Zoos, bioparks and aquariums in Spain: how to choose
Seeing animals from all over the world, walking through a tunnel surrounded by sharks or driving around a nature park: Spain has centres to suit every taste, almost all of them open for much of the year. These are some of the best known.
BIOPARC Valencia
In the city of Valencia. It recreates large habitats of Africa —the savannah, the wetlands and the equatorial rainforest— and the island of Madagascar, so you can see the animals in surroundings similar to their own.
Ideal for: a family morning combined with a visit to Valencia.
Oceanogràfic (Valencia)
Inside the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. It is an aquarium devoted to the seas and oceans, with habitats such as the Mediterranean, the Arctic, the Antarctic, the Oceanic Islands and the Wetlands, and an underwater tunnel that the centre itself presents as the longest in Europe.
Ideal for: sea lovers; it combines well with BIOPARC on a weekend in Valencia.
Zoo Aquarium de Madrid (Casa de Campo)
In Madrid’s Casa de Campo, it brings together a zoo and an aquarium with species from the five continents. Among its best-known animals are the giant pandas, part of a conservation programme, the koalas and the sea lions.
Ideal for: a full day out without leaving Madrid.
Zoo de Barcelona (Parc de la Ciutadella)
Right in the centre of Barcelona, inside the Parc de la Ciutadella, with a focus on conservation, research and education. Its breeding programme for the drill, an endangered primate closely related to the mandrill, stands out.
Ideal for: a central day out in Barcelona. Before you go, check its website to see whether any facilities are closed for works.
Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno (Cantabria)
In Obregón (Villaescusa), on a former open-cast mine turned into a karst landscape. The animals live in very large enclosures that imitate their habitat, with African elephants, Grévy’s zebras and white rhinos, and it can be explored on foot or by car.
Ideal for: families looking for space and nature; it is best to set aside the whole day.
BIOPARC Fuengirola (Málaga)
In Fuengirola, devoted to the conservation of biodiversity. Its route passes through tropical ecosystems of Central and South America, equatorial Africa, the Indo-Pacific, Madagascar and South-East Asia.
Ideal for: rounding off a holiday on the Costa del Sol.
Selwo Aventura (Estepona, Málaga)
An animal park focused on conservation and education, with adventure activities. It is divided into territories such as the Pórtico de la Naturaleza, the Cañón de las Aves, the Poblado Central and the Reserva de los Lagos.
Ideal for: families with children keen to be on the move; comfortable shoes and sun protection.
Aquarium de Donostia-San Sebastián
Next to the port of San Sebastián, it is both an aquarium and an oceanographic museum. Its big attraction is a 360-degree acrylic tunnel, suspended in the water, with sharks and rays; it also has a touch pool.
Ideal for: an indoor day out in the north, perfect if it rains.
Aquarium Finisterrae (A Coruña)
Also known as Casa dos Peixes, it is an ocean education centre belonging to the Museos Científicos Coruñeses. It has the Sala Nautilus, submerged inside a large tank with sharks, and an outdoor pool with a colony of seals.
Ideal for: combining with other science museums in A Coruña.
Loro Parque (Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife)
It began as a parrot refuge and today combines a zoo and an aquarium, with areas such as Planet Penguin and Katandra Treetops, a walkway among the treetops with an Australian feel.
Ideal for: a day’s visit in Tenerife.
Tips for your visit
Check the official website just before you go: the calendar, opening times and areas closed for works change with the season, and some centres close on certain days outside the summer.
Look at the map and the day’s activities (feedings, presentations) to plan your route. In the large parks, wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection.
Respect the rules: do not feed the animals, do not tap on the glass and do not use flash in the aquariums.