What is Loro Parque famous for?
Tips for your one-day Loro Parque itinerary
My ranking for the best Loro Parque attractions
Scoring guidelines—all on a scale of zero to ten:
10. Other Animals at Loro Parque
Final thoughts: Is Loro Parque worth it?
Top tips for visiting Loro Parque
Practical information about planning your trip
Is Loro Parque worth the money?
In this Loro Parque review, I will go through my favorite attractions and let you know why I think Loro Parque is absolutely worth a visit and the price tag. Loro Parque Tenerife is one of the world’s top zoos and is considered to be a benchmark of animal conservation.
I visited the zoo together with my family and I must say I was highly impressed (and so was my son!). I’ve traveled around Tenerife, where I’ve been lucky enough to see the best of the best sights, and Loro Parque is one of those that really stood out. It’s a definite must-visit!
Feel good factor: By purchasing a ticket to visit Loro Parque, you help support conservation and fund important research.
Read more about the Canary Islands.
Loro Parque calls itself a zoo, but what it is so much more. This literal tropical paradise that has won the title of one of the best zoos in the world made me feel as though I was walking through lush greenery rather than a traditional zoo.
Greenery is everywhere, and from the get-go, I felt completely immersed in the scenery, especially by the Thai Village at the entrance.
The park felt relatively small and is the perfect place to spend the day and is especially good for little kids. The size is compact, and the number of animals is quite low compared to other zoos, but Loro Parque is the perfect example of less is more, as the exhibits are thoughtfully designed. The overall vibe is that of a theme park rather than a zoo.
Loro Parque is focused strongly on education and conservation, and the knowledgeable, friendly staff members round out the amazing experience. As the name suggests, parrots are a highlight here, and they are everywhere. It’s literally a parrot park.
My Tenerife hotel tip (seriously, I loved my stay here): Hardrock Hotel Tenerife
Here’s how I devised my scoring system for ranking the attractions at Loro Parque.
Overall: This is the make-or-break – was it worth my time or was it something I could see at home? Now you’re wondering if I have a pet penguin in my backyard. I don’t. Yet.
Fun: How many times did I giggle with glee like my tiny child? How many times did I yawn and wish for yet another strong coffee?
Crowds: Did I immediately want to turn around and run away when I saw the line of sticky, hot people who potentially forgot to wear deodorant? Or was it somehow doable – provided there was a cold beer afterwards?
Theme: Did I think the attraction fit the overall vibe of Loro Parque? How was the exhibit presented, how well is it maintained, and what’s the level of animal conservation and education? Basically, is Loro Parque worth it?
And there you have it – now let’s see how each attraction ranks in my Loro Parque review.
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Overall 10/10
Fun 10/10
Crowds 7–8/10
Theme 10/10
The Parrot Show is wonderful for small children and kids at heart alike. The birds flew all around me and even solved riddles in front of my very eyes. I found myself laughing out loud several times like a happy idiot, and I thought Loro Parque is worth it, absolutely! This is a must-see!
The colorful Parrot Show lasts 20 minutes (all shows are 20 minutes) and is probably in the smallest theater in the park; it is the most frequent show, and it was packed full of people but was very organized.
The best part about this show, and why I ranked it at number one, is that it was very immersive. I cannot count the number of times I was actually touched by the wings of these amazing exotic birds.
That being said, and as a total side note here, my aunt has been terrified of birds ever since viewing Alfred Hitchcock’sThe Birds film, so if you or a loved one has any phobia of winged creatures, this immersive experience at Loro Parque is not for you!
Overall 9/10
Fun 9/10
Crowds 5/10
Theme 10/10
The Orca Show is simply impressive, full stop. It was, as expected, packed full of people.
I sat near the back row, which I recommend if you’re with a wee babe and you don’t want them to get soaked. I did enjoy the fact that Killer Whales were soaking the people in the front rows, though. It’s like they could tell everyone was getting really hot and they were working overtime to make sure everyone was hydrated. Or they were just cheeky.
