We have known Jungle Island from the early days when it was "Parrot Jungle" in South Miami. In the early days it was known for the gigantic variety of colorful birds, the parrots, macaws, flamingos... now, Jungle Island has branched out to encompass a wide collection of animals beyond the feathered kind and an array of unique encounters which are one of the main attractions of the park.
Its new location in Watson Island, just minutes from downtown Miami is a beautiful tropical setting with killer views of the bay and the Miami skyline.
The park is small and compact, so you can cover most of it in a couple of hours, but like mentioned before, there are a lot of activities and animal encounters, new attractions were added since the reconstruction after hurricane Irma including a private beach and playground, and after the Covid reopening a Treewalk Village. At this time the animal shows that used to be so popular have been suspended.
The grounds are beautiful and carefully landscaped with lots of shaded areas...
And along the paths throughout the park you are likely to find free-roaming cranes, iguanas, turtles, and lots of parrots and macaws perched on trees or stations all over, they are cageless and you can feed them and really get up close.
Also throughout the exhibits, watch for keeper talks and presentations where you can learn about the animals, their habitats and their daily routines.
One thing to keep in mind when you visit Jungle Island is that while many of the activities and exhibits are free with admission, many activities carry an extra fee, and in some cases as in the premium interaction and encounters, reservations are necessary.
Here are some of the highlights:
- The animal shows - Suspended
- The Animal Exhibits - Free with general admission
- Animal Interactions and Encounters - Extra fees for Lemur, Sloth encounters
- Treewalk Village - Village free, extra fees for Treetop Trekking and Ziplines
Three Fantastic Animal Shows - Suspended
First thing we do upon arriving at the park is check out the day's schedule for show times and plan the day accordingly. There are three shows with several acts throughout the day. Shows are free with admission to the park.
"Winged Wonders" Show
The Bird Show "Winged Wonders" is where our feathered animals perform their little stunts from huge impressive condors soaring above the audience to adorable little macaws riding their bikes and answering phones...
"Wild Adventures" Show
"Wild Adventures" at the Serpentarium... yes, reptiles... snakes... AND audience participation! Sit close to the front... if you dare...
The Animal Exhibits
The exhibits are scattered throughout the park in no logical arrangement so just make sure you get a map and find everything that interests you. Some of the big cats are no longer at the park.
There are exhibits for exotic birds, penguins, kangaroos, lemurs, baboons... and also a Petting Zoo, and many offer interactive activities where you get to play with and feed the animals.
Animal Encounters and Interactions
This is where Jungle Island really excels, from cuddling with Lemurs and Kangaroos, feeding llamas and birds, holding snakes and alligators... even bottle feeding a tiger cub, the range of their interactive activities and encounters is really superb.
As you can guess, many of these activities come with an extra fee, ranging from a couple of dollars to buy feed for the animals, to several hundred dollars for some of the more exclusive VIP experiences, the backstage tour of Jungle Island so to speak.
Playing with the Lemurs has been a favorite of ours. My nieces really enjoyed cuddling with the fluffy critters, you have them climbing all over you, sitting in your lap, your shoulders, your head... You need to make a reservation for the Lemurs and for some of the other encounters.
The Treewalk Village
An adventure complex with elevated treehouses all inter-connected by a maze of bridges, hammocks, nets and slides, all in the middle of the jungle!
For the thrill seekers, there are a series of treks (extra charge) with different levels of difficulties so you can navigate through the canopies and ziplines of the different aerial courses.
Jungle Island at a Glance
Where?: 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail Miami, Florida 33132. Off of I-395 between Downtown Miami and South Beach. Directions and more info. Or call (305) 400-7000.
Parking: Plentiful in covered garage
Opening Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How Much?: Garden Admission Adults $19.95 Children (3-9) $14.95, extra charges for animal encounters and Trekking Adventures.
More Info: www.jungleisland.com/
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