Aquarium Baconao is located 28 km from the Siboney turn-off along the Carretera de Baconao (about 9 km far from Verraco).

Tuesday - Sunday 09:40 - 16:00;dolphin shows 10:30 and 15:00; swimming with dolphins: negotiable

Aquarium Baconao offers attractive options with its impressive construction, but the show with trained animals, is the most striking one. It is also a place where our dreams, to swim with dolphins, come true.

The aquarium consists of an underwater tunnel, two cafeterias, and a dolphinarium.

The underwater tunnel that is built 30 m deep in the sea, allows visitors to observe the common marine specimens of the Caribbean area in their own original environment, such as sharks, moray eels and manta rays. The tranquility of the tunnel and the colorful world of the underwater are highly impressive. However, it is difficult to say that the underwater tunnel, whose glass cleaning is not done well enough, clearly shows the interesting details of the underwater world.

In the depth of the sea the visitors complete their tour by visiting the fish tanks, where you can contemplate a great variety of aquatic species, both from the sea (Nassau grouper, rock hind, Coney grouper, graysby, green moray, squirrel fish, reef squirrel fish, longspine squirrel fish, blackbar soldierfish, striped parrotfish, princess parrotfish, sand tilefish, checkered puffer, Spanish slipper lobster, spotted spiny lobster, Caribbean spiny lobster, tropical spiny lobster, Christmas tree worm) and the fresh water (green swordtail, European carp). It is also possible to watch some fishes unique to Cuba, such as Cuban cichlid, Cuban gambusia, herichthys ramsdeni (scientific name).

The fish tank rooms have an original construction design. Another attraction of the place is the shark tank, where you can walk beneath it and closely observe the superb animal.

The reef in the oceanic pond shows varied species of bright colors.

In the dolphinarium you will watch a pair of dolphins perform acrobatics with hoops and balls under the guidance of their trainers. These animals that are the most intelligent one on the world, greet the audience and dance. The smallest member of the family takes a walk in the oceanic pond. With proper motivation, these dolphins can jump up to a ball 8-10 meters above the water surface in the show pool. A sea lion is verry successful in the interaction with the audience; it makes funny jokes that cause the laughter of the children and the adults. These shows are twice a day. If you pay extra money, you will have the chance to swim with the dolphins.

In the exhibition hall you’ll learn more about the marine life and the historic underwater heritage of the area by following the photos and the objects.

In Cafeteria Las Brisas (Breezes) you can taste the dishes made from fish and seafood and in Cafeteria Marejadas (Waves) you can sup the unique coffee of Santiago de Cuba. There is also a gift sales office.

In 2012 the hurricane Sandy damaged the hydraulic system that led to the death of most of the marine collection. Even though it may take a long time for the aquarium to fully recover, it has already replenished many species of the sea world, including the dolphins.