Audubon Aquarium in NOLA: Best Time to Visit and 3,600 of the Coolest Animals to See

There is no shortage of tourist attractions in New Orleans. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting or live in the city, the Audubon Aquarium is an afternoon well spent. The Aquarium provides you with an enjoyable time with over 3,600 animals representing more than 250 species. 

This includes unique and endangered animals such as the white alligator. Here is our ultimate guide for visiting Audubon Aquarium in the heart of New Orleans.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Audubon Aquarium?

You can visit the Audubon Aquarium all year round! It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is recommended that visitors purchase tickets and make reservations in advance. If needed, you may be able to buy tickets in person. 

General admission includes a ticket to the 4K theater. Tickets vary from $22 for children, $25 for seniors, and $30 for adults. You can also buy combination tickets that include admission to both the zoo and aquarium. 

These will run you $30 for children, $33 for seniors, and $40 for adults. With this type of ticket, you’re able to visit the zoo and aquarium on different days if needed. Check out the aquarium’s website to check for discounted tickets before your visit. 

Exhibits at the Audubon Aquarium

The Gulf of Mexico Exhibit 

Although the New Orleans aquarium is host to a wide variety of species, its extensive Gulf Coast assortment may be its most well-known feature. The biggest display at the aquarium is the Gulf of Mexico Exhibit. 

This massive tank exhibit is 17 feet deep and holds 400,000 gallons of seawater. The exhibition houses a variety of creatures such as sharks, stingrays, turtles, and fish along with a reproduction of an offshore oil rig.

The Amazon Rainforest Exhibit

Next, as long as the weather permits, visit the Amazon-Orinoco Rainforest exhibit. Look above to observe soaring tropical birds fluttering around you. The area is filled with the exotic, rich vegetation of a rainforest. 

Don’t miss the pools with swimming fish from the Amazon. We think the pacu fish and piranhas are a must-see. 

Penguin Party

Take the opportunity to get up close and personal with cute penguins! Discover more about penguins and the loving attention that the Aquarium gives to them. Snap your own pictures to preserve the priceless moment. 

One of the South African Penguins will meet guests privately and up close. Visitors will get the opportunity to spend time with and take pictures of penguins after hearing about them from an aviculturist. 

This does cost an extra $115 to $125 per person. 

Down the Bayou

This next exhibit will truly immerse you in the Louisiana wilderness. Learn about a wetlands environment that is unique, steamy, and alive with life. Near the water’s surface of the still water, alligators sun themselves. 

Bare cypress trees provide protection for frogs, crabs, turtles, and other creatures. Birds nest in the towering tree limbs. Visit some of the various species that call the bayou home while taking a trip that is truly unforgettable. 

The Great Maya Reef

Speaking of immersive, don’t forget to make a stop at the Great Maya Reef exhibit. The 4,200 square foot Great Maya Reef transports you underwater to the enigmatic ruins of a long-gone Mayan metropolis, currently populated by tropical aquatic life.

Your journey starts as you emerge from a 30-foot tunnel to find yourself drifting around enormous Mayan ruins, encircled by a variety of colorful water species. Eels, lobster, parrotfish, and other reef dwellers move in and out of the colorful coral, sunken antiques, and undiscovered gems in this underwater realm, which is teeming with life.

Maya Snorkel Adventure 

If the Great Maya Reef sounds enticing, what if you could go in the water with the animals? Meet hundreds of gorgeous tropical fish and more than 30 different species of marine life up close. Learn about the complex and varied life that reef environments support. 

Discover more about the environmental efforts Audubon Aquarium puts forth. Don’t forget to snap your own pictures to record the priceless moment. Maya Snorkel lasts roughly one and a half hours.

Everyone who participates is required to bring their own swimwear, yet scuba gear is provided. This does have an additional fee. 

Shark Discovery

Now, let’s talk about one of the most popular attractions at Audubon Aquarium. A 13,000-gallon touch pool for sharks and rays is available at Shark Discovery. It is home to a number of creatures, such as the coral catshark, a variety of stingrays, and more. 

The enormous LED screen that spans the entire length of the pool is filled with pictures of sharks, stingrays, and fish, emphasizing the diversity of ocean life. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Rita Petcu/Shutterstock.com