Sea Life Aquarium - Benalmadena Marina

Benalmádena's Sea Life Centre is the first walk-through underwater park on the Costa del Sol, which takes you on an amazing stroll along the seabed. You pass aquatic species from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Red Sea. It is a fascinating voyage of discovery for the whole family. From starfish to stingrays and sharks, and many more exotic species, you can study this fascinating marine life close up. With over 30 tanks in nine different rooms, you see creatures living in a reproduced natural habitat, from above, below and alongside. The journey is unforgettable, especially the turtles, sharks and moray eels, as well as colourful tropical fish and seahorses. There are also crabs, jellyfish and octopuses, and much more.

Sick and injured sea creatures are nursed back to health here and a new exhibition features marine lifeforms dangerous to humans in their undersea habitats.

There are also feeding demonstrations, special presentations and other themed attractions, as well as a terrace bar with excellent views of the port. A recent addition is a mini golf course where the obstacles are models of seahorses and sharks.

The centre has baby changing facilities and toilets for the disabled. Open all year from 10am. Adults: 9.5 Euros Children: 7 Euros Children under 4 - free. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information Tel: 952 560 150

Sea Life

Puerto Deportivo, Puerto Banús

Located next to the 'Torre' on the large western quay. Open daily.

Marine Science Centre

The Marine Science Centre, or the ‘Aula del Mar’, is situated in Málaga at the main port on the Avenida Manuel Agustin Heredia. The centre is effectively an aquarium museum that works actively in the conservation and protection of marine life. It is divided into two parts: firstly the aquarium, which is a reproduction of the natural habitat of over 500 marine animals, divided into some 100 species which visitors can observe. The second part is the museum, showing the huge diversity of different types of flora and fauna marine life of the Málaga coastline.

The centre offers three different programmes of activities. The first is an audiovisual presentation on all types of marine life around Málaga and a guided tour of the museum, the aquarium and the turtle sanctuary, and lasts for approximately one and a half hours. The second programme offers the same as the first but with an added tour of the bay of Málaga in a boat for fish spotting. The full programme lasts roughly five hours. The final programme again offers the same as the first but includes the opportunity to observe various experiments in an oceanography laboratory and to feed and care for the turtles in the turtle sanctuary. It lasts around four hours.

The centre is open Oct -Mar every day from 10am - 2pm, Apr- Sept from 10am-2pm and then from 5-8pm, and Jul-Aug from 11am-2pm and then 6-10pm. The admission price for adults is 4 euros and for children and pensioners 3 euros (2003).

Conservation and protection

The Marine Science Centre works closely alongside an organization known as CREMA, a rehabilitation centre for endangered species along the coastlines of Málaga. Frequently many marine animals are found injured or dying on the beaches that do not receive adequate attention. For example, more than 25,000 marine turtles are accidentally captured every year in the Mediterranean in fishing nets. Many are returned to the sea by the fishermen but the majority are already severely injured by the fishing equipment and die without medical attention. CREMA is an organization that aims to help these animals and return as many of the recuperated as possible to the sea. It also promotes the education of the marine environment and the activities offered by the centre. There are two groups which have different functions within the organization: the first deals with all types of experiments and records data to develop marine understanding and advance research to improve care for the rescued animals. The second group is responsible for their treatment, care and recuperation.

Selwo Marina

Selwo Marina is one of Spain's newest themed attractions and is devoted to many exotic creatures. This new concept in family entertainment brings sea life and birds of South America together. It is a complement to the successful Selwo Adventure wildlife park in Estepona and a visit to Selwo Marina helps you understand the ecosystems of South America. Visit the Dolphinarium and see the dolphins and sea lions. At the Papagayo Club you can see a large variety of exotic birds in flight and watch demonstrations about their way of life. One of the highlights of Selwo Marina is Ice Island, where you can see the resident penguins. In this specially cooled environment, the animals live in similar conditions to those in Antarctica.

Adults: 12.90 Euros
Children and Senior Citizens: 8.90 Euros
Special rates for schools and groups
Phone: 902 190 482
Open from 10am-8pm in summer (until Jan 1-Jun 4);
Closed Mon Nov-Jan.

Centre of Investigation of Nature ‘Man and the Salt Marshes’

(Centro de Interpretación de la Naturaleza “El Hombre y la Marisma’)

In the natural landscape of the Isla Cristina salt marshes in, one of the many water mills to be found on this Huelva coastline has been restored and is now home to the Centro de Interpretación de la Naturaleza “El Hombre y la Marisma’ (Centre for Natural Investigation ‘Man and the salt marshes’). As well as the ethnographic interest in the mill itself, on the inside there is a fascinating exhibition dealing with life around salt marshes. Amongst the many themes dealt with are birdlife, fishing and shell fishing, water mills, salt works and environmental problems.

To visit the centre, prior contact must be made to the offices of the Mancomunidad de Islantilla (Islantilla Community Authority):

Postal Address:

Mancomunidad de Islantilla
Avda. Islantilla, s/n
Apdo. Correos 151
21410 Isla Cristina (Huelva)

Tel.: 959.486319/486125
Fax: 959.486027

MARINE WORLD MUSEUM – MATALASCAÑAS

(Museao del Mundo Marino de Matalascañas)

El Museo del Mundo Marino (Marine World Museum) at Matalascañas on the stunning Huelva coastline is situated in the heart of Parque Dunar (Sand Dune Park) in an incredible landscape dominated by sand dunes and pine groves. The museum building is emblematic of the Park and inside you can see a model on display of the plans afoot for the not-too-distant future projects afoot in Parque Dunar. More>

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