Swim With Whale Sharks In Cancun: Small-Group Snorkeling Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

Swim With Whale Sharks In Cancun: Small-Group Snorkeling Tour

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Duration: Flexible
  • Language:
    English
  • Departure Time :
    7:00am
  • Departure Details :
    Tour departs from major hotels around Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and from the San Francisco de Asis SuperMarket in Tulum
  • Return Details :
    Tour returns to original point of departure

Overview

 

Highlights

Go for a snorkel with Mexico's gentle giants - whale sharks! Cruising the Gulf of Mexico with an expert guide, you'll snorkel with the biggest fish and maybe spot dolphins, manta rays and turtles on this small group snorkeling adventure off the Yucatan coast.

Know More about this tour

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is one of the few places in the world where you can share the water with the world's largest fish, the whale shark. Your personalized, small group cruise sets out in search of these gentle creatures for a snorkeling experience you'll never forget.

After having spotted a whale shark, you'll have the chance to jump in the water and snorkel alongside it (conditions permitting) for a wildlife encounter few people ever experience. Found in the world's tropical and warm-temperate oceans, the majestic whale shark glides peacefully through the clear waters along the Yucatan coast close to Isla Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy during the summer months, feeding on the microscopic plankton which thrives in this environment.

You'll then have time to have lunch, relax and unwind off the coast of Isla Mujeres, in Playa Norte, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Be on the lookout for dolphins and manta rays as you enjoy the warm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

A biologist/naturalist will be onboard throughout the day to answer questions you may have about whale sharks or any other wildlife you'll see during your adventure. They will also provide you with information on how to interact with the local marine life to ensure you have a safe and fun experience.

With a maximum of 10 participants, the Mexican Whale Shark Snorkel Adventure is an intimate experience which will leave you with memories lasting a lifetime.

Inclusions

Bilingual biologist/naturalist guide

Use of snorkel equipment

Lunch

Water and soft drinks

Hotel pickup and drop off

Exclusions

Gratuities (optional)

Optional wet suit rental ($15USD per person)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability

Minimum age is 5 years

This tour requires a minimum number of passengers to operate. There is a possibility that the tour may be canceled after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be provided the option to take the tour on an alternative date or be refunded in full.

It is not recommended for pregnant women and people with heart and back problems.

It is prohibited to use sunscreen to protect the animal

It is recommended to take some medication to avoid seasickness

Cancellation Policy

  • If you cancel within 3 calendar days (72 hours) of the scheduled departure time, the cancellation charge will be 100% of the undiscounted tour price.
  • If you cancel between 4 to 7 Calendar days before scheduled tour departure,the cancellation charge will be 50% of the undiscounted tour price.
  • If you cancel at least 8 calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure time, there is no cancellation fee. You will receive Full Refund for the paid amount.
  • Please note that in case of No show, the cancellation charge will be 100% of the listed tour fare.
  • Please note tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Traveler Reviews

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  • 03-Sep-2017

    What an awesome experience! We probably saw 4-5 different whale sharks and even dolphins on the way back to shore. Our boat took 10 of us, including 2 experienced guides, out to the deep ocean about an hour from Cancun. Our group took turns jumping in the water in pairs, on cue from the guides and boat driver. Each pair spent a few minutes underwater with a guide to snorkel alongside the whale sharks and returned to the boat, where we continued looking for more whale sharks for another pair to jump in and snorkel with. There are a ton of other boat tours out there, but the whale sharks are unfazed. After each group jumped in 2-3 times, we headed back to Cancun, but made a stop at Isla Mujeres for a ceviche lunch on the boat and a quick swim in the warm, shallow waters. This was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it.

  • 01-Sep-2017

    Was so awesome. Perfect. So many whale sharks when we went. Got great GoPro video. The stop at Isla Mujeres on the way back was unexpected and really nice. Did some small snorkeling there in the crystal water. Leah our guide was super nice. Highly recommended.

  • 21-Aug-2017

    This tour is well-managed! The precise timing combined with a professional, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guides provides even the solo adventurer an experience of a lifetime. You don't want to pass this tour up!

