Zoo Ave

Zoo Ave is a trip you can take with your car rental San Jose, Costa Rica. This trip will take you to the northern part of the country, to Alajuea. You will need to plan an entire day for this trip, but you will have the chance to see an amazing number of birds that are native to Costa Rica and a variety of other animals as well.

What to expect

When you are here with your rental car San Jose, Costa Rica, you will learn that Zoo Ave will teach you a lot about the birds and animals you see here. They have great descriptions of the wildlife you see and the threats that may harm them. Zoo Ave is also very active in educating the public through radio, television, and other outreach programs. Zoo Ave rehabilitates and releases wild animals that are injured, orphaned, or mistreated by humans in captivity.

Birds of a feather�

Costa Rica has more than 850 species of birds, which is more than you can find in Canada and the United States combined! When you are visiting with your San Jose, Costa Rica rental car, you will find many species on display. For example, you can view the Buffon�s Macaw, which is one of the rarest and most elusive birds in the country. They inhabit the canopies of lowland forests in Costa Rica and are becoming scarce because of deforestation. Zoo Ave is working to save the species from extinction by protecting feeding and nesting sites. There is also the Scarlet Macaw, which currently reside in the Osa Peninsula. They faced extinction, but thanks to the efforts of Zoo Ave, there is hope for the species. The Mealy Parrot is the largest Amazon parrot in the country. They inhabit wooded areas, eating seeds, fruit, buds, flowers, and tree bark. This species is threatened by poaching for the pet trade.

What to bring

When you are visiting with your San Jose, Costa Rica car rental, you will want to bring your camera. Since this is a zoo and not a natural environment, you will have many chances to see the spectacular wildlife here. The entrance fee s $14, which goes to helping maintain the zoo and to help preserve Costa Rican wildlife.

How to get here

When you visit with your San Jose, Costa Rica car rental, you can get here by taking the Pan-American Highway to the Atenas exit. Go east for a few kilometres and you will see the zoo on the right side. You can also take a bus from Alajuela. The bus will cost about 50 cents per person.

Exploring the area

When you are here with your car rental San Jose, Costa Rica, you will find there is plenty to do in Alajuela. Alajuela is an area 19 kilometres northwest of the city of San Jose. The province of Alajuela is one of the most extensive provinces in the country, stretching all the way from Nicaragua to San Jose. The area has a great climate most of the year, but sometimes experiences earthquakes. The city is very friendly. The central attraction of the city is the huge red dome church that is located near Parque Central. Locals often come here in the afternoon to socialize and enjoy the outdoors. West of the park is the central market. You may also want to stop by the Juan Santamaria Cultural Historical Museum, which has a focus on Costa Rica�s independence from Spain.

When you are here with your rental car San Jose, Costa Rica, you will find that Zoo Ave is a great place to easily see some of the birds that inhabit Costa Rica. The zoo does a lot to preserve the wildlife that can be found in this beautiful country for future generations.