Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in La Paz

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in La Paz and get up close with the ocean's biggest fish, known for their massive size and gentle nature. This is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy whale sharks in a conscious and sustainable manner.  The Mexican government has established strict regulations that all tour operators follow to protect these gentle giants, aiming to welcome them back year after year. 

Just a short ride into La Paz bay, you'll have the chance to snorkel and swim alongside these magnificent creatures, with guidance from a local marine biologist who's eager to fill you in on all the fascinating details about them. We keep our groups small, no more than 9 folks per boat, to ensure everyone gets a personal experience.  This snorkeling adventure is a standout in the area, with La Paz ranking as one of the top three places worldwide for whale shark snorkeling adventures. 

Our Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour adventure is available when the whale sharks visit La Paz bay, usually from November through April.

Check out TripOutside's Guide to Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in La Paz for more insight into this incredible eco-conscious tour.

The trip is approximately 3 hours from start to finish, with around 2 hours on the water.

For a safe and enjoyable snorkeling adventure with us, being able to swim is essential. While prior experience in snorkeling enriches your experience, it's not a prerequisite for joining our tour. Our knowledgeable guides are equipped to offer both assistance and instruction to ensure all participants feel comfortable and confident in the water.  Participants can also join the tour and choose to stay in the boat and observe the whale sharks without entering the water.

Snorkeling with the whale sharks demands a moderate level of physical fitness, particularly in swimming skills, as participants will have the opportunity to swim in proximity to the majestic whale sharks. To help us provide you with the best possible experience, we kindly ask that you inform us of any medical conditions or concerns in advance. Our priority is your safety and enjoyment, and being informed allows us to accommodate your needs effectively.

The price is listed in Mexican pesos.

Comfortable swimwear, biodegradable sunscreen, a towel, camera, and a change of clothes, hoodie/light jacket (December-March).

This snorkeling adventure is designed to be inclusive, welcoming participants of all ages who fulfill the aforementioned health and fitness criteria. It's a fantastic experience for families, with children who are proficient swimmers invited to join in on the fun. However, we emphasize that all minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult who will oversee their safety throughout the tour. The wellbeing and security of our younger adventurers are paramount, and while our guides will provide comprehensive safety instructions and support, the direct supervision of any child participant is the accompanying adult's responsibility.

Each boat is limited to 9 participants to ensure a personalized and environmentally responsible experience. Due to restrictions, only 14 boats are allowed in the whale shark area at any time.

You can cancel your tour 7 days or more prior to the tour date, you will get a 100% refund.

If you cancel less than 7 days prior to the tour date, we can not give you a refund.

We strive to ensure that conditions are optimal before embarking on any tour. During a few days each year, mostly in winter, strong winds may lead to the harbor being closed to all activities. Should this happen, we'll contact you to find an alternative date for your scheduled tour.

The government has put in place several rules to ensure the whale sharks' protection. Only 14 boats are allowed in the whale shark area at any one time, so we're assigned turns each day. Usually, we secure the slot we aim for about 95% of the time. However, there might be occasions when we receive a later slot or, in rare cases, none at all (though this is quite rare, happening just twice in over 200 tours last season). That's why we ask you to stay available via phone or email—the details you gave us when booking. This way, we can reach out with updates the day before, once we know our assigned time slot.

We also monitor the weather daily and will inform you 2-3 days ahead if conditions look unfavorable. Strong winds might cause moderate to big waves. While we can still head out, the ride might be bumpy, and on particularly severe days, the Bay may be closed to all boat tours for safety reasons. If you're planning your trip well ahead of time, we recommend having an extra day or two in your itinerary. This flexibility allows us to reschedule your tour if necessary due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Please note, due to federal regulations, freediving with the whale sharks is not permitted; only surface snorkeling is allowed.