Review: Tours to Swim with Whale Sharks Near Isla Mujeres!

If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming alongside the largest fish in the ocean, then a swim with whale sharks tour near Isla Mujeres should be at the top of your bucket list. This once-in-a-lifetime experience lets you get up close with these gentle giants in the warm, clear waters of Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

But if you’re a first-timer, you might be wondering: Is it safe? What’s the best time of year to see them? And what can you expect from the boat tours? With so many operators offering slightly different experiences, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right one and know whether it’s really worth it.

During our trip, we joined a whale shark boat tour from Isla Mujeres and got the chance to see these incredible creatures. So, If you’re considering this adventure, please keep reading. I’ll give you my review and everything you need to know before booking your own whale shark swimming tour.

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Review: Swim with Whale Sharks Tours near Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres is a small Island located (please see location Map HERE) approx. 36 kilometres (22 miles) or 1 hour off the coast of Cancun and the eastern side of Mexico.

The Quintana Roo Region is famous for their seasonal whale shark migration and hundreds of tourists will book tours each day to see them.

➡ Find Whale Shark Tours HERE with Viator, or HERE with GYG.

For me, the Tour to swim with the Whale Sharks was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would definitely recommend adding it to your Isla Mujeres itinerary! I mean, can you just imagine jumping in the ocean and observe the sharks as we watched them smoothly glide through the turquoise water.

Despite their massive size, their friendly nature and gentle movements made us feel calm and connected with nature. They seem to move effortlessly as they glide across the deep ocean waters.

It’s also an opportunity to learn more about them, how they interact with humans, and how we can help protect their species from extinction. Plus, seeing wild animals in their natural habitat is a lot more ethical than other interactions around the world.

So would I do it again? Absolutely, YES, but if you need a visual to see if it’s suitable for you, please see my YouTube below.

How Much do the Tours Cost?

Whale Shark swimming tours cost anywhere between $150US to $250US. This is dependant on the different company, where the tour leaves from (Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum or Isla Mujeres), and what’s included in the tour.

➡ Find Whale Shark Tours HERE with Viator, or HERE with GYG.

It would be best if you allowed one whole day (or ideally, a couple of days) to enjoy the Whale Shark Tours leaving from the Yucatan area. The tour itself can take anything from 5 to 7 hours, but this depends on their other pickups and where you’re leaving from. 

Our tour took about 1 to 1.5 hours to travel each way from Isla Mujeres to the migration location. After a few hours out on the open water and taking turns in the water, we traveled back to Playa Norte beach on Isla Mujeres and had a late lunch in the shallow waters.

Best Time to see Whale Sharks?

The Best months to swim with Whale Sharks in Mexico are when they’re migrating through, anytime between June and September each year. Although July and August seem to be when the numbers are at their highest, and you have a better chance to see them. 

Why are the Whale sharks around at this time?

Well, they are chasing the increased plankton supply, which is a significant food source for them. Something else you might like to consider is travelling within three days before and after a full moon. It’s not an exact science, but a variety of underwater creatures are more active during a lunar cycle.

Note: We organised our visit to Isla Mujeres at the end of July and booked 3x day tours from the Island.

The Boat Tour

Our tour only had about 8 passengers on board, so the numbers were limited and left more time in the water for you. 

They will manoeuvre in the path of an oncoming Whale Shark, and with your mask and snorkel fitted, two people will jump in the water.

Although the Whale shark seems to move its tail very slowly, it doesn’t take long for it to glide right past you. A couple of minutes later, the boat will pick you up, and you take turns with the rest of the people on the boat.

Not sure if you can imagine, but you had no hope of trying to keep up with the whale sharks while swimming.

I honestly remember paddling furiously with my fins and barely getting 10 seconds near them before passing us. I guess that’s why the tour leaders drop you in the path and allow them to swim right by you. 

Is Lunch provided?

Yes, lunch was provided on our tour, which was Ceviche.

Its one of my favourite Mexican dishes made from fresh raw fish cured in fresh citrus juices like lemon or lime, Onions, salt, coriander, and other seasonings like chili peppers. Ours was also topped with some beautiful fresh avocado and tortilla chips. 

I’m sure this is not the same food on every tour, but it was a fantastic addition to our experience!

Do you Snorkel or Dive?

This Whale Shark experience in Mexico is ONLY snorkelling since the water is too deep for diving. This means it’s open to everyone who can swim, and you don’t need a diving certification. 

➡ Find Whale Shark Tours HERE with Viator, or HERE with GYG.

But if Diving is more your cup of tea, one also has the option to dive with Whale Sharks in Oslob, Philippines. The Whale Sharks congregate in shallower waters and make it easier to dive. 

Is it safe?

Yes, It’s very safe to swim with Whale Sharks, and they are not interested in hurting or eating people. The tours leaders are also very friendly and helpful and some speak English to help guide you on their best safety practices.

