Better Than Any Cartagena Zoo: Why Loros Wildlife Sanctuary Is the Real Wildlife Experience

Searching for a Cartagena zoo to visit during your Colombia trip? You’ve probably come across places like the Aviario Nacional, Vivarium, or Port Oasis. While each offers a glimpse into Colombia’s wildlife, there’s one destination that goes far beyond observation — and gives you the chance to actively help rescue and rewild animals.

Welcome to Loros Wildlife Sanctuary, a 520-hectare (1,300-acre) wildlife sanctuary just an hour from Cartagena. It’s not a zoo — and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

🐢 First, What Wildlife Attractions Are in Cartagena?

While Cartagena doesn’t have a traditional zoo, there are a few animal-related attractions:

🦜 Aviario Nacional (Barú): A large bird park with over 170 species in enclosures. Well-maintained and educational, but not interactive.
🐍 Vivarium Cartagena: A collection of reptiles — mostly snakes, turtles, and amphibians.
🦓 Port Oasis (port area): A small zoo-style exhibit open only to cruise passengers, with a variety of exotic animals.

These are nice for quick visits — but none offer the wild, ethical, and hands-on experience you’ll find at Loros.

Why Loros Is More Than a Zoo

Loros Wildlife Sanctuary is Colombia’s only rescue and rehabilitation center for parrots and macaws rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking. But it’s not just about birds — the sanctuary is home to a rich, biodiverse ecosystem, reforestation efforts, and community-led conservation.

🐒 Wildlife You’ll Encounter

Loros protects:

12 species of parrots, macaws, parakeets, and conures
3 species of monkeys
Sloths, tortoises, iguanas, and caimans (babillas)
Over 200 wild bird species in a registered eBird hotspot

All of them roam free across 520 hectares of tropical dry forest — one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet.

What Makes It So Different?

✅ 1. It’s Not Just a Tour — It’s a Mission

Loros is about releasing rescued birds back into the wild — and helping them get there. Visitors join small, hands-on tours guided by bilingual biologists, veterinarians, and rangers, where they:

Prepare food and enrich aviaries
Monitor free-roaming parrots
Plant native trees to restore the forest
Visit the rehabilitation center to learn how parrots recover their instincts

✅ 2. The Scenery Is Unreal

Trails cross fruit orchards, hilltops, and forest paths with majestic panoramic views — and on clear days, you can even spot the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It’s nothing like the flat beach towns near Cartagena.

✅ 3. Everything Is Included

Your visit includes:

Private roundtrip transportation from your hotel
Breakfast or local snack and hydration
Delicious farm-to-table lunch prepared with ingredients from local farmers
Full access to trails, guides, and the sanctuary facilities

And yes — every visitor plants a tree before they leave.

✅ 4. It’s Safe and Professional

There’s a military post right next door, internal vehicles for emergencies, and a local health center minutes away. You’re in expert hands — even off the beaten path.

📊 Cartagena’s Wildlife Attractions at a Glance

Experience	Wild & Free Animals	Hands-On	Bilingual Staff	Meal Included	Transportation Included	Location	Size & Experience
Loros Sanctuary	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	1 hour from Cartagena (1300 acres, tropical dry forest)	Large safari-style reserve with horseback, ATV, UTV, hiking
Aviario Nacional	❌ No	❌ No	❌ Not always	❌ No	❌ No	1 hour from Cartagena	Large bird park with paths and enclosures
Vivarium	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	North Cartagena (35 min from center)	Small zoo-like area
Port Oasis (cruises)	❌ No	❌ No	❌ Unknown	❌ Unknown	❌ Unknown	Port area, cruise passengers only	Small zoo-like area (restricted access)

Final Thought: A “Zoo” That Sets Wildlife Free

If you’re looking for a typical zoo in Cartagena, Loros Wildlife Sanctuary isn’t it — and that’s exactly why it’s the better choice.

Here, you won’t just snap photos from behind fences.
You’ll walk in the forest.
Touch the soil.
Learn about parrots.
Support reforestation.
And help save animals that deserve freedom.

For travelers who care about conservation, community, and real impact — Loros is Colombia’s most meaningful wildlife experience.

🔗 www.loros.org/en