Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
This historic tropical garden and nationally accredited zoo features wildlife experiences to inspire people of all ages to respect, value and help conserve wildlife and our natural world. Visit today to enjoy your favorite animals like lions, monkeys, and giraffes. Ask those questions you've always wondered about at the Meet the Keeper Series. Be fascinated by rare creatures during premier wildlife shows. Cruise through islands of monkeys, lemurs, and gibbons. Watch our professional staff hand-feed American alligators while dispelling popular myths. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organization that sets the highest standards for wildlife care, education, and conservation.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.

Top ways to experience Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens and nearby attractions

See what travelers are saying
  • hdoyle001
    Greeneville, Tennessee60 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Charming
    Almost didn’t go due to bad recent reviews but decided to chance it. Thought it was very nice. Animals looked happy and well cared for. Enclosures seemed appropriate. We took the boat tour to see the monkeys. Had some interesting animals and looks to be adding much more. This is a smaller scaled zoo but charming. I would definitely go back.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 14, 2023
  • Julie S
    Scotland, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A fab day out.
    We loved our visit! The night before I read recent reviews on here, and really wondered whether it was worth going. However our daughter (17) really wanted to, and we do like to visit a zoo while on our holidays. Well I’m so glad we did. The zoo is in a beautiful setting, and the animals look well cared for in good enclosures. I really don’t know what the negatives are! We had such a lovely day. The highlight, although brief was feeding the giraffes. They are so beautiful. Try not to be the last family though as they literally walk off as soon as the last food is done. Altogether a lovely day out.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 3, 2023
  • Mrs G
    Kent, United Kingdom126 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Really worth the visit.
    Excellent experience, reasonably priced entry for what I would consider a small zoo. Visit lasted approx 2-3 hours, we loved the boat ride! Lots of wonderful attractions - the animals are incredibly well looked after. Very good playground, lots of picnic seating and also double wagons/strollers available to hire for kids. The gift shop is very overpriced as was bottled water from kiosks ($5 for not even 500ml) so bring your own!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 5, 2024
  • Shelala55
    Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun with the Grandkids!
    Visited the zoo 2 times this month with visiting toddler Grandchildren. A great experience both times. Suggest arriving right at opening time (was crowded when we were leaving) and packing a picnic lunch. There is a playground and covered picnic table area which was a great way to end our visit. Feeding the giraffes was a definite highlight. Don’t miss it!
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 13, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,708 reviews
Excellent
1,926
Very good
1,216
Average
367
Poor
120
Terrible
79

Rick L
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The first Saturday of each month is free admission to residents of Collier County and the zoo is quite crowded those days, so avoid going the first Saturday of the month. This zoo is not so good when it is crowded. But when not crowed it is a nice but somewhat smaller size zoo although the admission price is on the high side for what you get.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pennette
Fort Myers, FL54 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Couples
Our family visited the Naples Zoo earlier this month and we were incredibly disappointed. We arrived early and most of the animals were either still resting or not available for viewing. Since that’s the main reason for visiting a zoo I think if there’s going to be better times to visit or certain areas that are closed or not operational, there should some type of information provided to the guests regarding those issues. Additionally, this zoo is very expensive, particularly compared to other nationally known larger zoo’s. Sadly, the $100.00 admission for 4 adults felt more like a contribution to the zoo rather than a fun filled family day. We were completely done in only one hour :(
Written October 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kyf1969
NJ3 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
Overall experience was a disappointment. Zoo is overpriced; they do not have any online discounts but they advised they do offer coupons in local newspapers and magazines. Plan on spending two hours or less; the shows were the most interesting but the zoo at regular price is not worth it.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SteveO5
Massachusetts123 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
We visited in November and there was a fair amount of construction work going on but in our opinion, the zoo didn't really have quite enough content to justify the entry fees...
Been to quite a few zoos around the country and most everyone had more to see than what Naples has to offer. Could be the time of year, but overall it is not really that large with a lot of space between exhibits.
I will compliment on the staff we encountered, as all of them were very friendly and knowledgeable !
Best recommendations would be find a coupon but from what we found, as seniors, no coupon savings as all coupons were to get the senior rate....
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hulamanu
Naples, FL14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The 1st Saturday of every month, admission to the zoo is free of charge. We arrived when zoo opened and was not crowded. We had not visited the zoo in 3 years. Our visit was prompted due to the birth of the lion cubs in May 2019. We just HAD to see them. The cubs were not little babies and their antics brought joy to our hearts. We also watched a tree demo by Davy's Tree Service a long time business here in Collier County. That was very insightful! We learned so much about all the creatures in the zoo and will be joining as members as we believe in all this establishment is doing in preserving and educating the public thoroughly. We would HIGHLY RECOMMEND to all as a wonderful place to visit and to be educated. BTW, the weather was PERFECT!!!
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa S
Hummelstown, PA9,940 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021 • Couples
Sadly our grandchildren live in a different state. I had been wanting to visit the zoo and when I saw they were having a Brick Exhibit I decided I had to go without grandchildren!

