Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya
Description
Join us at one of the world’s top destinations for whale shark encounters in the warm, open waters of the tropics. Experience the awe of seeing these gentle giants in their natural habitat a true marvel of the ocean. With over 15 years of experience, our expert team offers unmatched knowledge, comfortable boats, and exceptional service to prepare you for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Get ready to witness whale sharks up close! While swimming alongside them is an unforgettable thrill, it cannot be guaranteed. Your safety and the well-being of the whale sharks are our highest priorities, so swimming will only be allowed when conditions are ideal. Even if the experience is limited to viewing from the boat, the sight remains breathtaking and deeply memorable.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins at our private pier in Puerto Juárez. Upon arrival, enjoy a light coffee break while meeting your guide and the rest of the group. Before boarding, your guide will provide a safety briefing, explain the day's itinerary, and share useful tips for swimming with the whale sharks. Once everyone is ready, it's time to board the boat and head out in search of these magnificent gentle giants.
After departing from our private pier in Puerto Juárez, you'll cruise across the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Along the way, you'll pass the beautiful coastline of Isla Mujeres before heading farther offshore, where the sea transforms into deep, vibrant shades of blue. During the journey, keep an eye out for dolphins, sea turtles, rays, and seabirds, which are often spotted along the route. As you approach the whale shark feeding area, your guide will help you look for the first signs of these magnificent gentle giants, making the anticipation part of the adventure itself.
Once we arrive at the whale shark area, the captain and guide will search for the best opportunities to safely approach these magnificent animals while respecting all conservation regulations. When it's your turn, you'll enter the water in pairs with your certified guide for an unforgettable snorkeling experience alongside the world's largest fish. Our small-group tours maximize your chances of enjoying up to two swims per person, depending on sea conditions, wildlife activity, and park regulations. Between swims, relax on the boat and watch the incredible action as whale sharks, giant manta rays, and other marine life feed in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters. This is a truly unique wildlife encounter and one of the most memorable experiences the Mexican Caribbean has to offer.
On our last stop, we'll anchor in front of the world-famous Playa Norte beach from Isla Mujeres. This idyllic spot is renowned for its soft white sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant atmosphere. We'll share a typical Caribbean lunch featuring delicious ceviche, creamy guacamole, and crunchy totopos. Afterward, celebrate the day by wading in the shallow, warm waters or simply relax and soak up the sun on the pristine beach.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pick up from any hotel, airbnb or private residence: Pick up Tulum between 04:00-05:00 am. Pick up from Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya 05:30-06:30 am Pick up from Cancun between 06:00-07:00 am Pick up from Isla Mujeres is at the Black Pearl Pier, please contact us to arrange the pick up details
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking (Vegetarian & Gluten free Options available under request)
- Seasonal tour operating from June to mid-September
- The total duration of this tour can vary, typically influenced by factors beyond our control. On average, the boat activity lasts about 5 hours. However, this duration may extend due to weather conditions, the location of the whale sharks, and the number of swimming opportunities. Additionally, the transfer time from your hotel to our pier varies based on your location and current traffic conditions. Including transfers, expect the entire tour to last between 7 and 12 hours
- Sunscreen, even biodegradable, harms the coral reefs and other sealife, please apply only on exposed skin, beforehand (in your hotel) and after water activitie
- minimum age as of 3 years old
Reviews(1,049)
We traveled to swim with the whale sharks with Ocean Tours & had an unforgettable experience. Our tour guide Cora and her team were friendly, punctual and made our 10 hour journey truly memorable.
Nìls was a great tour guide. Got us right up to the whale sharks, guided us over a coral reef and feed as a really good fish dip on the beach.
Vanessa was so knowledgeable and helpful! Safety was her priority and made it fun! We had the pleasure of having father and son caption and skipper (gato and Matias … spelling of names?) whom were very respectful to all and ensured we were always in the best position. They were quick to help everyone in and out of the boat. Great food, great team great day!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing whale shark adventure with us. It's fantastic to know that Vanessa's knowledge, enthusiasm, and focus on safety helped make the experience both fun and memorable. We're also delighted that Captain Gato and Matías took such great care of everyone on board. Their teamwork, professionalism, and dedication to ensuring every guest has the best possible experience are something we're very proud of, and we'll be sure to share your kind words with them. We're so glad you enjoyed the food, the crew, and the entire day. Thank you for choosing Ocean Tours Mexico and for recommending our team. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the Riviera Maya! Warm regards, Laura Ocean Tours
We paid around $250 total per person for the whole thing. Loved the entire experience. Before we even got on the boat to leave, we met the staff, and they were very friendly. The entire time we spent on the boat was great, the boat driver was fun, Raul and the rest of the staff were very kind, knowledgeable and patient. They gave us different kinds of snacks, water, and soda, before lunch. When we finished seeing the whale sharks, we went to the beach, had a great swim, delicious lunch experience, and went back to the docks. A really nice experience, around 5–6 hours. They kept our stuff safe the whole time.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 We'll be delighted to share your kind words with Raul and the rest of the crew. They’ll be thrilled to know they helped make your experience so enjoyable from beginning to end. Thank you for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon! 🐋 Warm regards, Valentina | Ocean Tours
Had an amazing day with Pepe our tour guide and his amazing crew.
