Morning Fish Market
Morning Fish Market
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
41 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
13
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Jean L
Tucson, AZ121 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
Puerto Lopez is a perfect little fishing village with lots of character, which is most evident in the early morning (between 6 and 7am) Fish Market. We spent 4 days in Puerto Lopez and every hour of every day we could see lots of activity in the harbor - big boats, little boats, coming into port, going out to sea - non-stop activity. Most of the boats were Panga style boats, with 3-4 guys to handle the vessel and the catch. There were also a few larger boats that looked like shrimp boats that stayed out at sea longer. It all comes together in the early morning when a hundred or more boats come close to shore and unload their catch - bonito, wahoo, sharks, red snapper, squid, corvina, marlin, a moray eel, as well as many smaller fish we couldn't identify. The fishermen carry crates of fish from the boats to the shore, with hungry pelicans and frigate birds swooping down to grab something- some of the fishermen have a companion running alongside waving a stick to keep the birds from scoring a fish. Right there on the shore large amounts of money change hands as wholesalers buy up fish and load it onto waiting refrigerated trucks, other fish goes to the local market and restaurants. Some of the seafood is cooked up by the fishermen's wives at the little shacks lining the shore - we had a plate of rice cooked with squid and a platter of fresh fried fish (corvina I think), shrimp (head and tails on) and squid, with salad and fried plantain patacones, washed down with 2 Pilsener beers, for $13 - what a feast!! The lady who cooked our meal was named "Soledad", I believe.
Written July 1, 2015
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.
Alie
Puerto Lopez, Ecuador261 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
The fishmarket on the beach is a must see when you are visiting the coastal fishing village of Puerto Lopez. Go early in the morning, get yourself a cup of instant coffee and a Bolon de Verde, sit down and just watch! You'll see how the small, colorfull boats will enter the shore, how the fish will be brought on the beach by hand. While the men are running with the fish to sell it, the big birds are trying to get their free catch! Watch how the biggest fish are being weighed, how they hassle about the price and how big pieces of ice will be brought by trucks to keep the fish fresh. You can also buy your own fresh fish and let it be cleaned by one of the ladys on the beach. They do it quickly and good for only a few cents! If you go on a tour, there is plenty of time to go to the fishmarket before.
Written May 2, 2015
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.
Rick B
British Columbia, Canada125 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
We liked this so much we went on two mornings. The second day there weren't as many pangas landing fish, perhaps because of our timing but more likely because the tide was higher and there wasn't as much beach for business to take place on. Go early to catch all the action.
On the first morning there were about 125 pangas landing fish. Fish were being cleaned and then weighed. Most went into waiting trucks packed with ice. Buyers were supervising the weighing and waving big wads of bills. Chaos everywhere. Dogs sleeping under the cleaning tables, clouds of frigatebirds, mobs of pelicans, many dozens of busy people.
I counted at least 20 different species of fish. Many of these I had never seen before while others were more familiar. One boat was offloading a good catch of dorado (mahi mahi).
On the shore there's a line of local businesses (not quite street vendors, not quite restaurants) selling fresh fish meals, probably mainly for the fishermen. The menu seemed pretty much the same, plates of rice and plantain with VERY fresh fish that just came in. I didn't inquire about prices but I'll bet they were very reasonable.
If you want to see how a traditional Ecuadorian fishing village operates when the catch comes in you should get up early and take this in. Authentic with a capital A.
On the first morning there were about 125 pangas landing fish. Fish were being cleaned and then weighed. Most went into waiting trucks packed with ice. Buyers were supervising the weighing and waving big wads of bills. Chaos everywhere. Dogs sleeping under the cleaning tables, clouds of frigatebirds, mobs of pelicans, many dozens of busy people.
I counted at least 20 different species of fish. Many of these I had never seen before while others were more familiar. One boat was offloading a good catch of dorado (mahi mahi).
On the shore there's a line of local businesses (not quite street vendors, not quite restaurants) selling fresh fish meals, probably mainly for the fishermen. The menu seemed pretty much the same, plates of rice and plantain with VERY fresh fish that just came in. I didn't inquire about prices but I'll bet they were very reasonable.
If you want to see how a traditional Ecuadorian fishing village operates when the catch comes in you should get up early and take this in. Authentic with a capital A.
Written February 14, 2015
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.
Cheryl G
149 contributions
Sep 2021 • Solo
Seeing the morning fish market was unique and fun. Puerto Lopez is a scenic, lovely beach town and the gateway to Isla de la Plata.
Written October 8, 2021
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.
John A. Pierce
Gary, IN107 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Puerto Lopez's fish market operates as one of the local markets for people in the area and doesn't cater to tourists as this is where most people buy their meat for the day. However, it's a spectacle to see and if you are in Puerto Lopez, you should definitely take an early morning stroll (5-6 a.m.) through the stalls as you will see a large array of different types of sea-life.
Written December 27, 2015
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.
Octopus
Canada82 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
You get to see the catch of the day and the variety of fish they sell.
Fun to watch, I think you need to be there at 5, or maybe 6.
