When I say that this is the best ecological tour (or tour in general!) you can take in Puerta Vallerta, I wholeheartedly mean it. As someone studying biology, it's hard to find someone who's passion for wildlife conservation matches my own. Cesar is so intelligent, kind, and tenacious in his work with these beautiful animals, and in saving what precious little habitats we have left for them. Please, go here and learn, especially if you are in the resort rows. Saving our planet and the stunning creatures who were here far before us is a never ending battle - you can help us, and meet some of the awesome wildlife while doing so. The tour takes approximately an hour, and is 2km long in a loop around the property. It was an easy walk and there were benches for breaks if needed. Cesar was incredibly interactive and hands-on, making this a great activity for parents to bring their children to. He gives tours in English and Spanish, and is fluent in English. He is extremely knowledgeable, and answered all the questions we had with gusto. I recommend closed toed shoes that you don't mind getting a little muddy. Prepare to have your breath taken away - this is not a zoo, or anything like it. This is an Animal Sanctuary, promoting true welfare for its inhabitants.

What a fantastic tour. I am so glad that this place exists to educate the public and tourists about the natural habitat of the area. So much of the natural habitat has been developed and this location will allow you to see what it looked like before all the development. You see many rescued animals and learn about them. Our group of 8 adults and kids aged 5-70 loved our time there. Highly recommend. Definitely go with a guided tour.

Hard to find, might even be hard in a sedan in wet weather, but worth the trip. Make sure to ask for the guided tour "en inglés" as needed. I got more out of it as my Spanish is rough. Your funds go directly to the cause.

El Cora is a must visit if traveling to Puerto Vallarta! We selected the tour option, which I highly recommend to understand the rehabilitation efforts of the facility but also to learn about the animals you will see. Alfredo, the veterinarian, showed us around the facility and was very friendly and knowledgeable. There were several crocodiles in the facility which we were able to see up close. There were also other mammals and birds. We loved seeing the lagoon where Alfredo was able to point out two crocodiles in their natural habitat. A truly wonderful experience!🐊

It was 300 pesos (MXN) per person for the guided tour, and it was very interesting and educational. There weren't any other visitors when we went, so we got the tour guide to ourselves. I can't remember her name, but she was very friendly and easy to talk to. She apologized for her English, but she was very easy to understand and was able to answer our questions and give lots of information. The sanctuary had several crocodiles who are unable to live in the wild for various reasons, as well as a pig (peccary?), some baby coatis, a baby raccoon and 'possum, some turtles, green macaws, etc. We did not get to pet/see a baby crocodile because she told us that the 1 baby they'd had died. 😭 They're hoping the male and female they have together will have more babies this year, but they haven't had any the last 3 years. She told us about how the crocodiles are being displaced by construction and tourism expansion, and how they're trying to buy some of the land to protect it for the crocs, but it's very difficult because land developers want to buy it, and they have access to much more money. The sanctuary is not funded by the government, only by admission fees and donations.

El Cora 🐊 sanctuary was very very cool! We paid for the guided tour in English. It was so worth it! Our guide, Juan, was incredible. He was so passionate and knowledgeable. We could tell he really cares about the animals and birds in their care. We learned so much from him. It was amazing to hear about the history of the sanctuary, the area it is located in (plus to learn about the fauna of the whole of Banderas Bay) and the stories of the animals in their care. To learn which ones can be rehabilitated and which ones will need lifetime care due to many reasons, such as being blind and not being able to fend for themselves in the wild. The mangrove swamp there is so beautiful too - made me feel like I was in Africa. Or the Amazon. Juan told us that there are over 100 species of birds in the area. And many of them are in the mangrove water area. We saw some very cool birds as well as creatures in the sanctuary. We loved learning about the crocodiles too, their ages, their personal stories, how the young ones are released back to the wild and more. We highly recommend a visit to this sanctuary and will definitely bring more family and friends to visit here in the future. So glad we finally made the trip there. It’s actually less than 10 minutes from our place near Bucerias. We were surprised how close it was! We had been hesitant to go in the past due to the stories of the long bumpy treck in. But it really wasn’t that bad at all. It was actually like a cool adventure and really made us feel like we were entering a jungle to see the sanctuary. We will definitely be back :)