Hello Shane, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 We'll be delighted to share your kind words with Pepe and his amazing crew. They’ll be thrilled to know they helped make your day such a memorable experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon! Warm regards, Valentina | Ocean Tours
We spent an absolutely unforgettable day with our guide Cecilia! From the bus ride, she taught us a huge amount of fascinating things about whale sharks. We also enjoyed the croissants and fruit juice offered before departure. Once we arrived at the marina, we embarked for about 1 hour and 30 minutes of sailing to the area where the whale sharks are found. After a bit of searching, the long-awaited moment arrived: we were able to swim just a few meters from these giants of the sea. Seeing them approach head-on, accompanying them for a few moments in their swim… it was simply magical, a wow moment, unreal and unforgettable. The excursion continued with a snorkeling session on a magnificent coral reef, then with a delicious meal served directly in the water, in a heavenly setting. Everything was perfectly organized and Cecilia largely contributed to making this day exceptional thanks to her kindness, her professionalism, and her passion. An experience that we recommend 100%!
Merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique commentaire ! 💙 Nous serons ravis de transmettre vos gentils mots à Cecilia. Elle sera très heureuse de savoir qu'elle a contribué à rendre votre journée aussi exceptionnelle. Merci pour votre recommandation et nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau pour une nouvelle aventure inoubliable ! 🐋 Cordialement, Valentina | Ocean Tours
Wonderful to swim with whale sharks. Something I had been looking forward to my whole life. Understandably short but very seeet and ably recorded on video by our guide Sasha. The long boat ride out well worth it and the expense understandable to preserve this precious experience.
Thank you so much for sharing such a heartfelt review! We're honored that we could be part of an experience you had been dreaming about for so many years. Swimming with whale sharks is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and we're delighted to hear it lived up to your expectations. A special thank you for recognizing Sasha. We're so glad the videos helped you preserve those unforgettable moments, and that the journey out to the whale shark area was well worth it. Thank you for your understanding and appreciation of the conservation efforts that help protect these magnificent animals and their natural habitat. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Ocean Tours adventure in the future! Laura OCEAN TOURS
The boat ride to the whale sharks will be bumpy and if you get motion sickness you will most probably get it here but the people are very nice and helpful if you do end up getting seasick, just something to keep in mind. Other than that the experience was amazing. Everyone got to see the whale sharks even if you were staying on the boat. If you didn’t know how to swim you were still able to do the snorkeling with the guides help. Isla Mujeres was beautiful, and the food and people were so amazing. Overall it was really a once in a lifetime experience!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! 💙 We truly appreciate you sharing these helpful tips for future travelers. We're delighted to know our team helped make your experience comfortable and memorable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure! 🐋 Warm regards, Valentina | Ocean Tours
What an incredible adventure. While it was a bit of a journey getting out to the whale sharks, it was worth it to swim with such impressive animals. We had the chance to see a large group and interact multiple times in the water. The entire tour was a little faster than expected due to us finding the whale sharks faster than normal according to our Captain and Guide. The water was surprisingly calm for being out in the open seas and, again, the experience was great. Our guide, Nils, did an excellent job of keeping us on task and ensuring everyone was able to participate.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that your whale shark adventure exceeded your expectations! Finding the whale sharks so quickly was certainly a bonus, and we're delighted that it gave you the opportunity to enjoy multiple encounters with these incredible animals in calm sea conditions. A special thank you for recognizing Nils. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. It's wonderful to know that his guidance and organization helped ensure everyone had the chance to fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you for choosing Ocean Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the Riviera Maya. Laura OCEAN TOURS
An incredible must do experience! Our guide, Alex, Mr. T, boat captain, and Skipper Alejandro were professional, knowledgeable, and made this excursion a once in a lifetime memory. We were picked up from our resort early in the morning, transported to a port where we layer departed after a late breakfast. We reached our destination about an hour later, and had an incredible afternoon seeing tons and tons of whale sharks! We later had a We later had an opportunity to snorkel at another location, and shared a late lunch. These gentlemen were extremely kind, considerate, attentive to our needs, but were ensuring we followed and maintained all safety instructions. I can’t say enough positive about this experience. Book It!!! You won’t regret it !!!
Thank you so much for sharing such an amazing review! We are thrilled to hear that your whale shark adventure was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Swimming alongside these magnificent animals is truly a special moment, and we're so happy that you had the opportunity to see so many whale sharks and enjoy every part of the day. A special thank you for recognizing Alex, Mr. T, Captain, and Skipper Alejandro. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with the entire team. Their professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to safety and guest experience are exactly what make these adventures so memorable. Thank you for choosing Ocean Tours and for your enthusiastic recommendation! We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the Riviera Maya- Laura OCEAN TOURS
