If you’re going to be in Quintana Roo around mid-May to mid-September, you’ll want to consider booking a tour to swim with Whale Sharks. Yes, you can actually swim in the ocean, with rea-life whale sharks – seriously cool!
Each year, thousands of whale sharks migrate toward the Mexican Caribbean, meaning that you can sometimes see hundreds of these gentle giants in one sighting.
This is a very special kind of experience and may not be suitable for some, while it may be a bucket-list activity for others. There is a ton to know about the experience before committing to it, so in this post, we show you how to swim with whale sharks in Cancun Mexico.
What is a whale shark and why would you swim with one?
The most commonly asked question about whale sharks is whether they’re classified as a whale or a shark. Whale sharks are actually filter-feeding sharks, which is why they’re not dangerous to humans. They also hold the record for the ocean’s largest fish, and from seeing them in person, we can tell you that they sure are big.
Whale sharks are known as the oceans’ gentle giants, and when you see them up close and personal, they don’t look anything like the predators we’ve been taught to fear. They’ve got a flat face and magnificent markings down their backs.
*We wish we could have gotten better photos of the whale sharks, but they swim by so quickly 🥲
There are only a few spots in the world where you’ll find whale sharks, like the Philippines, Mozambique, Indonesia and Belize to name a few. Here in Mexico you can find them in the Mexican Caribbean and in Baja California, on the opposite side of the country.
Swimming with a whale shark out in the open ocean has got to be one of the most phenomenal animal encounters we’ve either experienced. If you’re an animal lover, this is an experience you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.
Is it safe to swim with whale sharks
We hear the world ‘shark’, and immediately picture a giant predator with sharp teeth lunging for their prey. Although whale sharks are technically classified as sharks, they’re filter-feeding fish. This means that they are not apex predators, but rather gentle fish that pose absolutely zero threat to humans.
You may be concerned by how big their mouths open when feeding, and the possibility of being accidentally swallowed. We can almost guarantee that this cannot happen.
Firstly, the throat of a whale shark is about the size of a basketball, meaning it is physically impossible to end up in the belly of a whale shark. Additionally, the tour guides will only let you hop in the water from behind, so you’ll never be near their mouths.
For this reason, you should not be worried about swimming with Whale Sharks in Cancun
Why swimming with whale sharks in Cancun may not be for you
Although there are no real threats in terms of the whale sharks, we would only recommend going on this tour if you’re confident swimming in the open ocean. You’ll be taken into a deep part of the ocean, and once the team spots the first whale shark, you’ll start to get prepped for your swim.
You’ll be paired up and will take turns jumping into the water with the other passengers. Each pair only gets a few minutes in the water before they’re called to swim to the back of the boat and board.
Once the whole group has had a chance to swim with the whale sharks at least once, and if the conditions permit, everyone will get a second chance to jump in.
The process of getting everyone in and out of the water was quite fast-paced, and even though we were pretty fit, we were out of breath by the time we got back on the boat.
So, if you’re uncomfortable with swimming out in the ocean surrounded by other boats, this may not be your trip.
However, this same tour company offers a full-day tour to the virgin Isla Contoy, where you’ll have many opportunities to spot gorgeous ocean life.
Where to swim with whale sharks in Mexico
Whale sharks migrate, depending on the season. Here in Mexico, we receive whale sharks in two completely different parts of the country – Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur.
In Quintana Roo, you’ll find tours to swim with whale sharks in many different spots like; Holbox, Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
Before we went on our first whale shark tour, we wondered which of those places offered the best experience. We assumed it would be Isla Mujeres because of the water clarity around the island, but the reality is that the whale sharks could be located anywhere between Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cancun.
This means that whether your boat departs from Cancun, Holbox or Isla Mujeres they’re all headed to the same place – wherever the whale sharks are that day.
⛵️ The dock is located in Cancun, and you can easily find closeby hotels using this map!
So if you’re wondering where you can swim with whale sharks in Cancun, you’ll find the best Whale Shark tour, it’s not so much about location and more about the tour provider you choose to go with.
We’ll be talking in-depth about the exact tour we took, but we had an incredible experience with them and wouldn’t want to have gone with anyone else.
If you’re headed to the other side of Mexico and want to know the best place to swim with whale sharks in Baja California Sur, we haven’t swam with whale sharks on that side of the country just yet. But, here are some of the top-rated whale shark tours in Baja California.
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When is whale shark season
Because whale sharks are migratory animals, you’ll only find them during the whale shark season. Whale shark season obviously differs from location to location and it does not have a definite start and end date, as these animals are wild and run on their own schedule.
In the state of Quintana Roo, you can expect to start seeing whale sharks from June 1 to September 17. Whale shark season is the complete opposite in Baja California Sur, where you can expect to see whale sharks from October to May.