  • 21-Aug-2017

    Cannot recommend this tour highly enough. Our guide Raul and our skipper were excellent. They took us to a secluded spot where only a few boats were with lots of whale sharks and Manta rays. Incredible experience and memories made to last a lifetime. Do take seasick tablets. And your GoPro!!

  • 20-Aug-2017

    Raul was the perfect guide. His passion for his job was obvious and contagious! The boat ride was a horrible, jarring, physically uncomfortable experience because of the choppiness but I would do it again to repeat my experience with the whale sharks! Amazing experience!

  • 19-Aug-2017

    This experience wasn't great I was picked up from my hotel by the ecos tour guide who never gave me her name and I never knew it the whole trip. We proceeded to pick up other guests which took an hour. Got to Marina and they gave us a decent breakfast. We got on the water and searched for three hours with no whale sightings. As a group we decided to stop searching and was only given the option of reef snorkeling. Which was fine but the intinerary stated we were to visit an island for ceviche but that never happened. We all left without sunburned, and disappointed. I feel like there should have been a better option with the possibility of not seeing any sharks.

  • 15-Aug-2017

    My kids had a great time! While my wife and I stayed at the resort and bobbed in the pool.

  • 15-Aug-2017

    Fabulous day! Follow the advice and take seasickness tablets though. Four of the ten of us got sick. I took tablets and was fine. Apparently we had a rough day but I was expecting it to be much worse to be honest. So after about an hour and a half on the boat we reached the whale sharks. There were loads of other boats already there but there is plenty of room for everyone and it didn't feel over crowded. We were very quickly into the water with these amazing creatures. You take it in turns in pairs and the first time you go in is just for a short time. I couldn't believe how warm the sea was and how close you could get to the whale sharks. My son felt seasick after our first jump he wears glasses and on getting back into the boat it took a few minutes to get his glasses back on and the movement of the boat and not been able to see caused it otherwise I think he would have been fine so we were going to pass on our second jump, as did others who were feeling sick. Carmen, the guide, was excellent and persuaded to me to have another go, saying it was an opportunity not to be missed and promised she would look after my son. I am really not confident in open water and not a competent snorkeller but Leo, the guide in the water, just held my life vest and pulled me along, swimming over two whale sharks. It was an amazing experience. Because some people didn't take the second jump those who did were able to take longer this time. Even when you are in the boat it is fantastic just to see these creatures as they were close to the surface and there were plenty of them. After swimming with the whale sharks we sailed to Isla Mejures which I was expecting to be very touristy and not my scene. It is touristy but unbelievably beautiful! It has the most amazingly clear sea which we swam in while the crew prepared us a lovely lunch. There were lots of other boats anchored up too and there was such a great vibe about it. We loved it, a great end to a fabulous day. We were well looked after all day by great staff. If you are pale skinned like us ask to sit under the canopy of the boat though. We were at the front and quite frazzled by the end.

  • 14-Aug-2017

    What an experience!!! For anyone looking to do something different, something magical, this is the trip. There are currently only two places on the planet where you can swim with these magical fish so make the most of this opportunity whist you can, you won't be disappointed. After a long boat journey out to where the Whale Sharks are, we found the seas were still pretty smooth and the water was surprisingly warm. Each person was given two opportunities to get in an swim with the Whale Sharks, and this was expertly co-ordinated by the boat captain, and Daniel our deck hand. They made sure that as you entered the water the Whale Shark was right in front of you. Be sure to take your underwater cameras so that you can capture as many pictures of these incredibly large, yet graceful creatures swim passed you within just a few feet. There were a lot of boats out there when we got there which was a concern, but there was also a lot of Whale Sharks and they seem totally at ease swimming right next to the boats. David did an excellent job as our guide for the day and he was happy to tell you all he could about the Whale Sharks and the surrounding area on the boat journeys as well as ensuring everyone took advantage of the free drinks.

  • 04-Aug-2017

    Great experience, just wished we could have had a few more dives with these amazing fish but there must have been some 30 to 40 other boats there, many sharing the time in a respectful manner with each other, so limits the amount of time you can get before the boat sets off on its 2 hour fast race back to the Isla Mujeres for lunch.

    Very slick in terms of operation and staffing, would recommend it for sure.

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