However these are wild creatures, and there are some things you need to do for your own safety and to limit the environmental impact of the tour.

• Wear a short wetsuit to keep you buoyant. You’re in open water, and you are nowhere near the bottom.
• Stay out of the direct path of the Whale shark, and don’t get too close. Even their massive tails could swipe a person and send you spinning. Let them feed and you can easily admire them from a small distance.
• Take precautionary methods for Seasickness. You are going into open water and will be out there for hours.
• Don’t touch any wild animals. You need to limit the ethical and environmental effects of doing this activity. 
• Take lots of sunscreen – You are in a small boat and in the sun a lot.

FAQ’s – Common Questions?

What should you bring with you?

Just wanted to mention a few essential items to help make the most our of your tour. This includes:

However, it’s important to remember that our interactions with them aren’t guaranteed either. These wild animals come and go as they please, which is, overall, the most ethical way to see them. 

• Bathers/Swimming costume
• Camera or Gopro
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• sick sickness tablets
• Backpack to carry everything
• Hat
• Towel

Lastly, while snorkel and masks will usually be provided by the tour operator, if you want your own equipment (like we did), it would certainly be worth taking it with you! They also provide you with a short wetsuit, to help you stay afloat in the open water.

Is it difficult to do?

Snorkelling with whale sharks is easy and is available for all ages, including children above 3 years old. However there are two things that will help make your tour more enjoyable:

• Ensure you have some basic swimming skills down and not afraid to be in open water (you can’t see the ocean floor).
• If you have never snorkelled, I recommend trying it out in a pool or beach before booking this tour.

I’ve seen plenty of people panic when trying to breathe through a snorkel, or when putting their heads under the water. However, there is very little swimming is involved due to the speed of these magnificent creatures. So, essentially, you just have to float until the boat picks you up again. 

What are Whale Sharks?

Are they a Whale or a Shark, or a bit of both? They are, in fact, a Shark, made of cartilage and breathing through their gills. However, they share a lot of common traits similar to Whales, like size and diet.

They are the biggest fish in the ocean growing up to 12 metres (40 feet) long, a 70-year lifespan and weighting 20 tonnes (size of a school Bus). However, you have absolutely nothing to fear with these beautiful creatures as they aren’t interested in humans. 

They inhabit tropical and warm-temperate seas like what you get off the coast of Mexico. Primarily pelagic, this means that they live in the open sea but not in the greater depths of the ocean.

Much like human fingerprints, the white spot markings and patterns are very unique. Their heads are also flattened and have large mouths that could be 1.5 metres(5 feet) wide. On the other hand, the colours on their back or side vary from grey to brown, and their bellies are white. And, they also have rows of teeth, but don’t use them.

What do Whale Sharks eat?

Whale Sharks are known as filter feeders, by sifting small food particles through the water as they swim around. You will see them opening and closing their large mouths, drawing the ocean water in. Their bodies filter out the food they need and then release the water back into the ocean.

Their favourite meal is Plankton, which are tiny drifting organisms carried by tides or currents. Other food sources are shrimp, krill, algae, Sardines, Anchovies, squid, tuna, or they have been known to hang around for fish spawning to eat the eggs.

How do they mate?

Around 30 years old, a Whale Shark will reach sexual maturity and be able to mate and reproduce. Generally, a male will try to get the female’s attention by zigzagging and diving deeper, essentially trying to show off. 

Then, the male will swim up from below and use one of his two claspers to mate with the female. As this has not been witnessed much, there is still much research needed for this behaviour.

The gestation period is unknown, but a female Whale Shark will produce eggs that hatch inside the mother. She will then give birth to roughly three hundred live young. Unfortunately, not all won’t make it to maturity.

Where to Stay?

Isla Mujeres may be small, but its accommodations don’t have to be! From small guesthouses to large five-star resorts, the island has got something for every traveler. 

➡  Find Accommodation HERE in Isla Mujeres or HERE in Cancun with Booking.com.

So, whether you’re looking for a slap-dash getaway or something more luxurious and upmarket, there are a few places to choose from. I like to select my accommodation based on location, cost, and walking distance to where I need to go.

Wherever you decide to lay your head, you’ll be sure to find all the amenities and comforts without sacrificing that small island vibe.

Wrap up!

Isla Mujeres was not the first place I tried to to this! In Fact, Coral Bay in Western Australia also gets Whale Sharks migrating through their waters. But, unfortunately timing and weather contributed to my tour being canceled, so I never got the opportunity to try.

As I live in Australia, traveling to Mexico is no quick trip, in fact, it was nearly 27 hours door to door. However, after my experience, I thought it was well worth the travel time.

Thanks for reading this blog post today and finding out my first-hand review to swim with Whale Shark near Isla Mujeres in Mexico. I hope you found the information you were looking for, but if your still planning, please see my other Mexico Blog Posts for researching and inspiration.