Mayan Riviera Whale Shark Discovery Shared Tour

Our friendly and knowledgeable guides are dedicated to making your Whale Shark watching and swimming experience the highlight of your holiday. We love sharing this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with you!

Your Adventure Begins
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in either the Riviera Maya or Cancun and bring you to our pier where the boats are ready for the adventure to begin.

Start Your Day Right
Before setting off, enjoy a selection of snacks and refreshments, including coffee and tea, to start your day. Once refreshed, we board our boat for a scenic speedboat ride of approximately two hours to the pristine waters where Whale Sharks gather.

Swimming with Whale Sharks
When we find the perfect spot, we'll get in the water to snorkel and swim with these majestic creatures. Our goal is for you to have the opportunity to swim with the Whale Sharks at least twice, though the exact number of swims will depend on factors such as weather and sea conditions. With over 15 years of experience, we are experts in providing a truly unforgettable experience.

Snorkeling at Isla Mujeres
After swimming with the Whale Sharks, we’ll head to another beautiful location to snorkel at the coral reef in Isla Mujeres. Then, we’ll take you to “Playa Norte” – one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – where we’ll enjoy lunch, drinks, and fun.

Return Journey
After enjoying Playa Norte, we’ll return to our pier in Cancun. Your guide and driver will then bring you back to your hotel, with an expected arrival around 3:30 PM for Cancun hotels and 4:30 PM for Riviera Maya hotels.

Included:

• Certified Bilingual Guide with experience
• Round-Trip Transportation (Round-Trip Transportation with AC)
• Potable water
• Coffee break
• Sandwiches after swimming with the whale sharks
• Snorkel Gear and safety vests
• Snorkel Mask with prescription available on request
• Caribbean "Ceviche" lunch - fish or shrimp salad with guacamole Kumar totopos, fruits and drinks (Vegetarian food available on request)

Tour Time Table
* Times can vary depending the conditions.

05:00 - 07:20 am - Pick up from the Hotel Lobby in an air-conditioned van.
08:00 am - Arrive in our location and pier in Flamingos. Continental breakfast.
09:30 am - Arrival at the Whale Shark area. Included all of equipment required for activity
11:30 am - We leave the Whale Shark area on our speedboats and go to Isla Mujeres Coral reef. Included life vests, bottled water, Coca cola and sandwiches
12:30 pm - Arrival and snorkeling at Isla Mujeres Coral reef. Included all of equipment required for activity.
01:10 pm - Arrival at Playa Norte Lunch. Included fish or shrimp cocktail , guacamole Kumar totopos with fruit and drinks (vegetarian food available on request).
02:30 pm - Departure for the pier in Flamingos. (transportation ready to take you back to your accommodations).
03:30 pm - Arrival at hotels and accommodations in the Cancun area.
04:00 - 05:00 pm - Arrival at hotels and accommodations in the Playa del Carmen area.
05:30 pm - Arrival at hotels and accommodations in the Tulum area.

About Whale Sharks and this tour:

A whale shark tour typically lasts between five to six hours, but the duration may vary depending on several factors such as where the whale sharks are located, the number of whale sharks in the area, the ease of swimming with them, and also the weather conditions. Some tours may end within four hours, while others may last up to eight hours, offering a unique adventure each time. Please note that transportation from your hotel is included in the tour, but the travel time to our exclusive pier in Puerto Juarez (north of Cancun) may vary depending on your location. If you're staying in Tulum, transportation may take up to three hours, while transportation from the Riviera Maya may take around two hours. However, if you're located in the Cancun area, transportation may take less than an hour. Despite the duration and travel time, this experience is worth the wait and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip to Cancun.

Some people suffer from seasickness on boats, it's a part of life and we totally understand. That is why we do everything we can to prevent this from happening to our guests. To ensure you'll have the best Whale Shark watching & swimming experience, we offer three different prevention methods for free: Dramamine, ginger tea, and pressure point bracelets. In the unlikely case that you still get seasick on the boat, our guides are trained to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

You should not touch the whale sharks, as it can harm them and is also prohibited. Whale Sharks are considered "vulnerable to extinction" and are on the Red List of Threatened Species. They are in danger due to threats resulting from human activities, including non-biodegradable sunscreen, plastic/waste/toxins/oil spills in the ocean, cutting the fins off sharks, being caught in fishing nets, and even for sport.

Although the name is confusing, whale sharks are sharks. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean and can reach up to 12 meters or perhaps even bigger. Whale sharks do have teeth but they have incredibly tiny teeth evolved to aid in filter-feeding, they really are gentle giants. Whale sharks have no need to bite anything, they simply filter-feed which involves a sucking process. So just to be clear whale sharks don’t eat humans, they have never harmed a human directly or indirectly.

Regardless of whether you plan to swim with the whale sharks or not, all passengers will be required to pay the full regular fee for the tour. However, even if you're not a confident swimmer, you can still enjoy the experience of a marine safari and have the opportunity to see dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks from the boat. Watching these magnificent creatures from the boat can be an unforgettable experience, and you can still capture amazing photos of them. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to witness the beauty of these creatures in their natural habitat!

Children are the most adventurous and they are welcome on the tour. All children above the age of 3 can swim with the Whale Sharks. Children can go swimming with a parent, guide, or any adult. As well, we supply all gear suitable for children.

Our goal is that the client ends the day completely satisfied, that's why we allow you to swim with the Whale Sharks for as long as possible. This tour is like a safari adventure- it is up to nature and unpredictable. Our idea is that you enter the water at least 2 times, however, it all depends on the sea conditions, how many whale sharks there are and how long you can keep up with them.  After a few minutes of full-on swimming, you’ll be quite breathless!  It is important to consider that we will remain in the area for between 2 to 3 hours approximately.