MIAMI, Fla. — If you’re looking for a unique place with animal interactions in Florida, head south to Miami’s Monkey Jungle.

What started as a place to study primates in the early 1930s quickly opened to the public, charging guests 10 cents to view monkeys.

Now, guests can also interact with and hand feed monkeys at the 30-acre zoological wildlife park. 

Communications manager and tour guide Eddie Perez said primates have always fascinated people.

“Monkey Jungle started in 1933, by Joseph DeMond. He brought six Java Macaque monkeys from southeast Asia. And they released those six here in the hammock. And they never left,” said Perez.

Descendants of those six primates still roam freely through 5 acres of the park. Celebrating 90 years in Miami, the park is one of the oldest attractions in South Florida.

The one-of-a-kind animal encounter allows guests to see and feed monkeys two different ways, including going into the park’s rainforest.

“We give out some monkey food. They are going to get picky. They are going to scatter through what you have. And it’s their snack time. Families love it. Where else can you see this in the United States?” said Perez.

The other way to feed the monkeys dates back to the 1930s.

“So now we’re going to feed the monkeys in the park’s original concept. Where the humans are caged, and the monkeys run wild,” he said.

This method allows visitors to fill up a cup that is attached to a chain, and then the monkey does the rest by pulling up the food, eating, and lowering it back down for more.  

The facility has slowly been reopening after closing during the pandemic because of the monkeys’ susceptibility to diseases.

Appointments are required to visit the park, and they expect to be fully operational the week of Christmas.

The park is open to the public and has an entrance fee of $30 per person.

For more information, visit Monkey Jungle.