La Aurora Zoo — Attraction in Guatemala City

I thought the zoo was pretty awesome at first, it was uber clean and the animals had nice enclosures. The kids enjoyed it and we spent a lot of time there.

HOWEVER, we had a major problem with the zoo staff. After lunch we were letting the kids play on the play structure by the food court, along with about 100 school kids on a field trip. The kids were playing hide and seek and while my son was hiding behind a bush a male zoo employee grabbed him by the armed and forcefully kissed him. My son immediately told us about it and we approached the employee. The employee clearly knew what he did was wrong but openly admitted to his behavior. He told us his did it because our child didn't speak Spanish and he wanted to be friendly with him. He was clearly shocked when my husband and father in-law spoke Spanish demanding answers. Our son told us he had notice the man following him around the playground before the incident and the man admitted to it. He kept saying it was just a kiss and chased us all the way to the admin building as we went to report it. The zoo officials kept assuring us that they aim to keep visitors safe and would look into it. We were told to return in 6 days for a written report and a summary of their action taken. We returned in 6 days and discovered they had done nothing. I ask very specific questions about policies and training against inappropriate behavior towards children and was told they don't have any at all. The HR director told me that while she understood that the zoo broke our trust, that culturally in Guatemala inappropriate contact with children is rarely taken seriously. I implored her to create policies to keep the visitors safe, and prevent more serious crimes against children.

The guy targeted our son because he didn't speak English and he thought he was a girl(given his long hair). He waited until our son was briefly out of sight. He jerked him by the arm and kissed him aggressively. He admitted his behavior and said it was an impulse. He argued with my Guatemalan, Spanish speaking father in-law, saying we were just being uptight. He physically chased us to the admin office to prevent us from complaining. THE ZOO TOOK NO ACTION TO PREVENT FURTHER INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT!!

I work in social services, people who want to harm children escalate their behavior the longer they get away with it. This wasn't some cultural misunderstanding. Please keep your kids safe, the zoo SHOULD be...

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This is hands down the best zoo I have ever been to in my life, and I’ve visited quite a few over the years. There is an incredible variety of animals and exhibits, and the layout makes it easy to explore everything at your own pace. The zoo is exceptionally clean and well-maintained, which really enhances the overall experience and shows how much they care about the animals and visitors alike.

One of the things I appreciated most was how well-organized everything was—maps, signage, and pathways all made it simple to find your way around and ensure you don’t miss any highlights. There’s so much to do and see, from interactive exhibits to animal feedings and shows, making it a fantastic day out for families, friends, or even solo visitors.

I would definitely recommend setting aside at least 4 hours if you want to see everything comfortably and really enjoy the full experience. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, always happy to answer questions or share interesting facts about the animals.

Overall, this zoo exceeded all my expectations. It’s a perfect destination for anyone looking for a fun, educational, and well-organized outing. I’ll definitely be...

Would love to see more enrichment for some of the animals (to promote foraging behavior and playing, for example) like more hides/toys/vegetation/features for them to interact with.

It's depressing to see the more intelligent, social animals (like the chimpanzee and especially the elephant) in isolation from others of their species. With nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no fellow elephants to interact with, she just rocks back and forth, seemingly waiting out her days. I understand the staff is limited on what they can do, it's a problem with all zoos, and she is receiving the care she needs, but it's rather heartbreaking to watch for more than a few minutes. Some of the other large animals also behaved strangely with little to do.

I would also love for there to be more information about inspiring habitat conservation efforts!!

All that said, it's a gorgeous zoo, huge variety of animals, many water features, and it is very well maintained. There are some stellar trees in the park as well. Truely top-notch with an awesome visitor experience. Spent 4 hours there, and I want to go back...