I wish I had done my homework a bit on this place before going - just saw overall good ratings and ran with it since the caves at the Pinnacles were closed when we planned to go. Pros: - Cages were generally clean - Some animals clearly looked like they had been rescued and now have a home like a one eyed racoon Cons: - Generally, the employees were not friendly or helpful. They did not seem happy to be there. Only one man offered to answer questions but then I never saw him again. I asked several women questions and they seemed annoyed to be bothered. One talked to me like I was an idiot because I couldn't find the electric vehicle charger in the parking lot - apparently it had been removed and she hadn't noticed. One I asked about helping a stuck animal and she never thanked me for letting her know. - The bears had almost zero shade. Wtf? Bears live in the forest. I asked an employee about it and she said they go under their shade structure, which was a little tiny space, or in the water if they are hot (see pic) - Poor hyena was pacing and panting, seemingly super stressed, in a super small concrete space. I asked an employee why he was on concrete and not dirt and she said "I have no idea, to be honest. He's not a digger." - Some of the big cats had tiny spaces. - Big birds have no space to fly. - Monkeys were also kept on concrete spaces. - I discovered a tortoise stuck in between two posts and it took me 10 minutes to find an employee to help him. - They supposedly bought their tigers from breeder Joe Exotic. - Generally, the employees were not friendly or helpful. They did not seem happy to be there. Only one man offered to answer questions but then I never saw him again. I asked several women questions and they seemed annoyed to be bothered. One talked to me like I was an idiot because I couldn't find the electric vehicle charger in the parking lot - apparently it had been removed and she hadn't noticed. One I asked about helping a stuck animal and she never thanked me for letting her know. All in all, the employees seem as stuck and unhappy as the animals. - $95 for two adults and a 4 year old for about an hour's worth of exhibits. Maybe I'm spoiled by the space, conservation efforts, genuine care and customer service at places like the San Diego zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium but this place is too heart breaking to have such good reviews. If you don't mind for-profit money making at the expense of keeping bred wild animals in way-too-small cages, this is the place for you :( read more

Monterey Zoo - Big cat habitat. No room to run or play. - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Tucked away in the outskirts of Salinas, Ca, this zoo is a secret I just discovered. It is very clean and all the animals seem very happy and peaceful. The kids really enjoyed it. The only downfall is that it was a little pricey for a small zoo. Overall I think it was really nice and would recommend. read more

The zoo has a lot of different animals from monkeys, kangaroos, tigers, lions and bears, oh my! Plus one star. It is a lot smaller than what I thought it would be, we got around the whole zoo in a little over an hour. Minus the one star. I imagined it to be bigger. Plus in the birds area, there were a lot of barking dogs which was a bit annoying and made us want to move along that area fast. It was nice to see an American Bald Eagle. They are open during the pandemic and the zoo was very careful with following the CDC guidelines to protect ourselves from other guests and staff. Plus one star! It's a bit pricey to get in $35 for adults and $25 per child, kids under 2 are free. It's not too bad to pay this price for admission but why charge a stroller fee of $8 per stroller? Minus 1 star. It wasn't busy at all when we went on a Sunday, there was plenty of parking and bathrooms were clean plus 1 Star! Gave my family something to do during this difficult time with Covid-19. read more

I don't know why anyone wouldn't give this zoo nothing but a 5 star rating !!!! It is Beautiful the cleanest zoo I've ever been too.. The animals are Beautiful and look very well taken care of !!! Each animal has a very nice and large zoo inclosure with lots of fresh water and things to entertain them No food is allowed in zoo ... which is ok keeps people from throwing there trash on ground and from feeding the animals!!! I really enjoyed this zoo and will definitely be going back !!!! read more

NOT KID FRIENDLY Stopped there while traveling with my 2 grandchildren, one of whom suddenly needed to use the restroom. Entered the ticket sales area and found no one there. Followed entrance sign hoping for restroom and heard someone calling out to us. Returned to counter and asked for restroom. Person said my grandson could go to the bathroom AFTER we purchased our tickets. I said he needs the toilet right now. She sent us back to the parking lot saying there was a bathroom there. We searched to find a porta-potty which was obscured from view from the parking lot. Sadly, we were too late and we drove away with a very embarrassed 8 year old boy in soggy pants We will not return, but we will visit and support many, many other such attractions on our trip. read more

This zoo is so wonderful!! The animals are well taken care of and it is a great local business promoting animal and conservation awareness. Great for families and safe during Covid because it's outside. read more

