The 7 Best Whale Watching in Cancun

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

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

Swim with whale sharks from Cancun, Tulum, or Playa del Carmen, then snorkel, eat ceviche, and relax near Isla Mujeres.

“Yes you have to get up early. Yes it’s a long ride in the van and on the boat. Yes you might get seasick. They have dramamine, so take it if you think necessary. Yes Mother Nature is unpredictable with weather, waves, and wild animals. Yes, it’s an experience of a lifetime. A dozen or so whale sharks all around us. Humbling and magnificent. Whale shark season is over the summer months and we hit it right in the middle. Captain Nando, Jose, and our guide Dori NAILED it. Guides in water with you entire time. I understand conditions vary on every experience, but our day was 10/10. On ride…”

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2.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 with a biologist guide, small boat groups, lunch near Isla Mujeres, and clear advice on costs and sea conditions.

“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!”

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3.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, hotel pickup, guides, and practical tips on rough seas.

“Swimming alongside the whale sharks was amazing. It was such a memorable experience. It could have been improved if the guide had told us how long we would be in the water (only a couple of minutes) and how many turns we would get. We got two turns each but we weren’t allowed to swim Ali gside the Shark fit very long.”

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4.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, clear-water swimming, and chances to see dolphins and turtles.

“We had a once in a lifetime experience today with Omar. You can tell his passion for animals and his experience. We had a fantastic day with so many whale sharks it was hard to count, maybe more than 6!! The most beautiful ceviche served up on the boat anchored at Playa Norte. Couldn’t fault a single aspect. Thank you so much”

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5.Cancun Whale Shark Encounter

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

Swim near whale sharks from Cancun, then snorkel and eat ceviche at Playa Norte on a small-group Punta Sam boat trip.

“This is nature, and there is no guarantee. I went on the whale shark tour on Monday, but we did not succeed in getting a chance to swim with the sharks. We got close, but nature was not cooperating. At least we got to have lunch at a beautiful beach with warm, turquoise water. Contoy and Viator helped me rebook the tour for another try to see these amazing creatures, and I was not disappointed. I really appreciated that Contoy stuck to the rules set up to protect these whale sharks (limits on sunscreen use, only two swimmers allowed in the water with the guide at a time, only short…”

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6.Whale Shark Tour from Cancun and Playa Del Carmen

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 77 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $155Best value

Swim with whale sharks near Isla Contoy on a guided Cancun tour, with hotel pickup, lunch, gear, and practical tips for rough seas.

“This was one of the best experiences ever. If you are lucky enough to get Carlos as your tour guide you've hit the jackpot! He made the trip comfortable, safe, and extremely enjoyable. We'd do it again and again!”

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7.Whale Shark Snorkeling Experience from Cancun and Riviera Maya

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $229

Swim with whale sharks from Cancun or Riviera Maya, then enjoy lunch on Isla Mujeres on this small-group Caribbean adventure.

“This expedition was a whale of a good time and has filtered through as the best day ever. While I came for the whale sharks, they came in second next to how much I loved Michelle’s energy and charisma. She helped us create multiple krill-ion dollar moments with these big-daddy sharks, do-do-do-do-do-do. We got so close to these bus-sized sharks which was incredible and almost nerve-wracking. They’ve got more spots than a leopard and less bite than a goldfish, so we knew we weren’t in any danger (other than being so awe-struck we didn’t want to leave). These creatures are proof that size matters — when it comes to sheer…”

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