It opened in 1972 with 150 parrots on a small plot of land. Today the same park keeps penguins on a man-made iceberg, under falling snow, on a subtropical island.
Loro Park, or Loro Parque as it is officially called, is the zoo that made Puerto de la Cruz famous far beyond Tenerife. It was founded by Wolfgang Kiessling as a “paradise for parrots”, and it still holds the largest parrot collection in the world, with around 4,000 birds from roughly 350 species and subspecies. Over the decades it has grown from 13,000 to 135,000 square metres and added orcas, dolphins, gorillas, a shark tunnel and Planet Penguin. TripAdvisor users have named it the best zoo in the world on several occasions, and more than a million people visit every year.
This guide covers everything you need for a good day out: where Loro Parque is in Tenerife, the exhibits and shows you shouldn’t miss, how the tickets work, how to get there from the south of the island and where to stay nearby. The same family also runs Siam Park, so you’ll also find tips on combining the two parks in one holiday.
💰 Hotel Monopol - a good-value hotel around a Canarian courtyard in the old town.
🏨 Hotel Tigaiga - a four-star hotel in gardens above town, with sea and Teide views.
💎 Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden - a five-star hotel with a large oriental spa near the botanical garden.
Where is Loro Parque in Tenerife?
Loro Parque is on the north coast of Tenerife, on the western edge of Puerto de la Cruz, in the Punta Brava neighbourhood. The park sits close to the ocean, a short ride from the town centre, and it’s the best-known sight in this part of the Canary Islands.
The location surprises a lot of first-time visitors, because most holidaymakers stay in the south of the island. From Costa Adeje or Playa de las Américas the drive takes around an hour to an hour and a half, depending on traffic. From Santa Cruz de Tenerife it’s much closer, and the park is only a short drive from Tenerife North airport.
What is Loro Parque famous for?
Loro Parque is famous for three things: parrots, marine animals and conservation. The parrot collection was the starting point, and the park was one of the first in Europe to present trained parrots to the public. The orcas came much later, in 2006, and Orca Ocean is now the attraction most visitors associate with the park.
The third pillar is the Loro Parque Foundation (Loro Parque Fundación), set up in 1994. It funds species conservation and research projects around the world, with a strong focus on parrots and marine life. According to the foundation, its work has helped to save several critically endangered parrot species from extinction. That mix of a modern zoo, a theme park feel and serious science is what makes Loro Parque different from most wildlife parks.
Orca Ocean and the orca show
Orca Ocean is a huge pool complex with a large grandstand, and it’s the biggest crowd-puller in the park. The killer whale presentation mixes jumps, dives and spins with information about the animals and their behaviour in the wild. The front rows get properly soaked, so sit further back if you want to stay dry.
So, are there still orcas at Loro Parque? Yes. The park keeps a group of orcas, and in 2025 one of the females, Morgan, gave birth to a calf named Teno. Keeping killer whales in captivity is a controversial subject, and some visitors choose to skip this part. If you go, arrive at least 20 minutes early in high season, as the best seats fill quickly.
Dolphins and sea lions
The Dolphinarium hosts the dolphin presentation, one of the most popular shows of the day, and it’s also good to arrive early here. The sea lions have their own show, which is lighter and full of comedy, so younger children usually love it. Check the show times as soon as you arrive, as it’s worth planning your route around them.
Planet Penguin and real snow
Planet Penguin is the exhibit many visitors remember most. Inside, a man-made iceberg recreates Antarctic conditions, with real snow falling every day and hundreds of penguins on the ice and in the water. A slow-moving walkway carries you past the glass, so everyone gets a good view, even when it’s busy.
Several penguin species live here, including king penguins, and you’ll also spot Atlantic puffins. Bring a jumper for the youngest children, as it feels chilly after the heat outside.
