Get ready to waddle into fun at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Penguin Encounter! Come face-to-face with these adorable birds as you learn about their behaviors and habitats. Don't miss your chance to snap a photo with a penguin and discover the vital conservation efforts underway to protect these fascinating creatures.
Penguin Encounter
Get up close and personal with the Humboldt penguins at the Living Coast habitat! As a part of the Penguin Encounter experience, you will be able to watch these fascinating birds swim and play, interact with them, and learn all about what they like to eat and how they engage with each other.
A hands-on experience for the whole family, this is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the critical conservation work the zoo is doing to protect these remarkable creatures at Punta San Juan in Peru. Don't miss your chance to make memories and make a difference by participating in a Penguin Encounter at Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Living Coast habitat.
What are Humboldt penguins?
Humboldt penguins, also known as Peruvian penguins, are a species that inhabit the coastal regions of Peru and Chile in South America. They have a distinctive black band on their chest and a black patch around their eyes. They are relatively small, with a height of around 28 inches and a weight of 6–8 pounds.
Humboldt penguins are social birds that live in large colonies and can often be seen swimming and diving in the ocean. They feed mainly on anchovies, sardines, and other small fish, and they spend most of their time in the water, coming ashore only to breed and raise their young. Humboldt penguins are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss, pollution, and overfishing of their food sources.
What to expect
Your arrival
The Penguin Encounter room is located in the Living Coast habitat, just beyond the Rocky Shores penguin habitat near the building exit. A penguin keeper will be in the encounter room 15 minutes before your scheduled encounter. Please arrive on time; once the penguins enter the encounter room, entry is not permitted. During the encounter, you will learn about the Humboldt penguins' life at the zoo, their behavior, and how to interact safely with them.
Penguin arrival
During the Penguin Encounter, the penguins will be accompanied by a second keeper, and participants will have the opportunity to interact with the birds. Each penguin has its own unique personality and preferences, and they are free to engage with whomever they choose. This means that while some penguins may be more friendly and eager to interact with participants, others may be more reserved or independent.
Please note that the safety and well-being of the penguins are always the top priority. Participants will be guided and instructed on how to interact with them safely and appropriately.
During the encounter
During the Penguin Encounter, one keeper will guide the penguin through the group of participants while the other keeper will share information about the efforts in Punta San Juan, Peru, to protect penguins in the wild.
The penguins are not forced to participate in the encounter but instead are given the opportunity to walk from their exhibit to the encounter room. They may be a little shy initially, but most warm up quickly! You are welcome to take pictures without a flash.
Penguins waddle back
As the Penguin Encounter comes to a close, the penguins will say goodbye to the guests and waddle back to their exhibit. The staff will be available to answer any remaining questions. As a fun challenge, participants are encouraged to try to remember the color of a penguin's wing band and then see if you can identify it among the flock in the exhibit. This is an excellent opportunity to test your observation skills and continue learning more about the individual penguins. The staff will be happy to assist you in identifying the penguins you interacted with and answer any additional questions.
General Encounter Information
Length: Approximately 30 minutes, depending on the number of guest participants.
Cost: $50 per person.
Age: Participants must be at least 5 years old; an adult must accompany those between the ages of 5 and 18.
Maximum group size: 20 people.
Service animals: For the safety of the penguins and other guests, service animals are not allowed in the Penguin Encounter room. With advance notice, reasonable accommodations can be made.
Click here to learn more and buy tickets.
Additional Things to Note
Pay close attention to the guidance and instructions of the staff, as the animals you will encounter are still wild and their behavior can be unpredictable. Always follow instructions and receive authorization from the keepers before approaching any animals during the adventure.
Participants are required to sign a liability waiver and fill out a registration form.
Visiting Brookfield Zoo Chicago
As one of Chicagoland’s most popular attractions, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is the perfect place for a memorable day with family and friends. The zoo attracts visitors from all over the world for its innovative design and notable residents—more than 3,400 animals represent over 500 species from around the globe. The zoo is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visit BrookfieldZoo.org for information about admission fees, special events, and more.
Dining
A variety of dining spaces (with plenty of options for special diets) are available on the Brookfield Zoo Chicago grounds. If you prefer to bring your own food, there are several spots with picnic tables, although they may not be fully protected from bad weather.
Accessibility
Brookfield Zoo Chicago makes an effort to ensure its grounds, pathways, buildings, habitats, and programs are accessible to all visitors. Review the accessibility guide for information on available resources.
Map
Plan ahead with a map of the zoo grounds, including parking lot entrances, dining options, and exhibits.
Zoo Membership Benefits
There is so much to see and do at the zoo, it’s worth more than one visit. Many visitors opt to become zoo members and stop by multiple times a year. Various membership packages are available to meet the needs of individuals and families.
All memberships include:
Free adult admission
Free parking for one vehicle at the main entrance (1st Avenue and 31st Street)
50% off select attraction tickets, such as the Carousel and Motor Safari
10% off food and beverages (excludes alcohol)
Discounted tickets for select special events
Weekly member email news
Exclusive invitations to new habitat openings
Convenient digital membership card via the Brookfield Zoo Chicago mobile app
Getting There
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is located at 8400 31st Street (at the intersection of 1st Avenue and 31st Street) in Brookfield, IL, approximately 14 miles west of Chicago’s Loop. It takes less than 30 minutes to travel by car via I-290 W or I-55 S. The Metra commuter line delivers visitors from Union Station to Riverside’s Hollywood (Zoo Stop) station in about 35 minutes.
Parking
Brookfield Zoo Chicago offers two parking lots: North Parking Lot (main entrance) and South Parking Lot.
Parking Fee at North Parking Lot (8400 31st Street)
Cars: $17.00
Members: Free
Parking Fee at South Parking Lot (3300 Golf Road)
Cars: $20.00
Members: $7.00