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Miami Seaquarium

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Miami Seaquarium - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Miami Seaquarium – tickets, prices, timings, what to expect, FAQs

The Miami Seaquarium is a 38-acre oceanarium located on Virginia Key Island in Biscayne Bay.

Founded in 1955, it is one of the oldest oceanariums in the United States and attracts over 500,000 visitors annually.

The oceanarium houses one of the largest collections of marine animals in the world, with over 10,000 specimens, including mammals, fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, reptiles, and manatees.

This article covers everything you must know before buying tickets for the Miami Seaquarium.

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# Miami Seaquarium tickets

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Miami Seaquarium is a wonderful place where conservation and education come together to offer you a memorable experience.

Take a look at a saltwater aquarium that has a capacity of 750,000 gallons and is filled with a variety of reef fishes in different sizes and colors.

Learn about marine wildlife and conservation through interactive shows and educational presentations. Gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of protecting our animal friends and their habitats.

This family-friendly waterfront adventure features close-up views of sharks through a glass barrier, opportunities to interact with alligators, observe manatees, and much more.

See Salty the Sea Lion and his Reef Rangers perform a play, watch the acrobatic bottlenose dolphins leap and roll, and see Pacific white-sided dolphins doing tricks alongside Lolita, the orca.

Tickets for the Miami Seaquarium are available to be purchased at the attraction or online in advance.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking online also helps avoid last-minute disappointment and delays.

Go to the Miami Seaquarium booking page , select your preferred date and the number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.

After the purchase, you will receive the tickets via email.

You don’t need to carry printouts.

Show the smartphone tickets at the gate on the day of your visit and enter the aquarium.

Adult tickets for the Miami Seaquarium cost US$53 for all visitors aged 10 and above.

Children aged between three and nine years can get the tickets for a discounted price of US$43.

Infants up to two years of age can enter for free.

Buy this ticket and visit the world-class marine-life entertainment park, Miami Seaquarium, and enjoy a variety of unique, interactive, and educational experiences suitable for the whole family.

Enjoy skip-the-line access and the opportunity to access all the shows and exhibits without waiting in long queues.

Witness fascinating marine life spectacles like the Top Deck Dolphin Show, Flipper Dolphin Show, and Golden Domes Sea Lion Show with this ticket.

Visitors can also attend daily educational presentations that provide insights into the fascinating world of sea creatures.

Let the kids have a great time at Sharky’s Playground Island, and don’t miss the opportunity to see the penguins.

Ticket price

Adult ticket (10+ years): US$53 Child ticket (3 to 9 years): US$43 Infant ticket (up to 2 years): Free

Save time and money! Buy the Miami Go City Pass and discover over 25 top Miami-area activities, attractions, and tours. With this all-inclusive pass, you can explore Zoo Miami, Seaquarium, Big Bus Miami Hop-On Hop-Off, and many more!

Miami Seaquarium is situated on the Virginia Key island, in Biscayne Bay near Downtown Miami.

Address: 4400, Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL 33149, USA. Get Directions

You can reach the Miami Seaquarium by both public and private transportation.

The Miami Seaquarium stop is the closest to the attraction.

Take Bus 26.

If you’re traveling by car, turn on Google Maps and get started!

Visitors can park at the attraction.

The Miami Seaquarium is open five days a week between Wednesday and Sunday.

The attraction opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm.

The Ticket Counter closes at 4.30 pm.

To fully experience all of the shows and exhibits, it is best to spare a minimum of 4 hours.

However, if you are in a hurry, you can finish your Seaquarium tour in around two and a half hours.

The best time to visit the Miami Seaquarium is as soon as it opens at 10 am.

An early visit helps you avoid the long lines that start in the middle of the day, especially if you visit in summer, during school holidays, or on the weekends.

With fewer people, you get enough time to explore the exhibits on your own and take photographs without others in the frame.

Animals in the touch pools are also most active in the early part of the day.

Things to do at Miami Seaquarium

The Miami Seaquarium offers different kinds of experiences, starting from animal encounters to shows and fantastic exhibits.

If you love dolphins, Penises, seals, etc., you will enjoy the animal encounters at this Maimi aquarium.

Besides the Dolphin Experience and the Sea Trek Reef Encounter, the other animal encounters are –

Dolphin Odyssey

Dolphin Odyssey is a 30-minute deep-water experience with enigmatic dolphins.

You get the experience of a lifetime with the incredible dorsal pull – yes, you will be swimming with the Dolphins.

You will also be able to shake the dolphins’ hands, kiss them, and feed them.

