The largest aquarium in Latin America opened in Guadalajara last weekend, adding a major new attraction to the city’s tourist itinerary.
Located in the Parque Alcalde, the Acuario Michin houses 150 marine species in 52 exhibits, including sharks, manta rays, clownfish, sea horses, jellyfish, octopuses, crocodiles and much more.
The 30,000-square-meter space is divided into five thematic areas reflecting Mexico’s pre-hispanic past.
“Our aim is to link the cultural richness of pre-hispanic Mexico with its aquatic richness,” said Rodrigo Álvarez, president of the aquarium’s governing council.
The facility will be staffed by 136 full- and part-time employees, including a range of specialists, including aquarists, biologists and veterinarians. Investment in modern technology ensures the marine species will receive the best possible care, Álvarez said.
“This is a vanguard project that will enhance the name of Guadalajara in Mexico and the rest of the world,” Guadalajara Mayor Enrique Alfaro said at last Sunday’s inauguration.
The aquarium cost around 300 million pesos and was built with private funds. As payback for its prime location, the concessionaires will pay 80,000 pesos a month to Guadalajara city hall, and maintain all the surrounding green areas.
The adult entry fee to the aquarium will be 199 pesos, while children will pay 120 pesos.
In an agreement between the operators and city hall, many tours of the aquarium for public school children will be provided at no charge.
Construction of the aquarium has gone hand in hand with a 54-million peso renovation of the Parque Alcalde, located two blocks from La Normal traffic circle, on Calle Jesus Garcia.
Alfaro believes the new aquarium will triple the number of weekend visitors to the park, which boasts a pretty lake amongst its diversions.
The aquarium’s opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The entrance is located at Avenida Mariano Barcenas 900, corner of Av. de los Maestros.
The aquarium is three blocks from the Mezquitán station of Tren Ligero’s line Two. When Line Three opens in 2018, the aquarium will be easily accessed from many parts of the metropolitan area, Alfaro pointed out.
The aquarium has a covered car park and counts on a valet parking service. There is free wifi throughout the building, and the public is invited to take photographs for their personal use only. (Selfie sticks and tripods are not permitted.) For more information, see www.acuariomichin.com.