Santa Cruz Fish Market
Santa Cruz Fish Market
Santa Cruz Fish Market
4.5
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Duration: < 1 hour
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.5
894 reviews
Excellent
541
Very good
262
Average
84
Poor
4
Terrible
3
Chemtrailer
Canada359 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
A fun free show of sea lions and pelicans trying to get free fish from the market. Hilarious to watch and it's in the town center. Good photo op.
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jess Summerfield
9 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
A great free thing to do in Santa Cruz. I went around ~9am, and when the fishermen bring their catch in, loads of birds (pelicans, frigates etc) and a sea lion or two will all come in looking for some fish to steal. Very funny! There are also loads of iguanas and crabs as you walk towards the market, it's a real wildlife haven.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SLIPAWY
Anchorage, AK8 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
Nice relaxed island with plenty to see and do. I stayed in Puerto Ayora and spent time visiting some of the local places, restaurants and beaches. Cool experience!
Written 2 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dianedinky
Dunfermline, UK791 contributions
May 2023
I'd heard about this market and was keen to see the action. I hadn't realised it was right in the town centre and virtually right next to my hotel (Solymar) as it looked further on Google Maps.
There is a sea lion that waits patiently to be fed any scraps - he never looks to go pinch anything. The birds on the otherhand...are right in there for any small scrap they can reach. Saw plenty of grey and also brown pelicans, frigate birds, lava gulls as well as marine iguanas. It's hard to time it right for photographs as you don't know when the workers may throw a piece so I took a few videos so I could capture a few minutes worth and then take stills from it later. There is a woman with a pole who 'encourages' the sea lion to leave and tries to disperse the birds but she had a losing battle. In fact, I watched the sea lion be chased and run off back into the water...only for it to reappear at the opposite end and sneak back in 5 minutes later! Priceless.
The action can get quite frenzied mind with birds flying all around you so not for the Tippi Hedrens of this world. Seeing the iguanas chop on fish inners is also not for the faint hearted!
Oh and if you walk down the little passage just past the market you can see all the colourful crabs at the shoreline.
Not sure if there is a set routine for when the fish is prepared but I was there around 4.15pm one day and 8am the next and caught most of the action each time.
There is a sea lion that waits patiently to be fed any scraps - he never looks to go pinch anything. The birds on the otherhand...are right in there for any small scrap they can reach. Saw plenty of grey and also brown pelicans, frigate birds, lava gulls as well as marine iguanas. It's hard to time it right for photographs as you don't know when the workers may throw a piece so I took a few videos so I could capture a few minutes worth and then take stills from it later. There is a woman with a pole who 'encourages' the sea lion to leave and tries to disperse the birds but she had a losing battle. In fact, I watched the sea lion be chased and run off back into the water...only for it to reappear at the opposite end and sneak back in 5 minutes later! Priceless.
The action can get quite frenzied mind with birds flying all around you so not for the Tippi Hedrens of this world. Seeing the iguanas chop on fish inners is also not for the faint hearted!
Oh and if you walk down the little passage just past the market you can see all the colourful crabs at the shoreline.
Not sure if there is a set routine for when the fish is prepared but I was there around 4.15pm one day and 8am the next and caught most of the action each time.
Written 20 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fionajl
Paignton, UK75 contributions
Feb 2023
we didn't buy any fish ourselves but just to see all the different birds and animals waiting for the scraps was tremendous
Written 6 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe C
4 contributions
Feb 2023
I sat down and saw birds steal fish parts. It was awesome.
Afterwards, I bought one of the scorpion fish, took it to a restaurant and had the restaurant cook it for me. Delicious!
Afterwards, I bought one of the scorpion fish, took it to a restaurant and had the restaurant cook it for me. Delicious!
Written 2 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LindaandRon
London119 contributions
Feb 2023
This market is so much fun to visit and see the sealions and pelicans who just hang around waiting for titbits.
