5 Whale Shark Snorkeling in Cancun to Build a Day Around

1.Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 929 reviews · 6 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $199Our pick

Swim with whale sharks on a small-group tour from Cancun and the Riviera Maya, with hotel pickup, snorkeling, and Caribbean lunch.

“Our tour guide was Pia and she was amazing, very enthusiastic and informative and friendly. We got to swim with the whale sharks (there were hundreds in the area) very easily. Each couple got three turns in the water with the whale sharks, about 5-10 minutes each turn. Pia was always with us in the water, assisting and filming (for purchase later at a reasonable price of $50). The boat captain and deckhand were helpful in facilitating the whole process. It takes a while (perhaps an hour) to get to the whale shark location. The second stop (snorkeling off the tip of Isla Mujeres) seemed a little rushed and the…”

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2.Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 916 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $160Best value

Swim with whale sharks on a small-group day trip from Cancun and Riviera Maya, with biologist guidance, lunch, and strict sunscreen rules.

“We had a great time with the crew, only 2 of our party was actually able to get in the water with the whale sharks due to the wildlife regulations that are in place but it was still worth it to see them from the boat. Our host was super knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife, he's definitely a someone who values the ocean life and protecting its inhabitants. We came up on a pod of dolphins and were able to get in the water with them so that was awesome and unexpected.”

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3.Whale Shark Swimming and Isla Mujeres Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 399 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $210

Swim with whale sharks near Cancun, then unwind at Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres with ceviche and hotel pickup.

“This was an all day event. Was picked up at 6:20 am from our resort and we didn’t get back until 3:30 pm. The ocean was super choppy, and it literally took us three hours until we could find the whale shark which was pretty magical when you got in the water to see them. But after all said and done, you have to travel 2 hours back. I would say 3/4 of the boat got seasick and was throwing up because the ocean was so choppy. Stopping at the island was nice and short. Was only there for 40 minutes. Definitely would like to stay longer and explore next…”

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4.Swim with Whale Sharks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 380 reviews · 7 - 7.5 hours · from $160

Swim with whale sharks on a small-group EcoColors Tours day trip from Cancun, guided by naturalists, with Isla Mujeres lunch and wildlife.

“The activity was amazing!!! So incredible to see and swim with two whale sharks! Miguel and Yuri were fabulous and so caring. I would advise bringing sea sickness tablets as it is very choppy! A once in a lifetime experience! Thank you!”

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5.Cancun Whale Shark Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 172 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $210

Responsible whale shark snorkeling near Cancun with Playa Norte Isla Mujeres time, ceviche, and hotel pickup, about 4 to 5 hours.

“Excellent guides. Unforgettable experience. Up close! Dorian swam us right up to a whale shark. So close we could touch…but didn’t! This tour group had us up and out early so we were one of the first boats able to swim. As we were leaving, no less than 25+ boats were arriving and so was the patrol boat. We had time to swim with the whale shark but I imagine many of the later boats did not due to volume and the fact there was only one shark. Thanks to Contoy for giving us the experience many others did not get. Excellent ceviche afterwards! Dorian did a fantastic job of…”

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