What an incredible experience! It was so amazing to see so many reptiles and be able to actually hold them and interact with them in their habitats. We wouldn't have had such an amazing time without our amazing tour guide. Rachel did such a great job teaching our kids the right ways to interact with the animals and you can tell that she really loves what she does. She was really patient with our kids and made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! *full warning, the outside of the building looks a little sketchy at first because it's an old building, but don't let that deter you* read more

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Would you like to learn about incredible reptiles up close and support a good cause? The EcoVivarium is the perfect place! For $25 you can get a behind the scenes tour that introduces you to a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the EcoVivarium home. They also have birthday party visits, host events, and as I learned from my friend Trish, can help teachers get set up with a reptile in the classroom. My first conversation with Susan at the EcoVivarium was heartfelt, as I was calling to see if they might be interested in the donation of our decommissioned aquarium. The setup was only four years old and housed our previous beloved 26 year old fish named Puff that had recently passed away. Susan was kind, expressed her condolences and shared that they would appreciate our donation. Chun P and I met Rachel and Donald on a Sunday and after we brought our items in from the car were treated to meeting some terrific reptiles. Many of the inhabitants at the EcoVivarium have sad stories, some had suffered abuse, some were abandoned, and others were victims of trafficking that were confiscated and brought in by the department of fish and game. Susan has created a safe space and her staff and volunteers give their all to make sure they live a better life. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and supporting this worthy endeavor! read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

Some heros and heroines wear capes and possess superpowers...and some are simply kind hearted volunteer regular people trying to make a difference. I recently donated my 50 gallon fish tank and stand to this nonprofit. They care for abandoned and injured reptiles such as snakes, lizards, dragons, turtles, tortoises, and more. I got to meet some friendly reptilian creatures, and even hold and pet them. With very limited resources and small army of volunteers, EcoVivarium does it's best to make it difference in this cruel world. Rachel and Donald were both very friendly and knowledgeable. Make a donation, take a $25 tour, hire them for a birthday party or educational school visit, and perhaps see if there are any friendly reptiles available for adoption before you buy from Petco or Petsmart. read more

For Halloween, the Ecovivarium came to my property in costume and put on a fascinating hands-on show for all the families. Each child was filled with pure joy and excitement! Zev and Miyah led a thoughtful and engaging presentation featuring their incredible reptiles. They arrived early to set up, their pricing was fantastic, and every employee -- including Donnie -- was a pleasure to work with. Susan made the booking process an absolute breeze. I couldn't recommend Ecovivarium more highly for your next party or event! Even if you're in the area, this is a great place to stop by and have a tour led by great people who are so passionate about their jobs! 1000/10 read more

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It was a great little place! My only request is that they limit the tours to 5 people or less. We paid for a tour which was $25/person but I didn't know that meant we would be forced with the other huge group right away. My toddler was boxed out by adults and other kids because the room was so crowded and small he didn't get to see some of them, and neither did we! The keeper, Rachel was great and funny and patient with the kids. They have a great variety of well kept animals! Lots of gorgeous snakes and lizards, and a variety of spiders! read more

Amazing experience for young and old. The people working there were fun and knowledgeable but most importantly kind to the animals. It was amazing to he able to carry the snakes and pet the lizards. And let's not forget the star of the show the Galapagos Turtle. A hidden gem. read more

EcoVivarium - Galapagos Turtle - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

This was a fun experience! I did the "Gold Tour - (60 minutes) $25/person - Petting/Holding Tour PLUS meet Ed, The Giant Galapagos Tortoise" and was honestly very shocked at how small it was, online said to wear comfortable shoes but I would have been completely fine in flip flops. One thing I didn't like was the tours are in groups, we arrived and they rushed us to join a tour that had already started. There was a lot of kids on that tour and we felt as though they were given the most attention, and offered to pet the animals as we were not offered at all. We were pretty bummed, they would put an animal away as soon as the kids were done and just ignored the adults. So the tour consisted of walking to 4 rooms all right next to each other, and it is very hot inside. Since we were in a group tour we stayed in a certain spot for quite a while but the heat was making me feel sick and I needed to move on. Other than that the tour itself the animals were all wonderful! I really enjoyed the snakes, tortoises, and geckos. I asked to hold a few snakes and it was so fun and they were all very sweet. I even carried a huge snake and it was HEAVY, wow. Definitely learned a lot in this little tour, and loved seeing all of the animals. Overall, it was nice seeing the animals but I would have preferred a private tour so we could have moved at our own pace instead of rushing us into a tour that had already started. Which made it confusing on what room was next, because there was some rooms I didn't see that the rest of the tour already did. read more

