Whale Shark Snorkeling: Yucatan's Gentle Giants

Embark on an eco-friendly small-group tour in Cancun & Riviera Maya to encounter majestic whale sharks. Snorkel with these gentle giants and spot dolphins, manta rays, and turtles.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Puerto Xtabay | Marina & Cantina de Mar - Attend an enlightening session at Marina Xtabay, where expert guides will provide captivating information about whale sharks and the region’s distinctive ecosystems. Discover more about these gentle giants and their natural environment before embarking on your adventure.
  • Playa Norte - Savor a…
What's Included
  • Bilingual naturalist guide
  • Water and soft drinks
  • Use of snorkeling equipment (life jacket, visor, fins, snorkel)
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Environmental tax and dock use: $20.00 USD in cash per person, payable the day of your tour.
Additional Information

Join us on this exciting journey where Mexico’s friendly whale sharks await your presence! With our professional guidance, you will sail in the Gulf of Mexico to meet the largest of fishes and possibly encounter dolphins, manta rays, and turtles during this intimate snorkeling escapade off the Yucatan coast.
*PLEASE NOTE: OUR PRIVATE WHALE SHARK TOUR IS…

Location
Puerto Xtabay | Marina & Cantina de Mar
Carretera a Punta Sam
Carretera Puerto Juárez, Carr. a Punta Sam Supermanzana 84, 77500 Cancún, Q.R. "Marina Xtabay"
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.5
(917 Ratings)
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Lori
Sep 11, 2025
Up close encounter with whale sharks!! - This was a bucket list activity for me! The tour guide and captain were wonderful! The whale sharks were amazing and our guides were informative and helpful. The ceviche and guacamole made fresh on the boat at Isla Mujeres were delicious!! Highly recommended!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Taylor_r
Sep 7, 2025
Great experience! Got see... - Great experience! Got see so many sharks and get pretty close to them as well. Would definitely recommend
Review provided by Viator
Brian_g
Sep 5, 2025
Wow!!! - Amazing experience! There were 30ish Whale Sharks in the area and they were feeding at the surface, so we got to swim right beside these majestic animals. Naara, and the crew were amazing! I had previously swam with Whale Sharks in the Maldives and this was an even better experience. Highly recommend this tour and tour operator!
Review provided by Viator
Elizabeth_g
Sep 5, 2025
Beautiful experience!! ... - Beautiful experience!! The whale sharks are incredible creatures, they are huge! My advice when you are in the water with them really soak it up and enjoy!
Review provided by Viator
George_l
Sep 5, 2025
Sensational tour - Incredible experience. Our tour guide Naara picked us up on time from our hotel. Really nice air conditioned ride to the bay. Thier was coffee and toast when we arrived and the option to rent wet suits. For first time divers I would say it’s not needed as having the life jacket on means you get to be more stress free, therefore more time to focus on the whale sharks. Then we got on the boat to sail past Isla mjures to the sharks. We got lucky that another boat had found the whale sharks before we arrived so no waiting around. Be prepared it is fast paced as they have to make sure there is time for all 10 people on the boat to jump in, 2 at a time. You can bring your own phone to film, additionally they have a diver that follows you with a go pro. The videos they got were great but we have waterproof cases and got great videos as well so decided not to buy the videos. We got lucky and got to jump in twice. The first time everything happens so fast so just focus on swimming as fast as you can as the whale shark will be faster than you. We got very lucky that it was feeding so it was quite slow but they can go off really fast. You are provided with flippers and a snorkel with goggles which really helps make everything easier. The second time jumping is so much better as you know your bearings and got a hang of the snorkel by then. Additionally my gf brought her goggles as she needs lenses in here so you can bring your own gear. We were lucky enough to see 2 other whale sharks while sailing back aswell. The feeling of swimming with the sharks is like nothing I’ve ever experienced, absolutely breathtaking. Then after the dive you head to a beach on Isla mjures. There you get to swim in the crystal clear waters on the beach while the crew prepare lunch. The lunch was delicious, it included fresh guacamole with ceviche and tortillas chips. They also provide plenty of water and soft drinks all ice cold. Then after that you head home. Overall the experience was 11/10. All went so smoothly and stress free. Our tour guide was brilliant and gave us plenty of time to prepare for the dive, give information on the sharks and overall be a great companion for the day. Tips for anyone going: • being spare clothes and a towel • a must is a waterproof phone case •maybe some snacks for the journey there as from the hotel to the sharks it’s 3 and a half hours total (varies on which hotel you stay at) •don’t bring suncream unless it’s eco friendly, however you can only use it on the beach, not with the whale sharks. • So bring a hat and sunglasses •practise your swimming
Review provided by Viator
Kristen
Aug 31, 2025
Highly recommend! - This is an amazing experience! Omar our guide was excellent from communication prior the excursion to pick up and the tour. Tito was great and ensures you see the whales. The captain was great too! The made lunch on the boat while you’re swimming in the beautiful water.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nellie_j
Aug 26, 2025
Once in a lifetime... - Once in a lifetime experience! Victor was our guide and he did such an incredible job, would highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Krunoslav_s
Aug 25, 2025
Great adventure with whalesharks - I booked tour ad hoc and all comunication was swift and precise. Arranged pick up fast. Guide was Viktor and did a great job. The info before tour was precise. Boat was fast and ok for 10 of us. We were lucky and found many whalesharks fast so i got 3 dives with my wife. It was well organized,safe and got great movies and pictures. After diving we got nice local snack made by crew in astonishing swim in tirquise beach at Isla Muheres. For very good swimmers i would recomend swimsuite they rent. life jacket just slowed me.
Review provided by Viator
Q288gremmaf
Sep 3, 2025
Amazing day swimming with the whole sharks - Our tour guide Victor was absolutely amazing at looking after us throughout the whole trip! He was on time for pick up and was very welcoming. He told us everything we needed to know for the trip. Each pair gets a chance to dive in twice and I’m not the strongest of swimmers so the second time he help my hand for the whole thing making sure I was swimming right next to the whale shark and got the most amazing video of me which I will cherish forever. This is really a once in a life time experience and Victor helped make it that extra bit special. Thankyou to the whole team 🥺🥰
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robball57
Aug 23, 2025
Good fun but… - To swim with the whale sharks was a thrill, very well supported by our guide Omar and the boat crew. My only concern was the number of boats jockeying to put their pax into the water when a whale shark is close. I appreciate there are protocols on no touching, no diving down etc which seems quite well enforced but it is chaotic at times. This can be off putting particularly when you are enjoying swimming along with one only to have an obviously uncontrolled kid from another boat come charging in and kick you in the face while stupidly thrashing about! Not our operators fault obviously but still annoying when other operators are so careless. And the ceviche they provided for lunch was excellent!
Review provided by Tripadvisor