Visiting Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (ZooAve)—Photos And Brief (5-Minute Read): Alajuela, Costa Rica
Nikki Solano
Last updated on July 11th, 2024 at 08:03 am
Written by Nikki Solano
Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
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Slow-paced, self-guided, peaceful strolls along the smooth concrete trails at Alajuela’s Rescate Wildife Rescue Center (formerly ZooAve) feel light-years away from the crowded capital city of San Jose and the bustling SJO Airport (30 minutes and 15 minutes by car, respectively). At the center, you can lay your eyes on rescued members of some of Costa Rica’s most colorful and elusive wildlife species; striking blue peacocks and prehistoric-looking iguanas roam freely while multicolored toucans and macaws, agile and acrobatic monkeys, adorable lazy sloths, svelte jungle cats, and more demonstrate their most beloved traits and characteristics from within their temporary homes (and in some cases, permanent homes): giant metal enclosures beautifully disguised by palms, ferns, bamboo, and other eye-catching flora, plus strange-looking oropendola nests. Informative signage is all around, so without a tour guide and with 1-2 hours to spend, you can learn about past and present resident wildlife as well as the center’s rehabilitation efforts. (Don’t miss the story about the retired “freedom bus.”) Go to see a variety of wildlife conveniently at one place—especially if your time and/or budget is limited—and to support the center’s honorable work.
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center photos
two-toed slothpeacockscarlet macawducksmargaycapuchin monkeykeel-billed toucanpeacockiguanabeautiful florahelpful signagebeautiful florathe on-site restaurant, Kivuparking lotthe center’s freedom businformation about released wildlifeon-site animal hospitalon-site souvenir and gift shopinformation about the center’s effortsproperty maporopendola nestturtlesbamboohelpful signagesloth statuecrocodile lagoonentrancetidy, flat trailsflora masking enclosuresbeautiful artworkthe center’s freedom busselfie station
Map of the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
More information about the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
For more information about the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, including the nonprofit’s history, current operations, guided tour options, volunteer opportunities, and visitor information (hours of operation, entrance fee rates, location information, etc.), please see the center’s website.
Pura vida!
Do you have questions about the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, want help deciding whether you should visit this wildlife rescue center during your trip, or need help incorporating a visit into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂
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Summary
Article Name
Visiting Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (ZooAve)—Photos And Brief (5-Minute Read): Alajuela, Costa Rica
Description
We describe the most memorable aspects of the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (formerly ZooAve) in Alajuela, Costa Rica, plus share photos from our visits.
