Whale Shark Tour from Cancun and Playa Del Carmen
4.6
69 Ratings
Punta Sam
Embark on a thrilling whale shark tour from Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. Swim with the world's largest fish and experience an intimate, eco-conscious adventure that emphasizes conservation.
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Punta Sam - We start the pickup at your hotel, then we transfer you to Punta Sam and start the tour into the surrounding areas of Isla Contoy.

Where the whale sharks arrive in huge amounts every year from May to September, a great opportunity to swim beside this harmless sharks.

Once the activity is done you will visit “Playa Norte” at Isla Mujeres Island for the lunch of fresh fish ceviche and chicken sandwiches.

Then transfer back to Puerto Juarez for van drop off at your hotel.

What's Included
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
  • Water and soft drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (not included in without transportation option)
  • Bilingual Guide
What's Not Included
  • Port & Protected Whale Shark Area Fees ($15 USD per person, cash payment at the port on your day)
  • Without transportation option does not include the pick-up and drop-off hotel
Additional Information

Taking part in the whale shark snorkel tour in Cancun, Mexico offers a unique chance to swim alongside the world’s largest fish. Our knowledgeable guides deliver a close-up, environmental-friendly experience, stressing the significance of preservation. As we only conduct the tour with small groups, participants get a privileged opportunity to watch and engage with these peaceful creatures in their wild environment.

