This place is small, but packed with cool Lizards, snakes, Spiders, and more. Went today with 3 kids and they all had a great time. We were given a tour with lots of information, we got to hold a few snakes, pet a bunch of Lizards, and even walk one. The place is small, but the tour took just over an hour. I highly recommend taking a quick stop at this place. It's definitely worth the admission if you ask me. read more

See all

We discovered EcoVivarium when my daughter said she wanted to hold snakes and other reptiles for her birthday. Donny was assigned our host during our scheduled private tour. He was an incredibly informative and patient guide. He handled the random questions and wandering of attention like the pro he is. The final reveal of the last animal we saw was pretty darn amazing. I'm a organizational fanatic so the set up of the reptile cages left me wanting to help the non profit in that way. For those who aren't used to reptiles, be prepared for the smell. It's not bad, just not what you're probably used to. However, the good things the EcoVivarium is doing is beyond what can be encapsulated in this review. Your donations and visit are definitely worth it! read more

See all

I can't deal with places that are simply sensory overload so when I find an amazing place for my kids that is fun and educational, I'm all over it. For starters, don't let the size fool you. Yes, it's on the small size but it is full of animals, facts, and most importantly, the whole thing is hands on. I wish I caught the guide's name but she was amazing! Patient as the day is long! Parking was a breeze. My boys and I went on a Sunday and found a spot right in front of the business. There are public parking lots around the area. The tours run as people enter, so you're never late- you just join the tour and when it's done, you start at the beginning of the exhibits. There is so much to see- expect to spend about 75+ minutes here learning about reptiles, touching them, walking with them...it's really amazing. Admission is 8 dollars per child (over 3) and adults are 10 dollars. Ecovivarium is a nonprofit so admission is a tax deduction. If your kids love reptiles (or even have any interest in them), don't miss this hidden gem! read more

I didn't know that this museum/rescue existed. I stumbled upon it on yelp and decided to go. We were a group of 6. My kids (2) and I arrived early and had to wait for the rest of our group. While we waited we were helped by Maria, she was very sweet to my children. Maria took my boys around the front of the museum and showed them all the little reptiles at the front as well as reptile skin (shedding), she also explained to them how they operate ecovivarium. When my group showed up we were paired up with a tour guide (volunteer). It started off awesome because we were 2 adults and 4 kids. We had plenty of space around us and the boys were all getting turns to hold and pet all the reptiles. At about 5 minutes into the tour another family of 4 was added onto our group (2 adults/2children) then 5-10 minutes after another large family was added to our group (6 adults)... then it became too crowded. The last group of adults didn't have much consideration for the children as they would be the first ones with the reptiles and were definitely taking up all the space. The tour guide did his best to get the animals to the children. The volunteer, he was great. He had alot of information about the reptiles. He was very patient with all of the questions from the children. He took out almost all of the animals for them to be held or touched. Then he was beyond patient when he had all the extra adults blocking all of the childrens view, he would try to get to the children. The museum/rescue, it is a small store area on juniper in Escondido. You wouldn't believe how many reptiles they have. It is definitely worth the $10 per adult, $8 per child. You get to touch (only about 3 animals were not taken out), see and learn about all of the reptiles. The volunteers are very informative and enjoy working and teaching people about the reptiles. We all enjoyed this living museum. Besides the careless adults that joined our group... everything was awesome. I definitely recommend this rescue. Especially for children and adults who love reptiles. Also, ask about the party package they offer... we will definitely be having a reptile party this year! They have a small sign out in front of the store. There is street parking in front and also a parking area on Juniper past Grand. read more

See all

I went here on my birthday and had a great time! We chose the platinum tour -- I absolutely love snakes and reptiles, and this was everything I wanted. Our tour guide, Zev, was fantastic! They knew all of the animals that we got to meet and taught us so many interesting facts about them. Some of our favorites were Mu Shu the Crested Gecko, Lucy the Rainbow Boa, and Freckles the Royal Python (: Getting to hold and connect with all the animals was so much fun, and I also so deeply appreciate that this non-profit has rescued so many animals. We will be back! read more

EcoVivarium - Mu Shu - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

See all

Just had a private tour given by Maelstrom. They are very knowledgeable and passionate and are an excellent tour guide. The other staff were also friendly and I can tell that they do a great job caring for the animals. This place has a large variety of reptiles, amphibians, and even insects. They rescue animals that many people find "scary" or "gross" and give these animals the best quality of life possible, even with limited resources. Highly recommend a private tour if you want to learn more about lizards. It's a great educational experience. They host other events as well (e.g., birthday parties, travelling zoo). They also have resources if you want to learn how to properly care for a pet reptile. read more

What an amazing place! Our kids had the best time interacting with and learning about all their creatures. They have so many lizards, turtles, snakes, insects, and spiders! And the opportunity to touch and hold them was super exciting for the kids. Their location is very easy to get to, plenty of parking and we were able to get a tour within minutes. Well organized, very kind and knowledgeable staff. We'll definitely be back again. Highly recommend!!! read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

See all

What a wonderful and special experience! My 3 year old loves snakes and lizards. Our tour guide, Zev, was patient, very knowledgeable, humorous, and really cared/knew about each animal. My daughter is already asking when we can return! Thank you for making my daughters day! read more

Kinda hiding behind buildings. This little living museum had so much to offer!! Emily our tour guide was awesome. Recommended!! My 6 and 10 year had a blast. We learned so much about the animals. read more

See all

If you like reptiles, you should come and visit at their rescues. On a private tour the staff will let you touch, hold and tell you about some of the reptiles. They are all rescues and could benefit from a visit or donation. read more

See all

Zev gave us an enthusiastic, informative and fun tour. We got to hold and pet a wide variety of animals, from a velvety soft pink gecko to a Galapagos tortoise! We had blast! read more

See all

Well, that was interesting. Glad that other people have had great experiences, but my family did not. We paid $15/pp for a 90-minute tour and left after 15 min. There are a lot of great animals there, but I think your experience may depend on your tour guide-- and unfortunately we missed the experienced guide who was on her lunch break and received a very passionate but very inexperienced person. Our guide wasn't sure on several details about the animals, and the process was just pretty slow. She also didn't wear a mask even though there is a mask mandate currently, and the rooms are small and stuffy-- we were uncomfortable (both from lack of mask by almost the entire staff and because it was just hot and muggy). But the kicker was when our guide took out a false water cobra and stood next to two children just chatting with it around her. Fine, no big deal, right? She and the snake cleary had a bond, and it was beautiful to see. But not even kidding, this is how the conversation went: Guide: "He loves defrosted fish. He even bites them and venomates them even though they're dead." [My husband mouths to me "Is that snake venomous?!?"] Guide: "This snake is venomous, but there are no recorded bites from this snake. If you did get bit, though, all you'd need is Benadryl because it's not that bad. One time, my coworker got bit, but it wasn't that bad at all. All you need is Benadryl and to stay in bed for a week because wherever you got bit would be all swollen." My husband and I exchanged looks and just walked out-- Not because we thought we would get bit or anything but because this whole story just showed a real lack of judgment and responsibility. I mean, she seriously told us in the same breath that there were no recorded bites by this particular false water cobra AND that her coworker had gotten bit by that exact snake. And that you'd actually be in bed for a week. You can't make this stuff up. So yeah... And the fact that our reptile-loving kiddo was also ready to go after only 15 minutes just shows that the tour was kind of boring and even a little sad; cages are super small, and the coveted interaction with Ed the tortoise consisted of her with her head pressed against a wall and a super depressing story about how they obtained her (my husband says he's only 57% sure Ed was alive). Anyway, we won't be back but are glad to have donated to their animals. Wish we had seen more, but it's not the safest place to go during a Covid spike (if that matters to you-- I get that no everyone is concerned about it), the tour was slow and not super informative (again, our experience may have been different with another guide-- ours was a replacement and very passionate but not the right fit for a tour), and it doesn't seem like a place concerned with which animals are allowed to be taken out around guests. Big fail for us. [Edited to add my husband's response later: "Nothing but love for a place like that, but... money from afar. I'm not going back. They're obviously passionate, but that wasn't an OK experience. Don't write a bad review!") read more

Intimate store-front reptile exhibit. Taylor was knowledgeable about all the reptiles and did an amazing job of walking and talking just the two of us through the exhibit. She took out, and we got to hold pretty much everything that was in a good mood to be held or petted. Although the place was small, the quality of the experience made it noteworthy. They had a scorpion; turtles; tortoises; snakes- ball python, boa; green iguanas; tegu lizard; and bearded dragon. It's not a zoo and it's not big so understanding what to expect was helpful. I understand they also do winter and summer camps and children's BD parties. Fun experience. Went to Escondido for Peterson's Donuts, stayed for the reptiles! read more

EcoVivarium - Friends - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

See all

Fun, informative tour. Hidden gem in Escondido CA. I'm glad we found this place. Parking looked easy, although we chose to walk there. Lots of reptile friends to see, learn about, and even pet/hold. read more

This place is awesome. My two sons (12 and 17) just finished the platinum tour. As we were waking out the door, my 12 year old asked when we are coming back. Since we did the fancy tour, we were able to hold and touch about dozen snakes, lizards, and tortoises. Lots of fun and educational. read more

See all

We made a last minute decision to visit today and had a wonderful time. The website/Instagram hours don't match with Google so double check if they are open, but they allow walk in, hands on tours for a very reasonable price and my 2 and 4 year old had a great time. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and also so patient with my kids. This is a hidden gem for a really neat local activity to do with kids. They also do birthday parties which sounds so fun! The building is not labeled- we got lucky and saw a small sign by the parking lot entrance but the lot was big with some shady spots. We will definitely be back soon! read more

EcoVivarium - Leopard gecko - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

See all

Took our niece here for a private tour as a treat for her 9th birthday. From the outside of the building, it doesn't look like much but don't pay attention to the exterior of the building because once you enter, you will be greeted by truly warm and welcoming staff, passionate about what they do and joyful about the opportunity to share their knowledge and caring for these animals with others. This was a fantastic experience for my niece, she absolutely loved getting to hold animals she would not otherwise get to interact with. When we asked her how much she learned, she said it was so much that it was hard to remember it all! She was treated with affection and given attention and time and was made to feel special. The people that work here are truly dedicated and love what they do. We need more people like this in the world! Take your kids here you won't regret it! read more

Went today for the first time. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in reptiles, etc. A super cool place for kids to learn. Maelstrom was our guide today and did an amazing job. Extremely knowledgeable about all the animals, habitats, origins and preferences. I also appreciated the mindfulness of animals that did not want to be disturbed or handled. Check it out! read more

Interesting location and facility to store these creatures.... Not what I expected. Pros: - Tour guide staff was very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable! She was awesome! - Certain days are only private tours which is cool - rescued and donated reptiles here - get to touch most and get up close Cons: - facility is horrible: no sign of the facility, a bit run down, old building, unsanitary Understandable that it's a non profit but I suggest moving to a different location if possible... if not then clean better? Don't expect a nice reptile facility Thanks for the tour but facility and upkeep needs some work... hope they get funds soon? read more

We took the turtle tour, and even though it was a little hot in there, we had a great time. Our guide was fantastic, knowledgeable, and made it a lot of fun. read more

See all

What a fantastic adventure for our two grandsons, ages two and five. The animals are impressive and the tours are informative. Zev captivated all of us with his knowledge and fun facts. We will definitely come back. read more

The place does not look like much from the outside, but they are going to be starting to spruce up the interior. We took a private tour with Shelly for our sons birthday. Our group was 10 people which I would say is the biggest you should go due to the size of the rooms being small. Shelly was fantastic and clearly loves her job saving these animals that have not had an easy life. She was very patient with our energetic kids in our party. It was a great experience for the kids who got to hold and pet a lot of different animals. If your kids loves lizards and snakes then it will be a very special experience for them, I highly recommend it! read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

We paid for a private party for my sons birthday ! Two of the reps came to our home with the animals, and were very kind and helpful. We had to move the animals into the house due to it being so warm. They were able to keep the kids attention and even had a great craft . I highly recommend doing this at your home for a birthday party if your child loves reptiles or animals in general ! Way to go ! read more

This museum is only about two years old, and truly a hidden gem in North San Diego! Easy 3-hr free street parking all around. I was so excited to arrange a private 90-min tour for our family with the owner, Susan before the museum opened. It was even more heartwarming to get to know Susan and hear the stories of all the reptiles/amphibians! Most of which are special needs animals who have been abused/discarded/surrendered and now taken care of by Susan and Jenny (also a zookeeper at the SD Safari Park) & their team. Our kids and I got to see and hold a cobra (!), python, boa contrictor, anaconda, corn & tree snakes, green iguanas, tegus, bearded dragons, geckos, tree frogs, tortoises, tarantula, Madagascar hissing cockroach and even walk a giant monitor lizard on a leash! What an educational and amazing hands-on experience! I would highly recommend stopping here, whether you are doing a private behind-the-scenes tour with Susan or the regular Museum tour with Jenny, who was so knowledgeable. Both Susan and Jenny were careful to make sure that our kids were safe holding everything by reading the body language of the animals! We ended up doing both tours, for around 3 hours. Susan also does so much to give back to the community, including a reading program, where she brings iguanas to read with people. There is also a fantastic restaurant called Burger Bench around the corner! read more

See all

Five star review for our tour guide Madison and for this unique living museum of reptiles. We will come back again read more

See all

My 8 year niece told us about this place. We took her on Thursday. We had a wonderful experience, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and very patient with the kids. I would highly recommend this place if you love reptiles. It a great learning experience for all. read more

See all

Very nice experience to get up close and personal with reptiles, snakes, geckos, skinks, turtles and especially the Galapagos tortoise. Kei was wonderful with children and very knowledgeable and gentle with the animals. Perfect tour for any animal lover. We liked hearing the stories about all the animals who were rescued. read more

This was such a great experience! My 5-year old loves bugs and reptiles. He was beyond excited to come here. Susan greeted us and matched our kiddo's enthusiasm. She knew exactly how to engage him. She was so patient with him. She gave us so much info and introduced us to all of the animals who are very well taken care of and their habitats were clean. Susan spent the whole 2 hours with us and we can't say enough about her and her team. Money worth spent! Can't wait to go back! read more

I'm so glad that there is an organization providing rescue, rehabilitation, and education about reptiles. We booked a private visit where we were taken around the different rooms and introduced to the different rescued reptiles. It was really cool to be able to pet and interact with their big Galapagos tortoise Ed. I definitely recommend booking a tour for yourself. read more

What a neat place and a fun experience for me and my family! We were looking for a kid-friendly activity while visiting Escondido and are glad we found EcoVivarium. We went with their 90 minute tour and Madison was our guide. She was very knowledgeable and professional, introducing my kids to all sorts of snakes, reptiles, and insects. She took out a bunch for us to pet and hold. Monitor lizards! Geckos! Bull snakes! Even a rare 300 pound Galapagos tortoise named Ed. Lots of fun and fascinating facts about these cold blooded animals. Definitely worth a visit while you're in the SD area. read more

See all

Our tour guide was amazing. We could really tell she loves being around all the animals. Recommend this place to anyone who loves reptiles read more

See all

Took the kiddos in and had a tour with Zev. It was awesome. Zev is extremely knowledgeable and was great at interacting with the kids and getting them to feel comfortable with the animals and be engaged. It was our second visit here and we'll definitely be back. read more

What a cool place! We came in Thursday morning and did the hour long tour. We got to see and hold so many different reptiles! My girls loved it. They especially loved Ninja walking all around, they thought it was hilarious! Staff is super friendly and our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and patient with the kiddos. Thank you for a fun and engaging experience! read more