The minimum height requirement to participate in the Dolphin Odyssey is 52 inches (4 feet 4 inches or 132 cm).

This animal encounter costs $220 for an adult participant and approximately $60 for children (10 to 17 years).

This unique 15-20 minute interaction will let you swim with your special Seal friend as well as train them.

During this surreal experience, you will swim with harbor seals in both deep and shallow water.

Seal Swim at Miami Seaquarium costs approximately $180 for every 10-year-plus participant.

Meet the Penguin

Where else will you get an opportunity to meet African Penguins ?

You can pet the Penguins and interact with them one-on-one in their settings.

Since this animal encounter is in high demand, it is recommended you book in advance.

It costs $120 per adult to book this experience.

There are four amazing shows at this Miami attraction, and all of them are free to watch.

Top Deck Dolphin

Witness the top deck Bottlenose Dolphins doing breathtaking flips and rolls.

The daring acrobatics of these enigmatic creatures will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life.

You can view the top deck Dolphins from above or below the water anytime throughout the day.

Golden Dome Sea Lion

The show features the comedic adventures of Salty, the Sea Lion, and his Reef Rangers searching the reef for a littering diver.

It is a fun experience for the kids as well as the adults.

Flipper Dolphin Show

Flipper, the Dolphin, stars in an all-new Caribbean-themed show that showcases Flipper’s surroundings and how they have changed in recent years.

Killer Whale and Dolphin

There is no other Aquarium where you will find a Killer Whale performing alongside Pacific white-sided Dolphins.

It is once in a lifetime opportunity to witness Lolita, the Killer Whale, with her Dolphin friends in an interactive showcase.

From the numerous exhibits to see at Miami Seaquarium, here are our favorites –

Touch Pools

Enjoy the new thrilling interactive Touch Pools of the Aquarium.

Submerge your hands and touch different varieties of fish.

Caribbean Flamingos

You can’t miss the 30 beautiful flamingos at the renovated entrance when you enter this tourist attraction.

Penguin Isle

Penguin Isle is an excellent opportunity to meet and greet the most impressive African Penguins.

It is one of the newest exhibits in the aquarium.

You will get to know more about their struggles in the wild through big, colorful educational displays.

Tortuga Flats

Explore the Tortuga Flats – an awareness exhibit about Sea Turtles where you learn about the endangered species in Florida waters.

Miami Seaquarium has a rescue and rehabilitation program, and the Sea Turtles in the Aquarium are part of the project.

Tropical Reef

The Tropical Reef exhibit showcases a reef presentation with reef fish of every size and color in a 750,000-gallon saltwater reef aquarium.

You get to see a group of divers hand-feed tropical fish, Stingrays, and many other varieties of fish.

The Manatee Exhibit focuses on how one can protect and save these gentle creatures.

The Manatees in the presentation are also a part of Miami Seaquarium’s rescue and rehabilitation program.

Seal and Sea Lion feeder Pool

This exhibit features Seals and Sea Lions, which you can visit and explore throughout the day.

Do drop in for the feeding sessions, which happen a couple of times during the day.

Tropical Wings

The Tropical Wings exhibit is dedicated to all kinds of tropical birds, ranging from Macaws to Flamingos.

The animal keepers are ever ready to answer any curious questions you might have about the birds.

Tropical Fish aquariums

The Tropical Fish aquariums let you witness and explore an astounding variety of tropical marine life.

You cannot miss the invasive Red lionfish, the Florida Lobsters, and many more once you enter this exhibit.

The interactive Stingray exhibit allows you to feed these amazing creatures during the daily feeding sessions.

The Stingray Exhibit is inside the Tropical Wings Exhibit.

Miami Seaquarium is enormous, and it makes sense to be aware of the location of all the exhibits.

If you are visiting with kids, it is essential to be aware of the Seaquarium’s layout so that you can plan and allocate time to the most preferred exhibits.

A map of the Miami Seaquarium can also help you find visitor services like restrooms, restaurants, gift shops, etc.

You can bookmark this page or take a printout of the map for later use.

Walking around and exploring the Miami Seaquarium can leave you feeling hungry.

That’s why there are family-friendly places all around this tourist attraction to eat, drink, and relax.

Manatee Bay Cafe

This place to eat is an air-conditioned cafeteria that serves quick-service meals, including burgers, chicken fingers, wraps, salads, etc.

Beverages served here include a large selection of sodas, coffees, teas, and beer.

Pink’s Hollywood Hot Dogs

This eating joint is the latest addition to the Miami Seaquarium and serves fantastic hot dogs.