  • Minimum age is 8 years
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • It is recommended that you bring a swimsuit, a long sleeve shirt and bring sunscreen and a waterproof camera
  • Pregnant women are not allowed
  • Seasonal product operating May to September
Location
Punta Sam
IMPORTANT: the port fee & whale shark natural protected area entrance are not included, you must pay per person at our stand in cash, there is no ATM in the port. **For the meeting point(no transportation) time is 7:30 AM at Punta Sam port.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(69 Ratings)
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Anna_f
Jun 25, 2023
Fantastic experience. The... - Fantastic experience. The crew was amazing and so was the experience! I went by myself and still felt very safe and had a blast! We saw about 15 whale sharks. It’s a once in a life time experience!
Review provided by Viator
Lyndsey_c
Jun 14, 2023
Amazing! The crew were... - Amazing! The crew were wonderful I would most definitely recommend taking motion sickness medication before going..
Review provided by Viator
Eliseisrad
Jan 30, 2023
Best experience of my life - This is why I came to Cancun, and why I came in sweltering August! In the summer, the whale sharks come to the waters of Isla Mujeres, about a 2-hour boat ride from Cancun. We had to go without sunscreen, even if it was reef safe, because the whale sharks feed on the surface and can ingest the slick of chemicals. So, I got a sunburn, but it was the least I could do for these glorious creatures. It was a gorgeous day out on the water. We had to get up really early to beat the other boats there. When we got to the spot there was a wide circle of boats, and plenty of whale sharks to go around. They were everywhere! At one point one came right to the corner of the boat where a guide and I were sitting, and I swear it was the size of a VW bug! We looked at each other agog, and I assume he has seen a lot of whale sharks.. Everyone is paired up, and you get two chances in the water. We were sitting on the edge of the boat, and as soon as a whale shark got close ,they yelled, “Go! Go! Go!” I didn’t notice at the time, but in the video you can see that the guide pushed me in! As the bubbles cleared, I found myself face to face with a whale shark that was probably 5 feet wide. If its mouth was open I might have met Jonah. But I had swam with whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium and was familiar with their behavior. So I opened my arms and legs wide and let my whole body float on top of the water. As expected, the shark gracefully slid beneath me. I floated there as its entire body glided beneath mine, blotting out the rest of the sea. All I could see was the beautiful gray spotted leviathon, maybe 2 feet away. In that moment I felt that I fully understood the majesty of nature. The guide yelled, “Swim! Swim!” He wanted me to follow it to get video, which I guess had been impossible with the whale shark completely between us. The other guide was excited as I was. He said, “When I saw you were going over, I swam beneath him! I decided that nothing could ever match that experience and immediately got out of the water. As I stepped onto the boat I announced, “I have found my god!!” My second turn in the water, their videographer got some good footage of me with another whale shark. They kept wanting me to chase the sharks to get more video, but I kind of felt like the whale sharks had given me my religious moment and I was done. We went to the Isla Mujeres and hung out in the harbor with a bunch of other boats. Lots of people were swimming, and the guides made us a ceviche lunch from fish they had just caught. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J2454uylisam
Sep 12, 2022
Best snorkeling trip I've had! - We had a great time and saw so much! The stuff on the boat was extremely nice and helpful. We saw a bunch of dolphins, see turtles and whale sharks twice. Swimming with the whale sharks was an incredible experience. For lunch we went to a small island. Also really pretty and the food they provided was really nice. They even pick you up from the hotel and drive you back. Would definitely recommend this trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Reneevisserman
Sep 12, 2022
Amazing experience - We had an amazing day and even though it took a while to fine the whale sharks we got to see and to swim with them from Cancun and had a great lunch on Isla Contoy. Carlos was an awesome guide. We would totally recommend this toue.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katelynn_d
Aug 30, 2022
Amazing experience - Amazing experience even the second time around. Felt Very safe. The crew was terrific. Loved it would go again.
Review provided by Viator
Stevie_m
Aug 29, 2022
Great tour! - Great day out! We were lucky and got to see a few sharks and got really close to them. We were back at the hotel by 2-3 pm (Cancun). It is a very well-organized tour, and Carlos was great. Would 100% recommend it, as the group size is small and they are super accommodating with yummy food on the Island after the sharks. Great information throughout. I would cover up too as you are not allowed to wear sunscreen when swimming with the sharks.
Review provided by Viator
Nicole_c
Aug 22, 2022
A once in a lifetime experience!! - I cannot say enough good things about our guide Charlie, Jenner, and the rest of the boat crew. While they don’t promise that you will see a whale shark, they do their best to make sure everyone does. We were lucky to have great weather and they did such a wonderful job making sure everyone got to see and swim with the whale sharks while also ensuring no one was touching or hurting them. You can tell that they obviously care so much about these animals and the ocean. They even stopped our boat to pick up trash they saw in the ocean. After swimming, they take you to beautiful isla mujeres where they make you lunch on the water. It was so yummy and isla mujeres is so beautiful to swim around and take pictures at. Some tips—the boat is VERY rocky so make sure you have some tablets for motion sickness. If you forget you can buy them for $1 at the drop off point. They were so sweet even when people did get motion sick. Thank you again to Charlie and crew for making it such a wonderful adventure!
Review provided by Viator
Michelle
Aug 21, 2022
Thrilling Experience - The day could not have been better! A truly exhilarating experience. The guides knew exactly what they were doing and worked hard to make sure you got as close to the whale sharks as possible (bring your Zofran!). Carlos made the day just perfect. We felt comfortable and safe all day. They made the best guacamole I've ever had! Thanks for a wonderful day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adamg956
Jul 29, 2022
Great experience, Carlos is a wonderful instructor! - We went on the 27th July and didn't see any whale sharks. This was apparently very uncommon for this time of year. The boat crew (Carlos, Oliver and Oscar) did everything they could the whole time and even stayed later than normal to spot them, they made sure we were comfortable with drinks foot etc. However nature is nature and there are no guarantees and it just didn't happen. We decided to try again the next day and our dive instructor, Carlos, was so positive and supportive . He arranged everything for us. The next day (28th) was brilliant, we spotted a whale shark soon after arriving at the prime location and swam along side it. We then saw another and again swan next to it. We were expecting a maximum of two swims, however just as we headed back, the captain (Pepe) spotted another whale shark and offered another swim. This was the best swim as no other boats were around and the whale shark was very calm and just circled around us. The crew have the welfare of the fish as high priority and if you are lucky enough to have Carlos as your instructor, he is fantastic! So knowledgeable and really wants you to have the best experience possible, Pepe is a super captain too!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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