinct environments, including a Monkey Forest with open-air primate enclosures, an Avifauna Lagoon home to flamingos, scarlet ibis, black swans, and capybaras, and an African Savanna section built around ruins of an 18th-century coffee plantation where elephants and hippos roam. The park also houses wild cats, reptiles, and a broad array of Venezuelan wildlife in naturalistic settings, offering families an immersive experience in one of South America's most expansive urban zoo parks.