First time taking the kids, and we went in with zero expectations. It ended up being a fantastic experience! For a smaller zoo, there was an impressive variety of animals. We took our time exploring and spent a very enjoyable ~2 hours there. The lion and tiger exhibit was the highlight -- especially the female lion lounging right up against the glass. My kids were absolutely mesmerized and could have stayed there all day. I can't believe we've lived in the Santa Cruz area for so long and never knew this zoo was here. Highly recommend it for families. We'll definitely be back soon! read more

Monterey Zoo - Female lion - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

We have visited the Monterey area many times, but this was the first time we went to the Monterey Zoo. We arrived when they opened at 10am and stayed until 11:30am. My husband and I really liked the zoo. It never felt too crowded, plus the animals weren't too spread out, so we were able to see all of the animals within 1.5 hours. It's great for toddlers and young children because you can get close up to the animals. They had a nice variety including zebras, lions, bears, tigers, lemurs, and turtles. I saw a sign that says giraffes are coming in the future! There's also a small indoor area which we almost missed. It's right after you exit the gift shop and near the restrooms. Inside they have snakes, turtles, and a tarantula. One thing to note - you can't eat snacks or food except right by the gift shop area. Only water is allowed. There is no cafe or food for sale. If you are visiting the area and want to try something different than the aquarium, I would recommend the Monterey Zoo! Our family had a great time and my kids (ages 3 and 8) really enjoyed seeing the animals. read more

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This was a great day, and did the up close and personal visit (with petting!) of the rhinos, Bash, Buddy, and Billy. Learned about their playful nature and how the zebra in their enclosure are instigators! Really a great time with guides that are engaged and really care about these animals. My husband loves rhinos, so this is the second time we visited and did the 'up close' and it was just as good or better. Really a great crew! read more

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Did the VIP tour and highly - highly recommd it. Kayla - one of the zookeepers - did the tour and it was fun, well paced and informative. We got to pet a rhino, a couple of snakes, a kangaroo, and a possum and it was really cool. The zoo had an about 30 mins outside of Monterey and 90 mins from San Jose so perfect for a day trip. Also on the same road as a bunch of wineries - we loved Odonata. The zoo is a hidden gem and well worth the trip. read more

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This zoo is clearly not a happy place for animals. They are clearly stressed. The areas they are in are so small. Do not support them again.

Wonderful little zoo. I found it so peaceful and so personal. You can really see most of the animals up close and it's usually not crowded at all, at least, during the weekdays. read more

Another great visit to the zoo. Just a update. Took some family from out of state for a treat. Not too big that you're so tired but not just a petting zoo. Looked clean enough and well taken care of. All the animals were healthy looking and most of the enclosures were full. The rhinoceros, zebra and wildebeest were new to us. Very peaceful and almost serene. Last words...see you later. read more

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We did the VIAP tour and had a great time. Getting to go behind the scenes and meet some of the animals, up close was so amazing! Definitely going back to do Crunch time, Walk with the animals and putting Buddy to bed! Well worth the time and money! read more

Monterey Zoo and Vision Quest Ranch with its Safari B & B is a hidden treasure! Never have I been to a zoo/sanctuary so well maintained, pleasant and educational. As someone who cares deeply about animal welfare, what Charlie Sammut and Vision Quest Ranch have created definitely get a 5-star rating all around. Our group had a terrific day of guided tours led by Sanka and Danielle. We learned so much from them about the animals and animal welfare. We also had a number of awesome one-on-one encounters with a variety of animals. And the Safari B&B portion of our trip really added the joy of our experience. We were lucky enough to be joined by Charlie on some of our tours and his passion for conservation and education is truly inspiring. I'll never forget, when he recognized my fear of snakes, his kind, "A snake is just an animal in a different body" ...wow, true and reassuring! The animals at Monterey Zoo are very well cared for in clean, spacious, stimulating environments. It's clear they are well loved and respected. We had an amazing experience we just won't forget. Thank you, Charlie, Sanka, Danielle and to all the other wonderful staff we met! read more

Recommend this to friends visiting for a few days while I had to work. They had such a nice time visiting this little zoo. They loved seeing all the animals up close. It was warm and so the animals weren't very active, yet due to the nature of the facility they were able to see and enjoy the attraction. They said they were really glad they went. The only detractors were that there was no food or snacks. Had there been some snacks available my friend probably would've stayed longer. Alas they were hungry and left to seek out sustenance. read more

