Isla Holbox

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Whale Shark and Snorkeling Adventure from Isla Holbox

Badge of ExcellenceIsla Holbox, Mexico

7 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Snorkel alongside docile whale sharks during this eco-adventure on Isla Holbox. With your local guides, board a boat and set off in search of these gentle giants, keeping a lookout for other species like giant manta rays and sea turtles as you cruise. Slip into the water in pairs with a knowledgeable guide and swim with the world's largest fish, which can grow up to 45 feet (14 meters) long. On the way back to shore, stop near Cabo Catoche to snorkel the 'cuevones' reef. Continue to Santa Paula to go swimming and enjoy freshly caught ceviche before returning to Holbox. Use of all equipment, breakfast and snacks are included.

Snorkel with whale sharks off Isla Holbox
Overseen by a guide who is an expert in whale shark behavior
See other animals like sea turtles, manta rays and octopi
Light breakfast and fresh ceviche are included

What's Included

Cool water and sodas.
Snorkeling equipment.
Light breakfast in Luuma: coffee, tea, fruits, yoghurt and sweet buns.
Our famous ceviche.
Guacamole or mango for those who do not eat fish.

Gratuities
Taxi to / from meeting point

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Mandarina Seaside Restaurant
Av. Damero 310, 77310 Holbox, Q.R., Mexico
Av. Damero 310, 77310 Holbox, Q.R. Beach club and restaurante Mandarina , sea side.

Start time

06:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your way to Restaurante Mandarina Seaside in the morning for a safety briefing while enjoying a light breakfast, and get set up with the provided snorkeling equipment. Afterwards, walk two blocks to the dock to board the boat.

During the 1- to 2-hour boat journey, keep your eyes out for marine animals, including manta rays—if their behavior permits, you will be allowed to swim with them as well.

At the designated location, groups will enter the water in pairs, along with a guide experienced in whale shark behavior, to swim alongside whale sharks, assuming they are present. Once everyone in the small group has had their turn, the boat will head to Cabo Catoche for a snorkeling stop.

The final stop will be Santa Paula, where you can enjoy a swim and savor freshly caught and prepared ceviche. Afterwards, relax on the 45-minute boat ride back to Isla Holbox.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children under 6 years old are not allowed.
Season starts officialy May 15, but the arrival of whale sharks to the area vary each year.
Not wheelchair accessible
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 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

Featured review

Bente_H

Highlight of our trip, for sure! Our guide (Eddie) was great - friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgable. Knowing that finding the whale sharks isn’t a given, we were lucky enough to find a big group and swim with them, but even without that, the experience would have been a highlight of the trip as a lovely day trip; seeing uninhabited parts of the island, snorkeling off the coast, and some of the freshest and best ceviche for lunch. Highly recommended!

Reviews

4.5

163 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 163 reviews

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Matty_N, Aug 2023

Eddy our guide was so awesome and so so helpful! The shark experience itself was simply wonderful and magical. One of kind experience for sure.

Beautiful Creatures

Lorena_D, Aug 2023

Keep in mind the trip took us like 2 hours and a half to find whale sharks but it was worth it. If you get sea sick like i do I recommend to take the pills the offer. The captain and the tour guide were extremely nice and they made sure we enjoyed the experience. Its a once i an lifetime experience if you like an adventure you wont regret it.

An expensive mistake.

Chris_A, Aug 2023

Very expensive, nearly £800 for four people, didn't get to see any whale sharks, just endless crashing through the waves of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to reach the site where they thought the sharks would be, there were over 20 other boats there, lined up, waiting their turn. Had the sharks been present there would have been ~200 people splashing around in the water with them, no wonder they left the area, must be terrifying for the creatures. Nearly 7 hours on a boat to not see anything. The crew of the boat was lovely, the food delicious, but the whole thing would not have been a good experience even if we had seen the sharks,

Highly recommended!!

Bente_H, Jul 2023

An amazing day

Jennifer_H, Jul 2023

Captain and tour guide were exceptional. Tour guide very friendly and very knowledgeable of animal. Wanted passengers to have a great experience. Really spent time explaining area. Captain was knowledgeable of areas to go. Food was great. Had chips as fresh made fish/salsa. Had coke and plenty of water. Even had Dramamine for boat ride for all passengers that wanted it. You will need it. Very fast boat. Moves a lot on water. Had a wonderful time seeing the whales. Such beautiful creatures!!! Would definitely do this tour again!!!

