Philip's Animal Garden Guide
Looking for a zoo or animal sanctuary in Aruba? Philip's Animal Garden is a nonprofit wildlife rescue sanctuary in Noord, home to a wide variety of rescued exotic animals.
Located near Alto Vista Chapel, this family-friendly attraction offers educational animal encounters, opportunities to feed selected animals, and a chance to support an organization dedicated to rescue and rehabilitation.
Whether you're visiting with children or simply looking for something different from Aruba's beaches, here's everything you need to know about Philip's Animal Garden tickets, opening hours, animals, directions, and guided tours.
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| Location | Alto Vista 116, Noord, Aruba |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Official website lists daily, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM; confirm visitor tour times |
| Admission | Direct admission varies by source; confirm current rates |
| Online experience | From $20 per person on Viator |
| Recommended visit | 1–2 hours |
| Animals | More than 50 species reported by Aruba's tourism authority |
| Best for | Families, animal lovers, educational outings |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-accessible paths and designated facilities |
| Getting there | Rental car, taxi or organized tour |
You can visit Philip's Animal Garden independently or book an organized experience in advance.
Best for: Visiting Philip's Animal Garden specifically · From $20 per person
This bookable wildlife experience focuses entirely on Philip's Animal Garden in Noord. Visitors can discover rescued exotic animals, learn about the sanctuary's work, and enjoy opportunities for supervised animal feeding.
What's included according to the Viator listing:
Meeting point: Philip's Animal Garden, Alto Vista 116, Noord. This experience does not advertise hotel transportation, so plan your journey to the garden separately.

Philip's Animal Garden
Entrance to the garden and a feeding bag. Meet at Alto Vista 116, Noord. Hotel transportation is not advertised.
Best for: Visiting three animal attractions with transportation · El Tours & Transfers Aruba · Approximately 4 hours · From $57
This guided excursion combines:
The existing tour listing advertises hotel and port pickup, a professional guide, attraction admissions, and bottled water. It's a convenient choice for visitors who don't have a rental car or want to explore several attractions in one trip.

El Tours & Transfers Aruba
Hotel and port pickup, a professional guide, attraction admissions, and bottled water. Visits Philip's Animal Garden, Donkey Sanctuary, and Aruba Ostrich Farm.
Best for: Travelers with a rental car or their own transportation
You can also arrange your own visit to Philip's Animal Garden. The sanctuary's official website provides visitor information and a ticket-booking link. Published direct-admission prices differ across travel websites, so check the latest rate before visiting.
Important: The $20 Viator experience should not automatically be treated as the standard walk-in admission price.
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Philip's Animal Garden, also known as Philip's Pet Collection Foundation, is a nonprofit rescue organization in Noord, Aruba.
Founded through Philip Merryweather's work with rescued animals, the sanctuary provides care for exotic animals that have been abandoned, mistreated, or otherwise need a suitable home.
Its mission focuses on animal welfare, rehabilitation, conservation awareness, and education.
Visitor income and donations help fund food, veterinary care, habitat maintenance, and other essential expenses.
Yes, Aruba has animal attractions where visitors can see a variety of species, and Philip's Animal Garden is one of the closest experiences to a traditional zoo on the island.
It's more accurately described as a wildlife rescue sanctuary. Visitor time is spent observing rescued animals and, when staff allow it, feeding selected residents.
If you're searching for an Aruba zoo, Philip's Animal Garden is one of the first attractions worth considering.
Philip's Animal Garden is home to a diverse collection of rescued exotic animals. Species featured on the attraction's official website include:



