Timeline
09:00
Start your walk at Valle del Bosque Park. The park offers direct access to the Rio Grande Bosque, a cottonwood forest that is home to much wildlife. It is a pleasant, open space with playgrounds and baseball diamonds, but the main draw is the natural riverfront path. Arriving at 09:00 ensures you catch the morning light before the heat builds up.
09:45
Walk from the park to the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, which is next door to the Aquarium. This expansive garden is an oasis with a variety of gardens to explore, with an emphasis on high desert plants. It is one of Albuquerque's real gems and offers a quiet, curated environment to stroll through.
10:45
Head to Church Street Cafe for lunch. This cozy little restaurant serves good New Mexican food and is tucked away down a side alley of Old Town. It is a great spot to rest and refuel after your walk.
11:30
End your afternoon at the ABQ BioPark Zoo. It may not be as big as your average big city zoo, but this zoo is surprisingly comprehensive for its size, with most of the popular species you can expect to find at any good zoo. The walk from Old Town to the Zoo is short, making it a convenient final stop.
Local tip
The Botanic Garden and Aquarium are adjacent, so you can combine them easily. Church Street Cafe is in Old Town, which is near the Aquarium/Zoo complex, making the transition smooth.
Check before you go
- Church Street Cafe is open Mo-We and Su 08:00-16:00, and Th-Sa 08:00-20:00. Plan your lunch accordingly.
- The Botanic Garden is open daily, but check specific hours if visiting late afternoon.
- The Zoo is open daily, but hours vary by season.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Albuquerque (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).