One of Miami‘s main attractions, especially if you are traveling with children, is its zoo. Jungle Island Park is renowned for its shows and the variety of animals it houses. In this article, in addition to some useful information on how to get there and the cost of tickets, I’ll explain in detail what to expect from a regular visit and what other extra experiences the park offers – you’ll find out what it’s really like to interact with exotic animals!
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How to Get to Jungle Island
Jungle Island Park is located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail in Miami. The park is easily accessible by both car and public transportation. Let’s take a look at the directions in detail.
By Car
If you want to use your car (o if you rented a car), first of all you should know that parking at Jungle Island has a cost of $10 which is not included in the ticket. Here are the directions to keep in mind:
- If you are coming from I-95, take I-395 East (MacArthur Causeway) exit 2d. Cross the bridge and turn right onto Parrot Jungle Trail. Follow the road and, under the overpass, you will find parking on the left
- If coming from the east, take I-395 West (MacArthur Causeway) and turn right past Palm Island, next to the Miami Yacht Club. Take the first left onto Parrot Jungle and you will find parking on the right
If you prefer to leave your car parked instead, you can check out the Jungle Island admission package with pickup service from the major hotels in Miami Beach and Downtown Miami by clicking on the link below.
Entrance to Jungle Island by transportation
By public transportation
Getting to the island where Miami’s Zoo is located is also easy by public transportation. If you’re in Miami Beach, you can take the 119 or 120 and get off at the MacArthur CY & Japanese Garden stop. In less than a two-minute walk you’ll be in front of the zoo entrance.
The 119 and 120 also connect Downtown Miami with Jungle Island. From both Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, it takes about 30 minutes by public transportation to reach the zoo.
Jungle Island Tickets and Hours of Operation
Panorama of Miami from Jungle IslandJungle Island is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Some areas of the park are indoors, although most of the zoo is outdoors so in the event of rain I recommend bringing an umbrella and raincoat. It is not possible to bring food from outside, but inside the park you will find several food stations, including the food truck Pink Flamingo.
Below you’ll find costs and ticket details for a regular visit or for the extra activities offered by Jungle Island. If you have the Go Miami Card or the Sightseeing Miami Pass, admission is included. To find out about all the passes in the city please read our article dedicated to Miami passes.
General Admission
The standard ticket costs $37.34 for children ages 3-10 and $49.49 for adults and kids over 10. It includes a tour of the park and the opportunity to see all the animals, feed them in the petting barn, play with the kangaroos and see the Wild Adventure Show and Winged Wonder.
In addition to Wild Adventure Show and Winged Wonder, with the General Admission ticket you will also have access to:
- Adventure Bay: this area of the park, recently opened, offers the opportunity to go climbing on a wall created ad hoc, take part in a rope throwing course and bungee jumping for children.
- Battle Ground: the battle begins and there’s no room for cowards! In the Battle Ground area, adults and children challenge each other with toy weapons on a real battlefield.
What to expect
With over 75 years of history, Jungle Island is not just a zoo but a true theme park. You can see animals from all over the world and interact with many of them in a truly unique experience. In addition, there are several refreshment stands between the areas of the park, where you can have a break and a snack.
It will take you about 3 hours to visit the entire park and participate in the daily performances. In fact, the zoo organizes 2 exhibitions per day that are repeated at three different times: the Wild Adventure Show and the Winged Wonder. The first one reveals the secrets of the trainers while discovering the rarest animals in the zoo, while the second is dedicated to the birds that reside in the park, from the condor of the Andes to the great cassowary, native to Australia. There are also wonderful parrots with which you can have your picture taken. Both shows are included in the basic ticket.
The park also offers various experiences at an additional cost: from escape rooms to interactions with sloths or lemurs, from a real flight experience to VIP tours with a guide who will accompany you during the visit and make you interact in the best way possible with animals that you never thought to see live.
Jungle Island Activities and Vip Tours
Jungle Island also offers several activities that, for a slightly higher cost than General Admission, will allow you to appreciate this place and its residents even more.
- Lemurs Up Close Encounter: For $76.89 for children ages 6-10 and $89.04 for adults and children over 10, in addition to General Admission activities, you’ll have an unforgettable time with the lemurs. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. The meeting lasts about 10 minutes and it is recommended to book the ticket in advance, although, subject to availability, the ticket can also be purchased on site. You will need to arrive at the Guest Relation Office 10 minutes before your appointment and a trainer will escort you to the lemur area. A photographer will capture the event and you can purchase the photo later. Otherwise, photos and selfies are allowed, so don’t forget your cell phone or camera.
- Sloth Encounter: Discover firsthand what it’s like to live slowly! For the price of $89.04 for adults and children over 12 (children under 12 are not eligible), you’ll be eligible for all General Admission activities plus spend 10 minutes with the sloths, petting them and even feeding them. Reservations are recommended and you should arrive 10 minutes before your appointment at the Guest Relation Office. Unlike the area with the lemurs, there is no professional photographer here but you can take photos without any problems.
- Sloths and Lemur Experience: At a cost of $128.59 you are entitled to the activities of the regular tour, meet the lemurs and spend 10 minutes with them and spend as much time with the sloths.
- VIP Tours: The zoo offers two VIP tours: the Up Close VIP Tour and The Go Wilder! VIP Tour. In both, a private guide will take guests through the park, explaining anecdotes and secrets of the zoo and its inhabitants.
- Up Close VIP Tour: the cost is $328.90 per person and the tour lasts 90 minutes. With this tour, interaction with the animals is assured thanks to an expert guide: reptiles, lemurs, kangaroos, flamingos and Aldabra turtles are just some of the animals you can have direct contact with.
- Go Wilder! VIP Tour: the cost is $548.90 per person and the tour lasts 2 hours. Your guide will accompany you for the entire tour, which includes all the Up Close VIP Tour activities plus the opportunity to feed a sloth and an alligator. A personal photographer is included in the price. More info on this ticket by clicking here.
- Escape Room: If you love intricate riddles and mysteries to solve, don’t miss your chance to participate in the Asylum Escape Experience or the Cabin Escape Experience (or both!). The cost is $53.84 (regular visit activities included) and the ‘escape’ experience lasts about 30 minutes. In that time, you’ll have to solve puzzles of various kinds in order to successfully escape the cabin in the middle of the jungle in the Cabin Escape Experience or the asylum in The Asylum Escape. If you want to do both, the cost is $64.84.
- Superflight: Want to experience the thrill of flying without a parachute? At the Jungle Island Park you can do that. At a cost of 65.95 dollars you can fly several foot high in a real wind tunnel (with winds reaching almost 120 miles per hour!) and feel like one of the many birds that live in the park. Superflight is safe for adults and children: in fact, the minimum age requirement is only 4 years old. An instructor will be with you and will give you all the instructions to enjoy this experience to the fullest. More info about this package by clicking here.
