An incredible opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience is waiting for you in the crystal clear Caribbean waters of Isla Mujeres. Every summer between May and September hundreds of whale sharks gather to peacefully graze on plankton in what becomes the world’s largest congregation of these animals.
Swimming with these gentle giants, holder of the title of world’s largest fish, is an amazing experience that only happens in a privileged few spots around the world, and nowhere else is this easy to find them or has this many whale sharks at once.
Be a part of this tour to join a select number of people that have witnessed firsthand the grace and beauty of the whale sharks in a fun, exciting and safe adventures.
Itinerary
7:00 am Pick up at your Hotel (6:00 AM from Playa del Carmen)
7:30 am: informative pre-departure briefing at Marina Hacienda del Mar. Your knowledgeable, certified guide will provide the group with information about the whale sharks and the whale shark reserve as well as safety protocols and the rules we’ll be following.
8:00 am: departure from the marina to the whale shark reserve. The reserve is an area of open seas North of Isla Mujeres, arriving here and finding the whale sharks can take between 45 minutes and an hour. Once we find them the adventure begins.
12:30 pm: enjoy lunch on the boat off the coast of Isla Mujeres in one of the world’s most beautiful beaches (as ranked by Condé Nast in 2013). After lunch you can enjoy the beach and relax for a while.
1:30 pm: estimated time of return to the marina and end of the tour.
Covid Safety Measures
As we continue to live through the Covid-19 pandemic it is important that we respect the safety measures to keep us all safe. Here are some of the measures that you will be encountering in this tour:
- We ask that you please fill this health questionnaire at most 24 hours before the tour.
- Upon pick up you will be welcomed, have your temperature checked, apply anti-bacterial gel and check that you have completed your health questionnaire
- We ask that you please utilize a face mask that covers your mouth and nose during the tour. Our team has disposable masks in case you need one
- Antibacterial gel is available at the transport units and the boats at all times
- We ask that you respect all hygiene measures in place to ensure yours and our safety
- Keep a minimum distance of 1.5 meters (5ft)
- Disinfect your belongings at every opportunity
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a whale shark?
Whale sharks are the world’s largest fish, growing beyond 10 meters in length and weighing more than 19 tons. Despite their name they are not whales, but they are sharks, however similarly to many whales these sharks are filter feeders and not predators.
Are whale sharks dangerous?
They are not; while they remain wild animals and are technically capable of harming us given their immense size and strength, they are known for their gentle nature. Whale sharks pay no mind to us swimming with them and continue to feed in our presence, so long as we respect them they will not interact with us.
Am I harming the environment or the sharks by being here?
You are not. This activity is strictly regulated and the guidelines we follow when watching them from the boat or in the water with them are designed to ensure both our and their safety. If we follow these rules, that include a no diving and no touching, we can all coexist happily.
Can I touch the whale sharks?
No you may not, his is strictly prohibited. Touching the sharks risks stressing them causing them to leave the area and stop feeding them for that day. We ask everyone to remain at least 10ft from these animals at any time when in the water with them.
Do I need to wear a life jacket?
Yes, this is not optional. Regulations stipulate that you must wear a flotation device at all times; your only other option is wearing a full wetsuit of 3mm thickness or more. These are not included with the tour but are available for rental or you can bring your own. Rash guards and other lighter protection do not count as flotation devices.
How can I prevent seasickness?
If you are prone to seasickness we advice that you consult your doctor for the best medication possible for you. They will present you a range of options that you can take and the proper ways of taking them to prevent any seasickness. We do not sell any medication at our facilities.
What happens if we don’t find the whale sharks?
This tour guarantees whale shark encounters in June, July and August. If no client on a tour during these dates saw a whale shark during the expedition you can either reschedule your tour at no additional cost or be eligible for a full refund. We offer this tour in the months of May and September as well, and while whale sharks are sighted the vast majority of these tours we do not offer a guarantee for these two months.
Don’t wait any longer and make your reservation for this life-changing wild animal encounter.
incredible experience
Score:
Recommend: YES
Valery and Rudolf
from Slovakia
Although our guide, Narie, was AWESOME, ultimately, we did not spot any whale sharks after four hours of searching. I understand that whale sharks are in their natural habitat and they are unpredictable.
However, I have received a voucher good for three years, so even though we weren't successful this time around, I'm immensely thankful that Cancun Adventure issued us a voucher to use in the next few years!
Score:
Recommend: YES
David Glenn
from Austin, Texas
The crew members were kind and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip!
Score:
Recommend: YES
Erika
from St. Louis, MO
This was by far my favorite experience while I was in Cancun!
Score:
Recommend: YES
Zane
from Atlanta Ga
Was a very strong and extreme experience, totally recomended
Score:
Recommend: YES
Carlos
from Santiago, Chile
Breathtaking!
Score:
Recommend: YES
Anonymous
from
I have to admit when I arrived at the dock I thought omg . It was right next to the building site which had appeared to have overflowed to the jetty area. But after meeting the guys Alex and Roman our guides and getting out on the boat it was truly amazing they did everything they could to ensure we saw and swan with whale sharks . The early start was so worth it and I will go back to Mexico and do it again with these guys thank you so much
Score:
Recommend: YES
Zonja
from Ipswich uk
My family and I had a wonderful time.
Score:
Recommend: YES
Tony Shaw
from San Diego, CA
This was such a fun filled day. The crew were courtious and sweet, always concerned about our wellfare and if we were enjoying our adventure. They did all humanly possible to find the Whale Sharks and get us in the water in time. This was a huge unique experience that is well worth the money. If we come back to Cancun we will definately do this again. Make sure you don't get sea sick, and your in shape to jump in and out of the water and swim, swim, swim. You will be attempting to keep up with these beautiful giants for this incredible opportunity. Our family was in AWE to be able to share such a beautiful adventure together.
Score:
Recommend: YES
Anonymous
from Ventura County, California
They are so large it is amazing
Score:
Recommend: YES
Melanie
from Elk Point, SD
The experience with the Whales was great.
It took a long time to find the first on because seas were rough. We did not finish until 2 pm and I was very hungry by the time we were fed.
If you do this tour bring snacks or eat before.
I felt like the guides could have made the tour more interactive. --I do not speak spanish and the only guide who spoke english was more interested in the japanese customers. They could have given us some facts about the Whale Sharks to make the HOURS of searching pass a little easier.Instead, we sat in the baking sun being beaten by the ocean for several hors, not knowing if this was normal, if we should expect to search for hours.
I enjoyed the diving experience and DO recommed it, but they could make the time searching more interesting.
Score:
Recommend: YES
Tim C
from Orlando,FL
I wanted to thank you for a GREAT experience! My wife and I were amazed at the amount of whale sharks that we encountered. We were hoping to see at least a couple of whale sharks and were totally surprised when we pulled up next to 30-50 whale sharks swimming around the boat in the open water. Our guide was awesome!!! She grabbed my wifes hand and repeatedly took her in the middle of several whale sharks (within touching distance), a bit scary but that was a big part of the fun. Our guide and the boat Capt. did a wonderful job! We are already making plans to return to Cancun next year so we can have another whale shark experience.
Thanks again!!!
Scott Davis
Score:
Recommend: YES
Scott Davis
from Dayton, Oh