Albuquerque BioPark
2047 S Plaza St NW, Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, NM
A zoo, an aquarium, a botanic garden, and a string of fishing ponds strung along the Rio Grande in the heart of the city.
In the old heart of Albuquerque, where the Rio Grande runs through a belt of cottonwood forest called the bosque, the city has gathered four different attractions under one name, the Albuquerque BioPark. Together they make one of the most complete family outings in New Mexico, a zoo, an aquarium, a botanic garden, and the ponds and paths of Tingley Beach, all within a short stretch of the river.
It is the kind of place where you can watch polar bears and elephants, walk through a shark tunnel, wander a Japanese garden and a desert conservatory, and then cast a line into a fishing pond, all in the space of a day. A narrow-gauge train and a shuttle thread the pieces together, and the whole park is shaded by the tall trees of the river valley.
What Guests Love
- Seeing four attractions in one visit, from big cats to rays to desert gardens
- The narrow-gauge train that links the zoo with the aquarium and gardens
- The Heritage Farm, where children meet the animals and crops of old New Mexico
- Walking and fishing along the quiet ponds of Tingley Beach in the river bosque
Worth Knowing
- The zoo sits at one end and the aquarium and gardens at the other, with the train and shuttle connecting them
- Summer middays get hot, so early morning is the most comfortable time to see active animals
- Tingley Beach is free to enter, while the zoo, aquarium, and gardens are ticketed, so check current details
- The BioPark is a working conservation institution, so plan for a full outing rather than a quick stop
Details
Albuquerque, NM
Learn about Albuquerque BioPark
The zoo
The zoo is the oldest part of the BioPark, with roots going back to the early twentieth century, and it has grown into a modern home for hundreds of species from around the world. Visitors come for the elephants, big cats, primates, and polar bears, and for exhibits designed to show animals in settings that feel closer to their natural range.
Beyond the crowd-pleasers, the zoo does serious conservation work, taking part in programs to breed and protect endangered species. Shaded paths, a children's petting area, and regular keeper talks make it an easy place to spend a morning, and the train station here is one end of the line that connects the zoo to the aquarium and gardens across the way.
The aquarium and botanic garden
At the other end of the BioPark, the aquarium tells the story of water from the mountains of New Mexico down the Rio Grande to the Gulf, ending in a large ocean tank where sharks, rays, and sea turtles glide past a walk-through tunnel. It is a surprising thing to find in the high desert, and a favorite with children.
Next door, the botanic garden is a series of worlds within a wall: a desert conservatory of cacti and succulents, a Mediterranean glasshouse, formal rose and Spanish-Moorish gardens, a Japanese garden, and a much-loved children's fantasy garden with giant vegetables and a walk-through pumpkin. A heritage farm re-creates a 1930s New Mexico homestead, complete with crops, orchards, and farm animals.
Tingley Beach and the river bosque
Tingley Beach is the free, open-to-all piece of the BioPark, a set of ponds beside the Rio Grande where families come to fish, feed the ducks, rent a paddleboat, or simply walk. The ponds are stocked for anglers, and a model-boat pond and picnic areas make it an easygoing spot to pass an afternoon by the water.
The beach opens onto the bosque, the ribbon of old cottonwood forest that follows the Rio Grande through the city, laced with trails for walking and biking. In fall the cottonwoods turn brilliant gold, and the bosque is alive with birds, part of one of the great migratory flyways of the continent. The BioPark train stops here too, linking it to the rest of the park.
Planning a visit
The BioPark's pieces are spread along the river rather than gathered in one place, so a good plan is to start at either the zoo or the aquarium-and-gardens end and use the train and shuttle to move between them. Tingley Beach lies in the middle and is free to enter any day, a pleasant break between the ticketed attractions.
Because it is a conservation institution, the BioPark rewards a slower pace and a full day rather than a rushed loop. Mornings are the coolest and best for seeing active animals, and spring and fall bring the mildest weather and the finest color in the gardens and the bosque. Bring water and sun protection, especially in the high-desert summer.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Albuquerque
Old Town Albuquerque
About 1 mile, a 5 minute drive
The historic Spanish-colonial heart of the city, with its plaza, San Felipe de Neri church, shops, and museums.
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
About 3 miles, a 10 minute drive
A quiet preserve in the river bosque with trails, a pond, and excellent birdwatching along the Rio Grande.
Sandia Peak Tramway
About 15 miles, a 25 minute drive
One of the longest aerial trams in the world, climbing to the crest of the Sandia Mountains above the city.
Petroglyph National Monument
About 8 miles, a 15 minute drive
Thousands of images carved into volcanic rock along Albuquerque's West Mesa by ancestral Pueblo people and others.