ABQ BioPark

The Rio Grande Zoo opened in 1927 as a small municipal animal collection in the South Valley along the Rio Grande, and grew over the 20th century into a substantial regional zoo. The current 64-acre campus includes major exhibits for African animals (giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, gorillas), Asian animals (tigers, orangutans, gibbons, snow leopards), polar bears, sea lions, rhinoceros, and a substantial collection of birds and reptiles. The zoo participates in Species Survival Plans for several endangered species, including the Mexican gray wolf, which is native to the Southwest and which the zoo has played a role in conserving.

The exhibits are organized geographically and by habitat, and the zoo has invested significantly in naturalistic enclosures that provide more space and environmental complexity than older-style cages. The African exhibits include large open paddocks visible from raised viewing platforms; the gorilla exhibit features an extensive outdoor habitat; the elephant exhibit was expanded substantially in the 2010s and is among the larger captive elephant facilities in the Southwest. The zoo's location along the Rio Grande bosque — the cottonwood forest that lines the river — gives the campus mature shade trees that distinguish it from many western zoos.

The zoo includes children's facilities — a petting zoo, a small carousel, a children's play area — and a substantial cafe. The narrow-gauge Rio Line train terminates at the zoo and connects to the aquarium/garden campus on operating days. Plan 3-4 hours for the zoo alone; longer in cool weather or with younger children who want extended time at exhibits.

The Albuquerque Aquarium opened in 1996 as part of the BioPark expansion and tells the story of water from the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico — an organizing theme that traces freshwater habitats from the New Mexico mountains down through the river to the marsh systems of the Texas coast and out into the Gulf. The exhibits include trout streams, marsh and estuarine habitats, jellyfish tanks, a major shark tank with a walk-through tunnel, and ocean-current exhibits. The educational programming emphasizes conservation of the Rio Grande and the watershed that connects landlocked New Mexico to the Gulf.

The Rio Grande Botanic Garden shares the campus and includes the Sasebo Japanese Garden, a Mediterranean garden, a curandera (traditional healer) heritage garden featuring medicinal plants of the New Mexican curandera tradition, a children's fantasy garden, a model railroad garden, and the substantial Heritage Farm — a working demonstration of traditional New Mexican agriculture including chile, corn, beans, squash, and orchard crops. The garden's conservatories — the Mediterranean Conservatory and the Desert Conservatory — display plant collections from arid regions worldwide.

The aquarium/garden campus is on Central Avenue (Route 66) — at the intersection of 26th Street and Central, two blocks south. The campus is walkable from Old Town. Plan 2-3 hours for the combined aquarium and garden visit; the campus is large enough that doing both in less time means rushing. The Heritage Farm in particular rewards lingering, particularly for visitors interested in New Mexican agriculture and the cultural history of the chile.

Tingley Beach is a series of fishing ponds and lakes along the Rio Grande, included in the BioPark complex and free to enter. The ponds are stocked with trout in cool months and warm-water species in summer; a New Mexico fishing license is required for anglers over 12. Even for non-fishers, Tingley Beach is a pleasant green space — paddle boats can be rented in season, a model boat pond is popular with hobbyists, and walking paths connect along the riverbank. The beach lies between the zoo and the aquarium/garden campus.

The Rio Line is a narrow-gauge train that connects the zoo to the aquarium/garden campus on weekends and selected weekdays. The train ride is about 20 minutes each way and is included with admission; it provides an enjoyable way to move between the campuses and is itself a children's attraction. Note that the train does not run every day — check the schedule, particularly outside peak season.

Combination tickets covering all three facilities (zoo, aquarium, garden) are $16.50 for adults and $8.25 for children and seniors and are by far the best value for a full-day visit. Single-facility tickets are available at lower prices for shorter visits. Free parking is available at both campuses. Plan a half-day for a single facility, or a full day with a meal break to do the entire BioPark — the campuses together are substantial enough to fill a long day.