Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Visiting the “Poema del Mar” aquarium in the capital city of Gran Canaria island will undoubtedly be one of the best experiences you can enjoy before continuing your journey towards any other island in the Canaries or a different destination, especially if you travel with family and kids. The eye-catching building showing influences from Canarian painter Néstor de la Torre that houses it lies a short distance away from the Port of Las Palmas and the ferry terminal.
The experience is divided into three distinct areas dedicated to the jungle and its species, the coral reefs and the ocean depths. Each of them allows you to see endemic flora and fauna from the seabed of the archipelago up close, as well as recreation of the Mississippi River, the Amazon rainforest, mangroves, seagrass meadows, a cenote and even a natural reserve from Madagascar. A real Baobab tree, crabs, turtles, crocodiles, seahorses, sharks and clownfish are just a few examples of the living beings that have made “Poema del Mar” their home.
How to get to Poema del Mar Aquarium
- If you travel from the airport or the south of the island by car, you must take highway GC-1 towards the Port of Las Palmas. Drive past El Muelle Shopping Mall and you will soon spot the aquarium.
- From the ferry terminal, walk along “Muelle de León y Castillo” street and then continue onto “Avenida de los Consignatarios” in order to find “Poema del Mar”.
- Any bus line operated by the Global bus company making a stop at Santa Catalina bus station will take you pretty close, within short walking distance of the building.
- And lastly, the intercity bus lines (the yellow ones) 12, 21, 45, 47 and 60, connecting different points of the capital, also stop near the entrance of the aquarium.
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Tickets and admission
General tickets to see the “Poema del Mar” aquarium in Gran Canaria cost 25 euros in the case of adults and 17,50 euros for kids between four and eleven years old, whereas children under four years old can visit for free. Canarian residents get a discount when buying their tickets. You can purchase yours in advance through the official website of the aquarium or at the ticket office inside the building. If you plan to travel to the island more than once over the course of one year, you may benefit from an annual pass (70€ for adults y 49€ for kids), which will let you visit the aquarium as many times as you want within such period.
Opening times of “Poema del Mar” in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The opening hours are from 9:30 to 17:30 uninterruptedly Monday through Sunday. When you buy your tickets online, you will be able to choose the date and time of your visit. Should you wish to use your annual pass, it is recommended that you confirm your chosen slot so as to avoid restricted capacity issues.
Inside the Aquarium
- The “Poema del Mar” experience in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria lasts three hours approximately. That is how long it would take you to see and enjoy all the areas thoroughly; however, the total time may vary depending on how long you decide to stay on each zone.
- Most visitors spend the longest time by the Deep Sea pool, a glass window to a unique recreation of the ocean depths: an 8’5 metres deep tank containing 5’5 million litres of water to accommodate a wide array of fascinating marine species.
- Regardless of the spots inside the aquarium where you would like to stay longer, pay attention to any provisional or permanent indications concerning capacity or the directions to follow to complete the tour.
- Along the way, you will get the chance to eat, have a drink or a snack in the Néstor restaurant, the Nemo Snack Bar or the Café Lobby. And at the end of the visit, you can buy gifts with the aquarium logo printed on it, stuffed toys, bracelets and other souvenirs with marine motives.
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