The water in the pools is continuously renewed by the tides of the Cantabrian Sea.
The park was designed to take advantage of the natural coastal indentations and rocky formations of the peninsula.
The facility is home to a colony of Humboldt penguins, a species native to the Humboldt Current in South America.
The harbor seals and sea lions residing here are often subjects of regional marine biology observation.
It is one of the few urban marine parks in Europe that uses direct, untreated seawater for its enclosures.
The Parque Marino de la Magdalena is an open-air marine enclosure integrated directly into the rocky coastline of the Magdalena Peninsula in Santander. It is uniquely supplied by seawater pumped directly from the Cantabrian Sea, allowing for a natural tidal flow within the pools. The facility houses local marine fauna, primarily harbor seals, California sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. Built into the natural topography, the enclosure utilizes the existing rock formations to create a semi-wild environment for the animals. It serves as an educational observation point rather than a traditional high-intensity zoo. The site remains a core component of the wider Magdalena Peninsula parkland. Access is integrated into the walking paths surrounding the Royal Palace of Magdalena.
The upper observation deck overlooking the pools with the Cantabrian Sea in the background.
Visit during feeding times to see the animals most active.
Wear comfortable, non-slip walking shoes as the coastal paths around the park can be uneven.
Combine this visit with a walk around the adjacent Royal Palace of Magdalena.
Expecting a large-scale aquarium or complex infrastructure; this is a small, specialized outdoor exhibit.
Open daily, but may have limited operation during extreme weather events common on the northern Spanish coast.
Do not feed the animals or throw objects into the pools; maintain quiet near the enclosures to avoid stressing the marine life.
