Private Whale Shark All Inclusive Experience
Description
Enjoy a fully private tour with your own guide, driver, and captain, including ground and boat transportation. We’ll follow a recommended itinerary but can adjust the schedule to your group’s preferences. Get up close to majestic whale sharks! Swimming with them is an unforgettable experience, though it depends on conditions. If swimming isn’t possible, viewing from the boat is still breathtaking. If whale sharks aren’t spotted, you can reschedule or receive a certificate for a future tour. Your safety and an incredible experience are our top priorities.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotel - Airbnb - private condos and houses pick up are offered in this private tour. Once we receive your booking, we will organize with you the pickup time & location. This is a private tour, and you can customize the itinerary to your interest. We recommend an early start for the best whale shark sightings.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Minimum age 3 years
- Sunscreen, even biodegradable, harms the coral reefs and other sealife, please apply only on exposed skin, beforehand (in your hotel) and after water activitie
Reviews(149)
Max was an unbelievable guide from start to finish. He was there to greet us at 4:45am and from then on he was amazing. Very helpful on the boat and in the water to truly give us the best experience we could have! Couldn’t recommend booking this tour more!
Thank you for your fantastic review! 💙 We'll be sure to share your kind words with Max, he'll be delighted to know he helped make your experience so memorable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure! 🐋🌊 Warm regards, Valentina | Ocean Tours 🌴
Wow! Seven of us (adults) went out today, hoping to see whale sharks. There were too many to count! We had an unbelievable experience that we will never forget. We also saw dolphins on the way out and the way in, as well as several manta rays while in the water! Max gave us the confidence to jump in the water - it’s a little overwhelming at first. He was an incredible guide! Very knowledgeable and reassuring. We were offered several chances each (2 at a time) to view the animals in the water. Each time Captain Teacher perfectively timed our entrance into the water so we could see as much action as possible. The whale sharks performed! We were fortunate to see at least one, usually several sharks on each entrance. Chris also assisted on our dives - at first holding hands until we became comfortable, and towards the end, pulling us alongside the sharks as they swam. Being a passenger on the boat today was just about as exciting as being in the water. We saw shark after shark swim right beside the boat. The water was so clear! The crew members made sure the passengers were well informed about everything we saw. It was easier than we thought to enter, exit and snorkel along these huge animals. By no means do you have to be an experienced snorkeler. I recommend the wetsuit (for rent before the trip for $15 US) as well as a water shirt and any other clothing to protect against the sun (applying sunscreen - even “reef friendly” is not allowed!). After swimming with the sharks, we snorkeled at a reef off Isle Mujures and then visited North Beach for a lunch prepared by the crew (delicious!). Snorkeling and lunch were nice, but overshadowed by the whale shark experience! I wholeheartedly recommend this trip. You will be in good hands with a guide and crew that is passionate about sharing Mexico's natural beauty!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Reading about your experience truly made our day! We’re thrilled that you had the chance to witness so many whale sharks, along with dolphins and manta rays—what an unforgettable day on the water! We'll be sure to share your kind words with Max, Captain Teacher, and Chris. They are passionate about creating safe, exciting, and memorable wildlife encounters, and they'll be delighted to know they helped make your adventure so special. We're also happy you enjoyed the reef snorkeling and the freshly prepared lunch, even though we completely understand that swimming alongside the whale sharks stole the show! Thank you for highlighting the importance of protecting the marine environment by avoiding sunscreen in the water and for sharing such helpful tips with future travelers. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the Mexican Caribbean! Laura OCEAN TOURS
IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! The guides were amazing (max, captain teacher, and Chris!!!)
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible experience! We'll be sure to share your kind words with Max, Captain Teacher, and Chris—they'll be delighted to know they helped make your whale shark adventure so memorable. Thank you for choosing Ocean Tours to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the Mexican Caribbean- Laura OCEAN TOURS
Amazing! From the transfer pick up to the drop off everything was great. Ruben was our guide and he was full of information and really friendly. On our way to find the whale sharks, we saw dolphins, turtles and some manta rays jumping. The boat captain was brilliant at placing us in the perfect position to swim with the whale sharks and the crew were really helpful. I don’t have much experience snorkelling and didn’t have much confidence but Ruben and his colleagues were so supportive. We had the most amazing experiences on this trip. There were plenty of refreshments throughout the day and even when my husband and daughter were seasick, the crew tried to help. Honestly an amazing trip!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 I'm thrilled to hear you had such an amazing experience from start to finish. I'll be sure to share your kind words with Ruben, the captain, and the crew—they'll be delighted to know they helped make this adventure so memorable and supported your family every step of the way. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience! Regina | Ocean Tours 🌊
Amazing whale shark and manta ray tour, Luisa was an incredible guide- friendly,and made the whole experience unforgettable. Highly recommend
Thank you so much for your kind words! 💙 I'm delighted to hear you had an unforgettable experience swimming with the whale sharks and manta rays. I'll be sure to share your compliments with Luisa—she'll be thrilled to know she made such a positive impact. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to see you again on another adventure! Regina | Ocean Tours 🌊
Amazing experience that everyone should live once in a lifetime!!! Great Guide (Alma) who definitely loves her job and nature protection endings with unique experience of snorkelling and snaking in the see :-)
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 I'm so happy to hear you had such an amazing experience and that Alma's passion for nature and her work made your day even more special. I'll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thank you for choosing Ocean Tours, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure! Regina | Ocean Tours 🌊
I enjoyed the experience very much. All the staff is very friendly and professional. 100% recommended. By the way, Nico, great guide, knowledgeable and empathetic.
