The Albuquerque Biological Park
2601 Central Ave NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
Phone: (505) 764-6200
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The Albuquerque Biological Park is made up of the Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Rio Grande Zoo and Tingley Beach.

The Albuquerque Aquarium is a fun filled trip from Albuquerque down the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico. Inside visitors will find species representing everything from fresh water, shallow waters, estuarine and surf zones to coral reefs, deep and open ocean. Other Aquarium features include seahorses, an eel tunnel luminous jellies. There is also a 285,000 gallon ocean tank which is home to four types of sharks – blacktip, brown, nurse and sandtiger – as well as sea turtles, eels, open ocean species and colored reef fish.

The Botanic Garden features over 36 developed acres which includes the award-winning Rio Grande Heritage Farm, the Children’s Fantasy Garden, the PNM Butterfly Pavilion (featuring hundreds of free-flying North American butterflies and moths and the new Sasebo Japanese Garden. There is also a 10,000 square foot glass conservatory which is home to exotic and native plants form Mediterranean and desert climates. There is even a ‘G’ scale garden railroad equipped with miniature landscape designs which give you a birds-eye-view of the park. The Garden is located on the other side of the plaza from the Albuquerque Aquarium and next to the Rio Grande and the world’s largest cottonwood forest.

Visitors to the Rio Grande Zoo can get up close with 250 species of native and exotic animals in a 64-acre facility with state-of-the-art exhibits and over 2 miles of walking trails. Visitors favorites include hippos, chimpanzees, giraffes, Mexican wolves, elephants, seals, koalas, monkeys, zebras and of course polar bears! Zoo staffers have spent countless hours creating naturalistic animal habitats complete with grasses, trees, water and rockwork.

Now that you have seen exotic animals, plants, fish and reptiles, relax and do a little fishing, boating or take a train ride around Tingley Beach. The park is open from sun up to sun down year-round and his free to use. During summer months, visitors can rent bicycles and pedal boats. For more about train rides, keep reading.

The BioPark offers visitors two chances to ride the rails! The Thunderbird Express loops it way through the Zoo while the Rio Line travels back-and-forth between the Botanic Garden, the Aquarium and the Zoo and stops at Tingley Beach. You can ride Tuesday thru Sunday, no service on Monday.

Things to see and do in Albuquerque
Sandia Peak Tramway / Albuquerque Biological Park / Old Town Albuquerque / Indian Pueblo Cultural Center / Balloon Museum

Other Albuquerque links
History / Hotels / Maps / Contact the Albuquerque CVB