Albuquerque BioPark Review

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Albuquerque BioPark

Fodor's Review:

This city's foremost outdoor attraction and nature center, the park comprises the recently restored Tingley Beach as well as three distinct attractions, Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, and Rio Grande Zoo. The garden and aquarium are located together (admission gets you into both facilities), although the zoo is a short drive southeast. You can also ride the scenic Rio Line vintage narrow-gauge railroad between the zoo and gardens and aquarium complex; rides cost $2 or are free if you purchase a combination tickets to all of the park's facilities.

Two main components of the Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Garden (2601 Central Ave.) are a huge draw with kids but also draw plenty of adult visitors. At the aquarium, a spectacular shark tank with floor-to-ceiling viewing is among the most popular of the marine exhibits here. A video follows the path of a drop of water as it forms in the Rocky Mountains, enters the upper Rio Grande, and finally spills into the Gulf of Mexico. The Spanish-Moorish garden is one of three walled gardens near the entrance of the 20-acre botanic garden. The glass conservatory has two pavilions, including a seasonal butterfly conservatory open late May through late September. The smaller one exhibits desert plants, and the larger houses the Mediterranean collection. Shark Reef Cafe serves breakfast and lunch. Fans of trains enjoy watching the Garden Model Railroad, which runs along a shaded path in two 400-foot loops. In summer there are music concerts given on Thursday at the Botanic Garden. And from late November through late December, the Botanic Garden comes alive each evening from 6 to 9 PM for the River of Lights festival, a walk-through show of holiday lights and decorations.

The 64-acre Rio Grande Zoo (903 10th St. SW) —an oasis of waterfalls, cottonwood trees, and naturalized animal habitats—is one of the best-managed and most attractive zoos of its kind. More than 250 species of wildlife from around the world live here, including giraffes, camels, polar bears, elephants, zebras, and koalas. The Tropical America exhibit offers a bit of contrast for dry Albuquerque, replicating a jungle rain forest and containing toucans, spider monkeys, and brilliant orchids and bromeliads. In keeping with its mission of wildlife care and conservation, the zoo has established captive breeding programs for more than a dozen endangered species. Concerts are performed on the grounds on summer Friday evenings. There's a café on the premises. The Thunderbird Express is a ¾-scale train that runs in a nonstop loop around the zoo, and during the 20-minute ride, conductors talk in depth about the zoo and its environments. It's free with combo tickets, or $2 otherwise (buy tickets onboard or at the Africa exhibit).

The newly renovated Tingley Beach (1800 Tingley Dr. SW, south of Central Ave. and just east of Central Ave. bridge) is a recreational arm of the biological park that consists of three ponds, created in the 1930s by diverting water from the Rio Grande. The former swimming hole (no swimming or boating is permitted on the ponds these days) had been largely abandoned for many years before being renovated in 2004 and 2005; now it includes a snack bar; a train station for the Rio Line, which runs between the Aquarium and garden complex and the zoo; and three ponds stocked with trout for fishing (you can buy gear and fishing licenses at a fishing-tackle shop on premises). On the north pond, you can sail your model electric- or wind-powered boats. To the west of the ponds, the cottonwood bosque (wetlands forest) fringes the river, and there are ecological tours of the bosque are given in summer.

  • Cost: Free Tingley Beach and grounds, $7 Albuquerque Aquarium and Rio Grande Botanic Garden (combined ticket), $7 Rio Grande Zoo, $12 combination ticket for all attractions is available for entries Tues.-Sun. 9-noon, and includes unlimited rides on the Rio Line and Thunderbird Express trains
  • Open: Daily 9-5, until 6 on weekends from June-Aug. No trains Mon.
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