Is the Belize Zoo Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you want to see the wildlife of Belize up close rather than hope to glimpse it. The Belize Zoo cares for more than 150 animals of 43 native species, and it sits on the main highway west of Belize City, so a one-to-two-hour stop fits into a drive towards Belmopan or San Ignacio instead of costing you a day.

What not to miss

Featured location Belize Zoo Belize City, Belize The site covers 12 hectares, or 29 acres, and holds more than 175 animals of roughly 48 species, all of them native to Belize. Native vegetation has been left standing across the grounds, cut only by gravel paths.

The zoo began in 1983, when Sharon Matola was left caring for a handful of wild animals from a natural history documentary. It has kept to that idea ever since:

In keeping with its origins, the animals here are rescued, confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade by law enforcement, or transferred from other rehab and zoological facilities.

Start with the Central American tapir, Belize's national animal. Then look for Yucatan spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, coatimundis, white-lipped peccaries and the country's five wildcat species. The zoo also keeps 17 bird species, from scarlet macaws and spectacled owls to harpy eagles, plus two species of crocodile and freshwater turtles including the critically endangered hicatee.

The jaguars come with stories. The zoo's conflict jaguar programme has rescued more than 20 of them from conflict situations, and in 2025 it sent a female, Filly, to Milwaukee County Zoo to be paired with a son of the famous Pat the Cat.

Getting there

The zoo is at Mile 29 on the George Price Highway, roughly halfway between Belize City and Belmopan: a 30-minute drive from Belize City and 20 minutes from Belmopan, by the zoo's own estimate. The same highway carries on west to San Ignacio and the Guatemalan border, so you can stop on your way inland rather than making a separate trip.

Without a car, public buses stop at the entrance roughly every half hour in each direction, though less often on Sundays and holidays. Taxis from the international airport and from the cruise ship and water taxi terminals also offer chartered trips to the zoo and back.

When you arrive

Parking and lockers are free. Every path takes wheelchairs, strollers and walkers, the zoo has a limited number of wheelchairs to borrow at no charge, and there is an accessible bathroom. For children there is a small playground and a picnic area; outside food may only be eaten in the parking-lot picnic areas. The Harpy Cafe serves a full menu, including all-day breakfast. Pets are not allowed.

Tickets and saving money

As of September 2026, international visitors pay BZ$40 per adult and BZ$10 per child aged 3-12, while Belizeans pay BZ$10 and BZ$2. The zoo's own pages convert at BZ$2 to US$1.

If you might come back, or you are travelling as a family, check membership before buying day tickets. A foreign individual membership costs BZ$50 and includes a year's free admission; a foreign family membership costs BZ$100 and adds free admission for one more adult and two children aged 3-12.

Best time to visit

The zoo opens Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm, with last admission at 4pm, and on Sundays and holidays from 8:30am to 4:30pm, with last admission at 3:30pm. It closes on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Belize's dry season runs from January to May and its rainy season from June to November, with hurricanes mostly from September to December. Depending on the time of year, the zoo recommends closed-toe shoes, insect repellent, sun protection, rain gear and a water bottle.

Other wildlife nearby

If you also want to look for Belize's animals in the wild, two sanctuaries give useful context. The Community Baboon Sanctuary, along the lower Belize River about 31 miles northwest of Belize City, was set up in 1985 for the Yucatán black howler monkey, known locally as the baboon. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1986 as the first protected area for the jaguar. Meeting the zoo's jaguars first tells you exactly what you are looking for at Cockscomb.