¡Muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia y por recomendarnos! Nos llena de alegría saber que disfrutó tanto del tour y que nuestro equipo hizo que su aventura fuera tan especial. Nos encantará compartir sus amables palabras con Nico; estamos seguros de que le hará mucha ilusión saber que su conocimiento, empatía y dedicación marcaron la diferencia. Esperamos tener el placer de acompañarla nuevamente en otra aventura por el Caribe mexicano. ¡Hasta la próxima! Laura Ocean Tours Team
We had the best time with the whale sharks! Our guide Luisa was simply fantastic, very friendly, funny, and always helpful. Thanks to her, the tour was even more beautiful and unforgettable. Absolutely recommendable!!
Vielen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie eine so schöne Zeit mit den Walhaien hatten. Ihre netten Worte über Luisa bedeuten uns sehr viel. Wir werden Ihr Lob gerne an sie weitergeben – sie wird sich bestimmt darüber freuen. Vielen Dank für Ihre Empfehlung. Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder zu einem weiteren unvergesslichen Abenteuer begrüßen zu dürfen! Herzliche Grüße, Laura Ocean Tours
If you’re going to choose just one excursion while you’re in Mexico, make it during whale shark season—and book with this specific tour group. Then, request Marc Ramón as your guide. He speaks four languages, keeps everyone included, and is exceptional at explaining each step of the experience so you always feel prepared and safe. We were picked up directly from our hotel and driven to the beach, where we boarded a boat with about ten guests and two crew members in addition to Marc. From there, we rode roughly 45 minutes out into open water. The anticipation built as we scanned the sea for whale sharks—and we were incredibly lucky. They were already there, waiting for us, gliding just beneath the surface. We were able to swim with them three separate times. Whale sharks are enormous but completely docile, gentle creatures. They stay near the surface feeding on plankton and barely seemed to notice us. Being in the water beside them felt surreal, peaceful, and humbling. One important detail: you are not allowed to wear sunscreen, even reef‑safe formulas. This rule protects the animals, so bring sun‑protective clothing—rash guards, long sleeves, hats—anything that shields your skin without chemicals.The tour included both breakfast and lunch, which was a thoughtful touch after hours in the sun and sea. After swimming with the whale sharks, we headed to Isla Mujeres for snorkeling, where we searched for bright blue “Dory” fish among the reefs. Then we returned to shore and were dropped back at our hotels, tired in the best way.This excursion is absolutely worth the money. It’s rare, respectful of the animals, and deeply memorable. If you’re coming to Mexico and want an experience that feels once‑in‑a‑lifetime, this is the one to choose.
f you’re going to choose just one excursion while you’re in Mexico, make it during whale shark season—and book with this specific tour group. Then, request Marc Ramón as your guide. He speaks four languages, keeps everyone included, and is exceptional at explaining each step of the experience so you always feel prepared and safe. We were picked up directly from our hotel and driven to the beach, where we boarded a boat with about ten guests and two crew members in addition to Marc. From there, we rode roughly 45 minutes out into open water. The anticipation built as we scanned the sea for whale sharks—and we were incredibly lucky. They were already there, waiting for us, gliding just beneath the surface. We were able to swim with them three separate times. Whale sharks are enormous but completely docile, gentle creatures. They stay near the surface feeding on plankton and barely seemed to notice us. Being in the water beside them felt surreal, peaceful, and humbling. One important detail: you are not allowed to wear sunscreen, even reef‑safe formulas. This rule protects the animals, so bring sun‑protective clothing—rash guards, long sleeves, hats—anything that shields your skin without chemicals.The tour included both breakfast and lunch, which was a thoughtful touch after hours in the sun and sea. After swimming with the whale sharks, we headed to Isla Mujeres for snorkeling, where we searched for bright blue “Dory” fish among the reefs. Then we returned to shore and were dropped back at our hotels, tired in the best way.This excursion is absolutely worth the money. It’s rare, respectful of the animals, and deeply memorable. If you’re coming to Mexico and want an experience that feels once‑in‑a‑lifetime, this is the one to choose.
Sn amazing day start to finidh. Our Guide Luis was so friendly and informative. The swimming with whale sharks was a once in a lifetime experience. The guide and crew were so helpful from start to finish. Would recommend this to everyone. Wow.
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an incredible day from start to finish. Luis and the crew will be so happy to know their friendly service and guidance helped make your whale shark adventure a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. Swimming alongside whale sharks is definitely unforgettable, and we’re honored to have been part of those special memories. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again for another amazing adventure soon!
