Caribbean Journey has been the Aquarium’s vision for over a quarter-century, and was being planned by the founders even before the Aquarium first opened in 1990. In 2012, the Aquarium’s Board of Trustees launched a capital campaign to raise the funds needed to finally make Caribbean Journey a reality. Now, construction on the 71,000-square foot building is in its final phases, and the long-anticipated opening is just around the corner.
When completed, Caribbean Journey will guide Aquarium guests on an epic adventure throughout the East Yucatan region of Mexico, and on into the Caribbean Sea. Guests will trek through exhibits depicting a coastal forest and Mayan Ruins to encounter flamingos, crocodiles, bats, birds, and more. They’ll then dive deep into the Caribbean Sea to find themselves among coral reef fish, stingrays, and sharks. A highlight attraction will be the H-E-B Caribbean Shark exhibit, which will lead guests past an ancient shipwreck and through a clear acrylic tunnel, where they’ll be surrounded by sandbar and nurse sharks. A 4D Theater with unique special effects will add another layer of fun.
If that all sounds exciting, then you’re not alone. The Caribbean Journey is expected to be immensely popular when it opens, attracting guests from far and wide. The Aquarium has historically been a huge draw for Texans, pulling in more than 50% percent of its guests from the San Antonio, Dallas, Austin and Houston metro areas, but only about 15 percent of guests are from outside the Lone Star State. Caribbean Journey will more than double the indoor exhibit space of the Aquarium, vaulting it from a leading regional aquarium into one of the largest in the nation and a must-see attraction for both locals and tourists from around the nation.