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

See all

We went glamping here. I would give this place a higher a review except for a few awful things I mention in the end. The tent was nice and roomy and you can hear howler monkey's and lions roaring all night. The wind was blowing against it all night which made it seem more wild. The Big Cat tent is the best one by the way should you do this. Its the best because its closest to the animals and the evening animal walk. We were able to feed the tigers in the morning which was very very cool. The breakfast they serve you was actually pretty good. Excellent staff bring animals to your tent in the evening which was also very cool. The tents overlook the zebra, elephant, water buffalo paddock . This was not so great as there are only 3 zebras and 2 water buffalo and zero elephants and over-all seemed pretty sad. Also on Wednesday two workers are out there cleaning the pond so dont expect much of this exhibit which all the tents over look. So may of these small zoos should be shut down and the animals sent to better places. Anyways the staff who bring the animals around and the ones who supervise the tiger feeding are really nice and knowledgable. Where this place goes wrong. The two girls they have running the front desk a Billy and Veronica are the rudest most unfriendly people I have ever encountered in a hospitality business. These two girls could not be worse they ruin the whole experience. If you have rude people like this on your frontline in a hospitality business you're not going to get repeat business. I wouldn't come back just because of them. The management must be negligent or absent for them to get away with it as there are many other reviews saying the same thing. Also where they go wrong the cages are way to small for some of the animals and they have many for such a small place what I would call filler exhibits of regular local animals you would find right down the street or in your backyard like Raccoons, Turkey Vultures and Seagulls....wtf let the Seagulls and Raccoons go. We all know what they look like facepalm. read more

See all

I want to be supportive and understanding...it is a small zoo and just starting out so we expected smaller enclosures and maybe not as many exhibits, which was definitely the case. But the staff was less than friendly, which was unfortunate. We were there on a Tuesday and there were very few visitors, but the staff still managed to treat us as annoyances and walked past without even acknowledging us. The grounds have potential, the animals themselves appear healthy, well-fed, and in clean environments...all the things that should make it a success. Customer service, though, must be improved or this venture will simply not make it. Oh, and the signage in the gift shop was super unfriendly..."don't touch if you're not going to buy it" and "parents, please keep your children from touching the toys" Not the way to bring visitors and their children back which ultimately could be the downfall of this business. We certainly won't be going back. read more

First of all I wish I could give no stars. This is the worst customer service I have ever experienced!! & I didnt even get to step foot on the location. I am new to the area and called about inquiring their pricing for admissions and the lady I spoke to was NO HELP AT ALL. I asked about general admissions and at first she said " all of that Information is on the website" then I said I was wondering about the VIP tours what exactly does the contain? She only said "you can feed the elephants for 8$ extra....with also saying once again "all of that Information is on the website" THEN I asked "are you able to explain and tell me more since we're already on the phone?" And she said says "uhm (chuckles) NO WE HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE WEBISTE YOU CAN GO ON THERE" before I could even say anything she I GET HUNG UP ON. Shaking my head.... I was so shocked! There are so many non tech savvy people out there and still prefer to call places for more information. What happened to good customer service??? And human interactions. Never going here OR RECOMMENDING THIS EVER!! THE WORST. read more

First off, I have to say that this Zoo is very clean and very well kept. My wife and kids visited on 11/21/20 and immediately fell in love with this location. We drove 2 hours and did not really know what to expect other then what other reviews had mentioned. They follow Covid protocols and have hand sanitizing machines just about every corner of the facility, their restrooms where clean. I've been too other zoo in the past and have found that the animals are sleeping or can't be found and our often hidden. That being said, you will find that all the animals are in plain site, this allows you and your family to really see these unique and beautiful creatures. We will definitely be back. Jesse T read more

Monterey Zoo - Beautiful striped tiger - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Honestly this is the best zoo I've ever been too. Amazing for kids highly highly recommend. Only issue is the music playing. It's like every song I never want to hear. Play some better music :) read more

Very cool little zoo! The guided tour is very cool. The keeper told you all about each animal. Their names, what they say and where they come from. It added a lot to the visit. The enclosures are pretty basic but they seem large enough and very clean. The oz part of the tour is lions, tigers, and bears. Very Cool! These enclosures were large and nice. You still get right next to the animals. For a little more you can feed the elephants. Very cool zoo. Highly recommend. read more

See all

This was the saddest zoo I've been to. The animals looked bored and lonely. The cages were bare and cold. The alligators were in a cement pond with no water. Most of the cages had only one animal in them so they had no interaction with other animals. Aside from the fact that it is way more expensive than any other zoo I've been to, it was a very depressing experience read more

Monterey Zoo - Two alligators and 1 turtle in an empty cement pond - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

So serene. Great idea for a quick weekend getaway! It's small, but perfect size for the little ones!

