Visiting Parque Zoologico De Chapultepec - The Mexico City Zoo

On my trip to Mexico, I visited the world famous Mexico City Zoo. Also known as Parque Zoologico de Chapultepec. It's easily accessible by taking a taxi or riding the metro. The zoo is free to enter. When you first enter the zoo you will see a historic castle that is magnificent in person. A great place to take a picture to remember your visit!

You aren't allowed to bring in any sodas, glass bottles or food from outside. Before you gain access to the 1000's of animals with over 200 species, you need to enter the shopping zone. Here people have set up shop to sell their products. You can buy anything from hats to ice cream to little toys for children. But be warned, many vendors yell to grab people's attention. And the vending places you see aren't your only options for eating. Once you've entered the zoo, there is a food court. The food court constantly has people out on the look out for any spilled drink or food. The area was surprisingly clean.

There's traditional Mexican food such a tortas which is bread with options such as cheese, ham, chicken, chili, peppers and other items. There's also McDonalds and Dominos pizza. There are McDonald's that only offer ice cream but many times do run out on hot days early. You aren't allowed to take any food into the animal section. Be aware that you do need to pay to use the bathroom. It costs four pesos or in American money $0.40 each time. The toilet paper is located outside the bathroom stalls. It might be a good idea to bring some extra toilet paper in your purse or backpack.

Once inside the animal section you'll see that the animals are in an outside setting. You can see everything from giraffes to elephants to goats, pandas and loins. For a fee of around $3.00 you can view an anaconda. I personally didn't pay the fee to see what is considered the biggest snake in the world. In between the exhibits is a McDonalds ice cream restaurant where you can sit and have a break.

Pictures of the zoo are allowed but you can't give food or touch the animals. This is prohibited and there are zoo workers watching to ensure there are no problems. The zoo's landscape is kept nicely and the grounds are all paved. For each exhibit there is an area where visitors can step off to the side and view the animal. This allowed others to keep moving along the main pathway. Also each exhibit has a small podium that explains a little history of the animal.

Leaving the zoo was a slow shuffle. You again had to go through the shopping zone and it seemed that this time there was more yelling for vendors to gain attention. This part of the zoo I didn't like, especially when a women screamed in my ear as I walked by. I suggest if you're in Mexico City to check this place out. It's a good and non expensive way to spend a day.

Official website of Zoologico de Chapultepec: http://www.chapultepec.df.gob.mx/