I highly recommend El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary. For all ages, it is educational and engaging. The facility is completely supported by donations and tourism so no government funding at this time.🤞 Alfredo, whom is Vet from Guadalajara, gave the tour with much knowledge and enthusiasm. You can tell he's passionate about their purpose there. If you're fortunate to be there at the right time, you just may get to hold a baby Crocodile. Alfredo explained the important connection between the crocodile and the mangrove trees. It was all fascinating in understanding the circle of life and what each creatures purpose is. For only 200 peso highly worth the visit down the long and bumpy dirt road. There are other rescue animals there besides crocodiles, but their main purpose is to help save and repopulate the Crocodile. Through education and understanding we can better appreciate this beautiful and intriguing creature.

Really a great experience! One of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend the guided tour if you're unfamiliar with the native environment or want to know more. Alfredo was happy to educate and answer any questions we had. He and the sanctuary are pursuing a truly noble mission to protect animals of the area.

Absolutely loved our time here. Alfredo helped us and was more than happy to answer any questions. He even drew out the large pair of American crocodiles for us to see. It’s very evident how deeply he cares about these animals and I have the utmost respect for that.

2 crocodiles and a few birds in dirty enclosures for a 25$ entry fee... I would have rated it higher if the animals looked well cared for.

Really enjoyed this experience, especially if you want to learn about indigenous wildlife and support a local sanctuary. About three KMs down a dirt road intro the mangroves. Simple setup, nice one-hour tour, some interactive parts. Easily accessible by taxi. Just outside of Bucerias. Fun for kids. $250 pesos per adult. Not sure about kids

This sanctuary is much needed experience for those who want to learn about Croc habitat and impact of human life around crocs. We opted for the guided tour with kids and left with no questions unanswered. Road leading to the sanctuary isn't built so many taxi/Ubers will ask for more fare then usual for the distance.

For the cost of 300 pesos per person for an approximately 1 hour 20 minute guided tour, El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary is a must do. Juan (our tour guide) was very informative and had a deep passion for not only what he does but also for the animals. For those that may wonder how to pay, they accept card or cash. They also have bathrooms on site so no need to worry. Once you are done your tour, they have no problem calling a taxi for you if need be. All around, had a great experience here.

Wonderful experience with a guide (who is a Veterinarian). He was so knowledgeable and had an obvious love for all the animals there. Not just crocodiles, but an assortment of animals who were in need of care until they can be release back into the wild, if possible. My Granddaughter and her friend, who are both Veterinary Students, loved every minute of the 1 hour walking tour. So nice that it is a Refuge and not a Zoo. Note: If you take a taxi or Uber in, be sure to arrange for them to wait for you or return at a certain time. It was difficult to get one to come in afterward.

We had a great time with the kids at the El Cora Crocodile sanctuary. They have more animals than just crocodiles and take care of them as well. Ask animals were wounded and they help them recover and then bring them back into the wild. They offer a tour für 250 MXN but with the kids we wanted to do it on our own pace and paid 150 MXN for adults and 100 MXN for kids

Absolutely a must visit place if you’re in Puerto Vallarta! The guide was kind, friendly, answered lots of our questions and shared a beautiful history of this place with us. It’s super educational and I recommend it to both children and adults!

On December 24, the visit was by prior appoinment only and this suited us best to avoid any crowd. Upon arrival, one was greeted by a sweet “ hola” that came out of a macaw! The only staff on site that day, Caesar, a marine biologist, gave us a fabulous tour in English. Cost us 250 mxn per adult and 150 mxn per child. The brackish backwater habitat with a variety of animals was a peaceful sight to behold. The 4 meter long male crocodile “ Bebe” was regal indeed. Got to see him being fed and given a back scratching as well. Nice to see various other animals rehabilitated in this sanctuary. The best experience was to be able to hold a baby blind crocodile, who would not survive in the wild. Certainly a most worthwhile cause to visit, experience and support. The last 3 km off the highway are on unpaved road but it was not too bumpy or dusty.