We had no idea a zoo was nearby. For the size they had a lot of different animals. I wish the bears and lions had bigger spaces but of course it's a zoo. Animals look well taken care of and it was very clean. Although no one likes to see animals in cages sometimes it's the only way for young people to see these animals and try to save them from extinction. read more

See all

What an amazing and unexpected experience! I had very low expectations going in but (other than 1 point, that will most likely remedy itself, when the zoo opens full time, to the public, around March-ish, 2020, )I have zero complaints. I stumbled across this while looking, on Yelp, for "something with animals in Monterey" other than the Aquarium, (as we have been there countless times) wanted to do something else. This place was the answer. The zoo currently does "tours" during the day from approximately 1pm-3pm for daily visits. You can also purchase the additional elephant feeding, which I recommend. The first half of the tour you're escorted by a guide that gives you some background on the animals. Each guide has there own approach to how this is presented. We had CJ...he was very friendly, personable and would answer any questions but I was able to overhear some of the other guides, who offered more details. The issue wasn't CJ. It was more that the place was packed that day. So, each of the tour groups, were sort of tripping over each other, but as I said, this should be resolved, later, once the zoo is open fully. The enclosures are nice and close and SUPER CLEAN!! All of the animals were fully in view, except for 2 that chose to nap. We saw animals I've never seen and I've been to zoos all over the U.S. So, that was amazing. The elephant feeding, with "Butch" was short and sweet but it was just amazing, if you keep in mind that this is kept short and sweet to accommodate all the guests and keep Butch happy. *Note: if you're child is scared and cannot walk on their own 2 feet, they will not be able to feed Butch. So, keep this in mind, at time of purchase. I will be back with the rest of the family. There are bathrooms and portable toilets at the facility. I didn't notice any snacks but I was busy enjoying the experience. I will say, I'm not a huge fan of "zoos for profit" but according to staff, most of the animals were either rescued from situations where they were raised illegally, rehabilitated animals that cannot be released into the wild or were in the film/movie industry, prior to it being illegal. Some of the animals were brought in from other zoos and this is their final resting place or could not get along with other animals. So, I feel like this is a healthy sanctuary. I did ask if they plan to breed any of the animals and was told that, at this time, they do not have that in the plans. They do not have any animals on the endangered list. So, that eased my mind. I think this is the sort of space that should be supported. There are some volunteers here that as one of the guides put it, "is her heart project". I found this to be beautiful and sincere. So, load up the family and go. read more

See all

This is an awesome zoo! The animals are all rescues - that for some reason cannot live in the wild. So, unlike a regular zoo, the selection is based on the animal's needs, not based on "show" to the public. The zoo was extremely clean and the enclosures were were well done. We have a similar zoo in Folsom, CA, and I personally LOVE these rescue type of zoos. There are QR codes at each animal enclosure that tells the story of the animal. I highly recommend this zoo for animal lovers/zoo lovers of ALL ages. Well done, Monterey Zoo. So glad we found you! read more

This zoo was so perfect! Small, quiet and clean. I was born and raised in San Jose and never knew this existed. I would say plan to spend a good 2 hours there to be able to get to everything without any rushing. They don't allow food inside but you can go to your car and eat your snacks and come back. When we went most of the cats were sleeping so we didn't get to see the big lions or anything but it's ok. Most definitely will go back. The staff was so nice also! 100% recommend read more

See all

My family and I love this zoo, and we'll be, definitely, going back to see their delightful animals. I can't wait. read more