It is a hit among kids.

Dockside BBQ

When open, it serves excellent BBQ favorites such as pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob, etc.

Dockside BBQ is a seasonal restaurant.

Whale Spout Pizza

Do you have to get something to eat quickly before rushing to the next show?

Check out the Pizza spot, which serves hot, fresh, and cheesy pizzas to cater to all taste buds.

Dolphin Lobby Snack Bar serves pretzels, popcorn, ice cream, cotton candy, smoothies, juices, etc., and is perfect for a quick snack break.

Here are some questions visitors usually ask before visiting the Miami Seaquarium.

Visitors can see a variety of marine life at the Miami Seaquarium, including dolphins, sea lions, manatees, sea turtles, and various fish species.

Yes, the park offers a variety of daily shows and special events throughout the year, including dolphin and sea lion shows, feeding demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes tours.

Yes, it is best to buy tickets in advance to ensure availability and have a hassle-free experience.

Yes, the aquarium is a family-friendly attraction that offers a variety of activities and shows catered to children of all ages.

Yes, the park has a gift shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs and aquatic-themed merchandise.

Yes, the aquarium is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.

No, outside food and beverages are not permitted in the park. However, the Miami Seaquarium has several dining options available on-site.

Yes, on-site parking is available at the attraction.

Sources # Miamiseaquarium.com # Tripadvisor.com # Wikipedia.org # Holidify.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.

Popular attractions in Maimi

# Miami Seaquarium # Miami Zoo # Jungle Island # Everglades National Park # Millionaire’s Row Cruise # Graffiti Museum # Thriller Miami # Museum of Illusions # Miami Duck Tour # Sawgrass Recreation Park # Flamingo Gardens # Skyviews Miami # Superblue Miami # Jungle Queen # Lion Country Safari # Wynwood Walls

Check out all the things to do in Miami

This article was researched & written by

She has a passion for both traveling and photography, which help her document her memories forever. She loves to explore city streets taking in the people, the colors, and the culture surrounding her. Occasionally she loves to step away from the hustle-bustle of urban lifestyle, and chill-out either alone or with friends. Favorite Cities: Istanbul, London, Marrakech, Venice

Edited by Rekha Rajan & fact checked by Jamshed V Rajan

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From Flipper to Lolita: 7 key moments in Miami Seaquarium's turbulent history

Since it’s opening in 1955, the seaquarium was a miami staple and a popular tourist attraction, but also the epicenter of controversy, protests and lawsuits., by lauren ferrer • published march 9, 2024 • updated on march 9, 2024 at 9:46 am.

The Miami Seaquarium, located on Virginia Key along the Rickenbacker Causeway, has been a Miami staple and popular tourist attraction for almost 70 years. Since it’s opening in 1955, the Seaquarium has been the location of many medical research firsts, unique interactive exhibits and even film sets.

However, the Seaquarium has also been the site of various protests, lawsuits and inspection violations that led to Miami-Dade County deciding to terminate its lease this week .

Here, we walk you through 7 key moments in the Miami Seaquarium’s history.

1. Flipper TV series pilot episode filmed at the Seaquarium (1963)

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In addition to doing live shows at the Seaquarium, Flipper was the star of his own network TV show. Filmmaker Ivan Tors shot the pilot episode for the television series "Flipper" at the Miami Seaquarium in 1963. The series, which ran on NBC until 1967, employed seven dolphins to play the lead role with co-stars Luke Halpin, Brian Kelly and Tommy Norden.

The popular show told the story of Porter Ricks, a Park Ranger at the fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve, his two sons Sand and Bud, and their pet dolphin, Flipper.

The Miami Seaquarium served as a filming location for many other movies, including scenes from “Salty and the Lion” (1967), “Smokey and the Bandit Part 3” (1983) and “Striptease” (1996).

2. Killer whale Lolita brought to Miami Seaquarium (1970)

Captured off the Pacific Northwest in 1970, Tokitae, a female orca renamed Lolita, was sold to the Miami Seaquarium by Ted Griffiths and Don Goldsberry, partners in a capture operation at the time known as Namu, Inc.

Since bringing her to the Seaquarium, several conservationist groups raised concerns regarding her small tank, held protests calling for her release and took legal action. Efforts to save the whale can be traced back to the release of the 1993 film “Free Willy,” when executive producer Richard Donner used the film’s popularity to bring attention to Lolita’s story.

For 30 years, activists stood in several Miami hotspots, from Miami International Airport to the sidewalks in front of the Seaquarium, dressed as orcas, holding signs and even approaching potential visitors to demand Lolita’s release.

