Surrounded by greenery, among palms, waterfalls, and exotic sounds, lies a place that at first glance you could easily mistake for a jungle. Loro Parque isn’t just another zoo to “check off” during your vacation. It’s a world of its own. Thoughtful, visually stunning, and full of powerful emotions that will often surprise you more than you’d expect.
This park in the north of Tenerife attracts millions of visitors from all over the world and raises many questions. Is it truly one of the best zoological parks in the world? What is the reality behind the beautiful scenery of the tropical gardens? And what can you actually manage to see and experience in a single day? If you’re considering a visit, or just want to know why everyone is talking about Loro Parque, let’s take a closer look.
Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, offers a wonderful day trip spent in the company of dolphins, orcas, sea lions, parrots, and many other animals. You can watch performances by the species mentioned above or just stroll among the enclosures for penguins, chimpanzees, or meerkats. In total, you can see more than 400 animal species at Loro Parque.
This 13.5-hectare zoo was founded in 1972 by Wolfgang Kiessling. Originally, only parrots could be seen here. There were about 150 of them, and the zoo covered just 13,000 m². Thanks to public interest, Loro Parque grew and more animal species were added. Today, Loro Parque boasts what is likely the world’s largest collection of parrots—around 4,000 of them live here.
Loro Parque isn’t just a modern zoo where you can watch animal shows. It is also dedicated to animal and environmental protection and scientific research.
I recommend going to the dolphin, orca, sea lion, and parrot shows, or at least seeing some of them. At the zoo entrance, you can pick up a map in English which lists the times for each performance. You need to arrive up to half an hour in advance to pick out good seats, as the shows are very popular.
During the orca show, don’t sit in the front rows unless you have a raincoat—it’s the so-called “splash zone” where water splashes during the orcas’ acrobatic stunts. The shows are interspersed with ecological talks, as this zoo places a very strong emphasis on environmental protection and animal welfare. Interestingly, the local dolphin pool is the largest in Europe. If I had to choose just one show for you to see, I’d recommend the dolphins; I liked them the most.
The penguin pavilion is also magnificent. It’s the largest indoor penguin exhibit in the world and there’s plenty to see. You’ll ride a moving walkway around the penguin habitat, from which you can watch the penguins on the ice and swimming underwater. I went back several times just to take it all in.
Don’t miss the underwater tunnel where sharks and rays will swim around you. In the surrounding aquariums, you can admire brightly colored fish, a red-lit aquarium with a (also red) octopus, an aquarium with anemones… For example, there’s a lit column full of small fish swirling inside, creating a beautiful spectacle.
On the other hand, Katandra Treetops, a large parrot aviary, disappointed me. The Loro Parque website says it’s one of the most iconic Australian bird habitats in the world. I really wanted to see it, and while we were looking for it, we realized we were already standing in it. I couldn’t believe it because we really didn’t see much.
Children will enjoy Kinderlandia, which offers tree climbing frames, suspension bridges, and a ride on the Orca Train. This playground creates an authentic jungle adventure experience. Adults can have a coffee here while their children run around in the treetops.
Overall, Loro Parque is a pleasant trip near Puerto de la Cruz. Set aside at least three hours for it, but you can easily spend the whole day here and you certainly won’t be bored. You can take a tourist train from the center of Puerto, which runs every twenty minutes and is free. If you plan to come by car, Loro Parque has its own underground parking right on site.
A visit to Loro Parque can also be combined with a swim at Playa Jardín, a beach with black volcanic sand just a 10–15 minute walk from the park. The beach is surrounded by greenery and gardens designed by the famous Lanzarote artist César Manrique, and has showers, toilets, and nearby restaurants. Thanks to the waves, it’s also popular with surfers; the surf can sometimes be stronger for swimming, so it’s worth watching the flags and current conditions.
There are plenty of restaurants in Loro Parque, but you can also bring your own food and drink; there are enough places to sit down and have a quiet snack. Visitor toilets are a matter of course. It’s open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM and the entrance fee (as of January 2026) is 44 euros.
It’s a good idea to buy your ticket in advance for Loro Parque; it will save you waiting in line. If you also want to visit Siam Park, you can buy a combined ticket for both attractions, which is cheaper.
Accommodation in Puerto de la Cruz
We stayed in a pleasant studio in Puerto de la Cruz, but we missed having a balcony a bit. Today I would choose Apartamento Sandra, which is by the sea and offers an outdoor pool, terrace, kitchenette, heating, and free parking.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly but high-quality option, book Estudio Edificio Emblemático Primera Línea in Puerto de la Cruz. The studio has a kitchenette, a year-round outdoor pool is available, and Playa de Martiánez is just 200 meters away. The only complication might be the parking lot located 1.4 km from the accommodation. The price for a week’s stay at the time of writing this article is 9,330 CZK.
Another cheap accommodation option is Casa TATIANA, a highly-rated apartment with a kitchenette, outdoor pool, and terrace. The apartments have pool and garden views. Playa Jardín is only 400 meters away. The price for a week’s stay at the time of writing this article is 11,730 CZK.
Tenerife Guide
Read about what to do, experience, and see in Tenerife: Tenerife Guide – 46 best tips on what to see and do in Tenerife
Tenerife map for download
I’ve prepared a detailed digital map for you, where you’ll find over 50 things worth seeing in Tenerife. These are the ones I write about in this article. You’ll also find various accommodation options in it. You can download it for the price of one beer in Prague 🙂
Tenerife Tour
Don’t want to worry about anything? Buy a trip to Tenerife with yoga by the Atlantic and a climb up El Teide flying from Prague. You’ll explore the historic center of Puerto de la Cruz, head to Las Cañadas del Teide National Park, and experience an adrenaline-filled drive across the crater floor and through the Masca mountain gorge. You’ll go on a trek around the El Chinyero volcano, see the beautiful corners of Orotava, enjoy a trek in the Anaga mountains with a visit to the cave village of Chinamada, and discover San Cristóbal de la Laguna with its UNESCO-listed historic center. And in between, you’ll have a nice stretch with a yoga instructor.
Ahoj, já jsem Hela. Cestování je pro mě radost i detektivní práce zároveň. Před každou cestou totiž nadšeně prozkoumávám všechno, co se o daném místě dá zjistit, od zajímavostí a historie až po praktické detaily, které se při plánování opravdu hodí.
Právě proto vznikla Všudybylka. Sdílím tu přehledné průvodce, tipy na ubytování, nápady kam vyrazit v různých částech roku i recenze cestovatelského vybavení, které mi na cestách skutečně pomohlo.
Když zrovna necestuji, najdete mě zabranou do dobré fantasy nebo sci-fi knihy s některou z mých pěti potkanek na rameni.