One of the more surprising animals to encounter on a Caribbean island, red kangaroos are among the species featured at Philip's Animal Garden.
The sanctuary features colorful bird species, including peacocks, cockatiels, conures, curassows, and macaws.
The animal collection includes axis deer and other mammals that visitors can learn about during their visit.
Pigs, mules, ducks, and other animals also feature among the sanctuary's residents.
Animal populations and availability can change as animals are rescued, rehabilitated, transferred, or cared for. Not every animal will necessarily be visible or available for interaction during every visit.
Yes. Animal feeding is one of the attraction's featured visitor experiences. The sanctuary offers opportunities to feed selected animals, subject to staff instructions and animal welfare requirements. The Viator experience highlighted above specifically advertises an included feeding bag.
Animal interactions depend on the species, conditions, and staff guidance.
The attraction's official visitor information currently lists:
Monday–Sunday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Other Aruba tourism sources publish different tour schedules, including guided experiences beginning at 9:00 AM. To avoid arriving before visitor activities begin, confirm the current admission and tour schedule directly with the sanctuary.
Morning visits are often more comfortable because Aruba's temperatures can become hot later in the day.
Allow approximately 1–2 hours to explore the sanctuary, observe the animals, and participate in permitted interactions.
Ticket pricing is important because different booking channels may advertise different amounts.
| Ticket option | Published price |
|---|---|
| Independent admission | Confirm current walk-in rates with the attraction |
| Viator wildlife experience | From $20 per person |
| Half-day three-attraction guided tour | Previously listed from $57 per person |
The Viator wildlife experience includes admission and a feeding bag according to its listing. The half-day guided tour covers multiple attractions and advertises transportation.
Check whether the booking option you select includes pickup, feeding, and other services before paying.
Philip's Animal Garden is located at Alto Vista 116, Noord, Aruba. The sanctuary sits along the road leading toward Alto Vista Chapel, one of Aruba's well-known northern landmarks.
By rental car: The garden is approximately 5–7 minutes by car from the Palm Beach high-rise hotel area, according to the attraction's official website.
By taxi: Taxi drivers are generally familiar with the location. Arrange your return journey in advance.
By organized tour: The half-day animal sanctuary excursion advertises transportation and includes Philip's Animal Garden as one of its stops.
Get DirectionsYes. Philip's Animal Garden is a family-friendly attraction, particularly for children who enjoy animals. The combination of exotic species, supervised feeding, and educational experiences makes it a good alternative to spending another full day at the beach.
Children can learn about animal rescue, appropriate interaction, and the importance of caring for wildlife.
According to the attraction's official website, the garden provides wheelchair-accessible habitat paths, ramps, and designated resting areas. Accessible parking is available for visitors displaying a disability parking permit.
If you have specific accessibility needs, contact the attraction before visiting to confirm that all areas you want to see are suitable.
Aruba offers several animal attractions, and each provides a different experience.
| Attraction | Main focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Philip's Animal Garden | Rescued exotic animals across many species | Families wanting variety |
| Aruba Ostrich Farm | Ostriches, emus and guided bird encounters | Bird lovers and educational tours |
| Donkey Sanctuary Aruba | Rescue and care of donkeys | Relaxed animal encounters |
Philip's Animal Garden offers a broader variety of rescued animals, including mammals and birds. Aruba Ostrich Farm focuses more specifically on ostriches and emus, with a guided farm experience and supervised feeding opportunities.
Choose Philip's Animal Garden for animal variety. Choose Aruba Ostrich Farm for a more specialized bird-focused experience.
Donkey Sanctuary Aruba focuses on rescued donkeys and offers a quieter, donation-supported experience. Philip's Animal Garden features a wider variety of exotic animals and organized visitor experiences.
Both can be suitable for families, depending on your interests.
Philip's Animal Garden is worth considering if you enjoy animals, are traveling with children, or want a break from Aruba's beach activities. The attraction combines wildlife viewing with a rescue-focused mission, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about animal welfare.
It's also conveniently located near Alto Vista Chapel, making it easy to combine with other northern Aruba sightseeing stops.
If your main interest is an active adventure, such as snorkeling or an ATV excursion, a different activity may fit that day better.
FAQ
Last updated: October 2026. Opening hours, prices, animal encounters, and booking inclusions may change. Confirm details with the attraction or booking provider before visiting.
Philip's Animal Garden offers one of Aruba's most distinctive family-friendly animal experiences. Whether you want to feed rescued animals, learn about wildlife conservation, or explore a quieter part of Noord, it's an attraction worth considering.
For a visit focused on Philip's Animal Garden: Compare the standalone wildlife experience from $20 per person.
For a guided multi-attraction outing: Explore the half-day animal sanctuary tour that includes Philip's Animal Garden, Aruba Ostrich Farm, and Donkey Sanctuary.
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