A safari to remember

Nicholas_L, Jul 2023

Great experience overall. Guide said it best: this is a safari…that means the wildlife can be plentiful or lacking. Giving bad reviews because they couldn’t find one isn’t their fault, there is an extensive network of guides/captains talking over radio to make sure everyone get the best chances they can. We only ended up seeing a whale shark from above, still got to snorkel with some manta rays, and get some great insight into the island. They tried extremely hard to find more whale sharks to allow us a chance to swim, but such is the world when dealing with wildlife. If you’re seasick at all, take the Dramamine or get a patch. Sitting in the middle/back is better. You hit deep water with decent swells and the front slams into the water a fair bit. Plenty of food, water, and Coca-Cola on board. Bring sunscreen, sun glasses, and a hat (with a neck strap if you have it).

What an experience

Mitchell_C, Jul 2023

An incredible experience, we were quite nervous when booking due to the 1 * reviews (although those seemed to come from those who didn’t see the whale sharks). Even without seeing the whale sharks, we’d still have rated this day highly given the snorkelling experience, the most delicious ceviche and guacamole lunch & trip to a private island (one not to be missed). We were lucky and got multiple opportunities to swim with the whale sharks - a real bucket list experience would highly recommend doing if you’re here in season. VIP Holbox were so helpful and always communicative over whatsapp even though we booked the afternoon before, very respectful of the rules and conscious of animals welfare at all time.

Truly Magical

CarneyAnne_N, Jun 2023

Our day started with light sunrise breakfast on the beach where our amazing guide, Edier, briefed us on respect for wildlife which I really appreciated as a wildlife protection attorney. We then set off into the endless turquoise water and after about 90 minutes we found the whale sharks. Having a chance to see them up close but from a respectable distance was breathtaking and Edier captured INCREDIBLE GoPro video for us. After swimming with the gentle giants, we set off to Cabo Catoche island where we snorkeled with rays and other aquatic life while Edier and our driver Jorge prepared fresh ceviche, guacamole, and mango for lunch. We then returned to dock in Holbox after a truly spectacular experience. Make sure you are with Edier and VIP Holbox tour company - you can feel assured that they are ethical, follow all wildlife regulations, and are multilingual.

Amazing guides and wonderful experience!

Jamie_R, Jun 2023

Our guide and boat drivers were amazing. We spotted 2 whale sharks during our tour and about half the group were able to swim with the animals before they went deep and unreachable. I was highly impressed with the attentiveness to the animal safety and overall eco-consciousness of the habitat. There were many boats that came and it was very organized amongst all the boats and guides to ensure there were only 2 people (plus the guide) swimming alongside the whale sharks at one time. After the animals were gone, our group decided to "let go" of being able to all swim with them and we went to the snorkel spot. While visibility in the area wasn't super clear, the experience was lovely and we were able to see many kinds of fish and a ray. After that, we had amazing ceviche and guacamole prepared by the hosts and got to spend some time at a beach in Cabo Catoche. Our guide shared lots of facts and information about the wildlife, the ecosystem, and how it's being protected which was really useful. While I wasn't able to swim with the whale sharks personally because of their behavior, we saw sea turtles, dolphins and we did see 2 whale sharks and it was an incredible experience.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello Jamie, We want to express our gratitude for your kind and positive comment. Furthermore, I would like to highlight your observation about nature and emphasize how true it is. Nature is truly unpredictable and beyond our control. This unpredictability can be both thrilling and challenging. It reminds us of the importance of respecting and protecting our natural environment, as we cannot fully control it. It also teaches us that we are part of an interconnected system in which we must coexist harmoniously. We appreciate the beauty and majesty of nature, but we must also remember its fragility and the need to preserve it for future generations. Once again, thank you for your kind words and for reminding us of the importance of appreciating and respecting nature in all its unpredictable grandeur. With gratitude.

Transformative experience.

James_C, May 2023

Eric was excellent guide. We got on one whale shark and everyone got a close up experience. Also saw mating sea turtles and dolphins. We also had time for snorkeling and beach time. Fresh cerviche on the boat.

No sharks, bad snorkeling, no thanks

Sarah_B, Sep 2022

Not very impressed with this tour. It begins with guide emphasizing how important it is to leave early because there will be a lot of boats to see the whale sharks and you want to get there first or the sharks will dive back down and leave the area because it’s too crowded with boats. They split us into two groups. The other group heads out, and we find out two people are an entire hour late to the tour, so we are waiting for them to arrive before we can leave… so we left at 7:45. You were suppose to arrive to the tour at 6:30. I was shocked that we waited so long especially after the guide emphasizing how important it is to get there early, and there’s 6 other paying customers who were all there on time. Two-ish hours later we arrive at location and all the sharks have dove back to the bottom and are no longer there. So we missed the sharks. we didn’t even see any sharks from a distance, or the boat, or anything. After that we then go to this area to snorkel. The guide tells us the snorkeling isn’t very good and you can’t see anything. I get in anyways because otherwise you have to sit on the boat and wait in the sun.. He was right, you literally can’t see anything, the visibility is very cloudy so all you see is grey and some shapes. When we get out he is like “yeah I told you guys it’s not good snorkeling”…. Then why are we even there?? Why waste our time going to that location for no reason? Can’t we just go back to the dock? We then pull up at a beach with no shade or anything and get off the boat so they can make ceviche from the cooler. My boyfriend asked about the mango/avocado option it says for vegetarians, They did not have it so he didn’t get to eat anything at all. As soon as we get done eating we go back to the dock. Basically just paid $400 for ceviche and a very long boat ride. The guide told us that they have only not seen whale sharks 3 times this entire season (it’s towards the end of the season so that’s hundreds of trips). But when we didn’t see any he was not acting surprised or anything that we didn’t see them, just acted like everything was normal.. to me it seemed very common to not see sharks and I was disappointed as we paid a lot of money. Maybe if we were there on time we could have seen them. I think they need to edit this page and add the actual likelyhood of seeing whale sharks to give you a better understanding so you aren’t disappointed. Also leave on time and not wait for people showing up 1 hour or more late…… that was ridiculous, and disrespectful for everyone else who paid a lot of money and showed up on time. Especially for an activity that seems to be EXTREMELY dependent on arriving early. The entire snorkel/beach part was a waste of time in my opinion. Especially when you didn’t even see sharks, you just want to get back. Also disappointed that they didn’t provide the mango/avocado option for people who don’t do ceviche.

10 out of 10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Chelsea_O, Aug 2022

Eddie was just amazing! Very knowledgeable and made sure everyone on our boat had a chance to swim with the whale sharks, what an experience! Will book again when we return

Great company, highly recommend

Sukaina_H, Aug 2022

Highly recommend this tour! Our guide was knowledgeable, helpful, and experienced! They were mindful of the safety of the wildlife and cared for all individuals on the trip!

Very cool experience, but not so much guiding

Christoffer_C, Aug 2022

Swimming with the whale sharks was truly amazing. A one in a life time experience. Definately worth it! The tour starts with a nice breakfast and intro from the guide. What I missed was more information on the life, biology etc of the whale sharks (the guide said at the breakfast that we would get such information, but the guide never told us anything. However this we found out ourselves online after the tour instead. Also, as we found the whalesharks easily and fast, I think we could have spent more time looking for mantrays on the way back. It felt a bit like the crew rushed to get back. The other two stops were also nice. I still recommend this tour a lot, the main thing is the whale sharks and that part was just so great.

Weather is important

Brasilia_P, Jul 2022

The day we travelled was windy and rained a bit, so the waters were very rough. The tour guides were great and the ride was longer than usual because of the weather. The boat ride was hard on our back and neck due to the high waves. I slipped and hit my nose. Even with all of that, it was a good experience.

Once in a lifetime perfect experience

corine_m, Jul 2022

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!

A wonderful experience!

Tyler_B, Jul 2022

We had a wonderful experience with Eddie and Capt Jorge! We were fortunate to arrive at a large group of sharks so the boats were spread out enough to give us a relatively private glimpse of multiple sharks. Our first swim was amazing as the shark stayed still while feeding and gave us extra time to view and take some beautiful photographs. The ceviche and guacamole for lunch was delicious and they had us back a bit earlier than expected, which was great because we still felt like we had a full day to enjoy the island. One tip, don’t overload on liquids before you get on the boat and definitely use the restroom before you leave Luuma, as it was about a 2.5 hr ride to get to them! This was definitely a cherished memory from our honeymoon that we will never forget.

Highly recommend!

Aalap_D, Jul 2022

This was a fantastic tour! Our guide, Gustavo, was fantastic — he was passionate, knowledgeable, welcoming, and accommodating. He made sure that we gave utmost respect to the sharks while still giving us the experience of a lifetime to swim with such beautiful creatures.

Unbelievable experience...

Mario_S, Jun 2022

Unbelievable experience swimming with the Whalesharks! Our guide Gustavo was awesome and had a lot of respect for the animals.

George was an excellent guide and the trip was wonderful

Sandro_G, Sep 2021

George was an excellent guide and the trip was wonderful. We were snorkeling with a whale shark, have had a delicious lunch (the beach there was not the nicest) and all were happy