Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
A nonprofit West Palm Beach zoo with koalas, tigers, jaguars and Florida otters, open 9 am to 5 pm every day of the week.
Verificato ottobre 2026
Best for families making a day trip north who want a proper accredited zoo with keeper talks and paid animal encounters. The trade-off: prices move by day and season, and the best encounters cost extra.
Who lives where
Koalas get top billing on the zoo's own site, and they live in The Islands section. From there the map splits into Asia, home to the tigers, the Tropics of the Americas with jaguars and macaws, and the Florida Wetlands, where you'll find the otters. The Lorikeet Loft is its own stop. It's an AZA-accredited zoo run as a nonprofit, and most of its conservation work focuses on species in the collection, including the Florida panther, which even has a live camera. It rates 4.5 from about 7,900 Google reviews, which is a solid showing for a place this busy with kids.
Chats and paid encounters
Check the daily schedule before you plan your route. On a sample October day it listed a Tiger Chat at noon, a Capybara Chat at 12:30 and a Rhino Hornbill Chat at 3 pm, plus Koala Experiences at 10 am and 2 pm and a Group Panther Experience at 11. The Koala, Otter and Sloth Experiences, the Safari Tour and the Zoologist Experience are all paid add-ons on top of admission. If one of those is the whole reason for the drive, sort it out ahead instead of hoping for an open slot when you arrive.
Tickets, hours and nights
Gates open 9 am to 5 pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the last ticket sells at 4:15. Prices shift depending on the day and time of year, so check the ticketing page rather than trusting a number a friend quoted. A membership covers unlimited visits for a year, there's a military discount and a reciprocal zoo program, and you can order food ahead online. After dark, Zoo Lights runs select nights from November 21 to January 4, and Wild Night Out is the adults-only evening for when the kids stay home.
Da sapere
Last ticket sells at 4:15 pm, so don't roll up at 4:30 expecting to get in.
Domande frequenti
What are the Palm Beach Zoo hours?
It's open 9 am to 5 pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the last ticket is sold at 4:15 pm.
Can you meet the koalas at Palm Beach Zoo?
Yes, there's a paid Koala Experience at the Koala Habitat, with sessions listed at 10 am and 2 pm on a sample day. It costs extra on top of admission.
When is Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo?
Zoo Lights runs on select nights from November 21 to January 4, with tickets sold separately from daytime admission.