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How to swim with whale sharks in Cancun
We’ve seen whale shark tours in Indonesia where they take you out on small outrigger boats, as the whale sharks seem to swim near the shore. Swimming with whale sharks in Quintana Roo is very different, in the respect that you will likely travel at least 1 hour from shore before you can start spotting whale sharks.
For this reason, the only way to see whale sharks is by going on a tour with an authorised tour provider. You can go on a private tour, which would be incredible. But most people opt for a group whale shark tour to keep costs down. At least that’s what we did and we loved our experience.
This is the exact tour we took. and we’ve gone on three separate trips with them, and their commitment to quality and conservation is admirable:
If you’ve got a larger party or don’t mind the price tag, going on a private tour would be awesome!
The major benefit of going private is that you will likely get the chance to swim with the whale sharks more than just once or twice, like on the group tours.
We haven’t personally been on a private whale shark tour, but these are the top-rated providers:
The best whale shark tour in Cancun
Our opinion on which is the best whale shark tour in the region may be a little biased, but we’ve used and loved Ocean Tours and believe in their ethics regarding sustainable tourism.
Each guide we’ve encountered has been welcoming, friendly, and super knowledgeable about marine life. Although all the whale shark tours offer the same experience, the quality of the experience is highly influenced by the provider you go with.
We made an entire YouTube video on the exact whale shark tour we took, which will show you exactly what you can expect. But if you’re looking for something a little different, here are the top-rated whale shark tours.
Why we love this whale shark tour
We need to disclose that this was a hosted tour, meaning we didn’t pay for the tour but after relentlessly researching tour operators, Ocean Tours stuck out by their professionalism and customer reviews.
Of the three times we’ve gone with OceanTours, every staff member we encountered was so friendly and knowledgeable.
In addition to that, this tour includes almost everything you are going to need for your trip. We go into more detail below on exactly what’s included, but having round-trip transportation included with your tour is a huge plus!
In addition, the structure of the tour is fun, the food provided is pretty good and the fun-loving guides make the experience so memorable.
And lastly, one of our favourite things we loved about this day, is our ceviche lunch that we enjoyed with our group right near the shores of Isla Mujeres! An awesome experience to end of an exciting morning of swimming with the whale sharks.
Complete tour schedule to Swim with Whale Sharks in Cancun
It’s important to remember that this is a full-day trip, especially if you’re getting picked-up outside Cancun.
We were the first pick-up because we are based in Playa del Carmen, and that meant that we had to be ready at a nearby meeting point at 5:15am. We got back home at around 6:00pm absolutely exhausted and pretty sunburnt, so we would recommend planning a quiet night in.
Your pick-up time depends largely on where you’re located within the Riviera Maya. Our pick-up was at 5:15 am as Playa del Carmen is about 1 hour away from Cancun.
We didn’t reach the dock in Cancun until around 7 am. The early start wasn’t so bad though, as we got to enjoy the sunrise and take a little nap on the journey. The dock is located in Cancun, so if you’re staying in one of the big hotels in Cancun, you don’t have to worry about such an early pick-up.
This is how your day will look:
05:00 – 07:20 – Pick up from accommodation in an air-conditioned van
07:30 – Arrive at the dock and grab a light breakfast
07:50 – Departure to the Whale Shark Snorkeling area
09:30 – Arrival at the Whale Shark Snorkeling area
9:30 – 11:30 – Guided swimming with the whale sharks
11:30 – Departure to Isla Mujeres Coral reef
12:30 – Snorkeling at Isla Mujeres Coral reef
13:30 – Seafood Lunch
14:30 – Departure back to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum
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How much is it and Whats Included
This is an all-inclusive tour in the sense that the only additional things you are required to pay for are the US$15 conservation fee in cash, and tips if you choose so.
Other than those two additions, you’ll have comfortable round-trip transportation, a light breakfast, access to knowledgeable staff, non-alcoholic beverages and local beer, and a light lunch at the end of the day. Tours range from around US$190 – 260.
Here is exactly what’s included:
- Round-trip transportation in a clean and safe van.
- Light breakfast upon arrival at the dock in Cancun
- Non-alcoholic beverages, and local beers (alcohol is served after swimming activities are done)
- Access to knowledgeable tour guides
- At least two swims with the whale sharks (*condition permitting)
- Snorkel time at the Mesoamerican barrier reef
- A light lunch (vegetarian option available)
- Quality snorkel gear and life vests
What if you don't see whale sharks
It’s important to remember that seeing whale sharks is not guaranteed, as they are wild animals. However, there are hundreds of boats out at sea each day looking for them and they keep in contact, making the network aware of a spotting.