I didn't like Puerto Lopez because people are not friendly. It seems store owners don't really care about tourists. They are there because that is their source of income and they will not take an extra step to be nice to tourists. Every restaurant offers "almost" the same food. All the shops offer the same items. It seems the whole Puerto Lopez ocean view area was created to attract tourists in the cheapest way they could. Even in the touristy side you will smell pee everywhere! I saw locals go and pee close to some trees if there weren't people around!
I love different cultures, but if you pee in the neighborhood that your family and friends live I don't need to be there.
Fun to watch, I think you need to be there at 5, or maybe 6.
I didn't like Puerto Lopez because people are not friendly. It seems store owners don't really care about tourists. They are there because that is their source of income and they will not take an extra step to be nice to tourists. Every restaurant offers "almost" the same food. All the shops offer the same items. It seems the whole Puerto Lopez ocean view area was created to attract tourists in the cheapest way they could. Even in the touristy side you will smell pee everywhere! I saw locals go and pee close to some trees if there weren't people around!
I love different cultures, but if you pee in the neighborhood that your family and friends live I don't need to be there.
Written November 8, 2015
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.
GBoom
London, England, United Kingdom25 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
Puerto Lopez is a working fishing town (around 10,000 people) increasingly popular with American retirees. It was a community that promised fresh food, entertainment, a working cash machine and shops.
It has a two-mile beach that is littered with beach bars, the usual sea-front shops and a few upscale hotels in the northern area. It is sheltered so the surf is not vey high and it is excellent for swimming.
The rush hour in Puerto Lopez starts in very early morning when the fishing boats return. The southern end of the beach turns into a fish market for a few hours. Fishermen sell sting rays, wahoos, swordfish, hammerhead sharks and other species we couldn't identify. You need to get up early though. It winds down by 8am but the experience unforgettable. If you are unsure if it is for you watch this two minute video that we shot and edited in October 2014. (http://vimeo.com/113773659)
Our favourite food place in Puerto Lopez was Camelita. It serves superb fresh fish dishes at reasonable prices.
You can hitch easy rides on Ecuadorian tuk tuks for one dollar to the local market and bus station.
From Puerto Lopez you can get a taxi to magnificent beach in Los Frailes.
The waves are much calmer there than in Ayampe. It is drier too. You are in the arid micro-climate of Manchalilla National Park.
It has a two-mile beach that is littered with beach bars, the usual sea-front shops and a few upscale hotels in the northern area. It is sheltered so the surf is not vey high and it is excellent for swimming.
The rush hour in Puerto Lopez starts in very early morning when the fishing boats return. The southern end of the beach turns into a fish market for a few hours. Fishermen sell sting rays, wahoos, swordfish, hammerhead sharks and other species we couldn't identify. You need to get up early though. It winds down by 8am but the experience unforgettable. If you are unsure if it is for you watch this two minute video that we shot and edited in October 2014. (http://vimeo.com/113773659)
Our favourite food place in Puerto Lopez was Camelita. It serves superb fresh fish dishes at reasonable prices.
You can hitch easy rides on Ecuadorian tuk tuks for one dollar to the local market and bus station.
From Puerto Lopez you can get a taxi to magnificent beach in Los Frailes.
The waves are much calmer there than in Ayampe. It is drier too. You are in the arid micro-climate of Manchalilla National Park.
Written January 23, 2015
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.
laura j
Cuenca, Ecuador606 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We arrived at 7:15am. All the fish had been offloaded! Lots of activity, frigates and pelicans diving. Soup at one of the restaurants is a must!
Written January 14, 2020
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.
Annie M
Tuxford, UK169 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Watched the activity on the beach for a couple of hours. The human and bird activity were fascinating. Great to see that it is a thriving village community who all seem to help each other.
Watched as they eventually got one of the small boats floated. So weighed down with nets you could hardly see the boat. With 2 men pushing and a motor boat with winch it floated eventually.
Fish couldn't be fresher. Restaurants came rushing in to buy the fish and seafood in minutes and gone.
Very entertaining morning all round.
Watched as they eventually got one of the small boats floated. So weighed down with nets you could hardly see the boat. With 2 men pushing and a motor boat with winch it floated eventually.
Fish couldn't be fresher. Restaurants came rushing in to buy the fish and seafood in minutes and gone.
Very entertaining morning all round.
Written December 8, 2018
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.
AHA2006
New York City, NY546 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
It's always a fun experience to visit a hustling and bustling fish market while witnessing fishermen hurriedly bringing their sea treasures onshore. Not only it was fun to watch, one can buy some seafood and ask the nearby restaurant vendors to cook for you on spot. We got some langostinos (big prawns) for $7 per pound, and the vendor grilled them for us over coal for $3. They were tasty and sweet beyond words! Same dish would have costed double at any local restaurants. The fish market was also a good place to try encebollado soup (a flavorful local seafood soup with tuna). First time we went at around 7:30am and there were still a lot of actions. Second time at 9am and it has already slowed down. Restaurants at the market are mostly closed by mid day so it is not a place for dinner.
Written August 16, 2017
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.
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