AquaRio, Rio's Marine Aquarium

AquaRio, the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro, is in Gamboa, in the Port Zone, on the Orla Conde waterfront. It opened on October 31, 2016, as part of the port’s regeneration, in an old supply warehouse, according to Wikipedia. It is considered the largest marine aquarium in South America.

What is inside

According to the official website, the aquarium has 10,000 animals of 350 species from Brazil and around the world, spread across more than 28 enclosures (checked in Oct 2026). The building has five floors and the tanks hold about 4.5 million liters of salt water, according to Wikipedia.

The species mentioned by Wikipedia include several sharks, such as the nurse shark, the whitetip reef shark and the sand tiger shark. The large ocean tank has a tunnel that visitors walk through with fish overhead and on either side.

Extra activities

Besides the tank circuit, AquaRio offers activities charged separately, according to Wikipedia, such as sleeping in the ocean tank tunnel, diving in one of the tanks and visiting the behind-the-scenes areas where the water is treated and the biologists work. The building also houses a Surf Museum, created with surfer Rico de Souza, and science spaces.

With children and in the rain

The aquarium is indoors and in a single building, which makes it a good choice for rainy days and families. See more ideas in Rio with kids and Rio on a rainy day.

Getting there and what to combine

AquaRio is close to the Olympic Boulevard, which leads to Praça Mauá, the Museum of Tomorrow and the Rio Art Museum. The VLT Carioca light rail serves the Port Zone: see getting around Rio.