AquaRio

What AquaRio does

AquaRio (legal name: AquaRio - Aquário Marinho do Rio) is a privately operated marine aquarium located in Rio de Janeiro's revitalized Port Zone at Praça Muhammad Ali, Gambôa, within the historic Pier Mauá complex. The facility spans 26,000 m² and houses 4.5 million liters of seawater across 28+ enclosures, containing approximately 10,000 animals from 350 species including 12 shark species. It is the largest marine aquarium in South America and operates under three pillars: education, research, and conservation. The aquarium runs an in-house research center conducting more than 30 scientific studies annually in partnership with universities, ICMBio, and the Brazilian Navy, and has produced successful captive breeding programs for threatened species including cownose ray, butterfly ray, and bamboo shark.

The company generates revenue through a diversified mix: admission tickets (R$70–R$167), annual passport memberships, bundled combo tickets with Grupo Cataratas sister attractions (Cristo Redentor, BioParque do Rio), food and beverage, parking, merchandise, venue rental, and private events. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via its own e-commerce platform (ingressos.aquariomarinhodorio.com.br) and physical box office, supplemented by school group bookings (over 100,000 students since 2017) and event-driven partnerships (Rock in Rio, Flamengo, Candlelight concerts). The aquarium is a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Cataratas, a Brazilian tourism conglomerate that also operates Cataratas do Iguaçu, Paineiras Corcovado, and BioParque do Rio. CEO Marcelo Szpilman leads the company, which has been certified by WAZA (2020), Good Travel Seal Gold (2024), Friend of the Sea, and ALPZA.

Name

AquaRio

Legal name

AquaRio - Aquário Marinho do Rio

Website

https://aquariomarinhodorio.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AquaRio is the largest marine aquarium in South America, located in Rio de Janeiro's Port Zone, housing 10,000 animals from 350 species. It serves families, tourists, and school groups through admissions, memberships, and Grupo Cataratas combo tickets focused on marine education and conservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Aquarium and Tourist Attraction

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Marine aquarium
• Family entertainment
• Marine conservation
• Educational tourism
• Marine biology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: AquaRio generates the majority of its revenue from admission ticket sales, sold via its dedicated e-commerce platform (ingressos.aquariomarinhodorio.com.br) and physical box office. Standard full-price tickets, discounted meia-entrada (half-price) tickets for students, seniors, youth, PCD/TEA visitors, and promotional pricing for Brazilian residents, tourists, and special events (Rock in Rio, Mother's Day) are offered.
2. Annual Passport (Annual Membership): A 365-day unlimited visit pass offering exclusive benefits such as priority access, special event invitations, and discounts. The membership program also channels part of revenue toward marine research and conservation projects.
3. Combo Tickets with Partner Attractions: Bundled tickets combining AquaRio admission with other Grupo Cataratas attractions (Cristo Redentor via Paineiras Corcovado, BioParque do Rio, Dreamland Wax Museum) sold at a combined discounted price, driving cross-attraction revenue.
4. Merchandise and Souvenirs: On-site retail store selling branded merchandise including apparel, keychains, mugs, stuffed animals, and stationery items. Revenue generated from visitor purchases.
5. Food and Beverage: On-site food and beverage points offering pizza, hot dogs, snacks, ice cream, brigadeiros, soups, hot cheese bread, and collectible beverage cups. Additional revenue from restaurant operations within the facility.
6. Parking: On-site parking service with hourly rates. Visitors with AquaRio tickets pay R$55 for up to 3 hours; external visitors pay R$70. Additional charges apply per 30 minutes exceeded.
7. Research and Conservation Fund: Part of ticket revenue is allocated directly to the aquarium's research center and conservation projects, including partnerships with universities, ICMBio, and the Brazilian Navy for marine species studies and habitat preservation.
8. Venue Rental and Private Events: The venue is made available for private events including corporate functions, birthday parties, and special nighttime experiences such as Candlelight concerts, generating additional revenue beyond standard admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

AquaRio operates the largest marine aquarium in South America, a 26,000 m² attraction in Rio de Janeiro's revitalized Port Zone featuring 4.5 million liters of seawater across 28+ enclosures housing approximately 10,000 animals from 350 species. The aquarium offers self-guided and educational visits, curriculum-aligned school programs, accessibility sessions for visitors with autism, and complementary attractions including a co-located wax museum, concert venue, and mirror installation.

