Albuquerque Aquarium

Albuquerque Aquarium

And The Albuquerque BioPark


Visiting the Albuquerque Aquarium is an excellent way to spend the day!

It is located within the premises of Albuquerque Biological Park, which aims to take care of the natural habitat of the state.

My family is a big fan of buying BioPark tickets, which include admittance to the aquarium, the botanic garden, Tingley Beach, and the Rio Grande Zoo.

It saves money and you can take the BioPark train from the aquarium and botanic garden to the zoo and back.




Inside the Albuquerque Aquarium
 
The aquarium is a huge man-made habitat for the different saltwater species that can be found in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a great place for people who are curious about, or enjoy, the world under the sea. In addition to the animals there are models of an actual ocean floor, shallow waters, and coral reefs.

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The main attraction of the Albuquerque Aquarium is the huge shark tank. By huge I mean 40 feet long by 9 feet tall and equipped with 8-inch thick acrylic glass. This massive fish tank holds 285,000 gallons of water. The Albuquerque Aquarium is proud of this exhibit, and it's the largest shark tank in the state.

Other Things To See

Aside from the shark tank, the Aquarium is also proud of their other under-the-sea species. These exhibits are fun for tourists and locals alike, kids and adults.

“Aliens of the Sea” displays and cares for the ethereal and colorful jellyfish. There are lots of jellyfish varieties from the different seas and oceans of the world. If you can catch feeding time, it’s really interesting!

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After a few steps, you will encounter shiny, lithe eels at the “Moray Eel Tunnel.” It’s pretty much exactly like you would expect. It is a large, arching tunnel with eels daring in and out of their habitat on both sides. I learned that the dark habitat and the dark eels make it difficult to get good pictures, so you might have to take a couple.

The Pacific is a habitat of different species and “The South Pacific Gallery” shows the unseen beauty of the South Pacific underwater species. Fun for adults and kids, the brightly colored fish dart in and out of their reefs. No doubt you’ll each have a favorite.

For some history of the species local to Albuquerque, you may enjoy “The Rio Grande at Central Bridge”. The guides give you detailed information of some noticeable similarities and differences between the species today and the species that lived centuries ago. How cool, right?

Just recently, the “Shark/Ray Encounter” was opened to the public. Visitors are able to have an up-close encounter with the friendly, but deadly, stingrays and Bamboo Sharks. Now, I haven’t gotten to do this at the Albuquerque Aquarium, but I did in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay and it was awesome! We got to feed and pet the stingrays; there were adults and babies and it was really a great experience. They feel like firm jello to me.

Not Just A Tourist Attraction
 
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The aquarium may seem extravagant for Albuquerque, but it isn’t just a tourist attraction. It is also used to preserve the endangered sea species of the Rio Grande. (The Rio Grande is the river running right through town.) The owners were determined to build an enjoyable and endearing site because of their belief that this is the best way to educate people. Their dedication to educating other people earned them recognition from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Admission Information
 
If you are planning to buy a ticket to only the aquarium & garden or the zoo, $9 for adults, $4 for kids (age 3-12) and $4.50 for senior citizens (65+).*

For a more reasonable ticket price, you may opt to do what we do; buy the BioPark Combo Ticket, which will let you access all the attractions. This ticket is $15 for adults, $6 for kids (age 3-12) and $8 for senior citizens (65+).*

There are no tickets necessary for those planning to have fun at Tingley Beach, which is right down the road. Bring stale bread or popcorn because there are usually ducks and geese hanging about.

Tickets, Hours, Directions and More Information about the Albuquerque Aquarium HERE.



*Prices based on New Mexico resident rates. Non-resident rates are higher.

Related Pages:
Albuquerque Information
Things To Do In ABQ