AquaRio Rio de Janeiro: South America's Largest Aquarium Tickets

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/3

Duration1h–4h

Mobile ticketAccepted

4.5 Million Liters of Water, 2,000 Animals, One Afternoon in Rio

You get entry to South America's largest marine aquarium with 2,000 animals across 350 species in 4.5 million liters of water. The self-paced visit lets you spend as much time as you want in each zone, from reef tanks to open-water displays. You're on Olympic Boulevard, a walkable waterfront area near the Museum of Tomorrow and Giant Wheel, with views of Guanabara Bay. No guide, no schedule — just you and the tanks.

1h–4h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit South America's largest aquarium

Arrive at AquaRio marine aquarium
Explore over 2,000 animals
See 350 different species

The Experience

Picture this: you're standing in front of a massive tank, and a school of fish moves like a single organism, light bending through the water in ways that make you forget you're in a city. That's the first room at AquaRio, Rio de Janeiro's marine aquarium, and it sets the tone for what comes next. The building sits on Olympic Boulevard, a waterfront stretch that's actually pleasant to walk around — not crowded, not chaotic — and from certain angles you can see Guanabara Bay, the same water that shaped Rio's entire history. The aquarium itself is 26,000 square meters, which means you're not rushing through in forty minutes. There's room to actually stand and watch things.

Inside, there are 2,000 animals across 350 different species. Some of them are the kind you'd expect — colorful reef fish, sea turtles, rays — but the layout keeps surprising you. You move through different zones, each one a different ecosystem, and the tanks are built so you're not always looking at fish from the same angle. One moment you're at eye level with a stingray, the next you're looking up at something moving through the water above your head. The whole thing takes as long as you want it to take. There's no guide narrating, no schedule pushing you forward. You read the plaques if you want to know what you're looking at, or you just watch.

The location matters more than it sounds. Olympic Boulevard connects to other things — the Museum of Tomorrow is nearby, the Giant Wheel is there if you want it — so if you're spending a day in this part of Rio, you can string a few hours here into something bigger. The bay itself is visible from the waterfront, which is the kind of detail that reminds you where you are. Guanabara Bay isn't pristine, but it's the center of Rio's story, and standing on Olympic Boulevard looking at it while you've just spent time with thousands of marine animals creates a weird kind of context.

What’s included

Your ticket gives you entry to AquaRio, South America's largest marine aquarium, with access to all 2,000+ animals and 350 species across the 26,000-square-meter facility.
The visit is self-guided with no time limit, and the entire space is wheelchair accessible.
Service animals are welcome, and strollers are available for infants.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by GO NOW TOURS

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to spend a few hours with marine life without a guide or schedule — you move at your own pace through the tanks, and the waterfront location means you can add the Museum of Tomorrow or Giant Wheel to the same afternoon if you want.