Information
Landmark: Petencito ZooCity: Flores
Country: Guatemala
Continent: North America
Petencito Zoo, Flores, Guatemala, North America
Overview
Petencito Zoo, or Zoológico Petencito, is a small wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center set on a green, breezy island in Lake Petén Itzá, just outside Flores, Guatemala, likewise the zoo works hard to protect and care for Guatemala’s native wildlife, especially animals rescued from smugglers or found injured in the wild.Petencito Zoo’s Top Feature #1The zoo sits on a small island in Lake Petén Itzá, only a quick boat ride from Flores, where the water laps gently against the dock, in turn thick jungle wraps around the zoo, giving the animals a setting that feels like home, with leaves rustling in the warm breeze.While wandering through the exhibits, visitors can pause to take in the glassy blue lake shimmering just beyond the windows, alternatively two.At Petencito Zoo, rescued animals that can’t safely return to the wild find a permanent home, from bright macaws with torn wings to slow-moving turtles basking in the sun, therefore among the most crucial species are jaguars and pumas, the largest native cats in Central America, their paws leaving deep prints along muddy jungle trails.Spider monkeys and howler monkeys swing through the Guatemalan jungle, two of the most common primates you’ll spot rustling the leaves overhead, at the same time crocodiles and turtles roam the Petén region, their rough shells and scaled hides marking them as true natives, kind of Scarlet macaws and other tropical birds-brilliant splashes of red, blue, and gold-are often snatched from the wild for the illegal pet trade, then deer, coatis, and other native mammals-rescued locals of the forest, from nimble hooves to twitching noses.Truthfully, Three, at the same time at the zoo, you’ll learn about conservation, the fight against illegal wildlife trade, and why protecting endangered species matters-like saving the last few red pandas rustling quietly in the bamboo.Visitors can explore Guatemala’s lush rainforest ecosystems and discover simple ways to help protect its wildlife, from bright macaws to quiet jungle cats, then number four.A welcoming spot where families and nature lovers can watch deer graze just a few steps away, while the boat ride turns the trip to the zoo into a little adventure, with the splash of water against the hull making it feel like the fun starts before you even arrive, more or less Petencito Zoo sits on a little island in Lake Petén Itzá, just a short boat ride from Flores, consequently you’ll usually get there by boat, setting off from the small dock in Flores.We’re usually open every day, though the hours can change-sometimes we close just as the sun dips behind the building, to boot the zoo charges a small admission fee, and every ticket helps fund its conservation work-your visit might even help feed a rescued tortoise.Flores Island’s just a short trip away, with its colonial streets lined in bright, weathered facades, lively cafés, and a lake where you can paddle under the warm sun, in turn tikal National Park, home to towering Mayan temples, sits just an hour and a half down a winding jungle road.To be honest, The Yaxhá Ruins sit nearby, an impressive Mayan site where worn stone steps catch the afternoon sun, in conjunction with from San Miguel Viewpoint, you can take in sweeping views of Flores Island and the shimmering blue of Lake Petén Itzá.In short, Petencito Zoo is a wonderful destination for families and nature lovers, where you can watch rescued Guatemalan animals roaming in a lush, jungle-like habitat, not only that perched on the edge of Lake Petén Itzá, it offers visitors to Flores and the Petén region a mix of sweeping views and a chance to learn something new.
