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If you’re looking for things to do in Calpe and love animals as much as I do, you’re in luck! There are two fantastic zoos just a short 30 minute drive away – Terra Natura and Mundomar.
Both are brilliant places to spend the day, and I’ll share all my local tips to help you make the most of your visit.
The nearest zoos to Calpe are:
- Terra Natura Benidorm – buy Terra Natura tickets here from €33 per person
- Mundomar Benidorm – buy Mundomar tickets here from €27 per person
Terra Natura Benidorm
I’ve watched Terra Natura grow into an amazing wildlife sanctuary over the years. It’s home to over 1,500 animals across 200 species. Their ‘invisible walls’ help you see the animals close up, while they stay safe and comfortable in their spaces.
The park splits into four fantastic areas, each with its own themes:
Asia
This is the largest section, featuring:
- Indian elephants sharing space with deer species
- Tigers and Asian lions in the ‘Cat Temple’
- A family of Siamese monkeys
- Indian rhinoceros
- Various Asian deer and antelope species
The Americas
This area features a huge rainforest aviary built around a Mayan temple setting. You’ll see:
- Bright toucans and macaws flying freely
- Jaguars
- Ocelots
- Capuchin monkeys
- Farm animals that visitors can meet
Pangea
This is where you’ll find all sorts of fascinating venomous creatures and reptiles. The stars of this section are:
- Green tree pythons
- Rattlesnakes
- Poison dart frogs
- Various scorpions and tarantulas
Terra Natura puts a strong focus on protecting endangered species, with many of their animals part of breeding programmes. They also offer daily talks where you can watch the animal keepers feed and care for the different species
Getting there from Calpe
The drive from Calpe takes about 30 minutes along the AP-7 motorway. Take exit 65-A and follow signs to Terra Natura. There’s loads of free parking on-site.
Opening times and tickets
Open 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM year-round.
The park is open again for the summer season! Adult tickets are currently €33 for adults, and €27 for children and seniors. Under-4s go free.
Mundomar Benidorm
Mundomar is quite different from Terra Natura – it’s smaller but packed with amazing marine life. I’ve been visiting since it opened, and the care they show their animals is fantastic.
Dolphin encounters
The dolphin program here is special – rather than just watching shows, you can book intimate encounters where you’ll learn about their personalities (and yes, they all have distinct characters!).
During shows, watch for:
- Their incredible jumps – some reach 6 metres high
- Problem-solving demonstrations
- Natural behaviour displays
Shows run at 1:30pm and 4:30pm. My secret? The afternoon show usually has better lighting for photos.
Sea lion sessions
These clever animals steal the show! The trainers here are brilliant at showing off their natural behaviours. Shows at 12:45pm and 5:45pm.
Exotic birds
The park has an amazing collection of macaws and parrots. Their free-flight shows (11:15am, 2:30pm, 3:30pm) are spectacular – the birds often swoop right over your head!
Getting to Mundomar from Calpe
It’s a straightforward 30-minute drive from Calpe. Follow the AP-7 towards Benidorm and take exit 65. The park has its own parking area (€5 per day), or make it simpler by going in a taxi from Calpe.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Opens 10:00am – 7:00pm in summer season. Winter hours vary.
Ticket prices are currently €27 for adults, and €22 or children.
Best time to visit
After years of visits, I’ve found mid-week mornings in May or late September are perfect. The weather’s mild, the animals are active, and you’ll miss the summer crowds of schoolkids and tourists.
My local tips
Here’s what I tell my friends visiting the zoos from Calpe:
- Pack swimming clothes – both parks have water features where kids can cool off
- If you have a good camera, bring it – you’ll take the most incredible natural photos
- Plan your lunch – both parks have restaurants, but I find them quite expensive. There are dedicated eating areas with benches and tables, so I recommend bringing a packed lunch to enjoy
- Make it a combo experience – if you’re here in summer, both parks offer great deals with their neighbouring water parks
Which park should you choose?
Both parks offer different experiences:
Terra Natura is perfect for a full day out. It’s huge, with plenty of shade and resting spots. I love taking visitors here first – the variety of animals and the way the park is laid out makes it a great introduction to Spanish wildlife parks.
You can also visit Aqua Natura right next to the park, which is an amazing water theme park (check out my guide to water parks near Calpe for more recommendations).
Mundomar is better suited to younger children as it tends to be a quieter park. Their focus on marine life and birds makes it unique and a fun, educative experiece, and the interaction with the animals feels more personal. It’s particularly good for younger children as everything is closer together.
Mundomar is closer to Benidorm central, and is right next to Aqualandia, Benidorm’s main water park.
