Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Shark Reef Aquarium tickets from $25.48 — 10% discount applied at checkout!
Vegas4Locals.com partners with trusted ticket providers to bring you the best available prices.
Walk through a Shipwreck Surrounded by Sharks
Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is an immersive, predator-focused aquarium with more than 2,000 animals living throughout 1.6 million gallons of water.
The self-guided route moves through tropical environments, reptile habitats, touch pools, underwater viewing areas, and a shipwreck exhibit surrounded by sharks, rays, fish, and rescued endangered green sea turtles.
Visitors can see up to 15 species of sharks, along with piranhas, jellyfish, crocodiles, a Komodo dragon, freshwater fish, marine invertebrates, and other animals from aquatic and tropical environments.
This family-friendly indoor experience is suited to children, couples, animal lovers, photographers, Mandalay Bay guests, and visitors comparing educational exhibits with other Las Vegas tours and attractions.
Quick Facts about Shark Reef Aquarium
- Adult Price: Tickets start at $25.48 with the Vegas4Locals checkout discount.
- Child Price: Tickets for children ages 5–12 start at $22.48 with the Vegas4Locals checkout discount.
- Ages 4 and Younger: Aquarium admission is free.
- Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
- Address: 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89119.
- Hours: Open daily from 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Last Admission: 7:00 p.m.
- Box Office: Open daily from 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
- Entry Format: Timed aquarium admission.
- Animal Collection: More than 2,000 animals.
- Water Volume: Approximately 1.6 million gallons.
- Shark Collection: Up to 15 shark species.
- Largest Exhibit: A 1.3-million-gallon shipwreck habitat.
- Experience Style: Self-guided indoor aquarium walkthrough.
- Recommended Time: Allow at least 30 minutes; families and detailed visitors may spend longer.
- Age Supervision: Children ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult.
- Accessibility: The current ticket listing identifies the attraction as wheelchair accessible.
- Parking: Mandalay Bay has paid self-parking and valet parking. Review the Las Vegas parking fees guide before visiting.
- Best For: Families, children, couples, aquarium fans, animal lovers, and weather-friendly Strip plans.
Reserve a preferred timed-entry window before busy weekends and holidays.
Animals and Exhibits at Shark Reef Aquarium
The animal lineup may change as individuals move between habitats, receive veterinary care, or participate in conservation and breeding programs.
Sharks
See multiple shark species that may include sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, nurse sharks, reef sharks, and other marine predators.
Endangered Green Sea Turtles
The large shipwreck habitat provides a permanent home for rescued green sea turtles that cannot safely be returned to the wild.
Rays and Tropical Fish
Watch rays glide through the water alongside schools of colorful fish and other species sharing the aquarium’s large marine habitats.
Touch Pool
The supervised touch pool may feature stingrays, smaller sharks, horseshoe crabs, or other rotating animals. Follow staff instructions and use a gentle touch.
Crocodiles and Reptiles
The aquarium’s land and freshwater areas may include crocodiles, a Komodo dragon, snakes, lizards, and other reptiles.
Piranhas and Freshwater Species
Freshwater exhibits introduce visitors to piranhas and other species adapted to rivers, wetlands, and tropical ecosystems.
Jellyfish and Invertebrates
Smaller displays highlight jellyfish, horseshoe crabs, and other animals whose unusual movement and anatomy contrast with the larger predators.
What to Expect during the Aquarium Walkthrough
- Present the Timed Ticket: Show the mobile ticket at the aquarium entrance during the selected admission window.
- Enter the Tropical Galleries: Begin among freshwater environments, reptiles, and predator exhibits.
- Explore at Your Own Pace: Read educational signs, watch animal behavior, and move through the exhibits independently.
- Visit the Touch Pool: Interact with available animals under staff supervision.
- Enter the Shipwreck: Walk through immersive passageways designed to resemble a vessel lost beneath the water.
- See the Main Habitat: Watch sharks, rays, sea turtles, and fish through large viewing windows.
- Walk through the Tunnel: See marine animals swimming beside and above the glass walkway.
- Exit through the Retail Area: Browse marine-themed merchandise after completing the aquarium route.
Shipwreck Environment
The aquarium’s visual design gradually transforms from tropical ruins into an underwater shipwreck surrounded by marine predators.
Underwater Viewing Tunnel
The transparent tunnel provides close views of sharks, rays, fish, and sea turtles moving around and above visitors.
Educational Interpretation
Signs and displays introduce animal behavior, anatomy, habitats, conservation challenges, and the aquarium’s care programs.
Indoor Family Activity
The climate-controlled attraction works well during extreme heat, wind, rain, or other weather that makes outdoor sightseeing uncomfortable.
What Is Included with the Vegas4Locals Ticket?
- Aquarium Admission: Entry to the public Shark Reef Aquarium exhibits.
- Timed Entry: Admission during the time range shown on the selected ticket.
- Taxes and Fees: Included according to the current ticket listing.
- Mobile Ticket: Present the ticket confirmation at the aquarium entrance.
Not automatically included: Parking, valet service, guided tours, animal-feeding programs, souvenir photographs, merchandise, food, premium encounters, and other upgrades unless they are specifically listed with the selected ticket.
The Undersea Explorer virtual-reality experience is included with selected Mandalay Bay ticket packages, but it is not currently listed as included with the standard affiliate ticket. Review the checkout description carefully before purchasing.
Confirm the final ticket inclusions and admission window during checkout.
Plan Your Shark Reef Aquarium Visit
- Select a Date: Choose the correct day and available admission period.
