Throughout the years, the Canary Islands have prospered largely due to the tropical waters that surround them — with the warm sea creating near-perfect conditions for wine cultivation and cash crops like sugar cane as well as bountiful marine life.

Today, you can explore the ocean’s treasure trove in Gran Canaria firsthand when you book your Poema del Mar tickets to enter one of the best aquariums in Spain.

The aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in the Canaries, together with Palmitos Park and Puerto de Mogan. However, unlike the other two, it's located in Las Palmas, making it perfect for a day spent exploring the island’s capital.

Poema del Mar features three spectacular and immersive exhibitions, one of which offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the deep ocean — something you’ll usually only experience on a submarine tour.

Here's all you need to know about Poema del Mar, one of the most exciting theme parks in Gran Canaria.

How much do Poema del Mar tickets cost?

Poema del Mar tickets are reasonably well priced when you consider three things — the quality of the exhibits, the number of animals that you’ll see and the time you’ll spend on your voyage of discovery.

Poema del Mar ticket prices

Adults (age 12 and over): €27
Children (age 4 to 11): €18.50
Infants (age 3 and below): Free entry

There are skip-the-line tickets available — a great option if you are planning to visit Poema del Mar over weekends or during peak tourist season.

Who is eligible for discounts?

If you are a permanent resident of the Canaries, you qualify for a discount when buying your Poema del Mar tickets. However, you will have to show your Bono Residente Canario card to take advantage of the discount. This offer is not available to Spanish residents, only residents of the Canaries.

Adults (age 12 and over): €18
Children (age 4 to 11): €13
Infants (age 3 and below): Free entry

Should you book in advance?

Definitely. Booking your Poema del Mar tickets in advance will give you the peace of mind knowing that your date and time slot is confirmed — as well as the ability to skip the lines when you arrive at the aquarium. This is especially handy during Gran Canaria’s peak tourist seasons or over weekends.

What are the best Poema del Mar tours?

Only audioguided tours are possible when visiting the aquarium. However, this is the only tour you’ll need because of the intuitive way in which the aquarium is designed.

Audioguided Poema del Mar tour

You’ll be in control of how you choose to explore one of Spain’s best-rated aquariums during this audioguided tour. Viewed from the outside, Poema del Mar does well to hide any signs of the marvelous scenes behind its futuristic façade.

This changes as soon as you step through the doors and into a world of brilliantly curated exhibits and state-of-the-art facilities. The accompanying audio guide is available in French, Portuguese, English and German.

However, the audio guide is not essential because all of the exhibits feature digital display boards with different language options. There are three large exhibits to explore, one of which is a glass sphere with the distinction of being the world’s largest curved glass aquarium.

What will you see inside?

Poema del Mar blends cutting-edge technology with wonderfully immersive exhibitions and a devotion to conservation to create a singular experience. The aquarium is divided into three large biosphere areas, each detailing the unique species that call these habitats their home. The environments were chosen to mirror the natural marine life present in Gran Canaria.

Jungle exhibition

Poema del Mar’s Jungle exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into aquatic jungle life by recreating a lush rainforest scene nestled in a canyon. You’ll cross a beautifully designed walkway, traversing waters filled with critters like pig-nosed turtles, electric eels and even some crocodiles.

Descend into the submerged viewing area to see these animals up close — as well as a couple of exotic critters like the blue poison-dart frog and the glow-in-the-dark emperor scorpion.

Reef and Beach exhibition

The Reef and Beach exhibition provides you with all the splendor of a living coral reef — without all of the snorkeling or scuba diving gear that’s usually required.

The exhibition features several different areas where you can view animals ranging from the prehistoric-looking horseshoe crab to the stunning mandarinfish. This area is also home to the “Nemo Kids” section where children will find all of the stars from the animated movie.

Deep Ocean exhibition

Poema del Mar’s Deep Ocean exhibition will provide the undisputable wow factor for your visit. You’ll definitely remember the moment you come face to face with the world’s largest curved aquarium and marvel at the stupefying display.

There is an aquatic cornucopia on offer with species ranging from the legendary bull shark and Atlantic stingray to octopuses and seadragons. You’ll also be able to view shoaling behavior and see how waves affect life under the water.

How to get there?

Poema del Mar is situated in the Las Palmas harbor, close to the ferry terminal — making it convenient for any traveler visiting from one of the other Canary Islands.

It’s also very easy to reach for travelers in Gran Canaria and Las Palma — traveling from the Gran Canaria Airport simply head north on the GC-1 until you reach Las Palmas harbor and ferry terminal. From here, the aquarium is just around the corner.

What are the opening times?

Poema del Mar is open every day of the week throughout the year. The operating hours are from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM with 3:30 PM being the final entrance slot. It can take anywhere between 1.5 and 3 hours to explore the aquarium — make sure you take this into account when booking your time slot.

When is the best time to visit Poema del Mar?

The best time of the week to visit Poema del Mar is from Monday to Friday with Saturday and Sunday being the busiest. Tuesday and Friday are especially quiet making them the perfect days to visit. Early mornings and late afternoons are the quietest, with noon being the busiest time to visit Poema del Mar.

Which other attractions can be visited in Gran Canaria?

Travel tips

Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll do a fair bit of standing and walking.
You're not allowed to take food and drink into the aquarium so consider enjoying a meal before visiting.
Poema del Mar is one of the best-rated aquariums in Spain and can get quite busy — consider booking ahead of time to ensure your spot.
Make use of skip-the-line tickets to avoid queues, especially over the weekend.

Poema del Mar: Tickets