Some names are more than names. Poema del Mar — Poem of the Sea — is the name of an aquarium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, but it is also a declaration of intent: the ocean not as a spectacle, but as a transformative experience.
Opened in 2017 in Las Palmas harbour, the aquarium has become one of the leading marine spaces in the European Atlantic. Its scale, the quality of its installations and the scientific rigour with which it represents marine ecosystems place it among the most significant in the archipelago.
A name with literary roots
The name Poema del Mar has deep roots in Canarian culture. The sea has always been the axis of the archipelago's identity: source of life, route of communication, frontier and horizon. Canarian literature has returned again and again to the ocean as its central theme, from 19th-century poetry to contemporary novels.
Giving this name to an aquarium is not a marketing accident. It is a cultural statement: this is not just a place where fish are kept. It is a place where the sea becomes experience, wonder — something close to poetry.
The Atlantic surrounding the Canary Islands is one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. The confluence of cold northern currents and warm southern ones creates unique conditions for biodiversity. The aquarium was born precisely to show that singular ecosystem.
What to see during your visit
The route is organised around ecosystems represented with scientific rigour — from the volcanic Canarian seabed to the tropical reefs of the Indo-Pacific, each zone has its own visual identity and natural logic.
The underwater tunnel lets you observe them from below as they move overhead. One of the most striking moments of the entire visit.
Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are common in Canarian waters. The aquarium houses individuals in recovery and explains their life cycle.
The largest tank in the complex recreates a coral reef with hundreds of tropical fish species in a monumental space.
Moray eels, octopuses and the endemic species of the Canarian Atlantic have their own dedicated space in the route.
"The sea is not a backdrop. It is the main character." — Reflection on Canarian oceanic literature
How to get there and when to visit
The aquarium is located at Muelle Santa Catalina in Las Palmas harbour, a few minutes' walk from the city centre. Reachable by bus (guagua) from anywhere in Las Palmas.
Summer months see the highest visitor numbers. Book tickets online in advance and arrive early morning. Spring and autumn combine good weather with shorter queues and a more relaxed experience.
Interested in the culture of the sea in the Canary Islands? Each month we select the best books about the ocean and the islands.
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