This is a fun experience for all ages. The zoo is still under construction, so you're put in a group with a tour guide and given a guided tour. This ended up being fantastic because you were able to learn a lot about each animal. They have all types of packages depending on the experience you're looking for. Daily Tours $20 ages 15 and up $16 for children 14 & under $7 additional for "Meet and Greet" with an Elephant. You're given a handful of carrots and you get to feed one of the Elephants. This experience was amazing. The tour is at 1:00 pm every day. An additional daily tour is offered at 3:00 PM the months of June, July, and August only. Private Tours $25 ages 15 and up $18 for children 14 & under 10 person minimum (please call to book) Pachyderm Package $275.00 for one or two people $140.00 for each additional guest Private facility tour for those participating that day (not with the general public) with an additional hands-on full contact experience with our African Elephants VIP Tour $575.00 for one or two people $240.00 for each additional guest 4 hour adventure while getting to know our animals in a personal and hands-on environment. The VIP includes everything in our pachyderm package and so much more! Close encounters and full contact with two more of our "Wild Things." A catered deli style lunch with the staff is also provided. Crunch Time $40/person $35/person for B&B guests Feeding time for our "Big Cats" is one of the most exciting activities at the zoo, even for our volunteers and trainers -and you can be a part of it! You will see first hand how instinctual behavior takes over, and why safety and training protocols are so critical. Butch's Bedtime (Elephant) $40/person $35/person for B&B guests Help us herd them into their barns, give them bedtime snacks and medications, if necessary. Walk with the Animals $1,000.00 for first person $800.00 for each additional person Our day and our animals are dedicated to you for up to six hours! Your ultimate experience includes a catered continental breakfast and deli-lunch with a wine and cheese finale at the end of your unforgettable day! We will help send you off with unforgettable photos and videos and a custom embroidered shirt to commemorate a magical day spent on the Wild Side. read more

Saved for the VIP tour for mine and my husbands birthday (both around the same time) and was worth every penny. The zoo is under construction so they are currently only offering tours, but that was plenty. I'm unsure why other reviews felt it was not enough. It is a small staff and so the tour guides are also the keepers, so many of the animals were excited to see them as we passed by and would come right up to the front. Our guide, Sydney, was so knowledgeable and eager to answer any questions. Provided us with plenty of time to view each animal. The animals were well cared for and obviously loved by every staff member we met. Sydney even lives on the grounds had actually raised the kangaroo we met at the end of the VIP tour herself. We were able to interact with many animals on this tour, which is something not offered many places. They took all the proper safety measures and put the animals first while still allowing very educational interaction. Best birthday ever! Thank you Sydney!!:D read more

See all

Great local zoo. Seems very private & peaceful walking around, I love it there! Staff is kind and attentive.

This is not a real zoo. It's a roadside attraction and shouldn't be allowed. Animals shouldn't be proded and poked to act for the guests which they do with the elephants. read more

We had such a great time here. We are central coast locals and this was our first time. You really don't hear much about it, so I always forget to check it out. So glad we did! Both my kids loved it, the older saying it was her favorite zoo we've ever been to, and the little one saying she wants her birthday party here! Feeding the elephants was such a cool experience as well (additional fee of $8 pp). The tour guides were super knowledgeable and personable. We will be going back soon for sure! read more

See all

INCREDIBLE! we took the VIP tour and it was worth every penny. definitely a once in a lifetime experience. our tour guide was super knowledgeable and fun to be around. If you stay in bungalow 2 the lions will keep you up at night.... but i'm not sure if that is a bad thing. if you're able to go, go! read more

Visiting family from Southern California, we never even knew this little zoo existed. If you're looking for an experience like the LA or San Diego Zoo, this is not it...it's BETTER. Parking was not a problem, no lines to buy anything, no big crowds to wait on to see the animals. It's a sweet little zoo with plenty of interesting animals to see. A cool variety to check out, with some, I didn't even know existed. I absolutely loved how the animals are obviously respected, loved and cared for here. The zoo overall is clean, clean, CLEAN! The animals looked peaceful and happy. They have useful animal facts to review as you go along. The gift shop is packed with super cute keepsakes. The staff was friendly and helpful. My kids and I had a really great time overall & we give it TWO THUMBS UP. We will DEFINITELY be back! read more

The Monterey Zoo tour was a unique experience. We went for the 1 pm tour on a Sunday. They divided us into 2 groups that allowed for a private feel to it. The zookeeper was very passionate about their work and did a great job pacing the tour. Within the hour we were there, we saw all the animals we could before they closed. After the elephants, we did not stay to feed them, but we were able to walk in our own pace to see the lions and tigers. The cost was well worth the private tour ($20 per person). read more

We love coming to the zoo! I know only during summer they have 2 tours 1 o'clock and 3. Staff is always super friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoy feeding the elephants and watching the bear cubs roll around! Only thing we wish was that they kept the 2 tours open more months of the year, but it's def not a deal breaker for us. read more

Monterey Zoo - Feeding the elephants - Zoos Near Me - Salinas, California

OK so one of my wife's life long dreams was to interact with elephants.....and this was definitely the place for her to have this experience. We love the fact they don't breed animals, and the ones who are here are all rescue. Our guide, Lanier (fellow alum from Moorpark College), had extensive knowledge of all the animals on the premises, and was a spectacular guide. Getting up close and personal with Butch the elephant was a once in a lifetime experience. I definitely had a great time at this place and encourage folks to go there and learn about the animals. read more

See all

This is one of the best kept zoos out there! Everything is super clean, no big crowds, staff are friendly and it's a relaxing environment.