My daughter and I are in Nuevo Vallarta for the last 3 days of our two week trip and decided to check this place out based off reviews. It did not disappoint!! Go here now!! Our guide (who is actually the veterinarian) is so passionate about the animals and how to teach humans the importance of responsibility when it comes to "exotic pets" and natural ecosystems. We both highly enjoyed learning about and interacting with all the beautiful animals. The cost has been upped to $300 per person, but it goes to a good cause and I would much rather spend my money here than a lot of touristy places. Thank you so much!!

Spend a little more and get the guided tour. Our tour guide, Caesar, spoke excellent english and is a wealth of information about crocodiles and the local wildlife too. You can spend an hour to an hour and a half here.

Very quaint sanctuary. We viewed crocodiles, macaws, egrets and several others. $200 pecos self guided. The road getting in is not paved. An hour is a generous amount of time to cover the entire grounds.

Really enjoyed it with my family, it take about an hour or so to do the tour but the guide was really knowledgeable and did a great job. We learned a lot about the crocodiles and a lot of other Mexican creatures. They have a big habitat that they release rehabilitated animals into and only keep the ones that would not survive in the wild. It costs about 300 pesos per adult and 200 pesos per child which is a lot but it seems to be going to a good cause.

Amazing!! Wonderful tour with our guide who spoke fluent English. Cannot recommend enough. Legit place. Tip: Take an Uber though!! Taxi had to wait with us and ended up charging a lot.

The tour guide Alfredo is very knowledgeable about the habitat and will answer any questions with pleasure. We applaude the conservation efforts of El Cora. I highly recommend you to visit El Cora.

The entire sanctuary is run by 2 hardworking guys, one a veterinarian and his friend helping him. It can be difficult to get to, but well worth the trip, and definitely get the very cheap guided tour (only 100 pesos more than the normal entrance fee of 150p). The vet himself will come give you the tour in either Spanish or English, and talk about all the animals in the sanctuary and why they're there. There are definitely more than crocodiles, though that's the main attraction, but there are many birds including a pair of green macaws! Just be sure to hire a driver that can drive on rural roads, preferably in an SUV, and try not to go right after it rains. Also, wear a lot of bug spray.

The tour is great, very educative. The team is doing a great job preserving crocodiles and other species

Loved this place so much! Bought extra merchandise just to support the animals. The tour guide/Vet was phenomenal. You can tell how much he cares about the animals. My family learned a lot of information about crocodiles and the other animals there. They rehabilitate as many as they can and release them back into the wild. For the animals that they can't rehabilitate, they have a home and wonderful people to take care of them. I will definitely go back when I visit again. I can't say enough good things about it.

Amazing bilingual tour, so many wonderful animals and incredible information. There are so much more than crocodiles and the tour guide was a passionate biologist who gave us such valuable information about all of the animals and habitat. Actually an animal sanctuary and not just a tourist trap with tortured animals. Highly recommend!

Worth a visit. Tours take about an hour, 300 pesos for an adult, but very worth it. Excellence friendly guides with good English skills teach you a lot about the local eco-system.

What a great way to learn about the bay and these wonderful people who are vets at this nonprofit make you feel at home. Do the tour for sure! Don’t be afraid of the drive in it is safe and so educational! No matter what age it is a great way to spend a hour or two!

The sanctuary is 3km from the main road, We arranged for our Uber driver to wait while we did the tour (approx 1 hour). Our guide (Hazel) was really knowledgeable, engaging and passionate. Along with crocodiles, we saw many great birds and animals. The sanctuary is in a beautiful location, it's a really worthwhile cause and made a great change from our normal hotel/tourist activities. A unique and very memorable experience.

