Zoológico de San Juan de Aragón

What it is. One of the three public zoos of Mexico City, opened in 1964 in the north-east of the city, inside the Bosque de San Juan de Aragón. Its architecture is radial, which is the point: the layout lets you see an animal from wherever you are standing rather than hunting for it. The collection holds some 709 animals of 135 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, including species at risk, with the golden eagle, the African elephant, the hippopotamus and the horned curassow among the ones children look for.

Who it suits. Families, and anyone in the north-east with half a day. It also runs summer courses for children —guided routes, crafts and workshops about the animals.

How to get there by metro. The practical question. The nearest stations are Bosque de Aragón on Line B and Deportivo Oceanía, the interchange between Lines 5 and B; from either, the last stretch is a short local bus or taxi ride along Avenida José Loreto Fabela —confirm the route with the driver. Allow about an hour from the Historic Centre. Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:00–16:30 and closed on Monday; like the city's other public zoos, admission is free.