The Canarian Cetacean Museum (Museo de Cetáceos de Canarias) PRM and wheelchair accessible, offers visitors the chance to discover intriguing lifestyle of dolphins and whales.

"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago.never mind how long precisely. having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world."

Fascination produced by the literary history and later, the film versions on the great "white whale" - that was, in fact, a giant albino sperm whale- has taken many people of all ages to become interested in cetaceans. Luckily, we don't have to embark on the Pequod to understand little-known secrets about these wonderful creatures: touring the Canarian Cetacean Museum (MCC), a cultural and scientific institution, the visitor can dive in the oceanic atmosphere through images, sounds, scaled and real size models and skeletons.

Instead of following Captain Ahab obsessed seeking revenge on the animal, we will be following a team of specialized guides, whose explanations (in English and Spanish) will prove essential in order to experience and learn about the characteristics and lifestyles of these interesting ocean-going mammals, in a route along the Museum from the audio-visual room to four exhibition halls (all indoor premises are wheelchair accessible).

Reserved parking places for people with impairments are located on the left end of the building and the elevator can be taken from there to access the first floor, where the exhibition halls are housed.

The main entrance is a street-level entrance (door clear width of more than 80cm) but the parking area located in this zone lacks reserved parking spaces and curb cuts.

The outside route around the Museum features some curb cuts but at present there isn't one to reach the meeting point.

The visitor's reception area is at the lobby (barrier-free, one level) and to its right is the audio-visual room, where a film showing outstanding exclusive images recorded by the MCC, including the flora and marine fauna of Canary Islands, is played. The four exhibition halls are at one level, corridors are wide and all panels are placed at a height that allows easy viewing for standing adults, children and wheelchair users; display cases are set in a way that allow approach to wheelchair users . Each room is based on a different theme: an introduction to cetaceans; ocean life; an insight into the principal animal families to be found in the Canary Islands , and an area dedicated to the preservation and study of the sea, their natural habitat.

Books, souvenirs and several exclusive items can be bought at the accessible gift shop ( level access from outside too).

Blind and visually impaired visitors are offered a specially adapted guided visit by the MCC, ( booking in advance is required ): these visitors will have the chance to touch and handle "dermoplastias" (life size replicas of dolphins), teeth and several exhibits. Sound points to be listened to are set throughout the regular guided visit and biological samples/exhibits will soon be available (to be smelled) during these "sensory" guided visits.

There's an adapted toilet located in the corridor that leads to the main entrance.

The Canarian Cetacean Museum is run by Secac (Association for the Study of Cetaceans in the Canary Archipelago) and Puerto Calero S.A.

It is housed in the former dry dock facilities (Edificio Antiguo Varadero) of Puerto Calero, in the borough of Yaiza (Lanzarote). next to a 12 metres whale skeleton, a tropical rorcual, that is exhibited there... and no: this one is not Moby Dick...being the "real one" classified among the odontocetos (cetaceans having teeth)..., named after the Chilean "Mocha Dick" myth, who unlike most sperm whales, was white, possibly due to albinism.

"Now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen white surf beat against its steep sides; then all collapsed, and the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago."

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Rebecca Arce

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