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I visited this facility with my grandson (3), my son and his wife. I believe our guide's name was Rachel. It was on Father's Day. Rachel made our visit very memorable, her knowledge of the animals, each of their names and personalities was astonishing. She had a real love for each one and patiently dealt with my eager grandson while giving us lessons in reptile zoology. if you are a fan of the genre (including a few insects) this is a must see, close up, personal, hands on. It's a big job keeping the habitats and animals clean. Kudos to the hardworking staff. I pray they get funding for a larger facility. The city of San Diego should take note. read more

A fun hour plus experience. The workers here are knowledgeable and kind. My 4 and 3 year old were stoked to see All the reptiles they had here. Id recommend coming here! read more

This is a must see place, it is unique, fun, and interesting. They let you pet the animals, and you learn so much from being there about all the creepy crawly things in the world. Especially good for kids to keep them from panicking every time they see a spider or snake. 5+ stars. The building isn't the cleanest, but every hole has a story behind it. It's got more character than a dozen zoos and the people are all just as interesting. Also, they love these snimals here and really know how to care for them. read more

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I had a great experience at the EcoVivarium. My boyfriend and I went on a date and had such a fun time. We got to hold lots of animals and learn lots of cool facts. Recommend bringing cool people to hold cool snakes. Mikayla and Elizabeth were also super knowledgeable! read more

EcoVivarium - Snake - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

My son and I had a great time here! Our tour guide, Zev, taught us a lot and answered all our questions with patience. We loved all the animals we got to see and interact with. We will definitely be back. read more

EcoVivarium - Chinese Water Dragon - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

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We had such an amazing experience! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about all of the animals! There was so much care and attention put into our tour, I highly recommend going if you get the chance. I got to hug Ed the tortoise, hold a snake, and got to hold a tarantula (I'm scared of spiders but our guide was so understanding and informative that I felt comfortable enough to hold one!) read more

EcoVivarium - The ginormous tortoise Ed! - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

Really enjoyed our "gold" level tour. Zev was an enthusiastic and most knowledgeable guide through the facility, which featured a variety of snakes, lizards, amphibians, insects, and a petting visit with the giant Galapagos tortoise! Would def recommend and will visit again. read more

EcoVivarium - Holding the hognose snake - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

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Awesome experience! It's my 4 y/o and I 3rd or 4th time! If your kiddo is into reptiles, this place is a must.

I took my boyfriend here as a surprise for his birthday. We booked a private tour at 12 pm and were greeted immediately at our appointment time. We had the BEST tour guide (I wish we caught his name) and he was an encyclopedia for every reptile, amphibian, arachnid, etc. He made us laugh constantly throughout our experience and even went slightly overtime to show us one of the small turtles they have. I've never felt more confident in spending money here, and I truly believe everyone should hold a ball python at least once in their life. And when you do, make sure it's at EcoVivarium. 20/10 experience!!! Thank you! read more

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Great for kids or adults interested in snakes, bugs, turtles, lizards. Staff is great with big and small kids. Hands on experience. Highly recommend to any family with curious kids. read more

Had a wonderful time with my 2 year old daughter. Our tour guide Zev really knew how to interact with her and encourage exploration. All expectations exceeded and got quite a bit of fun facts about each critter we met. Will return soon! Thanks Zev! read more

Susan delivered a stunning "Giants Galore" show highlighting some of their beautiful LARGE reptiles at my kid's birthday party. With shrieks, gasps, and thrills abound, it was perfect for a group of 9-11 year olds. The kids got to see and touch a gorgeous albino boa constrictor, a friendly tegu, two monitor lizards, a tortoise, a sleek and zippy indo-Chinese rat snake, and more. At some point they had a 10+ foot long python laying across their laps. Susan is extremely knowledgeable and is a strong communicator - this was very much an educational experience - we learned many fascinating facts about these unique creatures, how they behave, and how they have adapted to their environments. We also learned how we can help protect reptiles in their homelands. Our son assisted as. Jr. Reptile Handler - this display of bravery not only helped him gain confidence with animals, but also led to many precious photo opportunities as he presented the reptiles to his friends. Importantly, all of the animals were super chill and everyone felt safe, especially with Susan's expert guidance. I highly recommend this reptile show. Everyone was amazed and had a great time. read more