It was an amazing experience to see all these animals with the thought of them being cared for and released when they are well. I would 100% recommend coming here for your own experience and to help support all the animals in there.

Hot day end of April. The larger ones were in the shade off view. Only a few small cross. A couple vultures and ducks. I wanted to like this place but the drive in on terrible road had more animals than sanctuary. Creek in flamingos has more wildlife to view. Not expensive but for a 5 minute walk it wasn't worthwhile

Best place on earth

A humble place that is certainly worth visiting, definitely opt for the tour option so you can learn more and appreciate the hard work they are doing to help and protect a variety of endangered and threatened creatures. The price for admission is 150 MXN but it's more than worth opting for the admission with tour (250 MXN) - since they do not have support with any government funding, the funds go toward their efforts. I recommend coming early and take your time, we arrived just past 10am with no wait and had an excellent informative tour. By the time we left at 1130, it was busy with a few groups here for a visit. You can book a reservation in advance via their Facebook page.

Wow! What an amazing experience visiting the crocodile sanctuary!!! Our tour guide Alfredo, who also happens to be the vet, was outstanding!!! This place is magical ! My family and I had such a lovely time not only learning about all the different animals, but how the sanctuary works/takes care of them and all the species around. Highly recommend visiting when your in town! It’s a great getaway from the beach for a couple hours!

We liked the fact that this is not a zoo but a small rescue, rehab & release, ecological facility. We had a guided one hour tour (all you need at this sanctuary) for a $300 pesos donation, each. An unguided tour may cost less but you won't get the backstory on each animal, learn about the local ecology or hear about the efforts of the sanctuary. Crocodiles, turtles, macaws, coati, boar, other animals & the mangroves are being supported there. They are attempting to purchase & preserve the adjacent mangrove & river bank. The sanctuary is located down a long side road/driveway off the main road in Bucerías, not far from the Mega grocery store. We had considered walking but we're glad we didn't as it's a long driveway! We took a taxi from Chedraui, Bucerías, for $260 pesos each way & when we asked the driver to return for us he spoke to our guide & said he'd simply wait for us. Our biologist guide was very knowledgeable & spoke English so much better than my Spanish. I am always so impressed with the linguistic skills of Mexico's youth. She told us about each animal, their story & the work that the sanctuary does. She was fun & very kind. It's worth the effort to go & the donation which is more than stated (since 2014) on the website. The donations support the sanctuary, which receives no government funding.

We are first time visitors to Puerto Vallarta and highly recommend this tour. The guides are passionate, funny and knowledgeable about the very important work they are doing. The animals are so wonderful to visit, the habitat is natural and so important to this community and we highly recommend. Great for any age! We will definitely be coming back.

Great experience! Really recommend checking it out if you have the opportunity. The staff was highly knowledgeable, funny, and very friendly! We learnt so much and love the fact that it is a rehabilitation center for animals.

Terrific little zoo that aims to protect vulnerable native species. Don't let the access deter you. Our tiny rental made it out on a dry day with ease. We enjoyed a private tour lead by a marine biologist - 1 of 3 partners in this sanctuary. You won't get closer to Crocs maybe even getting to pet a baby. Your donation helps and exposing/educating yourself to the cause is priceless.

Super cool place. The tour guide spoke great English and is also the veterinarian who take care of the animals. Neat education experience for our family.

Great little place. Dani took us through and was very knowledgeable ans patient with the kids. So glad I took my boys so they could learn a little about conservation and how our actions affect our environment.

Had an absolute great time visiting. The tour is definitely worth it, makes the experience just that much better. There were so many awesome animals to see and we even got to pet a couple!

What a wonderful surprise to find El Cora. Our guided tour took about 90 mins, but I could have stayed a lot longer. Alfredo was very interesting and knowledgeable. I have a new found respect of crocodiles. Driving up to the sanctuary was a little bumpy..but not to worry...So worth it!