All-day Whale Shark Private Tour

Your English-speaking local expert will be waiting for you at your hotel or airbnb lobby from Riviera Maya (between Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen) with a great smile at 6.15 a.m. (We can change the pickup time if you wish, but we recommend these times because we want to arrive early and be the first to find the Whale Shark.) It is possible to make a coffee stop at you preferred cafeteria. We will arrive at the port of Punta Sam in Cancun at 7.00 a.m. and leave the dock at 7.15 a.m. 

On the way to the site and during the tour your private local expert will tell you several stories about Mexico, the Riviera Maya, Mexican traditions, local life and how the Peninsula of Yucatan was created. The guide will answer any of your questions as well as giving you space to relax and, if you prefer, to sleep during this 45 minutes ride.

The adventure starts in a double motor boat with an excellent speed to arrive as quickly as possible to the natural reserve. While our captain is searching, our local expert will tell you everything you need to know about this magnificent animals and the rules that have been set by the authorities while you are in the water. We will also give you professional snorkel equipment and safety measures.

Remember that at this point the most important thing is to take care of the Whale Sharks, so we will turn off the motors right before reaching them. The whale shark is a huge animal and you will be in the middle of the sea, but you should not be afraid, Whale Sharks feed themselves on plankton and they are very noble and pose no threat. They will avoid colliding with you, so it will be like dancing in the sea. Let yourself go and enjoy this glorious moment!

Your private guide will make you feel safe and protected at all times. To guarantee the best experience, we use professional snorkel equipment. The masks that we use have no fogging and are leak prove. The tube has a special vent that does not allow water to come in and our vests have the right design and size.

Once you are ready and you start getting hungry, we will drive to Isla Mujeres. If you are not tired, we can do a small snorkeling tour on the way. The sea close to Isla Che is not that deep, the color of the water is an unique blue and you can explore the coral reef! This stop is complementary.

After a very active day you will have a big appetite and we hope you'll be ready to eat in the Caribbean Sea, literally. The boat will stop at a place called North Beach in Isla Mujeres, a very paradisiacal beach with crystal clear water. While you relax in this beautiful place, the captain and the sailor, who are local fishermen, will prepare the most authentic ceviche of your life. It is not only about the flavor and freshness but also the atmosphere of the place! The ceviche will be served in the sea, the water reaches no higher than your waist and we will use a floating table. Close your eyes and imagine this: turquoise blue water, ceviche, your friends and/or family, the sun, the beach and your favorite drink (if you would like to have a specific drink please write to us and let us know).

Booking a Whale Shark private tour with us is booking a commitment. For us the most important thing is that you have the best experience and that you swim with the Whale Shark. If for some reason we don’t find Whale Sharks during your private tour, we will bring you back a second time totally free (as long as there are no bad weather conditions or the government suspends the activities).

During the Whale Shark season (June to August), we are constantly measuring the weather conditions to maximize the chances of finding the Whale Shark. After lunch we will sail back to Punta Sam. It takes around 40 minutes to reach the dock from Isla Mujeres. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful view.Since everything is done at your pace the exact time of the return will depend on you. Also please note that this is your private tour, so you have the flexibility to go back at any point or skip any activity you don’t want to do.