This former crocodile farm is now an interactive zoo where you can touch and feed animals, including snakes and alligators.
At Crococun Zoo you can hold a boa constrictor, feed spider monkeys, pet a hairless Mayan dog or walk through a den of baby crocodiles (the larger ones are kept safely away!). This zoo offers many chances to get up-close with its more than 400 animals from 40 different species.
Most of the animals are native to the local jungle, and many are endangered species unique to Quintana Roo State, where the zoo is based. Crococun was once a crocodile farm that bred the animals for commercial purposes. It was nearly destroyed during the hurricane season that pounded Mexico in 1988. During the rebuilding process, the farm took on a new role as a zoological park to protect indigenous endangered species.
The only way to see inside the zoo is to take the guided tour, which is included in your entry ticket. The tour lasts about an hour and winds along a jungle trail passing by large animal pens and enclosures. During the tour, your guide will demonstrate how to touch, hold and feed the animals in ways that are safe for you and for them. You will need to buy the food for the animals.
The tours have no set starting times, since they occur continuously throughout the day. Depending on visitor numbers, the waiting time can be up to 20 minutes. Bring plenty of water with you, as it gets hot and humid under the jungle canopy. After the tour, you can rest in designated areas, but you aren’t permitted to wander unguided through the zoo.
Crococun Zoo is located in the Riviera Maya, 19 miles (31 kilometers) away from Cancun. The cheapest way to get there is by bus from the main bus station. The driver will drop you off in front of the zoo, which is open every day.