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Zoologico Amaru

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Shady Ady
Shady Ady
First Reviewer
3 out of 5
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1
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Amaru Zoologico

  • July 1, 2007
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Shady Ady from Hinckley, United Kingdom
Amaru Zoologico

It was while embarking on the strenuous climb away from the river Tomebamba and up Calle Benigno Malo that a rather rustic house, which wouldn't have looked out of place along the streets of Tudor Chester, was spotted, the home of Amaru Zoologico. I decided there would be no better way to spend the last daylight hour wondering around the collections of reptiles, insects and anything else creepy-crawly like.

Entering the building and paying the $2 adult admittance I have to admit the dozen or so acne-faced adolescents staring in my direction intimidated me immensely. This was until realising they were all harmless volunteers, donating their time to guide visitors around the various exhibits.

Choosing my guide was like picking out a suspect from a Police identity parade. As we ventured through fly curtains and into the dimly lit displays, the guide’s nervous streak became evident. Luckily though this soon disappeared as he found his rhythm, describing the contents of each glass tank in precise detail and providing a wealth of information.

Speaking only in Spanish made understanding some of the information difficult, thanks to all the new vocabulary. Enough was grasped though to get by and I was certainly amazed that for a kid of such a young age the amount of knowledge already memorised. Such a talent is highly important here as from the lack of information at each exhibit it is evident that the organisation relies solely on the guides to converge details about each species.

After first passing the large native and international collection of sea creatures, including the feared piranha (they certainly don't deserve this bad reputation!) and a rather remarkable fish that uses its fins as legs and can survive out of water for up to three days at a time, it was time to move towards the amphibian section of the zoo.

This was my favourite part, seeing poison dart frogs, horny turtles getting up to some rude behaviour, some rather cramped crocodiles and iguanas swinging overhead. After passing the other exhibits of spiders and snakes, including black widows, bushmakers and the potentially deadly fer-de-lance, where crystallized venom is produced here for use as antidotes, the tour was over, lasting a very reasonable forty-five minutes.

Apart from the crocodile enclosure I was very impressed with the standards of the displays and the quality of space. You are more than welcome to venture back to gain another look at the exhibits, but the wealth of information given and the adequate time spent at each display means this isn't that necessary.

With Cuenca being such a spectacular city, Amaru Zoologico falls well down the pecking list of top attractions. If you are in the same position as me, left with an hour to kill then Amaru Zoologico can certainly be recommended. Open from 9am-1pm and from 2.30pm-6pm Tues-Sun and costing $2 entrance more information can be accessed by calling the zoo on 593-7-2826337 or 096-288977.

From journal Cuenca's Colonial Delights

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