The chances of seeing whale sharks within season is exteremely high, but funnily enough we did not spot any whale sharks on our first trip.
It was quite disappointing, but we knew we had the chance to try again soon, as we live here. However, most of the tourists in that particular group were leaving Mexico the next day, meaning that they never got another chance to go out.
If you’re very keen to swim with whale sharks, we’d highly recommend booking it on one of your first days of vacation, so you’ve got flexibility.
If you go with this particular provider and don’t see any whale sharks, they will gladly reschedule your trip or issue tour vouchers, valid for three years.
Our guide made up for the bad luck by navigating us past the gorgeous virgin island known as Isla Contoy. We also spotted some turtles and a ton of marine and birdlife. We were sad that we didn’t get to see them the first time around, but that made our second trip so much more special.
Is snorkeling with whale sharks worth it
Considering that swimming with whale sharks is one of the priciest activities available in the region, it’s fair to have high expectations of the experience.
If you’re a lover of adventure and the ocean, then yes you’d love swimming with whale sharks. We both think of that encounter as one of the most remarkable travel experiences we’ve had.
If you’re afraid of the ocean and would prefer shorter days out at sea then this experience probably isn’t for you, and that’s totally ok. If you ask us, we say go for it!
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What to pack for your whale shark tour
It’s important to remember that the boats are not huge, so you’ll only be allowed one small bag per person.
Additionally, you won’t be permitted to apply any sunscreen or bug repellant as it is harmful to the environment.
So the only real way to protect your skin is by wearing UPF50+ protective clothing. As someone with very fair skin, I still got pretty sunburnt even though I was taking precautions.
These are the 5 things we’d recommend packing for your whale shark tour, that you’ll actually use:
UPF50+ Sun Shirt
Spending the entire day out on the open ocean is rough, no matter your complexion. Since you can’t use any sunscreen, this is the only way to protect your arms, back and chest.
UPF50+ Sun Hat
We’d recommend getting a wide-brimmed sun hat that covers your ears and face, and at least the top of your neck from the sun.
Lightweight Towel
These lightweight towels dry super quickly, and are much less bulky than regular beach towels.
Polarized Sunglasses
These types of sunglasses are pretty pricey, but they’re awesome for a day out on the water. If you were to encounter any-kind of marine life, you’d see them much more clearly and vividly through the water. If $100 sunglasses aren’t your thing, just be sure to at least bring a pair to protect your eyes.
Rubber Sandals
The worst thing is being wet and walking in shoes that are not designed to be wet. Rubber sandals are the best for water activities, in our opinion.
Additionally, you’ll need at least US$15 cash on you for the conservation fee and for tips, if you choose to tip the boat captain and your guides. the average tip in this region is about 16% but we’d say at least 20% is fair, considering there are 5 people on board that share the pot.
Lastly, you’ll want to bring a change of clothes for the journey back home. Once you arrive back at the dock, you’ll have around 20 minutes to have a rinse and change into dry clothes
What to know before going on your tour
You need to be a confident swimmer: Life jackets are provided, but you will be swimming out in the open ocean and need to be able to get yourself back on the boat.
Motion sickness: Even if you don’t usually suffer from motion sickness, we’d still recommend taking precautions. The tour provider offered us a Dramamine on the way to the dock in Cancun, but we also prepared fresh ginger tea to have in the morning and while on the boat, which worked out well.
You time with the whale sharks is very short: Even though the tour itself lasts almost the entire day, your actual time spent swimming with the whale sharks is only a few minutes. I’d say you only get around 8 minutes in total in the water with the whale sharks because there are hundreds of people each day that come for this experience.
Whale shark sightings are not guaranteed: Because whale sharks are wild animals, it is impossible to guarantee that you’re going to find them on the day you choose to go. There are usually ways to rebook your tour at a discounted price if this happens.
Big time commitment: This tour lasts the entire day, and you can expect to get back to your accommodation exhausted. We’d highly recommend a relaxed evening, instead of booking a show or nice dinner for the same day.
Our honest thoughts on swimming with whale sharks in Cancun
We absolutely loved our experience and would definitely do it again!
The marine life that we saw, was phenomenal and the water clarity here in The Mexican Caribbean is magical.
We didn’t expect the day to be so long and I really struggled with a bad sunburn days after the trip, but other than that everything was absolutely perfect.
The highlight was swimming right alongside such massive and majestic creatures, the experience was like something right out of a dream.
If you’re sure you want to swim with the whale sharks, our best advice is to book the tour early on in your vacation in case you don’t see the whale shares the first time around.
If you’re not sold on the whale shark tour, the next best tour we’d recommend is to the protected Isla Contoy. We made a YouTube video and wrote a blog post on this incredibly beautiful part of the Mexican Caribbean.
