Sea Museum
Sea Museum
5
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The Arica Sea Museum show some of the thousand of marvelous creatures and fossils from the sea, through the personal collection of professor Mr. Nicolás Hrepic, who gathered all kind of seashells and fossils from all around the globe since the 1960's decade.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
163 within 5 kms
Attractions
30 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- NorthStar470608952589 contributionsBeautiful family experienceExcellent place to go with the family and discover the wonders of our Sea. Suitable for people in wheelchairs. Prices for seniors. Highlight Nicolás, a young man who explains each place in the Museum very well and in a very dynamic way. At the end we bought some souvenirs.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 22 February 2024
- monica t5 contributionsShells, shells, and more shells!Very interesting visit to the small sea museum of Arica. So many beautiful shells, many of which I had never seen, with wonderful colors and shapes. Nice corals, starfish and even a whale skeleton.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 April 2024
- Camila B OliveiraFlorianopolis, SC170 contributionsAmazing!We loved the visit! I didn't think it would be so interesting! The museum is quite small but very beautiful. The collection is amazing!!! Alicia accompanied us telling various stories and explaining about everything we were seeing. She was very kind and friendly. We pay 4,000 pesos per person. I recommend visiting!Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 August 2024
- KarenQuillota, Chile1 contribution"A Journey to the Marine World: Discovering the Sea Museum"We went to the Sea Museum, where we had the opportunity to see a wide variety of shell species, of different types, colors and sizes. It was really amazing everything we could see. In addition, the tour guided by the staff in charge was captivating; every detail and story they shared offered us valuable teachings and learnings. We appreciate the love and sharing of your information. We visited them as a family from Quillota, V region. Karen Aguilera Esteban ConchaVisited January 2025Travelled with familyWritten 19 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
121 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
5
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Elyana
Ponta Grossa, Brazil87 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Unmissable! It is in a small and discreet central house. It's for all ages! If you are a lover of biology and collecting, you will love it! If you are, like me, a lover of the sea, the arts and science fiction, you could spend the week there seeing and re-watching the presence of this collection in cinema, in madness, in fabrics,... it is dazzling and has a rich aesthetic influence. I arrived at 1:00 pm, and suddenly it was closing time... I didn't even notice the time pass. In fact, I wasn't even halfway through the windows - the room that seemed small to me from the door actually has infinite new dimensions when we look closely. I had the luxury of assistance from Mr. Francisco. It would deserve a better space in the future. I know you can do it, as you have a rare collection! It's private - another bold move in these times. You deserve a strong godfather or a good business partner. I'm an architect and I say it's worth much more than the price of admission for a variety of interests - well beyond marine biology. If you can hire guide services from Mr. Francisco will have enough knowledge for an entire afternoon (the owner is extremely present and knowledgeable about the collection). Another visit to the region is my obligatory stop. I recommend. And I recommend it to lovers of fiction and the arts of all ages.
Written 10 February 2024
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.
Cecilia B
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
Museum of a wide variety of marine species where the guide constantly provides information regarding what is displayed in showcases, so that one greatly enjoys the experience. It is always appreciated to find a place where we can learn new things. A must visit this place.
Written 24 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.
Brotemberg
Sao Paulo, SP10 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
The visit was incredible! In pesos, the cost for the visit is 4,000 pesos, but it was totally worth it, as there are incredible and well-preserved marine jewels there. We received a guided tour by Luiza and she explained everything in detail and wonderfully well. I highly recommend the museum.
Written 8 February 2024
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.
hbhakh
Roanoke, VA2,345 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We visited the Sea Museum while strolling through downtown Arica. It's only about $4 to get in. It's pretty small and contains a private collection of shells from around the world......some are pretty impressive. Only a few are from the local area.
Nothing is in English and the staff don't speak English (but are very nice).......not a criticsim, just something to be aware of.
Nothing is in English and the staff don't speak English (but are very nice).......not a criticsim, just something to be aware of.
Written 21 January 2024
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.
Hi! Sadly, it seems that you visited us just about when our english speaking staff was away :(
Mostly, the descryption of the species are in latin, keeping the original cientific names of it.
We are very glad that you enjoyed the visit and we take your comments as a way to improve our work.
Thanks and come again soon!
