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San Diego Zoo

How to Plan Your Day at the San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best animal attractions in the world; it is easy to see why it is a popular destination for animal-lovers of all ages.

The travel team at aRes Travel understands that love of animals, which is why they offer exclusive San Diego Zoo packages and discount ticket deals you can purchase online through their convenient and easy-to-use website.

With so much to see and do, making the most of your day at the San Diego Zoo can be a challenge. To help you get the most out of your trip to this incredible and life-changing attraction, the experts at aRes Travel have put together this comprehensive guide of can’t-miss experiences.

1. Be an early bird

San Diego Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in California, and if you are looking to beat the crowd, you will need to get an early start.

The zoo opens at 9 am, and the best way to get in early is to arrive 15 minutes before opening. This allows you to secure a prime up-front spot for viewing the exhibits. If you get there early enough, you may even catch a glimpse of the zookeepers as they finish their morning rounds of feeding the animals.

The earlier you arrive, the more time you give yourself to see all the fantastic attractions available at the Zoo, and with its sprawling 100 acres of exhibits housing more than 3,700 animals of 650 different species, you’re going to need all the time you can get!

2. Buy your tickets online

Buying your tickets before you arrive is another excellent way to avoid the queues.

At aRes travel, we have a great selection of San Diego Zoo packages, and ticket deals that save you money and allow to you go straight-to-gate and skip the admissions lines.

For those who want to maximize their time spent in San Diego, aRes Travel offers combo package deals that allow you to bundle your admission to the San Diego Zoo with admission to various popular San Diego attractions for one low discounted price.

Check out their LEGOLAND® California, San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park Combo Deal for the perfect kid-friendly get away. Or, for those who simply cannot get enough of some of the most beautiful animal exhibits that California has to offer, choose an aRes Travel’s San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park & SeaWorld San Diego Ticket Combo Deal.

3. Get a Map

With more than 100 acres of attractions in the zoo and even more ground to cover outside of the premises in the beautiful Balboa Park, it can be a challenge to navigate this incredible complex.

In keeping with its commitment to environmental protection and responsibility, the Zoo does not distribute park maps to keep unnecessary waste to a minimum. You can download the zoo’s interactive app to your smartphone for all your navigational needs. The app features a map of the park with GPS capabilities and a selection of preset walking paths that help you prioritize which exhibits to visit and when.

Don’t have a smartphone? Not a problem! Head over to the zoo’s website before your trip to print out your PDF version of the map or download it to your tablet device for easy use.

There are also large maps located throughout the park grounds that highlight recommended paths and show directions to all your favorite animal exhibits.

4. Take a Bus Tour

Bus Tour

The zoo grounds are expansive. There are so many paths to take, that it can take you around four hours to see all the exhibits.

If you are short on time, the best way to see the most exhibits is with a bus tour. The tour takes around 35-45 minutes and departs close to the zoo entrance. It will cost you a little extra, but the tour is guided by your knowledgeable driver, who will offer commentary as you view the attractions at a more relaxing pace.

5. Get Interactive

The San Diego Zoo is so much more than the regular run-of-the-mill zoos. You can find several amazing interactive attractions to experience as well. Try the immersive 4D movies or attend any of the animal shows run by the zookeepers for educational entertainment.

6. Avoid the Peak Season

With the kids off school and the sun shining, summer is definitely peak season at the San Diego Zoo, meaning the crowds and the summer heat are unavoidable.

If possible, try to plan your trip so that it falls on either side of the peak period, which is June through to August. That means that trips planned for May and September might be a better option.

However, if avoiding peak season is impossible for your schedule, try to plan your zoo itinerary around the cooler times of the day so you don’t spend your time sweltering in the summer sun. Early morning, just as the park opens, is the best time for a stroll around the exhibits, as the animals (and you) are likely to be more active at cooler times of the day.

To avoid the noon sun, plan to spend midday at the indoor interactive attractions or enjoying lunch at any of the exceptional dining areas and don’t worry there is plenty of share to be found throughout the park to escape the direct sun.

Get Going with aRes Travel

multi-day pass deals

Still, don’t feel like one visit to the zoo will be enough? It doesn’t have to be! With aRes Travel’s multi-day pass deals, there’s no need to rush your visit to this incredible attraction.

With a little bit of planning and by taking advantage of aRes Travel’s exclusive online San Diego Zoo packages and discount tickets, your trip to the San Diego is sure to be one that you won’t soon forget!

For exclusive deals discounted packages, amazing savings on tickets and hotels, and some of the lowest prices on travel, call 1 (800) 434-7894 (international callers use +1 (619) 546-5622) to speak with an aRes Travel planning expert seven days a week, or book online now.

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