Coral Kingdom, AquaViva and the shark tunnel
The Coral Kingdom is a large living coral reef with immersive, high-tech visuals, and you watch it from a slow-moving walkway. AquaViva is an aquarium with tanks full of jellyfish and tropical fish, displayed in a modern, dimly lit space. It’s a calm stop between shows, and smaller kids are usually mesmerised by the colours.
The aquarium and its shark tunnel are another highlight. You walk through a clear tunnel while sharks and rays swim around and above you. It’s near the end of most routes through the park, so it often gets busy late in the day.
Parrots, the parrot show and Katandra Treetops
You can’t visit Loro Parque without seeing its parrots. Aviaries line the paths throughout the park, with macaws, cockatoos and many rarer parrot species you won’t see anywhere else. The parrot show is short and lively, and the birds fly low over the audience.
Katandra Treetops is a walk-through aviary where exotic birds fly freely around you. The planting is dense and tropical, so it feels more like a rainforest than an aviary. It’s one of the quietest corners of the park and a good place for a break.
Gorillas, white tigers and other animals
Beyond the marine animals and birds, Loro Parque has a long list of animals from around the world. The gorillas live in a spacious, leafy enclosure, and there are also chimpanzees, jaguars, lions in the Lion’s Kingdom, white tigers, red pandas, pygmy hippos, capybaras and giant anteaters. A flock of flamingos lives in the grounds too.
Two smaller attractions are easy to miss. La Gruta is a dark, cave-like walk-through home to fruit bats, which fly around above you. The Animal Embassy has glass walls, so you can watch the park’s scientific work and veterinary clinic in action.
The gardens, the Thai village and Kinderlandia
Loro Parque is also a beautiful place to stroll. The jungle paths are shaded by palms and tropical plants, and there’s an orchid house with hundreds of orchid varieties. The entrance area is built as a Thai village, which sets an exotic tone from the moment you arrive.
Families with small children should head to Kinderlandia, the children’s play area. It gives kids a chance to run around between exhibits, and it’s a good spot for the adults to sit down for a few minutes.
Loro Parque tickets and the Twin Ticket
There are several types of Loro Parque tickets, and the simplest is the single day ticket, which covers all exhibits and shows. Children up to five years old go free. If you also plan to visit Siam Park, the Twin Ticket combines the two parks on separate days and works out cheaper than buying them separately.
Other options include tickets with transport from the main resorts in the south of the island, and a guided behind-the-scenes tour of about 90 minutes, which takes you into areas normally closed to visitors. In high season it’s best to book your tickets online before you travel, so you don’t lose time in the ticket queue.
Loro Parque opening hours and the best time to visit
Loro Parque is open every day of the year, usually from 9.30am to around 5.30pm or 6pm. Times change by season, so check the hours a few days before you go. Shows run several times a day, and the last ones finish in the late afternoon.
The north of Tenerife is milder and cloudier than the south, but the park works in any season. Arrive early, especially in July, August and during school holidays, when the most popular shows fill up fast. Weekdays outside the holidays are quieter. If clouds roll in, don’t cancel, as most exhibits are shaded or indoors.
How to reach Loro Parque
If you’re staying in Puerto de la Cruz, the free express train is the easiest way to reach Loro Parque. The road train leaves from Plaza de los Reyes Católicos, in the town centre, roughly every 20 minutes during opening hours.
From the south of the island, Titsa bus 343 links Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos with Puerto de la Cruz bus station, and bus 103 runs from Santa Cruz. From the bus station, you can switch to the free train. If you’re driving, take the TF-1 and TF-5 motorways towards Puerto de la Cruz and follow the signs. A hire car also makes it easy to combine the park with Teide National Park on the way back south.
How much time do you need at Loro Park?
Plan a full day at Loro Park. Seeing every exhibit and catching the main shows takes at least five or six hours, and most visitors stay from mid-morning until closing. If you’re short on time, focus on Orca Ocean, Planet Penguin, the shark tunnel and the parrot show.
