Bioparc Valencia

Bioparc Valencia opened in 2008 at the western end of the Turia gardens, built on the zoo-immersion principle: instead of cages and fences, the enclosures are separated by water channels, drops, rock walls and dense planting arranged so the visitor's sightline does not register them, and paths run through reconstructed African habitats, savanna, wetland, equatorial forest and Madagascar. Species include elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions, hippos seen underwater, gorillas and a large lemur area where the animals move freely around visitors. It covers about ten hectares. The design has been widely praised and copied, though the underlying question of keeping large African mammals in a Mediterranean city park remains contested.

What you actually see

• The hidden barriers - water and rock separating animals without visible fences.
• The African habitats - savanna, wetland, forest and Madagascar sections.
• The underwater hippos - a viewing window into the hippo pool.
• The free lemurs - animals moving around visitors in an open area.

When to go

March to June and September to November; Valencia summers are hot and both animals and visitors are less active. Feeding and keeper sessions run through the day and are posted at the entrance.

Honest expectations

Tickets are expensive, particularly for families. Summer heat reduces animal activity considerably. The immersion design does not change the fundamental objections some visitors have to zoos.

Nearby

The Turia gardens run east through the city; the City of Arts and Sciences is at the far end.