EcoVivarium - albino boa - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

I did one of the private tours: totally turtles feeding tour. It was such an awesome experience and our tour guide Shelly was amazing too!!! The tour consisted of meeting, (gently) petting, and (occasionally) feeding the different turtles that EcoVivarium has taken into their care. We also met some other friends like Mac (monitor) and Luda (iguana?). For each animal we met, Shelly provided us with species specific info and how they were acquired. I was excited and curious about all the animals, so I asked a lot of questions and Shelly patiently and kindly answered each one with so much knowledge. For a 90 minute private tour, it was worth the $ and it was so fun that I can't wait to book another one. read more

Friendly, knowledgeable, and fun staff. You don't need kids to come here, we enjoyed ourselves with a group of adult friends!

Originally I found out about this place from the monthly Smithsonian Magazine free museum day. We showed up on the free day September 18th and found an outside exhibit underneath the shade of their building. During this day we learned about each animal from their handler. Some you could pet, others you could hold. The one rather large Tegu lizard I held really seemed to just soak up the attention. After that experience I was hooked. What's really special about this place is how they acquire their animals. They are a rescue sanctuary for reptiles, amphibians and arthropods. https://ecovivarium.org/about/ We booked a 2 hour private tour recently and I'll have to say it was hard to leave the animals! Especially the aptly named Galapagos tortoise, Special Ed. She is a sweetheart and immediately decided my daughter was her person and followed her around. My daughter just giggled the whole time, priceless. Donny was our tour guide and also the site Manager. He is very well informed about all the reptiles, amphibians & arthropods. He has an interesting story for each one. It's easy to see how much the animals love him. Now that I think about it he's a bit like Doctor Doolittle. I'm sure we will be back for more animal encounters! But be forewarned, you'll probably want to leave with at least one or two animals. read more

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It was an awesome experience. Our guide Zev was amazing and we learned some new things about reptiles. Must visit place. read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

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We found this gem via google search and it did not disappoint. This non profit houses rescue and donated reptiles of all sorts. We did the gold tour - which we highly recommend because the end is a super treat! Our tour guide was Zev who was very kind, patient, and did a fantastic job of educating us on the reptiles we met. You get to hold and pet some real beauties! This particular tour ends with meeting a BIG sweet Galapagos tortoise named Ed. We plan to come back for sure and tell friends to visit too! read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

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We loved our time at EcoVivarium! What a hidden gem. Zev was a fantastic tour guide. He was knowledgeable and funny, and made sure each of us were able to interact with the animals. Special shout out to the super friendly Galapagos tortoise, Ed, and Mushu the blind lizard. We will be back to say hi again! read more

We did a walk-in tour. My husband and I thought this place was pretty cool and my 4yr old son loved it here! My 2yr old was unsure since we stressed being careful and not touching the face after petting (that ended up being mission impossible). We paid to be able to pet the animals and my son was sooo excited to be able to hold a 'small' python (while sitting), pet an iguana, a leopard gecko, galápago turtle, and more! Our tour guide, Zev, was very knowledgeable and good with the kids. I enjoyed hearing about some of the rescue stories, the animals' different personalities and quirks, their diet, needs and other fun facts. The place wasn't as big as I expected but there was a lot to learn, plenty of reptiles and critters to see and the time flew! I'm glad we visited! read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

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Horrible experience. Three family parties were all placed in one group. Several members were young children. As such, the group was not allowed to spend the quality time with the animals given the tight confines of the rooms. In addition the tour guide (Zev) was rude and made several statements that were not appropriate or appreciative. At the end of the day the cost paid per person was not worth the experience that we had. Unfortunate to say the least. read more

We have hired them twice for my kids birthdays and it has been the biggest hit! the kids and adults loved the show and the trainers were so friendly and great with all the kids and the zillion questions they had about each animal. My kids still talk about the experience and it was MAGICAL! I highly suggest bringing them in for your child's birthday and spring for the trainer for a day! My son LOVED it! read more

For my reptile-loving kids, I haven't found a comparable experience. EvoVivarium's platinum tour included a chance to handle pythons and lizards, to pet and interact with tortoises and monitors, and much more. We all thought the value was outstanding. Our tour guide, Lev, was lively and knowledgeable. Highly recommended. read more

It was my girlfriend and I's first time visiting and omg it was amazing ! Our tour guide Maelstrom was absolutely amazing ! They were very so funny and was very educated on all the animals that were there ! If you are looking for a fun and adventurous thing to do on a random day...THIS IS IT! read more

