AquaRio reaches 1 million visitors in 2025, a historic milestone not seen since 2017, with 10% annual growth.
The AquaRio reached the symbolic mark of 1 million visitors in 2025 on December 24, Christmas Eve. The milestone guests were Maria Cristina Soares, Cleberson Soares, and José Soares, from São Paulo, who took part in a special celebration prepared by the largest marine aquarium in South America.
The family received an annual passport granting free access for one year and enjoyed a guided tour with Rafael Franco, AquaRio’s technical director, underscoring the institutional and historical significance of the moment.
The result marks a strong recovery phase for the attraction, reaching 1 million visitors in a single year for the first time since the pandemic. The figure had only been achieved before in 2017, the year of its inauguration. In 2025, AquaRio also saw a 10% growth in visitation compared to 2024, driven by a 90% increase in international tourists, now accounting for over 30% of total visitors, mainly from Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay.
With this performance, AquaRio consolidates itself as the third most visited tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro State, behind only Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. The result reflects the steady recovery of urban and cultural tourism in Brazil, especially among families and foreign visitors.
Diversity and immersive experiences
This growth is linked to the variety of experiences offered by the complex, combining entertainment, environmental education, and direct contact with marine life. Highlights include the Axolotl Kingdom on the third floor and the Great Ocean Tank, which gives the sensation of walking on the ocean floor. The main route spans 26,000 square meters, houses 4.5 million liters of water, and about 10,000 animals from 350 species.
Conservation and scientific research
Beyond tourism, AquaRio serves as a center for environmental conservation and scientific research. A recent example is the birth of five Indonesian epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti) pups, a species considered “near threatened.” This first captive breeding record marks an important step in preservation efforts.
The aquarium also achieved a world first in captive breeding of the butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela), a critically endangered species. With offspring already born and published scientific studies, AquaRio has become an international reference in marine research and conservation.
Entertainment and cultural complex
Part of a larger entertainment complex, AquaRio also includes the Wax Museum, the Sea of Mirrors — the largest immersive installation in Latin America — and Globo Experience (GEX), an interactive TV Globo park where visitors can explore soap opera sets and production backstage.
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