The trick is to build your route around the show times. Check them when you arrive, pick the ones you care about most and fill the gaps with the aviaries, aquariums and gardens nearby.
Food, picnic areas and what to bring
There are several restaurants and snack bars inside the park, with Canarian and Spanish dishes, pizza and quick bites. Most are in the central area, so it’s easy to grab lunch between two shows. There are also picnic areas, but the rules on bringing your own food can change, so check them before you pack.
Wear comfortable shoes, as the grounds are large and some paths are steep. Bring sun cream and a hat, even on cloudy days, plus a change of clothes for children who want to sit in the splash zone. Pushchairs and wheelchairs can be hired at the entrance.
Is Loro Parque worth visiting?
For most families, yes. Loro Parque is one of the best zoos in Europe, and few wildlife parks combine so many world class attractions in one place. Planet Penguin, the shark tunnel and the parrots alone make for an unforgettable experience, and the gardens are lovely. Animal welfare in marine parks is a personal decision, so read up on the orcas and dolphins before you go and decide what feels right for you.
If your family prefers animals in more natural settings, Jungle Park in the south is a smaller alternative. And if you’re after water slides rather than animals, our guide to the best water parks in Spain puts Siam Park, the other big family day out on the island, next to the rest.
Practical information
- Loro Parque tickets are best bought in advance. You’ll skip the ticket queue at the entrance and save time on busy days.
- Address: Avenida Loro Parque, s/n, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Buy tickets on GetYourGuide
Hotels in Puerto de la Cruz near Loro Parque
Puerto de la Cruz is the natural base for Loro Parque, with historic hotels in the old town and garden hotels on the hills above it. These three are a short train or taxi ride from the park.
💰 Hotel Monopol
A good-value hotel in a historic building from the 18th century, right in the old town of Puerto de la Cruz. The rooms are arranged around a traditional Canarian courtyard with wooden balconies, and there’s a heated pool and sun terraces. It’s within walking distance of the seafront, the shops and the stop for the free train to Loro Parque.
🏨 Hotel Tigaiga
A four-star hotel set in gardens in Parque Taoro, on the hill above the town. Depending on the room, you look out over the sea, the gardens or Mount Teide, and there’s an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a sauna. It’s a peaceful choice for couples and families, a short taxi ride from Loro Parque.
💎 Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden
A five-star hotel surrounded by gardens, close to the botanical garden of Puerto de la Cruz. Its Oriental Spa Garden covers around 3,500 square metres, with an indoor pool, Turkish baths and a Japanese sauna, and there are three outdoor pools and several restaurants. It’s the pick for a treat, and Loro Parque is a short drive away.
Loro Park FAQ
Which part of Tenerife is Loro Parque in?
Loro Parque is in the north of Tenerife, in Puerto de la Cruz, on the western edge of the town in the Punta Brava area. It’s close to Tenerife North airport and around an hour to an hour and a half by car from the resorts in the south.
Are there still killer whales at Loro Parque?
Yes, Loro Parque still has orcas, and you can see them at Orca Ocean. A calf named Teno was born at the park in 2025. Presentations run several times a day.
How far is Loro Parque from Las Americas?
Loro Parque is on the opposite side of the island from Playa de las Américas, so allow around an hour to an hour and a half by car. By public transport, take Titsa bus 343 to Puerto de la Cruz and the free train from the town centre to the park.
Is there a free train to Loro Parque?
Yes, a free express train runs from Plaza de los Reyes Católicos in Puerto de la Cruz to the park entrance. It usually leaves every 20 minutes or so during opening hours.
How much time do you need at Loro Park?
You need a full day at Loro Park, or at least five to six hours to see the main exhibits and shows. Arrive soon after opening and plan your route around the show times.
Is Loro Parque the biggest zoo?
Loro Parque isn’t the biggest zoo in the world by area, but it covers 135,000 square metres, so you’ll walk a lot. It does hold the world’s largest parrot collection, with around 350 species and subspecies.
