One of the most emblematic things to visit in British Columbia is the Vancouver Aquarium. If you have kids and settle in Vancouver or simply pass by the city to visit, this is a must see! It is the biggest in Canada, and was the first aquarium ever opened in Canada.

At first, it was formed by oceanography professors as the Vancouver Public Aquarium Association in 1956. Since then, it has expanded, became bigger, and welcomed a lot of new species. It was the first aquarium in the world to capture an orca and present it to the public. The aquarium is also a center of research in oceanography and is recognized worldwide for its involvement in the protection of marine species.

The aquarium is open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. all year long. There are a lot of galleries and different expositions for you to see and learn everything about the species from the tropic zone to the Canada’s arctic zone through the frog pavilion, the Amazon gallery and the clownfish cove. At certain times of the day you can assist shows to discover and take a closer look at dolphins, belugas, penguins and more.

For a one day visit in the aquarium, the price is $39 for adults, $30 for youth (13-18), students, and seniors, $22 for child (4-12) and free for children under 3 years old. The aquarium also offers other activities like sleepovers sessions to spend a night at the aquarium and discover it from a new perspective with three different programs: for family, couple, or group of students or friends. Each one allows you to stay at the aquarium after close, have dinner next to the fishes, learn more about them, and sleep in a zone of the aquarium.  You can also have a birthday party at the aquarium that includes a special room, a cake, and admissions to the aquarium for every guest! There is a “behind the scenes” tour to learn how works an aquarium, and encounters with animals to approach them closer.

The Vancouver aquarium is a great attraction and a good way to see marine species in their habitat and learn about them. It is also a great place to learn about the conservation efforts the aquarium is fronting with its research and protection programs.

For more information about the aquarium, you can visit their website.

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Photo Credit : Vancouver Aquarium