- Reserve Ahead: Timed-entry windows can sell out during weekends, holidays, school breaks, and conventions.
- Check the Discount: Confirm that the Vegas4Locals price and checkout discount appear before completing payment.
- Bring the Mobile Ticket: Keep the QR code and confirmation email available at the entrance.
- Allow Resort Walking Time: Shark Reef is near the Mandalay Bay Convention Center rather than the main casino entrance.
- Arrive within the Window: Follow the entry time printed on the ticket.
- Allow at Least 30 Minutes: Families, photographers, and guests who read every display may need substantially longer.
- Supervise Children: Children ages 12 and younger must remain with a paid adult.
- Bring a Stroller Only When Needed: Crowded galleries and the tunnel can be easier to navigate with minimal equipment.
- Use the Restroom First: Visit resort facilities before entering the self-guided route.
- Keep Food and Drinks Put Away: Follow all aquarium rules around animal habitats.
- Review Accessibility: Contact the aquarium before visiting when a particular route, device, or accommodation is essential.
- Review Ticket Terms: The current affiliate ticket is listed as nonrefundable and not eligible for rescheduling.
Reserve before arriving to secure a convenient aquarium entry time.
Guided Tours and Animal Encounters
Mandalay Bay offers optional premium experiences separately from standard aquarium admission. Availability, times, age requirements, and prices can change.
Aquarium Guided Tour
A Shark Reef educator leads a 45-minute interpretive tour. The current schedule lists Monday–Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday departures at 1:00, 2:00, or 3:00 p.m. Children must be at least 5 years old.
Stingray Feeding
Participants help feed stingrays and horseshoe crabs under staff supervision. Guests must be at least 5 years old, and minors require a paying adult.
Shark Feeding
Guests can observe and participate in an educational shark-feeding program. Participants must be at least 13 years old, with minors accompanied by a paying adult.
Sea Turtle Feeding
The sea-turtle encounter provides access above the main shipwreck habitat. Participants must be at least 13 years old, and minors require a paying adult.
Undersea Explorer Virtual Reality
Selected packages include a motion-platform virtual-reality theater featuring underwater journeys with whales or sharks. Confirm whether VR is included with the specific ticket being purchased.
Location, Parking, and Resort Directions
Shark Reef Aquarium is located inside Mandalay Bay near the Convention Center and food-court area on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.
- Resort: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
- Address: 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89119.
- Resort Area: Near the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
- From Self-Parking: Follow the interior pathway toward the restaurants and Convention Center, then continue toward the food court and Shark Reef signs.
- From the Front Desk: Walk past the hotel elevators, continue through restaurant row toward the Convention Center, and follow signs near the food court.
- Parking: Mandalay Bay has paid self-parking and valet parking. Review the Las Vegas parking fees guide before visiting.
- Rideshare: Use the resort’s designated pickup and drop-off areas and allow sufficient time to walk through the property.
Guests using Uber, Lyft, or another app-based service can review the Las Vegas ride-share guide.
Tips for a Better Shark Reef Visit
- Visit outside peak family hours: Later afternoon and early evening can be less crowded than midmorning and lunchtime.
- Turn off the camera flash: Flash creates reflections on aquarium glass and can interfere with other visitors.
- Stand slightly sideways to the glass: This can reduce reflections in shark-tunnel photographs.
- Let children approach slowly: The dark shipwreck spaces and large sharks may initially feel intense to younger visitors.
- Read the animal signs: The exhibit contains conservation stories and details that are easy to miss during a fast walkthrough.
- Pause at the main habitat: Staying in one place often reveals more animal activity than continually moving.
- Follow touch-pool instructions: Use the approved touch method and never chase, grab, or lift an animal.
- Ask about daily programming: Feeding sessions and educator appearances may vary.
- Bring minimal belongings: Smaller bags are easier to manage in busy galleries and narrow viewing areas.
- Pair it with south-Strip plans: The aquarium works well before dining, a Mandalay Bay show, or another nearby attraction.
- Keep the ticket confirmation: The affiliate ticket is nonrefundable and cannot currently be rescheduled.
Video Preview of Shark Reef Aquarium Las Vegas
Shark Reef Aquarium Las Vegas FAQ
Q: Does the Vegas4Locals ticket include virtual reality?
A: The current affiliate ticket publicly lists aquarium admission, taxes, and fees. Mandalay Bay includes virtual reality with selected packages, so confirm the final inclusions during checkout.
Q: How long should visitors allow for Shark Reef Aquarium?
A: Allow at least 30 minutes. Families, photographers, and guests who read the educational displays may spend an hour or longer.
Q: Are children 4 and younger free?
A: Yes. Mandalay Bay currently provides free aquarium admission for children ages 4 and younger.
Q: What animals can visitors see?
A: The collection includes sharks, rays, endangered green sea turtles, tropical fish, piranhas, jellyfish, crocodiles, a Komodo dragon, horseshoe crabs, and other species.
Q: Can visitors touch the animals?
A: The supervised touch pool may offer contact with stingrays, smaller sharks, horseshoe crabs, or other rotating animals. Follow all staff instructions.
Q: Is Shark Reef Aquarium wheelchair accessible?
A: The current ticket listing identifies the aquarium as wheelchair accessible. Contact the attraction in advance when a specific accommodation is required.
Q: What time is the final aquarium admission?
A: Shark Reef Aquarium closes at 8:00 p.m., and the current final admission time is 7:00 p.m.
Walk beneath sharks and discover more than 2,000 animals at Mandalay Bay.