Monterey Zoo - Statuary - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

We were down in Monterey County visiting our daughter (son in law) and our grandchildren and my daughter suggested that we go to the zoo. There are 2 parking lots lower small in front and upper hill level. We had a fun time looking at all the animals. My granddaughter was so excited to see the animals up close and personal. If you are visiting Monterey area check out the zoo your kids or grandkids will love it. Price is expensive $37 adult. read more

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The Monterey Zoo is a wonderful place to visit. We really enjoyed our time visiting the animals (especially the lemurs and lions) and walking around the property. I was impressed with how clean, quiet and how large the enclosures were. The habitats and walkways had lots of trees and plants. We were very impressed with the customer service and felt the prices were a good value. We will definitely visit Monterey Zoo next time we are in the area. read more

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This is a nice zoo in Monterey. Here are just a few things I took notice of and liked- they have a variety of animals, the property is clean, it isn't crowded, there are many shaded areas and well maintained facilities, you hear serene water sounds from the water fountains for every animal in exhibit, and there are many sitting areas with shade. We went at around 11am and many animals were asleep, except for a few. We also saw a brown bear that was awake and pacing around its area and caught one of the lions sit up from it's nap. We definitely need to try one of their feeding events in the future as that looks so much fun. All in all, we're enjoyed our visit and hope to visit again when we're in Monterey county. read more

Monterey Zoo - Lions - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

BEST zoo I've ever been to. All the same animals as major zoos like SF Zoo or Oakland Zoo but a much more private, smaller, less touristy experience. Someone in a review below called this Zoo"quaint"...I would compare going to this zoo to riding on a private jet vs taking a commercial plane. Thev had all the exotic animals you'd expect (Lions, tigers, rhinos, bears, alligators, leopards, kangaroos, zebras, cobra) and the overall venue is cleaner and smaller and much less tacky than typical big-city zoos. I can't imagine why anyone would go vet his place less than 5 stars so I looked at the reviews below...one person said they wished there were more food options. There was a snack truck and plenty of beverage machines. I didn't really mind that there weren't giant pretzels or whatever else you get at the SF zoo. Also I thought the price was fair - the woman at the front desk even pointed me towards a discounted Groupon ticket available online and immediately helped us save $5 per person. Last comment...all the animas were much closer and easier to see than at other zoos. Im not sure my photo below of the rhinos does this zoo justice. read more

Monterey Zoo - Amazingly close! - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

We revisited and did the tourist thing today... Beautifully maintained facility, friendly staff and definitely attentive to the animals. I am also sure they're super well looked after, it's a gr8 educational site for locals but on editing my photo stash it's stuck me in a really melancholy mood !... I guess thats the two sides of the zoo coin ! read more

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Great little zoo where you really get to see the animals! This place is SO clean, the employees were friendly and shared bits of knowledge as they walked by tending the animals. They have 2 juvenile lions who are so playful! The young camels are cute and friendly too! The monkeys are so cute and the baboons a little scary! As others have said, yes there are signs about that say don't touch everything, but it's sad but if parents actually watching their kid it would be fine and no signs needed. No food allowed but they do have some drink machines. We had a great time! read more

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Excellent zoo! Great for all ages. Animals are all easy to view and in a great environment. My husband and I and a group of friends spent the day at the zoo and then the evening at Vision Quest Ranch. We all had a fantastic time. We keep talking about how much fun it was. We are telling all of our friends as many people don't know this zoo exists. Spread the word. I can't say enough good things. read more

Fantastic little zoo to bring your kids for some close up animal experiences! Please just bare in mind there are small enclosures for a small zoo, so seeing animals not given the space they deserve is quite saddening and heart breaking but you can tell staff here do the best they can by keeping their cages clean and animals fed. Parking is up the hill, one way up, one way out, and have to walk down a pathway set for pedestrians. We purchased our tickets from GroupOn - look for those discounts! Despite purchasing ahead of time, recall you're at a small zoo and staff is limited, so unfortunately you'll have to line up with everyone else. We were surprised to see bears, lions and lionesses, rhinos, wildebeasts, zebras, a hyena, and other animals typically not available in smaller zoos! My wife and I had a fantastic time with our 3 and 4 year old. Definitely a fun stop on the way to Monterey or Carmel by the Sea. read more

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This small but impressive zoo is a good place to spend a couple of hours. They have 180 animals. The facilities are very nice and they have obviously invested a lot in them. The ticket price is reasonable for the experience. I would definitely recommend a visit. It was not crowded, mostly families with kids. The landscaping is attractive and the facilities are very nice. Staff is very nice too. Definitely worth a visit. They have other special programs to explore as well. read more

