Timeline
15:00
Grab a coffee to go. Java Joe's opens at 06:30, so you can start early and beat the heat.
15:48
Walk to the ABQ BioPark Zoo. The animals are active in the morning, and you have time to see the seals and polar bears before the crowds arrive.
16:40
Stroll through the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden. The high desert plants look striking in the late afternoon light.
17:13
Find a quiet spot near the zoo perimeter facing west. The sun sets toward the WSW, casting long shadows across the exhibits.
18:03
Head to El Paisa Taqueria for dinner. It is open until 22:00, giving you plenty of time to enjoy a meal after the sun goes down.
Local tip
The zoo closes at 5PM. On January 15th, sunset is at 17:18. Plan to finish your zoo visit and head to the Botanic Garden before closing, or ensure you are in a viewing area that remains accessible after dark for the sunset.
Check before you go
- ABQ BioPark Zoo hours are 9AM–5PM daily. If you arrive late for the sunset, you may not be able to enter the zoo itself, but the surrounding grounds and Botanic Garden may still be accessible. Check the zoo website for specific holiday closures.
- Java Joe's closes at 15:30. If you are following this plan for a sunset on January 15th (17:18), Java Joe's will be closed. You might want to swap the coffee stop for a drink at The Taproom at Old Town (open until 19:00 on Sundays, 22:00 on other days) or bring your own coffee from a shop open later.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Albuquerque (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).