Our 8 Best Whale Watching and Snorkeling Trips in Mexico

1.3-Hour Whale Watching and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 62 reviews · 3 hours · from $45Our pick

Spend about three hours on a small boat in Banderas Bay watching for humpback whales and dolphins, then visit a coastal swimming or snorkeling spot. English and Spanish guides provide life jackets, but recent departures have varied widely in length and snorkeling access, so bring a swimsuit, sunscreen, camera, and extra pesos.

“No pudimos ver ballenas , sabemos que no es culpa del guía , en eso no se puede saber. Sin embargo como compensación nos llevaron a otras playas , pero fue demasiado el tiempo de estar, el tour era para 4 h y se convirtió en 6 o 7 h, esto afectó nuestros demás planes.”

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2.Whale-Shark Snorkeling Excursion to La Paz

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $349Top rated

Leave Cabo at 6:00 am for La Paz, where a marine biologist briefs you before a supervised whale-shark snorkel. The boat search lasts about three hours, with equipment, snacks, lunch, and transport included. The day ends back in Cabo after a stop in Todos Santos. The group is limited to eight people.

“Amazing once in a lifetime experience! Loads of whale sharks, rays, and whales! The guides were incredible and provided great conversation, education and awareness of marine life! Sooo highly recommend Cabo Trek!”

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3.Whale Watching & Snorkeling Combo in Los Cabos with Photos Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Spend about two hours looking for gray and humpback whales around Cabo with guides such as Mario, Fernando, or Alex, then snorkel for about an hour at a reef filled with fish, rays, sea lions, and perhaps turtles. The small group, included gear, snacks, water, sunscreen, photos, and videos make this a practical half-day outing.

“We had a wonderful morning outing with Fernando and Fergus. Our trip was scheduled for the last week of whale watching season. The experience began with Fernando describing the geology and history of Land’s End as Fergus positioned us at perfect vantage points. Then we headed out into the sea for whale watching. Stretches of serene motoring were occasionally punctuated by whale sightings. Fergus took us to a reef where we snorkeled to our hearts’ content. The sea life was amazing, the water was the perfect temperature. After snorkeling and being offered snacks we were ready for more whale watching. We were thrilled to see a mother, baby and nurse…”

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4.Los Cabos Seasonal Whale Watch and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $239

Join Albatros Los Cabos Sailaway from December 15 to April 15 for a four-hour catamaran trip with whale watching, snorkeling, lunch, and an open bar. Guides such as Lin, Topi, Javier, and Rafael have earned praise for spotting whales and caring for guests. The boat carries no more than 16 people.

“We had a great time on this tour. We wanted to do all three of these activities: whale watching, see the arches, and snorkeling. This tour covered them all along with a fantastic lunch, tasty drinks, a clean boat with a nice bathroom, and plenty of space to sit. There was a covered indoor area when it was windy. We saw plenty of whales and were close enough to capture photos with our phone camera.”

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5.Los Cabos Whale Watching & Snorkel Adventure with Food & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Spend about three hours aboard a private Cabo San Lucas yacht with a crew that may include Captain Arturo and Nadia. Visit the Arch, cruise past famous beaches, search for whales, then swim, snorkel, paddle board, and relax on a floating mat. Lunch includes ceviche, fajitas, chips, guacamole, and drinks.

“The boat and crew Diana set us up with was perfect for our family of 14, 6 being children under 7. The Chica 1 blue and it’s crew with Nadia as a great kids helper, deckhand and bartender along with Capt Arturo who got us up close to the arch and close enough for an amazing and safe whale encounter was a memorable adventure that we will remember and recommend to family and friends.”

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6.Snorkeling and whale watching Tour in Cabo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.)

Join RogerSEABREEZE and his son for a private 3 to 4 hour Cabo boat trip with snorkeling at Pelican Rock and Neptune’s Finger, views of Playa de los Amantes and El Arco, possible whale and dolphin sightings, drinks, gear, and aerial photos and videos.

“Honestly the only reason to not give Roger 5 stars perfect review is that you want to keep him to yourself …. Hands down best tour operator we have ever been on in Cabo … we have been coming here for a decade and tried lots of private boat tours … Roger and his son provide a different experience than anything we have tried … we where greated with a great smile , asked how we wanted to tour , and then led to whales , dolphins , and the best snorkeling we have done in Cabo”

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7.Whale Watching Snorkel Combo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $175

Start at 8am in Cabo San Lucas, watch humpback whales for about two hours, then snorkel a quieter reef near El Arco. Your English-speaking guide and captain provide gear, water, snacks, free wetsuits, and in-water photos and videos. The shared boat holds up to 10 people, with some flexibility between whale watching and snorkeling.

“Total flexibility. Reliable knowledgeable friendly guides. A+ adventures. Can’t say enough good things about our trip. We had the whale watching/snorkel combo but when the whale watching was just amazing, we were able to flex and drop the snorkel part and just follow a pod and their shenanigans for over an hour. No worries about being back exactly on time, we also had a 15 min early departure because we were prompt and prepared to go.”

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8.Whale watching with Snorkeling and beach Colomitos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 4 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Spend about four hours and 15 minutes on a small-group boat trip from Puerto Vallarta. You’ll watch for humpback whales, snorkel at Los Arcos de Mismaloya, and relax at Colomitos Beach. The tour is offered in English, accepts mobile tickets, and carries no more than 20 people.

“Great tour seeing the whales. Some as close at 50 yards, saw a couple breaches was really great. The operator knew where to go and was great. The snorkeling was fun and the prova Te beach was relaxing. Overall a great afternoon.”

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