A very good experience to see the many different animals and well cared they are. Very nice staff. I highly recommend going to this zoo. They had a nice gift shop too. Clean restrooms. Right now there cafe isn't open. And plenty of parking. Take walking shoes! They have soda machines with water bottles too. A beautiful drive. Near-by is Salinas or the coast! read more

Why why why would they charge extra to bring in your own stroller? Also please turn down the piped in music...it's disturbingly loud and annoyed the big cats. Also glad they got rid of the guided tours. Gift shop reeked of urine. Please clean . Thanks. read more

This place is cool, but the customer service is totally lacking. Very rude and unfriendly and un accommodating. Our anual pass was purchased January 2020 but with Covid and the fires in place we did not take advantage of the pass. We went in July right before the fires and were informed that anual passes were not being accepted and had to pay for the day. Went two weeks ago and asked about our pass... this particular staff member said that they were fully open in June and would not extend our membership past April 3rd. I questioned this and expressed there were no emails sent out and gave her my reasonings and all she said was that there are too many people to email and it's up to the customer to keep up to date with the zoo's information. She was unaware of pass members paying in July but didn't care because all she said was "hmm well that's strange I don't know why that happened" Our kids love the animals and they have made amazing updates to the facility it just too bad that some of the staff members ruin the experience with their negative vibes. read more

My kids, my parent, and I will be glad to go to see them, again. We love this zoo. I hope that we will be able to return soon to see their amazing animals. read more

Pleasantly surprised!! I wasn't sure what to expect, and was thinking this was going to be a cheesy backyard zoo, but they ended up having a lot more animals than I thought! Our tour guide was great, she was knowledgeable and upbeat and gave a great tour! I actually liked it better than merely walking around a zoo and looking at the animals because I actually got to learn about them too! Yes some of the cages are small, but all the animals seemed happy and well taken care of. Plus, the zoo is working on expanding - which they can't grow if they don't have support! The new lion and tiger enclosures were very big and nice as well! We also did the Pachyderm Package where we got an extra hour to wash one of the elephants and feed him lots of carrots! It was great! I love elephants and it was so much fun to do! And the trunk was so much more prickly and delicate than I ever thought! I am so glad that I decided to visit this zoo and also do the upgraded tour and elephant washing! It was a wonderful experience that I won't forget and glad I didn't miss out on!! read more

See all

Tours are too Quick! Some of the employees aren't the friendliness! Not what you would expect at a zoo. No freedom. Like most zoo. In and out read more

0 star. Terrible condition for the animals. Please do your research before going. This zoo should not be allowed to exist.

My daughter did a "working interview" at this zoo in April. We flew down from Portland, OR. It was extremely expensive to fly from Portland to Monterey. My daughter worked the entire day. The zoo manager told her she had other interviews, and that she would let her know! My daughter is young and hopeful! A a month went by with no word at all. My daughter then, emailed and called numerous times. No response to her email or calls! This woman took advantage of my young daughter who was excited about working in the field she loves. This lady had her fly down there, work for free and then just BLEW HER OFF! That manager should not be allowed to treat young people this way! Give people the common courtesy of a phone call or email lady! People don't just fly from another state on a whim!! Completely rude and unprofessional! Really horrible treating people this way!! read more

This place is amazing, the animals are so cared for, the pens are clean, you never see litter, unlike the other zoo's around us. The workers are very friendly and knowledgable too. This was our second visit, we also stayed at the same 'tent' with our visit to Vision Quest, wait until you are tucked into bed and the Lions start to roar, such a memory! We did both Crunch Time (tigers) and Bed Time for Buddy (rhino) worth it!! Lots of places to eat close by and the breakfast they serve is perfect. Small fridge, small tv. read more

I visited this establishment quite a while ago and did not realize how harmful it is until I began my argumentative paper on how we should get rid of zoos. While preforming my research, I came across the term "roadside zoo"- a zoo created for the sole purpose of luring tourists with the promise of seeing typical zoo animals. While not as bad as others such as that of Joe Exotic of Tiger King, this park definitely fits the bill. Many of the animal are kept in metal cages with few additions to make it seem more caring. The animals appear extremely unhappy and are only kept to make money. If you enjoy seeing an unaccredited zoo preform borderline animal abuse, this is the place for you. read more