On our way down the coast, we stopped in Bahia Ensenada to enter the country. Once we got to Northwestern Mexico, we were excited to relax and explore the local area.

We rented a car and found the Pai Pai Ecotourism Park online. We were so excited to see the animals we saw on their website and have an incredible experience. We just had to visit, and we’re going to tell you why!

How to get to Pai Pai Ecotourism Park

We rented a car from Fiesta Rent a Car, located inside the Corona Hotel and Spa property. The staff was super nice and accommodating, and the cost was perfect for our budget. If renting a car and driving around Mexico isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other private transportation options like taxis and a shuttle to the park from the cruise ship dock.

The Animals and The Animal Encounters at Pai Pai Ecotourism Park

They are a conservation zoo and play a crucial role as the only ecotourism park with conservation efforts in the northwest area of Mexico. The park helps educate the public and saves injured animals, releasing them back into the wild when possible.

They have so many animals that we lost count. It was more than we imagined once we walked into the compound.

Farm Animals Experience 

The farm animals exhibit was a great way to spend the afternoon. We got to go into the pens and enjoy the animals up close. The petting zoo had typical animals like goats, rabbits, and mini pigs, as well as cows.

Forrest Animals 

The forest animal area included raccoons and albino deer. The raccoons were in a cage when we visited. I’m not sure if they were allowing guests to hold the raccoons at the time of our visit, but we saw a few pictures of guests holding them.

The Monkeys 

We had the chance to let the squirrel monkeys sit on our shoulders and fed them by holding a small dish with food. They were tiny miniature monkeys, really cute, and pretty light.

The Falcon 

After visiting with the monkeys, we saw a lady holding a falcon. Audrey was intrigued by the large bird, and the lady asked if we wanted to hold it. We were skeptical at first, but we all ended up holding the bird to get acquainted with the falcon and see its interesting features, like its big talons, eyes, and feathers, up close.

The Cats 

They have lots of big cats on the property, including a tiger exhibit with white tigers that you can safely enjoy from a distance.

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, they offer the chance to pet and hold a tiger cub, baby jaguar, or baby lions. We decided to do this because we never thought we’d get the opportunity again.

The baby jaguar cub we met started off really nice but then got a little rambunctious with Addy’s sweater. He wanted to play and chew on the sweater for some reason so we ended our time with him as that happened. 

Breakfast at Suculenta Cocina Mexiterranea

Before we started exploring the park, we enjoyed a meal at the onsite restaurant, Suculenta Cocina Mexiterranea. The breakfast tacos were delicious, and the pork chili verde with beans and potato wedges was fantastic.

I highly recommend eating at the restaurant. They have turtles and a real alligator in a viewing area that watches you like a camera crew.

Should I visit Pai Pai Ecotourism Park with my family?

We had a great time seeing amazing animals and relaxing at the animal conservation center. Experiencing a baby jaguar cub was extra special and surreal. Your kids will talk about the baby jaguar experience for a long time, just like ours did months after our visit.

Even though it was our first time here, I can definitely see us coming back if we’re in the area again. The breakfast at Suculenta Cocina Mexiterranea was amazing, and I can only imagine how good lunch and dinner must be.

If you love animals and want to support a conservation group, this place is fun and interactive for kids. If you’re visiting Ensenada, I recommend spending a few hours at Pai Pai with your family.