Product overview

AquaRio is a marine aquarium and entertainment complex operating as a single unified attraction with multiple integrated experiences. The core product is the aquarium visit itself, featuring 28 enclosures across 26,000 m² housing 10,000 animals from 350 species. The offering extends through complementary modules including the Dreamland Wax Museum, Candlelight concert series, Mar de Espelhos mirror installation, and various seasonal events like Shark Week and mermaid shows. Educational programming through Escola AquaRio provides structured school visits with curriculum-aligned content. Ticketing options include standard admission, Annual Pass (Passaporte Anual) membership, and Combo Packages bundling AquaRio with partner attractions (BioParque do Rio, Paineiras/Cristo Redentor). The aquarium also hosts special accessibility programs like Sessão Azul for visitors with autism, and supports conservation research initiatives funded partially through visitor admissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AquaRio Marine Aquarium Visit
• Escola AquaRio (School Visit Program)
• Dreamland Wax Museum
• Candlelight Concerts
• Combo Tickets with Partner Attractions
• Passaporte Anual AquaRio (Annual Pass)
• Sessão Azul (Blue Session)
• Mergulho da Sereia (Mermaid Dive Show)
• AquaRio Merchandise Shop
• Aquário ao Vivo (Live Aquarium Stream)

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 100,000 students have participated in the school visit program since 2017.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rock in RiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2024Rock in Rio 2024 festival partnered with AquaRio to offer discounted combo tickets (34% off, from R$150 to R$99) to festival attendees, along with bundled packages including Cristo Redentor. The partnership aimed to maximize tourist experiences during the September 2024 festival.
• Candlelight by FeverminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 April 2024The Candlelight concert series (classical music performances by candlelight) held its first-ever Latin American aquarium event at AquaRio in May 2024, featuring ABBA and Coldplay/Imagine Dragons tributes. Tickets sold through candlelightexperience.com.
• Grupo CataratascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo Cataratas is the parent company and operating group behind AquaRio and other major Brazilian tourist attractions including Cataratas do Iguaçu, BioParque do Rio, Paineiras Corcovado, and others. As the parent entity, Grupo Cataratas provides centralized management, cross-promotional infrastructure, shared ticketing platforms, and operational synergies across its portfolio of attractions.
• ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Biodiversidade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal environmental agency responsible for administering protected areas in Brazil. ICMBio co-administers the Monumento Natural das Ilhas Cagarras (MoNa Cagarras), a Federal Protected Conservation Unit established in 2010, which is the subject of the 'Projeto Ilhas do Rio' research and education collaboration hosted at AquaRio. AquaRio also collaborates with ICMBio on broader marine conservation initiatives.
• Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia (INT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINT collaborated with the Ilhas do Rio Project to create a giant 3D scale model of the Cagarras Islands archipelago for the exclusive exhibition at AquaRio, showcasing marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the protected area.
• Museu Nacional (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Museum contributed animal specimens from the Cagarras archipelago collection to the Ilhas do Rio exhibition at AquaRio, presenting endemic and rare species for science education purposes.
• Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brazilian Navy collaborates with AquaRio on marine research and conservation studies. AquaRio conducts more than 30 research studies annually in partnership with universities and the Brazilian Navy, contributing to the understanding and protection of marine ecosystems.
• Universities and Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquaRio partners with Brazilian and international universities and research institutions for more than 30 annual scientific studies on marine biology, species reproduction, conservation, and oceanography. Part of all ticket revenue is directed to fund these research projects.
• AZAB (Associação de Zoológicos e Aquários do Brasil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Brazilian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. AquaRio holds the Padrinho (Godparent) certification from AZAB for the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum), contributing to conservation programs for this threatened species. AquaRio is also a member of AZAB.
• WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal professional association for zoos and aquariums. AquaRio became a member of WAZA in March 2020, aligning with international standards in animal welfare, conservation, and education.