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3. first neurological surgery performed on a manatee (1999).

A team of doctors and veterinarians performed neurosurgery on an injured manatee at the Miami Seaquarium, marking the first time a neurosurgical procedure was performed on an endangered marine mammal.

Nash, a 9-year-old male, was rescued on July 16, 1999, after a collision with a boat in the Fort Lauderdale area. The boat sliced off 25 pounds of skin from Nash’s backbone, which was also fractured in the accident.

Gregory Bossart, a Miami Seaquarium veterinarian and associate professor at the University of Miami, along with neurosurgeons James Guest and Eric Belanger, performed the five-hour surgery using the same rod-and-pin system used to repair human spinal cord injuries.

Although doctors hoped Nash would recover, they expected him to remain partially paralyzed. On Aug. 16, 1999, a month after the surgery, Nash died from complications. At the time, less than 3,000 manatees were left in the wild.

4. Lolita listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (2015)

In February 2015, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced that Lolita would be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The ESA provides guidelines to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats. By listing her under the act, Lolita was given the same status as the rest of the Southern Resident orcas, her family in the wild.

The decision came after a petition by national nonprofits Animal Legal Defense Fund, PETA, Orca Network and others. Activists hoped that the decision would prompt the retirement of Lolita’s performances and eventual release back into the wild.

In June 2015, a lawsuit challenged the Miami-Dade Police Department’s “red zone” policy, which restricted protesters’ access to a stretch of over 40 feet of sidewalk outside the entrance to the Seaquarium. A settlement was reached and the policy was rescinded.

5. Seaquarium is sold to The Dolphin Company (2022)

The Dolphin Company took control of the Miami Seaquarium after acquiring it from Palace Entertainment, who had bought it in 2014.

The Dolphin Company is the largest park operator in Latin America and it initially received the support of local authorities. The Seaquarium has been operating on a lease of government-owned land for almost 70 years.

The lease was assigned to Dolphin Company’s Florida subsidiary in 2022, with county approval and praise for the company, “a large, experienced, animal-welfare focused, and well-established aquatic park, habitat, and marina operator that is aligned with the County’s goals and objectives of conservation and education.”

6. Miami-Dade Mayor responds to Seaquarium violations (2022)

In 2021, a USDA inspection report revealed code violations in areas including the handling of animals, facilities and water quality. A year later, another inspection report was released, detailing more violations including the fact that diets for nine out of 12 dolphins at Dolphin Harbor were cut by 60% . Aggressive incidents from the dolphins towards visitors and trainers were also included in the report.

In response to the 2022 report, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava released a memo to the Board of County Commissioners saying that she was “deeply disturbed by the findings of the recent USDA report regarding our marine life at Miami Seaquarium.”

Following her response, the Director of the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department released a memo listing the steps their department was taking to address the concerns in the report, including inspections in addition to inspections performed by the USDA.

7. Lolita dies at the Seaquarium (2023)

On Friday, August 19th, 2023, Lolita died .

Prior to her passing, the Seaquarium announced that she was showing serious signs of discomfort and was being treated by a medical team.

In March, the Seaquarium announced that a team would begin the work to relocate Lolita back to her home in the Pacific Northwest in the next 18-24 months, only a few weeks after ending her performances. The orca died before she could be relocated.

A year after her death, the Miami Seaquarium is being evicted from the property. Mayor Levine-Cava sent a lease termination notice to Eduardo Albor, the president of The Dolphin Company . In the notice, the company was given until April 21st to vacate the property.

If the Seaquarium owners don't comply, it could lead to a legal eviction process.

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Chris McAndrew
Jun 18, 2023

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Miami Seaquarium Tickets

Explore the magic of the underwater world at Miami Seaquarium with great discounts on tickets and complete tours only at Gray Line. There are many different shows every day to enjoy for adults and delight children.

Located on the island of Virginia Key, Miami Seaquarium is one of the most popular attractions in South Florida and should not be missed. This world class marine life entertainment park opened its doors in 1955 and is one of the oldest aquariums in the US. Spread across 40-acres, the park receives more than half-million visitors in a year. It is an attraction like no other and is perfect for people of all ages.

The Miami Seaquarium VIP tour offers a wide range of interactive, fun, and educational activities for you to explore. With so many things to do, the attraction is sure to bring a wide smile to your face. By booking with us, you get to come and enjoy all the shows and exhibits without rushing through the day.

Miami Seaquarium - Attraction Ticket

Visit this marine life theme park, home to performing killer whales, sea lions and more.