Written 21 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gonzalo
Santiago, Chile17 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
A really interesting place for the whole family. The people in charge serve with great kindness and a lot of love. The young man who gives a short tour demonstrates his great knowledge of the subject and answers questions of all kinds. Truly a place worth visiting while in Arica.
Written 10 February 2024
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.
Carolyn E
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
Amazing family owned/operated museum that looked professionally curated. I was given a private tour by the owner (the son of the founder). Shells from all over the world and several live aquarium exhibits that highlight the diversity of life in different waters. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend a visit if you come to Arica.
Written 31 January 2024
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.
Rik E
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Family
Excellent museum in the niche of cockles and mussels and other life in the sea with a shell.
The museum harvest these jewels of the sea: very difficult to find 3 equal museums on this planet.
The museum harvest these jewels of the sea: very difficult to find 3 equal museums on this planet.
Written 18 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.
Myo M
Coquitlam, Canada27,501 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
To see at this museum despite its small size (consisting of exactly one room of a pretty moderate size) is a "fairly sizeable" collection of a variety of seashells (in various colors, shapes & sizes and from various parts of the world) which are also "nicely organized" on multiple shelves in glass display cases where there apart from the seashells are also sea creatures such as crabs, seahorses & star fish in their dried forms. And, it was also kind of interesting to see here some postage stamps featuring seashells & a life-sized woman figure "dressed in seashells" (really quite a brilliant creation which I would say is kind of "uniquely appropriate" for this museum!).
So yes, it's quite a bit worthwhile to make a brief stop at this small museum while in downtown with plenty to do just within a 5-minute-or-so walk from here: the quite extensive "shopping area" of a number of streets lined with all kinds of shops, the lovely white-and-brown San Marcos Cathedral, the small mummy museum with a number of those (not too many though) to see under a glass floor & yes the town's "must site" which is the hill Morro de Arica with a spacious hilltop above (where there are a big Chilean flag, a nice military museum & a fairly-sizeable Christ statue).
So yes, it's quite a bit worthwhile to make a brief stop at this small museum while in downtown with plenty to do just within a 5-minute-or-so walk from here: the quite extensive "shopping area" of a number of streets lined with all kinds of shops, the lovely white-and-brown San Marcos Cathedral, the small mummy museum with a number of those (not too many though) to see under a glass floor & yes the town's "must site" which is the hill Morro de Arica with a spacious hilltop above (where there are a big Chilean flag, a nice military museum & a fairly-sizeable Christ statue).
Written 24 June 2019
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.
AussiePD
Alexandra Hills, Australia2,038 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
The exterior is quite attractive tucked away in the side street and when you walk inside the first instinct may well be to turn around and exit as the museum consists of just one room.
Resist that urge and you will not be sorry.
The displays are packed with interesting exhibits that include a large range of sea creatures, shells of all shapes sizes many of vivid colours. These represent every continent and many islands around the world.
We are not Spanish speakers and but while there we showed some interest in a man explaining, in Spanish, one of the exhibits.
He then spent some time taking us around each cabinet given detailed explanations of many of the exhibits. between our limited understand of Spanish and the translation by the daughter of the owner we enjoyed a hour in the museum.
Would recommend.
Resist that urge and you will not be sorry.
The displays are packed with interesting exhibits that include a large range of sea creatures, shells of all shapes sizes many of vivid colours. These represent every continent and many islands around the world.
We are not Spanish speakers and but while there we showed some interest in a man explaining, in Spanish, one of the exhibits.
He then spent some time taking us around each cabinet given detailed explanations of many of the exhibits. between our limited understand of Spanish and the translation by the daughter of the owner we enjoyed a hour in the museum.
Would recommend.
Written 9 May 2016
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, our Aussie visitor!
We are glad you had a good experience visiting the musem. Anyway, we are working in new description cards and general information in english, besides of having a permanent guide who speaks the language. Also, we are working in an app which will work in tablets provided by the museum so you can scan a QR code an get the information of every cabinet, plus videos and photos.
Thanks for your review and we hope to see you soon around. Don't forget to invite your friends about to come to this side of the globe!
Regards,
The Museum Team
Written 20 January 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rubendario87
Santiago, Chile2 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
The samples were beautiful, all very well organized and cared for, with a remarkable exhibition of the guide explaining every detail of the animals they had there. The aquariums were very nice and well maintained. I would repeat the visits many times!!!
Automatically translated
Written 4 February 2025
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.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing