Museo de las Ballenas, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador

4.5 (52 reviews) Spent Ranking #6 in Salinas Speciality Museums

Unbelievable insights into the world of whales

We found this place by accident. We were a bit bored by Salinas as a whole and were looking for a cafe, away from the main seaside road. As it often is the case when you are traveling, unplanned and unforseen meetings are those that provide the best surprises. As we walked past the board indicating the location of the museum, we thought of visiting it. This is located at the rear of a restaurant, called the Oystercatcher, and on the top floor of the same building. We met Ben Haase, who is both the guide, the owner, and the curator of this impressive collection. He is incredibly competent, and will no doubt make you passionate about whales, but more broadly about the marvels of the sea. We had a great time and found Ben's explanations and tips particularly useful also for our subsequent trip to Galapagos. Do try the restaurant too, which was much better than most places on the sea front.

Address

Av. General Enriquez Gallo, entre calles 47 y 50 1109#, Salinas 241550 Ecuador

Mobile

+593 4-312-7013

Website

http://www.museodeballenas.org/

Current local date and time now

Monday, May 13, 2024, 6:35

User Ratings

4.5 based on (52 reviews)

Excellent
69%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
6%

Reviews

  • 5Nicky M 5:00 PM Jan 31, 2017
    Wonderful surprise, fantastic guide.
    Visiting this small private museum requires an advance appointment call, so I almost missed going. I'm glad I took the time to call! Housed in an unassuming building with a small restaurant in front, the best thing about this collection is the passion and knowledge of Ben Haase the proprietor. I learned several new things, and his love for the whales is clear.
  • 5Lili Tayri R 5:00 PM Jul 2, 2016
    AMAZING CULTURE
    The Salinas Whale Museum is a private collection of specimens of marine mammals that is open to the public since June 2004 in the city of Salinas, Santa Elena Province. Its creation is due to the initiative by Ben Haase and Fernando Felix, researchers have collected for more than two decades with members of the Ecuadorian Foundation for the Study of Marine Mammals (FEMM) and other volunteers, remains of marine mammals stranded on the coast of Ecuador, particularly in the provinces of Santa Elena, Guayas and Manabi. The Whale Museum has been a valuable educational tool and a platform for research on biology and ecology of different species of marine mammals, knowledge has resulted in a significant amount of scientific and technical publications.

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