• Projeto Uçá / Guardiões do Mar (ONG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Uçá, coordinated by NGO Guardiões do Mar and sponsored by Petrobras, partnered with AquaRio to host the 'Operação LIMPAOCA' exhibition — an interactive display on the ecological importance of mangroves for the marine environment and the Baía de Guanabara. The project champions solid waste collection through the 'Limpa Oca' initiative.
• SantanderminorOthersSantander is listed as a sponsor of AquaRio, providing financial support for the attraction's operations and programming.
• PetrobrasminorOthersPetrobras sponsored the Projeto Uçá / Operação LIMPAOCA exhibition hosted at AquaRio, which promoted awareness about mangrove conservation and Baía de Guanabara cleanup efforts.
• Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro (City Government of Rio de Janeiro)minorOthersThe City of Rio de Janeiro provides institutional support to AquaRio, reflecting the aquarium's role in the revitalization of the Port Zone and the city's tourism infrastructure.
• Instituto Conhecer para ConservarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituto Conhecer para Conservar collaborates with AquaRio and the Projeto Verde Mar on marine conservation initiatives aimed at keeping oceans clean and supporting sustainable practices.
• Projeto Verde MarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerde Mar Project partners with AquaRio and Instituto Conhecer para Conservar on joint environmental initiatives focused on ocean cleanliness and marine ecosystem preservation.
• Dreamland Museu de CeraminorOthersThe Dreamland Wax Museum, featuring more than 30 life-size wax figures of celebrities and historical figures, operates within the AquaRio facility, offering an additional attraction for visitors. Part of ticket sales supports ABBR charity.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aquarium of the Pacific: Public aquarium in Long Beach, California, with similar mission combining conservation, education, and tourism revenue. Comparable in scale and structure, with focus on regional marine ecosystems and school visit programs.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: California-based public aquarium renowned for research and conservation focus, including captive breeding of threatened species (sea otters, sharks). Directly comparable through its education-driven school visit program, sustainability certifications, and conservation-research orientation.
• Oceanogràfic (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias): Largest aquarium in Europe, located in Valencia, Spain. Comparable large-scale marine aquarium anchored in a multi-attraction cultural complex, combining entertainment, education, and species conservation — structurally similar to AquaRio's positioning within the Pier Mauá complex.
• Oceanário de Lisboa: Public oceanarium in Lisbon, Portugal, with a comparable scale (~8,000 animals/populations) and similar mission centered on conservation, education, and tourism. Closely comparable operating model as a single-site public aquarium with a central ocean tank, research partnerships, and sustainability programming.
• Georgia Aquarium: The largest aquarium in the United States, located in Atlanta. Comparable large-scale public marine aquarium model with mega-tank exhibits (including whale sharks), conservation research, and education programs. Closest direct peer in terms of scale and exhibit ambition.
• Shedd Aquarium: Major public aquarium in Chicago combining large-scale marine exhibits with animal care, conservation science, and K-12 education programs. Comparable mission, scale, and program structure to AquaRio, including WAZA-aligned animal welfare practices.

Broad incumbents

• Chimelong Ocean Kingdom: Massive marine theme park in Zhuhai, China, holding multiple Guinness records for aquarium scale. Comparable large-scale marine exhibit infrastructure, but operates as part of a broader entertainment group rather than as a standalone aquarium.

Others

• SEA LIFE (Merlin Entertainments):

Regional players

• Two Oceans Aquarium: Public aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa, with similar conservation and education focus, including species breeding programs and water-front tourism positioning. Comparable operating model in a different geography.
• uShaka Marine World: Large marine theme park and aquarium complex in Durban, South Africa. Comparable combined aquarium/entertainment model with co-located attractions, though serves a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vemproaquario
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCb3Cn1WtkrEl59S7-Nk_qyg
• Facebookfacebook.com/aquariomarinhodorio
• Instagraminstagram.com/aquariomarinhodorio/?hl=pt
• TikToktiktok.com/@aquariomarinhodorio?lang=pt-BR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquariomarinhodorio

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AquaRio