Whale Museum

South Coast


Run by the passionate Ben Hasse, a pioneer of whale-watching in the area, this small and informative whale museum has several whale skeletons, including one fully assembled 11m humpback frame. Other interesting specimens include dolphin fetuses, sea lion samples and squid jaws. Look out for the 80-year-old beaked whale skull.

Hasse is very knowledgeable and can talk for hours about sea birds and mammals; he claims Salinas is the best whale-watching spot in Ecuador and can recommend some great ways to marvel at the majestic beasts in migrating season. The Oystercatcher Bar is a restaurant above the museum (note: there is no booze served, despite being named a bar).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby South Coast attractions

1. San Lorenzo Beach

0.85 MILES

Salinas' main, and most crowded, beach sits on the malecón opposite dozens of restaurants and hotels. It has volleyball courts, a pier (from which you can…

2. Chipipe Beach

1.31 MILES

To the west of San Lorenzo Beach is Chipipe – equally well maintained, but with a fraction of its neighbor's crowds. If you're looking for a quieter beach…

3. La Chocolatera

3.58 MILES

The westernmost point of Ecuador has three main attractions:La Fae Beach, with a boarded walkway where you can watch a seal colony;El Morro (or little…

4. Los Amantes de Sumpa

6.78 MILES

Located a couple of blocks from the main road, on the west side of Santa Elena, this museum sits on an ancient cemetery of the indigenous Sumpa people…

5. Acuario Valdivia

25.77 MILES

Acuario Valdivia is an animal rescue center where you can get an up-close look at some of the marine life of Ecuador (sea turtles, penguins, blue footed…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "ecuador/salinas-1317899/attractions/whale-museum/a/poi-sig/1169202/1317899",
      "destination": "South-Coast",
      "continent": "South-America",
      "country": "Ecuador",
      "region": "South-Coast",
      "position": "superzone"
    }