On the island of Virginia Key in beautiful Biscayne Bay, is one of the oldest and largest water parks in the United States: Miami Seaquarium. Created in 1955 by Fred D. Coppock and Captain W.B. Gray, the park now welcomes an average of 500,000 visitors a year, coming from all over the world to see dolphins, sharks, manatees, sea turtles, and the orca Lolita, the oldest orca kept in captivity in the world (and the only one in the park after the death of her companion’ Hugo in 1980 in a tank accident).
Every day the park offers shows and exhibitions, as well as carrying out educational and conservation programs for marine animals. Let’s find out all the things you need to know in order to visit the Miami Seaquarium.
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History and Curiosities
Who doesn’t remember the TV series Flipper? The 88 episodes of one of the most loved shows by adults and children were filmed at the Miami Sea Aquarium between 1963 and 1967. It was also here that the two films dedicated to the magnificent dolphin were filmed.
1963 was a special year for the water park because the Miami Seaquarium Spacerail, the first suspended monorail in the United States, was inaugurated. Having only one stop, its function was not to transport visitors inside the park but to be a real attraction in itself.
The monorail allowed you to see not only a large part of the park but also the Miami skyline from up high. In 1991, however, during the renovation and expansion of Miami Seaquarium, it was decided to demolish the monorail as it was obsolete and too expensive to maintain.
Where it is located and how to get there
The Miami Seaquarium is located at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami-Dade County, not far from downtown Miami. Reaching the park is easy both by car and public transportation. Also, as this is one of Miami’s main attractions, many hotels offer transportation to and from Miami Seaquarium. If you’re staying at a Miami hotel, therefore, check with the concierge to see if they offer this option.
By Car
If you have a car, you can reach Miami Seaquarium easily. Coming from the north, take I-95 South, exit at Exit 1A (Miami Seaquarium), and follow the signs for Key Biscayne and Rickenbacker Causeway. Coming from the south, however, take US1 North, exit right just before the on-ramp to I-95, and follow signs for Key Biscayne and Rickenbacker Causeway. Parking for cars, motorcycles, and RVs costs $10 per day.
By Public Transportation
Brickell Station is the best place to get to Miami Seaquarium, whether you’re in Miami Beach, Downtown, or other neighborhoods in the city of Miami. From the west side of Brickell Station, in fact, just take bus 102 and in about 20 minutes you will reach the aquarium.
Miami Seaquarium Ticket Prices and Hours
Miami Seaquarium is open every day of the year from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Consider spending at least 4 hours inside the park so you can see the daily shows and the different areas. The ticket office closes at 4:30 pm.
Miami Seaquarium offers different types of tickets and the cost varies greatly depending on the experiences you want to take part in.
Standard visit
A standard ticket costs $47.99 for adults and $37.99 for children between 3 and 9 years old. By purchasing it, you will have the opportunity to participate in the shows and exhibitions that the park organizes for the entire day. You’ll see dolphin acrobatics, a hilarious sea lion show, Lolita the killer whale performing alongside dolphins, and a performance dedicated to Flipper.
You can also get hands-on in the Touch Pools and maybe touch sharks or other fish, see pink flamingos and learn a lot about sea turtles, penguins, sea lions, and tropical fish in the Tropical Reef area.
Buy the Skip the Line Tickets Here
Special Programs
In addition to the standard visit, the water park offers several special programs that, by customizing your visit, will allow you to have a unique experience with the animals you love most.
- Dolphin Odyssey: The Dolphin Odyssey program costs $220.00 and in addition to all the experiences included in the standard ticket, you will spend 30 minutes in the dolphin pool. You will be able to feed the dolphins and receive kisses, flipper squeezes, and an exciting ride through the water on the dolphin’s back.
- Dolphin Encounter: The Dolphin Encounter program costs $160 and will allow you to spend 30 minutes in the company of dolphins and their handlers, while only partially immersing yourself in the pool with them.
- Seal Swim: The Seal Swim program costs $160 and offers the opportunity to swim with seals, have them hug and kiss you, and participate in a training section. The experience lasts 15-20 minutes and includes the experiences included in the standard visit.
- Penguin Encounter: With the Penguin Encounter program, you’ll get up close and personal with penguins in their habitat, touch and interact with them, and learn all about these beautiful animals. The ticket includes the experiences of the regular visit and costs $120.
- Sea Trek Reef Encounter: For $100 you can enter the tropical fish tank and, wearing a special helmet that allows you to breathe underwater, ‘walk’ to discover the coral reef and its inhabitants. The experience lasts 20 minutes.
- Vip Tour: guided tour of 2 hours and 30 minutes to discover the animals of the park. A private guide will take you through the various areas of the park and you will have the opportunity to touch and interact with various animals. The cost is $149.00.
- Trainer for a day: the Trainer for a day program costs $495.00 and will make you a trainer for a day! You’ll work side-by-side with the trainers from each show, helping them train the dolphins, sea lions, and other stars of the day’s performances. Also included in your ticket is lunch with the trainers and an orientation and guidance section for a future career in this role. The ticket for this program includes the Dolphin Odyssey experience.
Admission with Miami Passes
As we have seen, admission is not cheap, so you might want to consider purchasing the Go Miami Card or the Sightseeing Pass. Miami Seaquarium, in fact, is one of the attractions included in both passes. You’ll find more information in our article dedicated to Miami passes to visit the best of the city while saving money.
