The soothing sounds of water welcome you to The Living Coast. Investigate the shores of Chile and Peru and discover surprising connections where the world’s driest desert meets icy ocean waters.

Huge expanses of glass give the sensation of being underwater, while you gaze up at fish, corals, and even sharks. The biggest surprise is the wave crash machine, which seems to dump a huge splash of water overhead!

Terns soar overhead, while Humboldt penguins slip in and out of the water. Look in the nest boxes along the rocky shore…is there a young penguin inside? Don’t forget to investigate every nook of the rocks for bats, spiders, and other creatures that live along the coast.

When you get outside, enjoy the scenery in the South American marketplace, and take a walk past the Andean condors. It’s hard to miss these huge birds, with their massive 10-foot wingspan!

Plunge Into Oceans of Fun:

Penguin Soap Opera
Zurita's life sounds like an episode of "As the World Turns" or "General Hospital." Find out about how she became the world's first penguin single mom.

Formal Feedings
It happens in homes around the world. The baby cries. Parents jump out of bed to feed the hungry, and loud, little mouth. But most families are not raising penguins! Find out how some very dedicated keepers raised a trio of tuxedos: three very needy Humboldt penguin chicks.

Turtles Tourists
The zoo said aloha to four green sea turtles who have been released into the wilds of the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii. Check their progress.

Field Guide—Humboldt Penguin

Field Guide—Andean Condor

Into the Wild - Report from the Guano Fields
Zoo researchers watch how penguins in Peru deal with the regular guano harvest.

Share the Care:

Ariel Humboldt Penguin

Andean Condor