AmaZOOnico Reviews

Very good place to understand the care of the planet's fauna

A beautiful place, trying to preserve the environment and the animals that inhabit it. Congratulations for the great work they do.

I had a very good experience when visiting this place, the guide was very knowledgeable and answered every question, and we saw almost every animal. The "Gringos" tho behaved more like "animals" and scared the animals so we didn't get to see all of them, if you plan to visit, consider this is not a zoo where you get to scream and play with animals, this is a rescue center where you have to respect and understand the guidelines given by staff! And understand that the staff can't magically make every animal pop in front of you, you might have luck or badluck the day you visit, remember this is not a ZOO?

From Tena take a bus (tell them you want to visit the Amazoonico and they drop you off next to a river). From the river just wait for a canoe or knock on the house close to the river and Don Victor will take you there for 5$, it's a 5 ride.

The visit in rescue center doesn't take more than 2 hours and there is no food so bring some snacks. You might also plan another activitiy around the area, for example visit an indigenous village, but plan this beforehand.

Experts in action that contribute to Ecuador's biodiversity visit and leave immensely happy

Observe the diversity of animals and interact with them, navigate in Canoa over the Napo River

Rough and difficult for some to walk around...many climbing steps

It is a place for the Rescue of Wild Animals in danger of extinction. From the Tena canton about 40 minutes by bus and you arrive at the pier, from the pier you must cross by canoe or barge to the Ahuano parish, from the port of Ahuano you take the boats and the trip down the river lasts about 30 minutes. If you are interested in volunteering, this place is the ideal one.

Close to Liana Lodge, this small reserve lives peacefully in the heart of the forest, animated by people passionate about animal protection, this refuge offers care and a lot of attention to its residents, whatever their species, many primates, reptiles, majestic birds and other endemic mammals, the guided tour allows us to be better aware of the problems that flora and fauna encounter since contact with humans, we decided to choose the inner tube option on the river for the return to the lodge, beautiful sensations, beautiful memories ...

This is not a zoo it's an animal sanctuary that helps to rehabilitate animals so that they can be reintroduced back into the wild, you are not allowed to touch, talk to, or feed the animals since it could interfere with their rehabilitation. There is also of plenty of free wild life rooming around such as squril monkeys, turtles, patriots and tarantulas.

Amazon experience. A must-do if you are visiting the area. The Amazoonico is a super well kept secret, with animals that you will not be able to find anywhere else. The staff here are extremely knowledgable and friendly. The animals are kept well with lots of food and prime conditions for them to be re-integrated back into the jungle (health conditions permitting). I recommend it!

A nice place, and what they do is very good, rescue animals

Very beautiful for the nature and the care of the animals I invite you to know this site

Cool wildlife refuge center! Our guide explained alot about all of the animals and why they were there

The canoe took an hour to arrive to take us down stream (which isnt the zoos fault) then when we got to the rescue someone passed us on the trail and said go to the bar to find a volunteer to give you a tour (didn t mention where the bar was) so we wondered around from empty building to building trying to find someone and a lady got upset that we were wondering around, (with such poor signage it no wonder) she took us to one of the empty buildings and unlocked the door to the gift shop to take our entrance fee and told us to wait here for a volunteer. Our (volunteer) guide was not very knowledgeable -except about the fact that there was absolutely no touching of any of the animals. A few facts were made up or opinions were told as facts when the guide didn t know the answer.

Small cages without to keep a mind from going crazy. As for the no human contact rule- if they re being rehabilitated for release-> I can completely understand but even our guide commented on how under stimulated, sad, and bored some of the animals were and I completely agree. They have so many animals there that are unfit for release for one reason or another but never to interact with people. Its like their in a fish bowl but with intelligence, problem solving skills, and a desire to interact it was heartbreaking. No to mention the center has parrots and a tapir that are domestic but visitors aren t allowed near those ones. Curious toucans, Pacing ocelots and pensive primates. Then one of the Percaris was hurt but no one could be bothered with that as a monkey escaped from its enclosure while we were walking up the trail to it...

A good adventure and excellent support for the conservation of animals in the Amazon

A very important work to recover animals to their natural habitat

Excellent work!! Rescue center staff try their best to let us know the Amazonian fauna and value this sensitive part of the planet.

A lovely walk with knowledgeable guides explaining the important work they do in trying to release rescued animals back into the wild wherever possible and to provide them with a species appropriate life where this is not possible. A fantastic outing.

