Amazonas Park Crete

The Amazonas Park is a private zoo in the northeast of the island of Crete. The main focus of the zoo is on animals from South America, especially parrots and monkeys. In addition there are some native domestic animals such as donkeys and goats.

The Amazonas Park was opened in 2011. Since then it has enjoyed increasing popularity. During the season, several hundred visitors visit the zoo every day. Some organisers of day trips by bus have also included the largest zoo on Crete in their programme. The parking lot on the street opposite the entrance is often well filled in summer. The zoo is near the small town of Neapoli, the large tourist resorts of Chersonissos, Malia and Agios Nikolaos are all less than 30 kilometres away.

What to see in Amazonas Park ?

In many aviaries (large bird cages) you can see parrots from Latin America and cockatoos from Australia. An aviary is particularly large, here live the larger parrot species.

They are fed with banana by a nice and informative animal keeper. To our knowledge, this monkey feeding with a banana takes place every hour during the season.
Many, especially small, zoo visitors also love the donkeys in the Amazon Animal Park. A younger donkey has the funny name "Donald Trump". Also the many plants, like palms and flowers, are beautiful and interesting.

What is the function of Amazonas Park ?

Its main function is the rearing and reproduction of rare bird species, especially parrots, some of which are threatened with extinction. The warm climate in Crete is ideal for many of these birds. In addition, most parrots in South America live in the mountains. The Amazon Park in Crete is 500 meters above sea level.

Many parrots in the zoo come from an animal park in Switzerland. The climate in the south of Greece is of course much better for birds from the tropics than in Central Europe. Some rare parrots were already reintroduced into the wild in their homeland after breeding in the Amazonas Park on Crete. The large breeding station of the birds cannot be entered, for understandable reasons, by the zoo visitors.

Is the visit worthwhile ?

We think, despite the up to 10 Euro entrance fee (see below), yes. It is the only zoo on Crete, there is only a known aquarium and a tiny but nice private zoo in Chersonissos. The Amazonas Park looks very clean, solid and well maintained. The staff is very nice and happy to answer any questions. The owner, a young man from Luxembourg of Portuguese descent, built the Amazonas Park without state help. He wants to save bird species from extinction from South America on Crete. This is something that every animal lover should support.

Entrance fees Amazonas Park Crete

Adults pay 10 Euro entrance fee. The entrance fee for children under 17 years is 8 Euro, children under 3 years do not have to pay the entrance fee in the zoo. There is a special price for groups.

The entrance fee must take into account that the Zoo does not receive any financial support from the Greek State or the Municipality of Neapoli. The zoo was financed and built with much love and commitment by private persons. Almost all income comes from the entrance fees. In addition, the species protection program of the Amazonas Park is a project worth supporting.

Opening hours Amazonas Park Neapoli (Crete)

The Zoo in Crete is open daily from 9:30 to 18 o'clock. In winter the Amazonas Park is closed to visitors (approximately from the beginning of November to the end of March).

Approach Amazonas Park Crete

By car: On the highway Heraklion - Chersonissos - Malia - Agios Nikolaos take the exit Neapoli. Do not drive into the small town of Neapoli, but up the mountain in the other direction towards Kourounes (smaller village). After about 3 kilometres you reach the zoo. The approach is relatively easy, as the Amazonas Park is well signposted at every important junction in the area (already at the exit from the expressway).

By bus: Unfortunately, as far as we know, there is no public transport near the Amazonas Park. You can only take a bus from Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos to Neapoli and take a taxi or walk the last 4 kilometers (quite steep uphill, several hundred meters of altitude).

With one tour: From the big tourist resorts on Crete there are more and more private bus tours to the Amazonas Park in Kourounes near Neapoli. The best is to ask in one of the many small travel agencies in Crete.