ABQ BioPark Zoo 🇺🇸

Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the ABQ BioPark Zoo is an AZA-accredited, 64-acre facility founded in 1927. Originally known as the Rio Grande Zoo, this dynamic destination features 2.27 miles of walking paths that take you through distinct geographic areas, including Africa, Australia, Asia, and specialized exhibit trails.

Highlights include Penguin Chill—the Southwest's first exhibit of its kind featuring king, gentoo, and macaroni penguins with underwater viewing windows and a glass floor—and Inukshuk Bay, where you can watch polar bears swim and slide down waterfalls. Reptile enthusiasts will appreciate the Reptile House, home to Komodo dragons and breeding programs for Texas horned lizards, alongside the Gator Swamp Exhibit.

You can also spot endangered Mexican wolves, big cats along the Catwalk, and apes like western lowland gorillas. With a vibrant Caribbean flamingo flock greeting you at the entrance and an endangered species carousel added in 2016, the zoo offers an immersive look at wildlife from around the globe.

What to see at ABQ BioPark Zoo

• Penguin Chill exhibit featuring king, gentoo, and macaroni penguins with underwater glass-floor viewing
• Inukshuk Bay polar bear habitat complete with a waterfall and panoramic views
• Reptile House and Gator Swamp featuring Komodo dragons, Texas horned lizards, and American alligators
• Mexican Wolf Exhibit housing a pack of the most endangered wolf species in the United States
• Expanded Asia and Australia exhibit areas housing Asian elephants, tigers, orangutans, and giant tortoises

Visiting tips

Ride the narrow-gauge railroad to easily connect from the zoo to the other facilities of the Albuquerque Biological Park.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

ABQ BioPark Zoo is easy to reach on Albuquerque’s public transport, and pairs naturally with San Felipe de Neri Church and Albuquerque Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Albuquerque travel guide.