You can pet a ray here, and you can touch a nurse shark and a starfish too. The Interactive Aquarium sits in the middle of La Isla Shopping Village in the hotel zone. It is a small, modern aquarium, built so that visitors reach out and touch the animals instead of only looking through glass.
.jpg){kind=link}
Interactive Aquarium: the basics
| Type | Family |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 09:00-20:00; marine presentations 19:00 |
| Price | US$15 basic admissions (2022), more to swim with dolphins and other activities |
| Getting there | Inside La Isla Shopping Village, Blvd Kukulcan Km 12.5, Hotel Zone |
| Address | Blvd Kukulcan Km. 12.5 Hotel Zone |
| Official site | https://www.interactiveaquariumcancun.com/en/ |
| Map | Open the map |
Above the aquarium there is a Mexican and seafood restaurant. From its tables you can watch the dolphin shows, and sometimes the dolphins playing among themselves between shows. Visitors who want more can pay to swim with captive dolphins in a large pool. The aquarium is a handy stop for anyone already shopping or eating at La Isla.
Rays, sharks and starfish within reach
The main draw is touch. Children can pet rays, stroke nurse sharks and handle starfish. Nothing about the animals is out of reach, so a child who is shy at first often ends up leaning over the water with a hand out.
The aquarium is small and modern, so it is easy to take in without a long walk. That helps with young children, who can see every tank and still have energy left. The hands-on contact is what they tend to talk about afterwards.
Dolphins from your table, or from the water
The dolphins live in a large pool, and the restaurant above the aquarium looks out on it. You can eat Mexican or seafood dishes while a dolphin show runs. Between shows the dolphins often play among themselves, so a lunch table can become a viewing spot with no extra ticket needed.
Swimming with the dolphins is a separate paid activity. It costs more than the basic admission, and so do the other extra activities on offer. Families who want only the animal touching and the dolphin views can stay with the basic ticket.
Younger children get the most from it
The aquarium suits younger visitors best. The animals are close, the space is compact, and the activities are simple: pet, touch, watch. Small children do not need to follow a long story to enjoy it.
Older children and teenagers may enjoy the dolphin swim more than the basic visit. It is the one part that goes beyond looking and touching.
Fitting it into a La Isla day
The aquarium opens daily from 09:00 to 20:00, and the marine presentations run at 19:00. An early visit gives you the animals while the day is fresh. An evening visit lets you end with a presentation. Basic admission was US$15 in 2022.
La Isla Shopping Village puts shops and food around the aquarium, so a break is never far. The Skywheel Cancun and the Cancun Wax Museum are also close by, which makes a full family afternoon easy. Some visitors pair the aquarium with the Museo Maya de Cancún on the same day, starting at the museum and moving on to the aquarium.
Before you take the kids
How much does the Interactive Aquarium in Cancun cost?
Basic admission was US$15 in 2022. Swimming with dolphins and other activities cost more.
What are the opening hours?
The aquarium is open daily from 09:00 to 20:00. Marine presentations are at 19:00.
Can you touch the animals?
Yes. Visitors can pet rays and nurse sharks and touch starfish. You can also pay to swim with captive dolphins in a large pool.
Where is the Interactive Aquarium?
It is in the middle of La Isla Shopping Village in the hotel zone, at Blvd Kukulcan Km 12.5. A Mexican and seafood restaurant sits above it, with views of the dolphins.
Near Interactive Aquarium
- Cancun Wax Museum (0.13 km)
- Skywheel Cancun (0.16 km)
- Yamil Lu'um (0.42 km)
- Hotel Zone (3.35 km)
Tickets and family tours
More family days out: things to do in Cancun.