The 15 Best Whale Shark Snorkelling Trips in Mexico

1.La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour and Lunch From Los Cabos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,066 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $259Our pick

Swim with whale sharks from Los Cabos to La Paz, with wetsuit gear, panga boat time, and classic Baja fish tacos included.

“Was about a two-hour bus ride. But stopped at an organic market that was great halfway through the ride. The boating ride was great. our guide Mario was amazing. The tacos for lunch were good. I saw whale sharks and got to swim with a few. Saw dolphins up close as well. It was a great trip!!”

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2.Whale Shark Adventure in Isla Mujeres and Cancun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 951 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $155

Small-group snorkeling with whale sharks off Isla Mujeres and Cancun, May to September, with gear, lunch, and guided jumps in the wild.

“An absolutely amazing experience! Jose and Javier were brilliant guides! They were so knowledgeable about the whale sharks and other marine life. Bearing in mind the ocean is immense they managed to find us approximately 10 whale sharks swimming around and feeding. Couldnt believe it! We all managed to get two swims with them. Javier took amazing photos/ videos which we were able to purchase for a really reasonable price. On the way back we stopped at a beautiful beach, where Javier prepared a delicious lunch. It was the most memorable day and an experience of a lifetime! We are a family of four with two teen boys and all…”

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

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

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

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

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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5.Whale Shark snorkeling tour in a reduced group with local marine biologist

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 594 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Reduced-group whale shark snorkeling in La Paz with a marine biologist, wetsuits and gear included, plus GoPro photos and videos.

“The tour operators were great even through we didn't get to go because of weather they gave us ample warning to change our plans and ensured we were refunded our money. Viator is the reason for the low rating. They hounded me 5 straight days though email and texts for a review I didn't want to give.”

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6.Whale Shark Encounter Full-Day all inclusive Tour from Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 519 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $170

Swim with whale sharks from Punta Sam, snorkel near Isla Mujeres, and relax on Playa Norte with lunch, gear, and hotel pickup.

“My daughter and I had the most amazing experience swimming with the whale sharks! It was truly unforgettable to be so close to these incredible creatures. The crew did an outstanding job from start to finish—professional, knowledgeable, and so friendly. They made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable while also keeping the experience exciting and fun. This was a bucket-list adventure, and it exceeded every expectation. Highly recommend!”

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7.Small Group Whale Shark Snorkeling in La Paz, Mexico

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 410 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Small-group whale shark snorkeling in La Paz with marine biologists, wetsuits, and timed swims. 3 hours, $190.75.

“The staff were amazing. The whole experience could not have been better. We swam with numerous whale sharks..! Did not expect to enjoy this experience multiple times big smile on our faces and again the staff went above and beyond.”

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8.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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9.Intimate Eco-Friendly Whale Shark Encounter – Premium Service

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 392 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $268

Intimate La Paz whale shark snorkeling with premium gear, eco-friendly rules, and multiple private swims, plus guide photos and snacks.

“Fabulous experience! Our guides Javier (boat captain) and Angel (snorkel and nature guide) were friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. The sea lions were playful amazing, and -right- next to us! The bay was breathtaking. The lunch was great, and we were so appreciative they could accommodate the two vegetarians and one shellfish allergy in our group of four. Highly recommended!”

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10.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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11.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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12.Search and Swim with Whale Sharks ! All Inclusive.

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 171 reviews · 6 hours · from $224

Holbox all-inclusive whale shark tour with tiny two-person swims, expert guides, fresh ceviche, and snorkeling near Cabo Catoche.

“We had a wonderful time! Willy was amazing - so kind and wanting everyone to have their chance with the whale sharks. Our captain was fantastic also, and clearly knew what he was looking for! The snorkeling was an added bonus as visibility had been poor in previous days. But they found a good area with decent visibility. The breakfast and lunch provided was fantastic. We saw so many more things than whale sharks and would highly recommend doing this!”

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13.Whale Shark Swim Adventure in La Paz

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 154 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110Best value

Swim with gentle whale sharks in La Paz’s Sea of Cortez. Small groups, snacks, wetsuits, and conservation rules, from $110.

“Camilla our guide was a very knowledgeable marine biologist who swam with us. The whale sharks were gentle giants that provided a very memorable experience. Our boat captain was very skilled in spotting sharks, staying close to the swimmers but kept out of the way of the sharks.”

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14.Whale Shark Swimming Adventure with Marine Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 34 reviews · 4 hours · from $204

Swim with juvenile whale sharks off La Paz with a marine biologist, small-group boat tour, snorkel kit, and full wetsuit included.

“What an amazing experience. I was a little nervous at first and my partner, who can’t swim, was also. The journey to the whale shark feeding zone was very pleasant and I received a lot of support for how to scuba dive as I hadn’t had much experience. I got to get in the water with the shark multiple times and always felt supported by the guides Erin and Jay Jay. Really appreciated the attentiveness while swimming and after the swimming experience Erin explained whale sharks to us in great detail and answered any questions the group had. Amazing experience, would definitely do it again. Thank you Eco Migrations!”

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15.Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

Swim with gentle whale sharks at El Mogote near La Paz. Calm shallow water, small groups, marine biologist guide, gear and water included.

“This tour was a dream come true. We were lucky to swim with the whale sharks four different times! We got very close to these gentle giants, and each swim lasted a good amount of time – we never felt rushed. Our guide, Alejandro, was top-notch. He knows exactly where to find the sharks and how to position the group so everyone gets a great view without crowding. His instructions were clear, and his passion for marine life is contagious. If you book this tour, ask for Alejandro!”

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