While on a cruise we were able to stop by here for a bit while in port. Aviarius is in the Costa Maya port and located in elevated aviaries above most of the port area with each aviary connected via an overhead bridge. The bridges were were suspended on steel cables and were a unique way to move about the attraction. The bridges also afford a very good view of the entire area, so they are nice to do even if you are not super into birds.
All doors into the aviaries are double doors, some with netting outside as well so as to keep the birds inside. Overall the aviaries are well designed, with the owl and love birds being the 'weakest' in terms of ascetics. Aviary #2, which housed the most species was the largest and best looking.
The facility does not have that many species, and the ones they have are fairly common overall. But the setting and bridge connections are what really make it unique. Overall I think it was worth the cost considering it is in the middle of a large tourist development. The port was packed, but the aviary was a nice quiet respite from that madness.
Entry is $14 for adults and $12 for kids 12 and under. I think it took us about an hour to go through, maybe a little more. I don't think it is handicap accessible as one must climb stairs and cross bridges to access the various aviaries.
Species list:
American Flamingo
Blue and gold macaw
Red and green macaw
Western Screech owl
Javan Sparrow
Muscovy Duck
Black bellied whistling duck
Collared aracari
Cardinal
Golden pheasant
Jandaya parakeet
Eastern rosella
Kramer Parrot/Collard Parakeet
Lovebird
Malayan Peacock pheasant
Sun parakeet/conure
I am pretty confident that is the whole list, I saw all of them. Collard aracari and Malayan peacock-pheasant were un-signed.
Facility map:
The ground level has a large habitat for flamingo, which was nicely done. This is also where the entrance/admission building is, which is really just a one room wooden hut. Outside the hut at the exit are perches for macaws, which rotate between green and gold macaw and red and green macaws.
After payment one climbs the stairway and crosses the first bridge into a cave building which houses western screech owls. I'm not sure about the aviary always being indoors, but it is probably the weakest of the aviaries in terms of design.
Following the owls one goes to the largest aviary, Aviary #2 which contains Javan sparrow, muscovy duck, black-bellied whistling duck, collard aracari, Jandaya parakeets, golden pheasant, and cardinals. This is the largest and nicest of the aviaries.
Next up is Aviary #3, which was smaller than aviary #2, but still nice. This held jandaya parakeets and black-bellied whistling ducks.
Leaving Aviary #3 takes you down another bridge to #4, which is smaller but exclusive for eastern rosella parakeets.
The next bridge takes you to a similarity sized aviary for kramer parrots/collared parakeets, which were held in green, yellow, and blue varieties in a decently sized space with nice plantings.
Leaving the parrots takes you to the series of the longest bridges which are three huts connected by bridges over the dolphin pool. The middle hut contains the aviary for lovebirds. This space was probably the weakest of the outdoor aviaries, lacking many plants. However, there were plenty of perching spaces and flight area.
Departing the lovebirds takes you to the last two bridges and into the direction of the last aviary - the sun conures. The aviary is a good size with sun conures, golden pheasant, and Malayan peacock-pheasant.
Leaving the last aviary takes you back to the main stairway and down to the entry/exit building and past the macaws.
All in all I think it was a nice visit. $14 is a little steep, but considering where it is it is not too bad. If I find myself in the port again I would stop if there were time. It is not worth traveling specifically to the port for this, but if you are a fan of birds and want to visit then it is worth the time and cost, IMO.
More pictures in the Mexico - Other gallery:
Mexico - Other - ZooChat
All doors into the aviaries are double doors, some with netting outside as well so as to keep the birds inside. Overall the aviaries are well designed, with the owl and love birds being the 'weakest' in terms of ascetics. Aviary #2, which housed the most species was the largest and best looking.
The facility does not have that many species, and the ones they have are fairly common overall. But the setting and bridge connections are what really make it unique. Overall I think it was worth the cost considering it is in the middle of a large tourist development. The port was packed, but the aviary was a nice quiet respite from that madness.
Entry is $14 for adults and $12 for kids 12 and under. I think it took us about an hour to go through, maybe a little more. I don't think it is handicap accessible as one must climb stairs and cross bridges to access the various aviaries.
Species list:
American Flamingo
Blue and gold macaw
Red and green macaw
Western Screech owl
Javan Sparrow
Muscovy Duck
Black bellied whistling duck
Collared aracari
Cardinal
Golden pheasant
Jandaya parakeet
Eastern rosella
Kramer Parrot/Collard Parakeet
Lovebird
Malayan Peacock pheasant
Sun parakeet/conure
I am pretty confident that is the whole list, I saw all of them. Collard aracari and Malayan peacock-pheasant were un-signed.
Facility map:
The ground level has a large habitat for flamingo, which was nicely done. This is also where the entrance/admission building is, which is really just a one room wooden hut. Outside the hut at the exit are perches for macaws, which rotate between green and gold macaw and red and green macaws.
After payment one climbs the stairway and crosses the first bridge into a cave building which houses western screech owls. I'm not sure about the aviary always being indoors, but it is probably the weakest of the aviaries in terms of design.
Following the owls one goes to the largest aviary, Aviary #2 which contains Javan sparrow, muscovy duck, black-bellied whistling duck, collard aracari, Jandaya parakeets, golden pheasant, and cardinals. This is the largest and nicest of the aviaries.
Next up is Aviary #3, which was smaller than aviary #2, but still nice. This held jandaya parakeets and black-bellied whistling ducks.
Leaving Aviary #3 takes you down another bridge to #4, which is smaller but exclusive for eastern rosella parakeets.
The next bridge takes you to a similarity sized aviary for kramer parrots/collared parakeets, which were held in green, yellow, and blue varieties in a decently sized space with nice plantings.
Leaving the parrots takes you to the series of the longest bridges which are three huts connected by bridges over the dolphin pool. The middle hut contains the aviary for lovebirds. This space was probably the weakest of the outdoor aviaries, lacking many plants. However, there were plenty of perching spaces and flight area.
Departing the lovebirds takes you to the last two bridges and into the direction of the last aviary - the sun conures. The aviary is a good size with sun conures, golden pheasant, and Malayan peacock-pheasant.
Leaving the last aviary takes you back to the main stairway and down to the entry/exit building and past the macaws.
All in all I think it was a nice visit. $14 is a little steep, but considering where it is it is not too bad. If I find myself in the port again I would stop if there were time. It is not worth traveling specifically to the port for this, but if you are a fan of birds and want to visit then it is worth the time and cost, IMO.
More pictures in the Mexico - Other gallery:
Mexico - Other - ZooChat