What an absolute gem!!! We had such a great morning here with our 6 and 4 year olds. I much prefer this zoo to the bigger ones. It's small enough that the kids can walk the entire time, but big enough that the enclosures and variety of animals are so impressive! We also loved that it wasn't crowded and it felt like we were able to get much closer to the animals than in the other zoos. It was very cool. A must do if you're in the area! read more

What a delightful experience! This zoo is on the smaller side - in the best way. It's quiet and peaceful, and the enclosures were clean and spacious. The staff was friendly and very helpful. It was such a privilege to be up close and personal with the lions, tigers, and other big cats. Even a hyena! I've lived on the Monterey Peninsula for 20 years, and this was my first visit today. I highly recommend visiting - it's a very special place, indeed. read more

My family had pleasure of booking a personalized tour--and wow, it far exceeded my expectations! From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing. The tour allowed us to get up close and personal with so many incredible animals. Some highlights include meeting the rhinos, kangaroos, and skunks (I had no idea you can get rid of their smell). We got to spray scents for the lions and feed lions blood popsicles. In addition to the lions, we saw many other exotic cats, each with their unique traits and personalities. The care and respect shown for all the animals were evident, which made the experience even more heartwarming. It's clear that the staff at Monterey Zoo are deeply passionate about the animals and their well-being. The tour was perfectly paced, educational, and so much fun. I left with a newfound appreciation for wildlife and our kids smiles will lasted for days. I cannot recommend the Monterey Zoo enough--thank you Charlie, Sanka, Danille, and everyone else for a memorable day. read more

Monterey Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

What a great zoo. Not the biggest or fanciest, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless. I felt that the animals that they did have there were so much closer than larger zoos. It made it so much easier to find the animal and take pictures. Overall, great way to spend a few hours. read more

​We spontaneously visited the Monterey Zoo and getting there right when they opened was great. Quiet and peaceful. We practically had the whole place to ourselves. ​The setup is great for families. It has different levels, and the walking isn't bad at all. It's stroller-friendly and accessible, which made a big difference. ​Seeing the big, well-designed enclosures and the happy-appearing animals squashed the "zoo guilt" I sometimes get. The environment felt great. ​My favorite was all the big cats. Hearing the Lions roar echo everywhere was unforgettable. We also really enjoyed the big field exhibit with the zebras, rhinos, and all the horned beasts roaming around. Even the birds and the neat little amphibian display were cool, even though I'm not usually into that stuff. ​If you want an easy-to-manage wildlife experience, hit up the Monterey Zoo first thing in the morning. It's a fantastic, accessible spot, and you can tell they are doing things right by the animals. read more

This is one of the most Beautiful and clean zoos I've ever been to. It is well worth taking your time away from the beach. They have so many animals I haven't seen in years. I will be telling everyone I know who comes to the area regularly. Keep up the good work. Even the gift shop is affordable and has best variety of different stuffed animals. read more

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Monterey Zoo was a very quaint zoo with great enclosures that seemed to hold happy animals. Kids were especially excited because all the animals were easily visible. Only downside was selection of animals (kids loved elephants), but they had different lions, tigers, cougars, bears, and other smaller animals. Would definitely be back next time we are in the area. read more

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We always wanted to visit Monterey Zoo and finally made it happened today. The experience exceeded our expectations and staff were super friendly. The exhibits offered a little bit of everything with animals from around the world. Great visit! read more

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It was a very nice zoo in a very nice location. It's a smaller zoo but it gives the opportunity to get to see some of the animals up close! read more

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Small, clean zoo where the animals look well cared for, although enclosures could be larger. Took my toddler grandchild and we spent about 90 minutes there and saw everything. It's a bit pricey for the size and it's a drive to get there, but it was a great outing for us. The day we went there was hardly anyone else there. A plus! read more

I am soooo disappointed in this zoo. From a customer service standpoint. I went with my sons (who has special needs) class for a field trip. It was his class and one other class that went. No other classes or customers were there. So they weren't busy. When asked where the children can have lunch the said that it would be an additional fee but the kids were more then welcome to eat there lunch on the bus. Mind you once again no one else was there. Granted I completely understand that it's a business. I got that. However how are you going to suggest a class eat their lunch on a bus when the establishment has PLENTY of outdoor sitting and was empty. read more

