7 Whale Shark Swims in Cancun to Build a Day Around

1.Whale Shark Adventure in Isla Mujeres and Cancun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 951 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $155Our pick

Swim with whale sharks near Isla Mujeres on a small-group boat tour with snorkeling, lunch, and practical tips for seasickness and timing.

“Be prepared for being very patient. You're not guaranteed finding the whalesharks right away. The number you come across can vary between zero and one hundred. Also, the guide takes videos and will sell you yours for $30. You may or may not actually receive the video after paying. We did not.”

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2.Whale Shark Tour from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 929 reviews · 6 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $199

Swim with whale sharks from Cancun, enjoy reef snorkeling and Playa Norte, and get practical tips on timing, costs, sea conditions, and what to bring.

“Carlos was amazing!!! He explained every step clearly and helped me when I was falling behind (I’m a slow swimmer lol). Also, we were able to jump 4 times! The last time we saw the whale shark alone (away from the other boats, we were on our way to the snorkeling area) for a long time! The only issue was my husbands snorkeling mask was leaking the entire time and he kept having to come up out of the water to get the water out. He tried everything to get the water out but nothing worked. But overall, great experience!!”

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3.Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 916 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $160

Swim with whale sharks off Cancun on a guided small-group tour, with hotel pickup, lunch, snorkeling gear, and a $20 cash marine tax.

“Naara and her team were amazing! They made sure everyone got to be in the water and got wonderful footage.”

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4.Whale Shark Swimming and Isla Mujeres Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 399 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $210

Swim beside whale sharks near Cancun, then relax at Playa Norte with ceviche. Read about timing, seasickness, gear, costs, and tour value.

“This was an amazing trip and totally worth the money. If you do one thing while in Mexico this is it. Pros- whales sharks are awesome and are not going to hurt you. Snorkel gear is included. Able to purchase photos and videos from the shore but you are also able to take your own. Everyone gets time in the water which is fair but would be better to have longer. Cons- lunch is provided but they don’t cater well - ham sandwich You have to wear a life jacket or pay $15 to wear a wet suit as they state you need to have some buoyancy. Take sea sickness…”

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5.Swim with Whale Sharks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 380 reviews · 7 - 7.5 hours · from $160

Swim with whale sharks from Cancún in a small group, with naturalist guides, lunch, snorkeling gear, and a clear plan for rough seas.

“It was such an amazing experience. I’d highly recommend this activity. Thank you to my guide Omar, he did such a wonderful job throughout the entire tour.”

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6.Whale Shark and Snorkeling Adventure from Isla Holbox

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 214 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $199

Review of Isla Holbox’s whale shark tour, with snorkeling, manta rays, ceviche, practical tips, costs, wildlife concerns, and booking advice.

“Excellent guide (gustavo), guided our daughter of 6 years old perfectly. There where 10 persons on board, and every single one had a perfect experience!”

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7.Cancun Whale Shark Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 172 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $210

Swim with whale sharks from Cancun, then enjoy Playa Norte, ceviche, hotel pickup, and a responsible small-group sea adventure.

“This experience was absolutely amazing! We saw several whale sharks and was able to swim within 1 foot of them. Our captain was amazing and let us have extra jumps to make the experience even better! 10/10 would recommend. Ended the day with a swim and lunch at Isla Mujeres!”

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