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Ecozoológico, Acuario y Serpentario San Martín

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Shady Ady
Shady Ady
First Reviewer
2 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
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Acuario y Serpentario San Martin

  • January 27, 2007
  • Rated 2 of 5 by Shady Ady from Hinckley, United Kingdom
Acuario y Serpentario San Martin

Opposite San Martin Zoo, a short 10-minute ride from central Baños, is Acuario y Serpentario San Martin. If you are visiting the zoo and feel the need to add reptiles, snakes, and a few more birds to your day's viewing, then the $1 entrance fee and 30 minutes it takes to look around the various enclosures doesn't really cut deep into your time or monetary budgets. On the other hand, a trip out of Baños specifically for this one attraction isn't really worth it.

Although housing a decent representation of reptiles, snakes, spiders, and fish from the coastal and eastern rainforests, including the much-feared and highly poisonous fer-de-lance, I felt a little embarrassed that I had paid to see so many creatures in minute cages that failed to allow freedom of movement. One turtle was a good two-thirds the size of his tank, making turning around a near impossibility. The alligators (or crocodiles, I can never remember!) were also crowded into a small enclosure with a good number of their turtle colleagues. In fact there were so many animals in the same one cage that some of the alligators and turtles were living on top of each other. There was no other room available. It always makes me feel guilty when I feel my money is helping keep animals in distressingly poor living conditions.

On the bright side though, many of the spiders and snakes on show had more than an adequate living space, although I envisage some of the snakes in a few years time will have out grown their tanks and will need larger living quarters. If there is a staff member around (they seem to be a very rare species indeed), they will happily allow the pet boa constrictor to come out of his cage for a free photo opportunity. I sadly turned this opportunity down, due to not being the macho guy I want people to think I am!

At the back of Acuario y Serpentario San Martin is a small collection of bird species, including a number of flamingos. Although the collection is nothing to write home about, it does make a refreshing change from the cramped conditions of the other creatures here. Children will also no doubt be very impressed by the vast array of colours on offer from the variety of birdlife.

Thirty minutes is about all you need to see everything on offer, and if you feel a little peckish afterwards then there are a number of small restaurants and street vendors outside. If you do feel the desire to visit here, or the zoo located directly opposite on the other side of the road, then a taxi from central Baños will set you back around $3. Local buses to San Martin also run from central Baños every 20 to 30 minutes and cost a fraction of a taxi, around $0.25. I would only visit here if visiting the zoo as well.

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