See all

I just took my 5 year old grandson for a tour. The tour itself was excellant. The guide, Zev, was not only knowqledgable but also very patient with the almost constant questions and comments that my grandson posed. It was a very handson experience for all in the group. I would recomend it to anyone with children, or grandchildren if they want to learn about nature. read more

Extremely unsanitary!!!!!! Many large Reptiles are left free to roam in carpeted rooms where they poop and pee right into the carpet!!!! There is no ventilation at all!! No prior warning about this either at time of tour booking which is most important when children are involved!! The noxious, rancid and stale putrid odor will trigger a gag reflex. Unfortunately children are unknowingly exposed to this level of unsanitary conditions during a tour. There are no open windows or air purifiers! Be mentally prepared to inhale reptile urine and feces in a dilapidated old condemned type of office building built in possibly the 80's. Who knows how toxic this noxious air is. I looked up and wondered if there was there was asbestos in the ceiling. In contrast, the tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and educational. Better to let them bring the animals to your outdoor location rather than visit the most disgusting animal habitat i've ever seen! This is an old office building and many animals are free to roam in individual carpeted office rooms with the door closed like giant Monitor Lizard and the large iguana. Other animals like the Galapagos Tortoise and Anaconda are sequestered in other rooms where their urine and feces is spread around as you walk into the room and onto the floor. This company needs help by a donor or donors who can pay for a proper facility for these reptiles. The tour guide was well meaning, extremely educational and passionate about these animals. Their working conditions are nothing less than vile. read more

Absolutely do not judge a book by its cover. The place is inconspicuous and small from the outside, but it is indeed a hidden gem. The admission and experience are worth more than the nominal fee they charge. You learn about each of these animals and many you can interact with as they take them out of their enclosures. It's educational and captivating at the same time. By the end, both my daughter and I were touching the reptiles. I encourage people to visit because it supports the good works these humans do for these spectacular creatures. I am especially fond of Hank. p.s. I also hope to book them for a party someday in the future. You can do in a room they have next door or they can bring some of the animals to your location. read more

See all

We really enjoyed our visit and tour. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable - especially our guide Madison. The tour was interactive and customizable - which was great especially for younger kids! read more

Outstanding place with very knowledgeable and passionate people. We have been going there for the past 5 years and our kids love it. We have also used them to bring animals to the kids school and birthday party! They are awesome and this is truly a one of a kind reptile place. Thank you! read more

I brought my Reptile loving daughter as a surprise and we both had an amazing time! The staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable and are awesome with people. My daughter and I learned so much and a big plus was seeing how much the animals are loved and cared for as if they were family! I definitely recommend this place. read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

See all

$10 admission for adults. It is well worth every penny. I came here to hold a snake because I've always wanted to, but I ended up walking out of here with a newfound appreciation for reptiles. I found that they had lovable personalities and can be quite affectionate, intelligent, and cute! Majority of the animals at EcoVivarium have been rescued and rehabilitated. The rescued animal's stories are tragic and it'll make you outraged at how terrible human beings can be. They have over 100 reptiles and rotate them often, so it may be worth it to buy an annual pass. The tour guide was humorous, extremely informative, and was able to address nearly all question questions we had about the animals. She knew everything from the story, diet, quirks, age of all the animals on display. The reptiles are trained by her, using positive reinforcement without using treats-- which is quite impressive. I've never heard of this place until I stumbled across them when looking up tegus, but they seem to be well known since people call them up to either surrender or donate their reptiles. We were able to touch and hold most of the reptiles, and even take one for a walk around the store. The tour lasted close to 2 hours. There was only 1 tour guide and a separate group came in a few minutes after us, and we had to wait for them to pay and join the tour. It made me wonder how they would've handled more groups of people coming in at various times. Beware of the museum's security guard! :) My favorites were the sulcata tortoise (the baby had a ticklish spot that I discovered), beautiful gopher snake, 1 eyed tegu, and the hide-and-seek champions red eyed tree frogs. EcoVivarium is such a hidden gem which seriously needs more publicity. They do so much good like bringing the animals to libraries and schools to educate people about reptiles. read more

See all