New Orleans is famous for music, food, and colorful streets, but the city also offers a world filled with sharks, penguins, stingrays, and rare animals. The Audubon Aquarium brings visitors close to wildlife from Louisiana and other parts of the world. Families, couples, and solo travelers can walk through ocean tunnels, watch playful animals, and learn how rivers and seas support life. This underwater adventure is a fun break from the busy streets of downtown New Orleans.
A Riverfront Attraction Filled With Wildlife
The aquarium sits at 1 Canal Street beside the Mississippi River and near the French Quarter. It is home to more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species. The exhibits take guests from the Caribbean and Amazon Rainforest to the Mississippi River and Gulf. Visitors staying at a plaza suite hotel in New Orleans can easily add the aquarium to a day of riverfront sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Explore the Audubon Aquarium.
Walk Beneath Stingrays in the Maya Tunnel
One of the most exciting parts of the aquarium is the Maya Tunnel. This underwater path surrounds guests with colorful fish and other sea animals. Look above your head to see stingrays moving through the water. The stone details around the exhibit make it feel like an old city hidden beneath the sea. Children often enjoy searching for different fish, while adults can stop to admire the colors and movement. It is also one of the best photo spots inside the aquarium.
Meet Penguins and a Rare White Alligator
The aquarium’s colony of endangered African penguins is a favorite with visitors. Watch them swim, move across the rocks, and interact with each other. You may even arrive during feeding time. The aquarium is also home to a rare white alligator, an animal that many tourists have never seen before. Its pale skin makes it stand out from the darker alligators found in Louisiana wetlands. These animals help visitors learn why wildlife protection matters.
Touch Sharks and Rays
At Shark Discovery, visitors can get close to sharks and rays in a 13,000-gallon touch pool. Staff members explain how to gently touch the animals without hurting or scaring them. This hands-on activity gives children and adults a safe way to connect with sea life. The sharks are smaller than the large ones found in open water, but seeing them up close is still exciting. Follow all staff directions during this animal encounter and give the animals space when they swim away.
Travel From the Amazon to Louisiana Waters
The Amazon Rainforest exhibit introduces visitors to animals that live in warm forests and rivers. Birds, fish, and other wildlife help show how much life can exist in one habitat. Other exhibits focus on the Mississippi River and the waters near Louisiana. These areas teach visitors about the connection between the river, wetlands, Gulf, and city. Learning about Louisiana wildlife gives tourists a better view of the land and water that have shaped New Orleans.
Visit the Insectarium With the Same Ticket
Admission to the aquarium currently includes the Audubon Insectarium, so visitors can explore two attractions during the same trip. The Insectarium has more than 50 live arthropod exhibits, along with displays that explain how insects help plants and people. Walk through the Butterfly Garden and watch hundreds of butterflies fly among plants beside views of the Mississippi River. Adventurous guests can even learn about edible insects at Bug Appétit. Discover the Audubon Insectarium.
Plan Enough Time for Your Visit
Audubon recommends allowing two to three hours to explore the Aquarium and Insectarium. The attractions are currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4 p.m. Hours may change for holidays, weather, or special events, so check the website before leaving. Café Aqua offers food, including vegetarian and allergy-friendly choices. Visitors can also stop at Nature’s Marketplace for ocean-themed gifts, toys, plush animals, and sustainable keepsakes.
Add the Aquarium to Your New Orleans Stay
The aquarium’s riverfront location makes it easy to pair with Spanish Plaza, Canal Street, Riverwalk Outlets, or the French Quarter. After seeing sharks, penguins, butterflies, and Louisiana wildlife, return to a plaza suite hotel in New Orleans with space to rest and plan your next day. Plaza Suite Resort offers spacious accommodations near many downtown attractions. Contact Plaza Suite Resort to book your stay and make the Audubon Aquarium part of your New Orleans adventure.