Loro Parque currently has six orcas, with one of them having been born in 2025 through their breeding program. It’s a controversial thing, but Loro Parque is by far doing its best at animal conservation, and this is very evident with their orcas, most of which were moved from an outdated habitat at Sea World or rescued.
The show was educational, and the intelligence of the whales was a fascinating thing to watch.
Jan’s Scores:
Overall 9/10
Fun 10/10
Crowds 6/10
Theme 10/10
I always feel like sea lions really get me. My six-month-old was even laughing—like father, like son, I suppose.
The Sea Lion show is just pure fun for all ages. The precious golden retrievers of the sea flopped around with all their lovely blubber and entertained us with their cheeky tricks and humor.
Thankfully, the sea lions entertained us so much that my family failed to notice an elderly lady passing out behind us. Due to overheating or too much sea lion stimulation – I’ll never know – but I have to say I was impressed how the staff members slipped in quietly and took care of her... another indication they're well-versed in animal conservation!
Jan’s Scores:
Overall 8/10
Fun 9/10
Crowds 5/10
Theme 10/10
The Dolphin Show was absolutely packed with people, and I even arrived 10 minutes before the show started, so I’d suggest arriving even a bit earlier. Perhaps 20 minutes would do the trick.
Pro tip: if you have a small baby, you can cheat and get a front row seat… so use that kid, especially if he’s cute. Also, it’s important to note that strollers are not allowed in any of the shows.
I found the show a bit different from the shows at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and SeaWorld Orlando, but it’s just as captivating, and it’s always cool to experience their intelligence and agility firsthand.
The only downside to this show was that it took roughly the same amount of time to get out of there as the show itself, during which I found myself muttering under my breath a few times at how slow some people can be... there’s only so many hours in one day, people! I made a beeline for a cold refreshment directly after.
Jan’s Scores:
Overall 8/10
Fun 7/10
Crowds 7/10
Theme 10/10
I thought Planet Penguin was awesome. There’s just something so funny about how they waddle around. I laughed a lot at their little penguin butts. I’m mature for my age.
Loro Parque wisely chose to mainly feature Humboldt penguins for the warmer climate in Tenerife, with their water being kept at 21°C. There’s also an Antarctic section, which was super cool – no pun intended. It’s the only place in Tenerife where it snows, and it’s a visually striking icy habitat for both Emperor and Papuan penguins.
I loved how I could see them in their natural habitat on both ice and water. The pavilion has a slow-moving walkway so you can relax and enjoy the penguin views as a lazy person. Keep your eye out for the adorable Atlantic puffins as well. Maybe I’d rather have a puffin than a penguin in my backyard.
Jan’s Scores:
Overall 8/10
Fun 7/10
Crowds 8/10
Theme 10/10
I found the immersive Coral Kingdom exhibit to be really magical. Again, there’s a handy slow-moving walkway inside this calm and colorful sea world, which helped to keep the crowds in line and in order. It’s busy, but it never felt crowded because we were all moving along together in an orderly fashion. Like cozy salty sardines in a can.
Fun fact: Coral Kingdom is the largest coral reef outside of the ocean, and it’s a true sensory explosion of the beauty of the coral reef ecosystem. It’s also of interest to note that it complements the larger ocean displays at Poema del Mar in Gran Canaria, which focus on larger tanks.
Overall 7/10
Fun 7/10
Crowds 9/10
Theme 10/10
La Gruta, or the Bat Cave, is a walkthrough cave habitat where I saw cute little blood suckers flying around and being absolutely batty.
I suppose the ominous music played is connected to vampire mythology, and I am not kidding when I say it was ominous. It’s a bit over the top for these fascinating creatures, which are actually fruit bats (Seba's short-tailed bat), so no blood at all! It’s a gloomy, atmospheric place. I liked it.
