Tropical Encounters

Tropical Encounters is the indoor tropical animal exhibit within the Como Zoo complex in St. Paul, and it's one of those experiences that lands differently than you'd expect. The transition from Minnesota's outdoor climate into a warm, humid, living tropical environment — regardless of season — is an immediate sensory shift that children respond to with genuine surprise and curiosity.

The exhibit houses tropical birds that fly freely through the space, reptiles in close-range viewing exhibits, and tropical insects that most children in Minnesota will never encounter otherwise. The free-flying birds are the most reliably exciting element — they appear unexpectedly, at close range, and move through the space in ways that are impossible to predict, which keeps kids actively scanning and engaged rather than passively walking past displays.

Tropical Encounters is part of the Como Zoo complex, which means entry is included in the free Como Zoo admission — no separate ticket, no upcharge, just walk in. This makes it a zero-effort addition to any Como Park visit and particularly compelling in winter months when the contrast between Minnesota cold and tropical warmth is at its most dramatic.

The exhibit is fully indoor and stroller-accessible, making it one of the better cold-weather family options in St. Paul. Plan 30-60 minutes here as part of a larger Como Park outing, and prioritize it for families with kids who are interested in animals beyond the standard mammal collection.