What a great gem of a find this zoo is. They have all kinds of animals and they seem to really care about the animals. You can really tell the animals are kept with love and care by the personalities they have . I brought my mom here and she had a time. I even brought my grandma although she was in a box . This was her final last adventure Before her send off to the after life. I got a cool shirt too. They had a great deal only 10 bucks. read more

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We were referred to this place by family. Never heard of this place. We had to breeze through due to schedule, but it was amazing!!! They had many animals that we didn't have at our own local zoo. The staff were very nice. What I enjoy about this zoo is that it doesn't focus on endangered animals as much. We got to see many animals that we see in our native area, but up close! Our local zoo shows more endangered species;l, which is great and all. But it's repetitive. We wished we were able to stay longer. Such a fun experience!! read more

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This is a really nice little zoo, with clean enclosures and a nice variety of local and exotic animals. As a matter of fact, the entire zoo was really clean and the landscaping well taken care of - something that is often lacking in larger zoos. The enclosures at the top of the hill for the lions, tigers and bears were HUGE, which is really nice to see. We had made reservations to tour the rhino exhibit and that did not disappoint. Both of the ladies that led the tour were engaging, and friendly and told us a lot about these interesting animals. They were also extremely safety conscious, which is great when you're dealing with animals that charge first and ask questions later. The tour was absolutely worth the money. Minus one star for the ticket price to get in to the zoo. Seemed a little high for a small zoo. I suggest that you include the price of general admission in the price for the special tours as a package deal. read more

My family really enjoyed the Monterey zoo. It was very clean. There were plenty of animals to see, and it was fun to read all about them. Parking is free. Food is restricted to only the eating area/tables just so guests are respectful to all the animals. This zoo is very accessible (stroller/wheelchair friendly), so guests are able to take another path to see the tigers, lion, and bears on the top of the zoo. There is a small gift shop with lots of stuff animals and other tiny toys. Overall, I highly recommend the monterey zoo. All of the zoo staff was so nice and friendly! read more

Very cool zoo to see cool animals up close definitely going to be returning Very easy to get to and love the view of the Salinas Valley below. Thank you Monterey Zoo for letting us get up close and learn about the animal. read more

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I came here on a Saturday afternoon and it was not busy. There is limited parking on the bottom so I had to park on the upper level and walk down. There were some animals available for complimentary viewing during operating hours, which is different compared to other zoos I've been to. There seems to be very little shade for some of the animals, especially in the upper level. They had a few exotic animals I have not seen at other zoos, which was interesting. The facility appeared clean and hand sanitizers were placed everywhere. The only exception was a disgusting stench that occurred midway up the stairs when the wind blows in a certain direction. The zoo is not too big and there is a lower level and upper level where you have to walk some stairs to get to. There is also a small outdoor eating area and benches everywhere to sit and rest. I thought it was odd to call a zoo located in Salinas the "Monterey Zoo" rather than the "Salinas Zoo." The entrance fees are steep and they also charge a fee to bring in your own stroller, which is too bad because I imagine many parents come here with little ones. There are also no rental strollers available. I opted to bring in a baby carrier instead. Thank goodness parking was free. read more

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I spoke with one lady who was so friendly, great customer service. I wasn't able to get her name. However, she wasn't able to assist me with what I needed so she transferred me to her manager Angie? Angie has the must RUDE, unprofessional, horrible customer service. The way she was speaking to me, admitted they over charged me by 60 dollars. But said I should have read the fine print? Ummm excuse? WHAT FINE PRINT!! I've spent so much money here, but the way she treated me makes me not want to go back. Angie I hope you're reading this, you need to really work on your customer service. I was not being rude at all. I didn't even want my money back. I was just asking if there was a way I could get credit since THEY OVER charged me. I'm very upset on how I was treated by "Angie." read more

My husband and I visited the zoo Sept 10, 2025. What a delightful experience. It's a fairly small zoo but there is a wide variety of animals. All the animals looked well cared for and their environments were spotless and all had fresh running water as well as plenty of shade. We've visited many zoos, both large and small, and this zoo is truly a delight. Do not miss the opportunity to stop in. You won't be disappointed. We'll be back the next time we are in the area. read more

Well my wife and I went on August 23. Check in was easy. Only 2 animals were not seen. One was a bird the other black panther. The park is clean and enjoyable. Had a great time read more

we just spent the weekend at the Monterey Zoo. Had an amazing time. wonderful animals and a staff that shows their passion for the care of the animals and promoting conservation for these amazing creatures. loved the clean, spacious and well thought animal spaces. highly recommend the tours that are offered. nothing makes you appreciate these majestic creatures more than being up close. read more