It came to me more like a disguised zoo. The walkways were of a poor quality. This may well be renewed. The park is not accessible for the disabled. The beds for the staff didn't look nice, but luckily I don't have to sleep there. I didn't think I saw any animals that could be released soon. To see the dirty nameplates, some animals had been walking around for years.

It's a nice place. It's nice to see tgat they help animals and students alike

Great experience with a cooler guide who clearly cared about and enjoyed the animals. Was happy to support them and experience the different animals of the area.

Best place ive ever been
would always come back ifi could!

I invite all national and foreign tourists to visit the Amazonian animal refuge and thus they can also meet different types of wild animals in this place.

Very good place and the work they do is very interesting as they take care of the animals of the jungle.

Tranquility.
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Wonderful mission to return animals to their native environment.

Very nice place and the work they do to recover animals is very good, the places where they live are well cared for, good attention from the guides.

Volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable, got to see many animals, and was incredibly educational. I appreciated the level of explanation about why specific animals were there and how they are reintroduced to the wild.

A very special place. They take care of many species. They must make more publicity so that there is more volunteerism for Ecuadorian people

Some beautiful animals. Remeber that this is not a zoo. You will only see some of the animals the take care of. The ones they will not release

You should wear boots and a poncho of waters in case it rains, which is most likely.

We should all aim to help. Spectacular site in the Ecuadorian Jungle

Excellent work that they are developing in this center of rescue and investigation of Amazonian fauna

During covid19, they are only taking reservations. If you visit la Casa del Suizo, you can schedule a private visit by paying for the canoe ($25 per person). The visit to the zoo itself is $3 for nationals and $4 for internationals. I think is truly worth the time and the money. Most importantly, it is definitely for a good cause as most of the animals there are bring treated to get reincorporated to the Amazon Rainforest.

Very good work, it's not a ZOO. They do not expose animals to profit. They take care of them and give them the best possible life. Very top

Beautiful place. The best people and how they help animals. Place forced to visit ... it's worth it

Very educational and our guide was excellent! This amazing non-profit has a great mission to protect and rehabilitate wild animals that have been illegally trafficked or owned as pets (mistreated or too hard for owners to handle anymore). Saw beautiful flora and fauna as well as the animals. Excellent experience!

It is extremely impressive throughout the entire route, the trees, the river and the animals that can be observed ... They have to visit them wonderfully.

Excellent proposal, animals cared for in a beautiful jungle park. The current coordinator a Spanish girl does not have very good treatment with tourists or with the staff of the place. They could have more options in the souvenir shop

It was really sad to see many birds in small cage the guide told us that they are very stressed and the attack each other, I think the owner should release some of them instead of keeping them locked there.

Its still better than going to a zoo but I wish they release the animals faster and give them more space.

I was a volunteer for 5 month, and i just can tell you that its an awesome place! If you don't see all the animals ask for the reason and you will understand.

Visit Amazoonico and lern a lot more about the ecosystem, how its getting destroyed and what you can do against it! Enjoy!

I believe they should allow tour guides to actually guide at the center because the volunteers invent soo many things about those animals

Enthusiastic volunteers for the care and release of many wild animals

Wildlife refuge that is not easy but not impossible

Wildlife rescue shelter, they need support and resources to keep up their work. Sale of native crafts.

Wonderful place, very interesting tour and information. Would have preferred a little more consistent information on the species we get to encounter, but the guide was pleasant and informative.

Small animal rescue run by caring volunteers looking after injured or rescued animals from the amazon.

It is not a zoo, it is a rescue center for wildlife.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, especially the rescue and reinsertion work done by animals. Everyone who volunteers there is very kind and explains very well to each animal, their condition and the possibility of their release.
In this place you can admire parrots, macaws, toucans, anaconda, monkeys, tapirs, turtles, caimans and much more.

Knowledgeable guides, seeing a variety of physically and mentally impaired animals. Slightly sad but the refuge is doing what they can.

Rough and difficult for some to walk around...many climbing steps

Don't waste your time or money visiting. Just send them $$$ to help the animals here. VERY STRENUOUS climb in the Amazon rain forest to see animals most of us have already seen before. Only one animal was new to me. Very worthwhile organization just not worth the hell of doing 10,000 steps in hot and humid conditions.