The Parque Centenario & Mérida’s Zoo

It’s a considerable hike from the city center, but the Parque Centernario (Centennial Park) on the west side of Mérida certainly warrants the effort, or the cost of a taxi, if only to pay a visit to the zoo which hosts a surprising number of exotic animals.

Like so much in Mérida, the zoo is completely free to visit… which, of course, immediately sets alarm bells a-ringin’. I mean, I love free stuff, but how well are animals really going to be cared for in a zoo funded solely by the city? Inde...