Are you looking for something to do with the kids that doesn’t involve hearing the words “I’m bored”? Río Safari Elche could be just the ticket.
This lovely zoo is set in an old orchard with nearly 4,000 palm trees.
If you want to take a break from walking, there’s a small train that takes you on a 15-minute journey through various animal areas. It doesn’t stop, so no hopping on and off, but it does come with audio commentary. Prams and buggies can be left safely at the train station as it’s the same place for getting on and off.
One of the highlights is how close you can get to the animals. The ticket includes access to encounters with lemurs, giraffes, orangutans and chimpanzees, plus the people who take care of them. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can pay extra to swim with sea lions.
There are also animal shows every day featuring bears and sea lions, which happen twice a day.
Food-wise, you are sorted. There are cafés and restaurants throughout the park offering everything from quick snacks to proper homemade meals. You are also welcome to bring your own packed lunch as picnic spots are available.
How to find Rio Safari Elche
You will find Río Safari Elche on the Carretera Elche-Santa Pola (CV 865) between Elche and Santa Pola, and it’s open every day from 10:00 until 18:00. For more information, head to the website riosafari.com.
In the summer, the park opens its Splash Park, which stays open until around mid-September. It’s full of water slides, play areas for kids, pools for all ages (including two for babies), a ball park and even a solarium. The water park isn’t included in the zoo entry.
At weekends and on holidays, there are inflatable play areas and Go-Karts. These are also not included in the main entry price.
