Whale Shark Tour

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Join us on a La Paz whale shark tour adventure.

Includes combo tour options.

Swim with whale sharks in La Paz Bay while learning about the biology, life-history and conservation status of these gentle giants.

whale shark in la paz, mexico

Join a marine biologist from Whale Shark Diaries to snorkel with the majestic whale shark, Rhincodon typus.

Set off from the boat dock for the short ride into the area where whale sharks seasonally aggregate to feed in the plankton-rich waters of La Paz Bay.

On arrival to the dock, you will receive a boat safety briefing before being fitted with your snorkel gear and wetsuit. From here, our marine biologist guide will talk to you about whale shark biology, their life-history and the threats that whale sharks face on a local, regional and international scale. What is known about whale shark reproduction is always interesting for our guests. The work that we do to contribute to the conservation of whale sharks through collaborative research, awareness, and education will also be discussed during the trip.

whale shark in la paz, mexicoThe boat will enter the habitat of the whale sharks to go in search of individuals cruising or feeding on or close to the surface. The rules and protocols of interacting with the species will be clearly explained before you enter the water with your guide to swim beside the earth’s largest living species of fish!

During the trip, we gather photos of each whale shark that we encounter that can later be used to identify individuals. You will have the opportunity to learn about and witness how this is done and what can be learned from this process.

Each boat has a limit of 2 hours in the whale shark area to avoid the area becoming congested. The round trip to include travel time in and out of the area is around 3 hours.

Price is $125 USD per person and includes a licensed boat with certified captain, marine biologist guide, snorkel gear, wetsuit, and a whale shark sanctuary entry permit.

COMBO TOUR OPTIONS

sea lion los islotes, espiritu santo, la paz, mexicoWhale sharks, Sea lions, and Balandra Bay combo tour!

If whale sharks aren’t enough, you can extend your trip to cross the bay to visit the sea lion colony at San Rafaelito where approximately 50 individuals live together on this rocky islet just off the La Paz coast. San Rafaelito is surrounded by a healthy rocky coral reef and is inhabited by much marine life. After swimming with the sea lions and exploring the reef, we will then head off to the beautiful Balandra Bay, an area where the flora and fauna are protected under Mexican law, to enjoy lunch on a paradise beach. The round trip length is 5 – 6 hours.

Price is $225 USD per person and includes a licensed boat with certified captain, marine biologist guide, snorkel gear, wetsuit, a whale shark sanctuary entry permit, and ceviche and burritos lunch on a paradise beach.

For guests wanting to scuba dive with the sea lions, this can arranged but is a custom trip. Get in touch with us for a quotation.

whale sharks in la paz, mexicoWhale Sharks and Espiritu Santo National Park combo trip.

The Espiritu Santo National Park is widely considered to be the crown jewels of La Paz. The land component consists of approximately 100 km2 while the entire park including the marine component is close to 600 km2.

The main attraction of Espiritu Santo is the HUGE sea lion colony at the northern-most point, 2 rocky islets known as Los Islotes where around 400-500 sea lions live together. After swimming with the playful juveniles we will continue to explore other parts of the marine park for snorkeling and sight-seeing.

It should be noted that due to the distance between the whale shark area and the National Park, there is a relatively large amount of boat travel time. It takes around 1.5 hours to travel from the whale shark area to Los Islotes. The entire day takes around 8 hours to complete.

sea lion los islotes, espiritu santo, la paz, mexicoPrice is $250 USD per person and includes a licensed boat with certified captain, marine biologist guide, snorkel gear, wetsuit, a whale shark sanctuary entry permit, National Park permit, and ceviche and burritos lunch on a paradise beach.

For whale sharks and 2 tank dive combo the price is $275 USD per person. Dive equipment rental is extra ($35 USD full set).


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