Signage leading to the zoo is good. Parking is free and there is even a carport like section to stay out of the conditions of the day.

We purchased our tickets on line and were met by two workers as we neared the door. We did not have to enter the building which is the gift shop, restrooms and ticket office. He directed us to follow the path to the side of the building where we were met by another worker who actually took our printed tickets.

I always find it helpful to take a photo of maps to have on my phone just in case I lose a paper copy. We were not given a paper map however.

The zoo is very walkable for young children as it’s not too large. The pathways are wide and there are plenty of benches all over to stop and relax. I thoroughly enjoyed all the animals they have. The bear, who has since passed away was having care the day we were there but I very much enjoyed a young girl feeding the giraffe. Her joy was infectious!

We did the free boat ride. I included a photo of the times which are plentiful. They enforced mask wearing AND no food. This is critical to know as there’s an ice cream hut right across the way. The worker asked someone to either finish it before she boarded or just not eat it. The trip was no more than 10 mins or so but very enjoyable. The driver had so many adult jokes that kept us laughing.

Another tip, food can be taken in and there are so many different areas with picnic tables to sit and eat besides the snack shop areas. The food is ridiculously expensive and not great. A few of the restroom areas have water bottle filling stations with the drinking fountains. Suggest you bring your water bottle versus paying so much for water.

The Brick Exhibit is fantastic. There are some very talented brick builders.

I would most definitely return when my grandchildren visit AND pack lunch!
Written February 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jewels115
49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021 • Solo
I visit Naples Zoo a few times every year. Even though it’s not a large zoo, it is a very enjoyable zoo with plenty to entertain.

The Honey Badgers and Gibbons are my two favorites to watch. The badgers are usually quite active in the morning, running and playing. As for the Gibbons, you have a chance of watching them while they duet. They may start anytime between 9-11am. No matter where you are in the zoo, you’ll hear them.

The Tiger likes the sound of his voice and walks right up to the fence.

The renovated Giraffe exhibit makes for a closer encounter during Giraffe feeding and onlooking.

If you get lucky, you may see the Fosa running around his exhibit showing off his agility.

The primate boat tour is a must to get a close look and some education.

Then, of course, there’s the 3:00 alligator feeding.

Don’t forget to feed the fish and turtles before you leave.
Written February 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

799mikej
Fort Myers Beach, FL143 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
Took a morning to take the grandkids to the zoo. Although I am not really a zoo person, it is a very nice zoo. Took a boat tour of monkey islands, something you don’t see at every zoo. They also had a stage with seating around the perimeter in which they brought out many different animals. Everyone working that we encountered were very knowledgeable. It was a smaller zoo than what I had thought, but had many different animals in open settings. If you are looking for something to do with your grandkids, this would definitely be something to fill some time. Just be aware of the exit trap at end that you will have to walk through and listen to the grandchildren whine if you don’t buy anything.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steven C
Seminole, FL1,137 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
My wife and I just visited the Naples Zoo in Naples, Florida while visiting the area. This place is smaller than many zoos however, they have a rather unique collection of animals, some of which you won't see in other zoos. Their primates are contained on islands in a small lake with a 'cruise' in a pontoon boat available at regular intervals throughout the day to get a closer look. (The boat ride is included in the price of admission to the zoo.) They also offer a very reasonably priced giraffe feeding experience where you can get closer to giraffes than most any zoo we have been to. If you are going to visit, we highly recommend you visit first thing when they open as it can get very hot later in the day with there not being a whole lot of shade that has a breeze. (The animals also tend to be more active and visible earlier in the day.) This zoo is also affiliated with many wildlife conservation efforts and organizations so your dollars spent here will definitely go towards supporting some good causes worldwide. The staff are also all very friendly and informative. We highly recommend paying this zoo a visit when you have time.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mr. Boston
Naples, FL32 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
We went to the zoo on Saturday free as a resident. This is provided once a month for residents. You have to sign up on line & then produce proof of “ownership” when arriving.

Overall a waste of time. They had plenty of caged & gated areas where the animals are but at least 80% you couldn’t see or find? Giraffes (4) were probably the most interesting but they wanted $5.00 to feed them and a very long line.

I was told “don’t miss the cruise!” Well we stood in line in the blistering sun for at least 30-40 minutes for a 20 minute free cruise. We pulled into a pontoon boat w 34 other people. We saw 4 different types of monkeys on the islands inside the park. They had to boats in service w two others sitting idle. Nice but not worth the wait.

Concessions? Crazy pricing. They sold water for nearly $4.00/btl. & a hot dog for almost $9.00! A hot dog! Other drinks & food much more!

The place was packed. If u go buy a ticket & go mid week. This was not fun or worth it, even free!
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 3,478
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens