Cancun

Cancun Whale Shark Encounter

Badge of ExcellenceCancun, Mexico
Cancun Whale Shark encounter tours

From $210.00

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 4 to 5 hours
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Swim alongside whale sharks during this half-day shared excursion to Punta Sam from Cancun. Travel comfortably aboard an air-conditioned van, with front-door hotel pickup and drop-off, and set sail from a private marina. After your snorkeling adventure, you’ll enjoy freshly prepared ceviche and a visit to stunning Playa Norte beach in Isla Mujeres.
  • A half-day shared Punta Sam snorkeling excursion with whale shark swim
  • See the protected sea creatures from under the water at a responsible distance
  • Relax with front-door pick-up and drop-off from your hotel accommodation
  • Tours include ceviche, bottled water and soft drinks, and a light breakfast

What's Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off from most Cancun hotels
  • Light breakfast and sterilized snorkeling gear
  • Professional and certified bilingual guide
  • Bottled water and soft drinks
  • Visit to Playa Norte beach in Isla Mujeres
  • Fish ceviche & snacks
  • Meeting point pickup for vacation rentals
  • 20 USD per person dock fee and Marine Park Federal Tax

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

  • Punta Sam ferry terminal
    77420 Punta Sam, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    Our own private marina is conveniently located in Punta Sam right next to the Isla Mujeres ferry terminal and the Villa del Palmar hotel. Please arrive 30 minutes before the schedule departure time.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

We will confirm the exact pickup time and location on the day before the activity.

What To Expect

Playa Norte

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Stroller accessible
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Dress code casual, don't forget your swimsuit!
  • Operated by a bilingual guide
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • Pregnant women are not allowed for safety reasons and as per federal regulations.
  • Even though the probability of seeing whale sharks is very high, we cannot guarantee sightings.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

See more

Reviews

4.5
141 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-5 of 141 reviews
Tuburon Ballena.
Rhonda_F, Jul 2023
Excellent guides. Unforgettable experience. Up close! Dorian swam us right up to a whale shark. So close we could touch…but didn’t! This tour group had us up and out early so we were one of the first boats able to swim. As we were leaving, no less than 25+ boats were arriving and so was the patrol boat. We had time to swim with the whale shark but I imagine many of the later boats did not due to volume and the fact there was only one shark. Thanks to Contoy for giving us the experience many others did not get. Excellent ceviche afterwards! Dorian did a fantastic job of swimming us to the whale shark and also videoing our experience. His video was WAY better than mine!
Gentle Giants
Tina_T, Jul 2023
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 time in the water, waiting in line with the other boats, and only two swims per person). Some of the other visitors on our tour tried to pressure the guide into allowing extra swims, but he held firm, and I appreciated that. We need to do what we can to protect the ocean life. Swimming alongside these gentle giants was amazing.
great experience
Jessica_I, Jun 2022
great experience from pick up to drop off. Captain Angel and Sailor Manuel made the experience unforgetable. Ceviche and sandwich was delicious. Overall, it was amazing! thank you again Manuel for being an awesome guide!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Jessica, thank you very much for your comments, In Contoy Adventures we are happy that our Whale Shark Adventure tour exceeded your expectations! We will pass your kind words to Angel and Manuel and hope to see you soon back with us on another adventure. Best regards Roberto del Castillo Contoy Adventures
Bien
Antoine_L, Aug 2023
ce fut une très belle expérience , sachant que nous ne sommes pas seul que ce sont des créatures de la mer dans leur habitat naturel. Nous ne pouvions pas être sur d’en voir. Nous avons eu la chance d’en voir 2 par contre le temps dans l’eau n’es pas très long. 45 a 50 secondes nous devions toutes suite retourner dans le bateau. Avec une mer agité comme elle l’était hier ( jeudi 24 août ) nous avons trouvé le retour très pénible. Mais la petit arrêt a playa North a isla Mujeres, as bien fini l’excursion.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Cher visiteur, Merci beaucoup pour vos commentaires, Dame Nature est imprévisible et certains jours sont plus difficiles que d'autres, mais nous sommes heureux que vous ayez pu nager avec ces douces créatures marines. Nous espérons vous revoir bientôt dans une autre aventure. Avec nos meilleures salutations Roberto del Castillo Aventures de Contoy
El nado con el tiburón...
WendyJannette_A, Jun 2023
El nado con el tiburón ballena, la emoción y la adrenalina . Fue muy emocionante y la atención muy buena

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
No Photo
Cancun Whale Shark Encounter
141
5 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$210.00
No Photo
Whale Shark Swimming and Isla Mujeres Beach Tour
341
4 to 5 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$210.00
No Photo
Swim with Whale Shark
0
6 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$369.00

Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Explore Similar Things to Do

Help CenterCustomer CarePrivacy and Cookies StatementAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
© 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.
Terms & Conditions