Overall 7/10
Fun 7/10
Crowds 6/10
Theme 10/10
There are several aquariums around Loro Parque. My favorite by far, although the jellyfish tanks were cool, was the shark tunnel. The 360-degree view of sharks, rays, and tropical fish swimming overhead was definitely worth visiting, and it’s great for babies and kids, as they can enjoy marine life from the comfort of their strollers.
It’s located towards the end of the park, making it a great spot to end... although I think everyone had the same thought. It was quite busy, and I found myself rushing through to get away from the crowds.
Jan’s Scores:
Overall 7/10
Fun 6/10
Crowds 9/10
Theme 10/10
The Katandra Treetops aviary was really peaceful. I thought the exhibit was a good one to go to and relax after the excitement of the shows.
The natural tropical treetop habitat is beautiful, and the colorful birds flew freely all around me, my partner, and our baby’s head... was I a little nervous about that? A little bit. However, it was wonderful to be so close to such exotic birds.
I had a thought that this would be a great place for my son to take a nap, but then I wondered, what if they start screaming bloody murder and he wakes up completely confused and terrified? Luckily, that was not my experience.
Jan’s Scores:
Overall 7/10
Fun 8/10
Crowds 7/10
Theme 10/10
I saw gorillas, white tigers, lions, jaguars, red pandas, capybaras, anteaters, and more. Loro Parque has over 600 animal species! It may be a small zoo, but it is an impressive one, that’s for sure.
Every habitat is so well-maintained. I could really tell that this world-class zoo is doing its part for future generations to come, and that they 100 percent care about the welfare of the animals they play guardian to, as well as the visiting humans.
Yes! Loro Parque is worth it! I had a hard time even ranking the shows and exhibits there as I felt everything was worthy, even given the size of the crowds at times. I gave each attraction a 10 in the theme ranking because everything truly fit the overall vibe, how well it was presented, the educational level, and the animal conservation displayed.
I recommend using the official website to purchase tickets ahead of time and to skip the lines: www.loroparque.com
Basic entry tickets (full access to exhibits and all shows)
9:30 am to 5:30 pm every day
You can reach Loro Parque by car, free express train, or bus. If you plan to visit the zoo by car, onsite parking is available for USD 9 (GBP 7) and is first-come, first-served, so arrive early. Frequent buses run from the south of the island and from Los Gigantes. The free train runs through Puerto de la Cruz and departs every 20 minutes from Plaza de los Reyes Católicos from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Pro tip: Get there early with a car to secure a parking spot.
The most convenient town to stay in for Loro Parque is Puerto de la Cruz. It’s only a five to ten-minute drive to the zoo.
That said, I honestly don’t think you need to center your entire Tenerife vacation around an animal park, so I didn’t. Instead, I chose Hardrock Hotel Tenerife in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and LOVED it. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the island.
(Jardin Tropical by Hyatt, on the other hand, I kinda hated.)
My answer is a resounding yes, Loro Parque is worth it! It’s a literal tropical paradise that sets the standard for animal conservation in zoos around the world. In my eyes, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck, and the best part – you’re participating in conservation yourself by buying a ticket. You should definitely visit Loro Parque Tenerife. It’s a guaranteed wonderful day.
The zoo itself is not that big, but if you want to see all the shows at Loro Parque, it will take you at least five to six hours.
Yes, Loro Parque features rescued orcas, and they also operate a breeding program, which is, of course, controversial with animal activists. I’m not an expert, but generally speaking, Loro Parque seems to do well with animal conservation and protecting endangered species. Honestly, I didn’t find myself losing any sleep over the welfare of the orcas.
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What is Loro Parque famous for?
Tips for your one-day Loro Parque itinerary
My ranking for the best Loro Parque attractions
Scoring guidelines—all on a scale of zero to ten:
10. Other Animals at Loro Parque
Final thoughts: Is Loro Parque worth it?
Top tips for visiting Loro Parque
Practical information about planning your trip
Is Loro Parque worth the money?
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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