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra O'Connor
17 contributions
Jan 2023
This is not a large area but there are several vantage points to watch the fishermen return with their catch and the pelicans and sea lions compete to scraps!
Written 2 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olivier M
Puyo, Ecuador169 contributions
Dec 2022
A great place to watch sea-lions, pelicans and other see birds fighting for a peace of fish. You can get unforgettable pictures there.
Written 1 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
koala602
London, UK68 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Great spot to see all the animals and watch them jockey for position to get any scraps - or find an unsuspecting fisherman!
Written 25 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I am planning to visit fish market during February. I was wondering when the market is closed . Probably we will go there on Saturday , so I hope it opens on the day
Sunsequitur
Ottawa, Canada746 contributions
Usually open every day. Go in the morning 8 AM. Often by lunch (12-1 PM) they are done for the day.
cindybes
tillsonburg19 contributions
Sorry I posted my question in the wrong place. I read that someone bought a lobster at the fish market and brought it across the street to a restaurant to be cooked. Can anyone tell me the name of that restaurant or will any restaurant cook fish/ lobster if u bring your own?
Alice W
Rough and Ready, CA146 contributions
La Garrapata restaurant cooked it for us, but our tour guide made the arrangements. Could ask the restaurant, maybe.
BORSBEEKREIZEN
Borsbeek, Belgium2,141 contributions
Welke dag is de vismarkt en omhoe laat moet je daar dan zijn. What day and what time you have to be there for the fishmarket
Catherine P
Brasilia, DF195 contributions
Anyday, most of all early in the morning, but also late afternoon.
Kaleb G
Southwest Oklahoma
What is the best time to go there in the morning?
GetLostAndBefound
New York City, NY88 contributions
Midday to late afternoon seemed to be when it was busiest, and when the sea lions came to play!
937mathi
Quito, Ecuador
Buenas tardes con mi familia vamos a estar es Santa Cruz lunes sera que el Mercado esta abierto ese día? y de pronto me recomienda alguna otra actividad voy con mis hijos son pequeños de 6 y 3 años Muchas gracias por su atención.
Lisa G
Yorkshire32 contributions
What is the address of the fish market in Puerto Ayora? What street is it on? Can sometime tell me what is the closest hotel so I can try to find it on a map?
Bruna A
5 contributions
Hi Lisa,
You can find the Fishing piers on the google maps: "Muelle del pescador, Avenue Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Equador". Its between Calle n° 61 and Charles Binford, in front of some The Volcano restaurant and the Pacific Bank.
I holp I helped you.
anamadrina
bs.as.429 contributions
Cuál es el mejor horario para llegar y poder ver todo el movimiento ,y para cenar?
Gracias!!!
Guillermo M
Buenos Aires, Argentina78 contributions
Nosotros pasamos a las 15 hs y estaban desembarcando pescado y clasificándolo con los inspectores oficiales. Volvimos a las 18.30/19 hs y ya se podía comer en las mesas que están al otro lado de donde se vende. En ese momento estaba muy activo de ambos lados, tal vez varíe según la temporada, no lo se, el día que estuvimos fue un placer: había langostas y pescados, todo muy elemental, como puede esperarse de una banquina de pescadores con toda la familia haciendo su parte, bien limpio y cuidado.
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Claim your listingSANTA CRUZ FISH MARKET: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Cruz Fish Market
- Hotels near Santa Cruz Fish Market:
- (0.03 mi) La Isla Hotel Galapagos
- (0.07 mi) Hotel Cucuve Galapagos
- (0.09 mi) La K-leta de Dona Yoly Guest House
- (0.12 mi) Hotel Galapagos Suites
- (0.08 mi) Hotel Solymar
- Restaurants near Santa Cruz Fish Market:
- (0.01 mi) Burger House Gps
- (0.01 mi) Burger House GPS
- (0.01 mi) Andrea & Valerio
- (0.01 mi) Burger House Galapagos
- (0.02 mi) Santa Cruz Brewery