There are several good zoos near Calpe, with three around 30 minutes to just over an hour’s drive away and a couple more worth travelling further for if you want to make a full day of it.
If you’re looking for somewhere to take the kids, entertaining grandchildren who are staying with you, or simply want a change from another day at the beach, there are some good options nearby.
Here’s how I’d compare them and which ones I think suit different ages best.
Terra Natura, Benidorm
Around 30 to 40 minutes from Calpe, Terra Natura is the largest wildlife park nearby and probably the best all-round zoo option.
The park is divided into three themed areas. Asia is where you’ll find some of the biggest animals, including elephants, tigers and rhinos. The enclosures are designed so that fences and barriers don’t dominate the view, which makes it feel like you’re much closer to the animals.
The America area has jaguars, monkeys and a walk-through aviary where tropical birds can fly above you as you make your way through.
Pangea, near the entrance, is home to the Venomous Creatures exhibition, with dart frogs, scorpions, tarantulas and snakes. It tends to be one of those areas children either find fascinating or want to get through as quickly as possible.
There are also birds of prey activities during the day, so it’s worth checking the timetable when you arrive and planning the rest of your visit around anything you want to see.
Allow around four or five hours if you want to see the park without rushing. There are places to eat and shaded areas around the park, which makes a difference during the hotter months.
In summer, you can also combine Terra Natura with Aqua Natura, the water park next door. Some ticket options include entry to both, so you can spend the morning seeing the animals and move over to the pools and slides later in the day when it gets hotter.
If you only plan to visit one zoo near Calpe, Terra Natura would probably be my first choice.
Mundomar, Benidorm
Around 30 to 40 minutes from Calpe, Mundomar is a smaller animal park in Benidorm that focuses mainly on marine animals and exotic birds.
The dolphin and sea lion shows are a big part of the visit and tend to be especially popular with younger children. Away from the shows, you can also see penguins, flamingos, lemurs, sea turtles, parrots and a range of other tropical birds.
Mundomar is much smaller than Terra Natura, which can actually be an advantage if you have younger children or don’t want to spend an entire day walking around a large park. You can comfortably see most of it in half a day without feeling rushed.
Aqualandia is right next door, so during the warmer months you can visit Mundomar in the morning and spend the afternoon at the water park.
If I were choosing between Mundomar and Terra Natura, I’d pick Mundomar for younger children or a shorter day out, while Terra Natura is the better choice if you want a larger zoo with a wider range of animals.
Safari Aitana
Safari Aitana is around an hour from Calpe, in the mountains near Penàguila. The final part of the drive is along winding mountain roads, so I’d allow a little over an hour to get there.
Safari Aitana is very different from a normal zoo. Instead of walking from enclosure to enclosure, you drive through the park in your own car and see the animals from inside the vehicle.
You’ll pass through large areas with animals including giraffes, ostriches, llamas, elephants and other species roaming around you. The lions, tigers and other predators are kept in separate secure areas that you also drive through with the doors locked and windows closed.
If you want to get closer to some of the animals, Safari Aitana also offers guided experiences where visitors can learn more about them and, depending on the experience, take part in feeding.
There’s also an area that you can explore on foot, so the visit isn’t entirely spent inside the car.
The mountain setting is another reason to visit. The views around the Sierra de Aitana are very different from the coast, and during summer it can also feel a little cooler up there than it does down in Calpe.
The drive takes a little more effort than getting to the parks in Benidorm, but I think Safari Aitana is the most unusual option on this list if your children like the idea of seeing animals from the car rather than walking around a traditional zoo.
Worth the Longer Drive
If you don’t mind spending around an hour and a half in the car, there are two more options in Valencia that I think are worth considering.
Bioparc Valencia
Bioparc Valencia is around an hour and a half from Calpe and is very different from a traditional zoo. The park is designed around large African habitats, with areas based on the savannah, equatorial forest and Madagascar.
You can see animals including elephants, lions, gorillas, leopards and rhinos, but one of the most memorable areas is Madagascar, where you can walk through an enclosure with lemurs moving freely around you.
Bioparc is a good choice if you want a larger zoo that feels more open and natural than a traditional park, and it’s easy to spend most of the day there.
Oceanogràfic Valencia
Oceanogràfic is also in Valencia and is the largest aquarium in Europe. It’s part of the City of Arts and Sciences and has enough to see that you can easily spend most of the day there.
There are sharks, beluga whales, dolphins, penguins, sea turtles, jellyfish and many other marine animals. One of the highlights is the huge underwater tunnel, where sharks and other fish swim above and around you as you walk through.
Oceanogràfic works well for almost any age, so I think it’s a particularly good choice if you have a mix of younger children, teenagers and adults in your group.
Neither Bioparc nor Oceanogràfic is as convenient as the zoos closer to Calpe, but if you’re happy to make a full day of it, both are worth the extra drive.
Quick Comparison
| Zoo | Distance from Calpe | Best for | How long to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Natura | 30 to 40 minutes | The best all-round zoo experience | Half to full day |
| Mundomar | 30 to 40 minutes | Younger children and marine animals | Half day |
| Safari Aitana | Around 1 hour | A more unusual safari-style experience | Half to full day |
| Bioparc Valencia | Around 90 minutes | A larger, more immersive zoo day | Full day |
| Oceanogràfic Valencia | Around 90 minutes | Marine life and mixed-age groups | Full day |
Tips
I’d try to arrive early during summer. The parks are usually cooler and quieter in the morning, and the animals tend to be more active before the hottest part of the day. Terra Natura and Mundomar can get much busier from late morning during July and August.
It’s also worth booking your tickets online before you go. Advance tickets are often cheaper than buying at the entrance, and some parks offer combined tickets with nearby water parks.
Take plenty of water, sun cream and comfortable shoes. Even if you’re not planning a full day, you can end up doing a lot more walking than expected, particularly at the larger parks.
If you’re visiting Safari Aitana, I’d check the opening times and any available safari or guided experience times before leaving Calpe so you know when you need to arrive.
Sina
Founder of Solinea Real Estate, based in Calpe. Sina helps buyers and sellers across the Costa Blanca North with honest, local guidance.