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Took my 2 grandkids ( 6 & 8 yrs old) for a 1 hr tour. They couldn't stop talking about how much fun it was. Our tour guide, Zed, was both highly knowledgeable and entertaining. There was a lot of up close as well as hands on with snakes and reptiles that lit the kids up. We will definitely be back. read more

9/18/21 was free museum day and they were smart in showing a preview of what you can do/see/touch when coming to their location. If you haven't checked out Free Musuem Day (its every year though cancelled in 2020) and you can get a pass that includes you and a guess per email address! After some research and viewing their website, they have rescues and people donated species housed at their building location in Escondido. However upon arrival, what looked to be their parking garage under their building was a sectioned off area with about 10 different reptiles (snakes, spiders, a turtle and lizards) they had a bearded dragon, a turtle and a couple snakes to touch. It was literally a 5-10 minute walk through... after which I struck up a conversation with one of the employees. She advised due to the amount of people free museum day brings, they decided to do this little event out side. It should give an idea of what to expect when you venture to their business. She states for about $15-20 you take a 60-90 minute hands-on tour through their facility. It was very smart of this business to set up museum day like that, because there is a ton of kids who will be begging to go back. While it is not for profit, I am sure every dollar counts to help these creatures. We shall return for one of their tours. read more

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Awesome experience and a hidden gem! Zev was so friendly,knowledgeable and enthusiastic about everything! All reptiles were calm and easy to handle. Definitely will be back. I loved it :3 !! read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

We chose Ecovivarium on Free Mesuem day. Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. You could choose from Parpicipating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket.The Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people on Saturday, September 21, 2019. One ticket per email, so use it wisely. Please consider donating, and becoming a member, especially on a free museum day. This place is small, very small but packed, very packed. Every corner has lot of information, lot to learn from here. All of the reptiles here are rescued, so they would not know the age. Lot of hands-on opportunities. The staff are very informative and friendly to teach you. Animals there are happy, they are well loved and pampered. They have variety of lizards and dragons. Snakes ranging from small ones to python. Parking is tight only on streets, so plan accordingly. No food available at location. read more

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My lil one is obsessed with reptiles (thank you snake discovery) and because we were up here for a soccer tournament thought we would stop by. The tour was amazing - both of my kids just really enjoyed listening, holding, and petting a wide variety of really cool snakes, lizards, and tortoises. My lil one wants to come back and we told her she could volunteer when she's old enough and can drive herself back and forth. Really it was magical for her, can't remember the last time she was so excited. Highly recommend a visit - they are a rescue program, are doing great work and the tour fee and any other donations are so helpful for them. read more

EcoVivarium - Museums Near Me - Escondido, California

This is such a unique gem that not a lot of people know about! I took my kiddos on the tour and they loved every second. I wish that I had gotten to ask more questions because I was genuinely interested in the animals and their stories. The guide was very knowledgeable and great with my two little ones. Highly recommend you check this place out! Cool stop, you get to learn about the animals, interact and even touch a few (carefully, of course!) read more

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I love this place! Knowledgeable staff and informative tours. I missed my visit the last time I was in town. I'm not missing the next one. Please support them! read more

This place is small, but packed with cool Lizards, snakes, Spiders, and more. Went today with 3 kids and they all had a great time. We were given a tour with lots of information, we got to hold a few snakes, pet a bunch of Lizards, and even walk one. The place is small, but the tour took just over an hour. I highly recommend taking a quick stop at this place. It's definitely worth the admission if you ask me. read more

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We discovered EcoVivarium when my daughter said she wanted to hold snakes and other reptiles for her birthday. Donny was assigned our host during our scheduled private tour. He was an incredibly informative and patient guide. He handled the random questions and wandering of attention like the pro he is. The final reveal of the last animal we saw was pretty darn amazing. I'm a organizational fanatic so the set up of the reptile cages left me wanting to help the non profit in that way. For those who aren't used to reptiles, be prepared for the smell. It's not bad, just not what you're probably used to. However, the good things the EcoVivarium is doing is beyond what can be encapsulated in this review. Your donations and visit are definitely worth it! read more

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We just had a birthday party with EcoVivarium and their show was great. Super easy to schedule and organize. Both the handlers were great with the kids and the reptiles which made for a memorable experience. I highly recommend this for birthday parties as it captivates the kids' attention and gets them to sit still for awhile. My son loved helping with the reptiles as part of the show. read more