Location: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
VIP Whale Shark Snorkeling Expedition
Swim with the Biggest Fish in the Sea!
Swim with Gentle Giants
Between July and August, the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula hosts the largest whale shark aggregation in the world, as hundreds of these massive animals gather to feed on fish eggs. On this incredible trip, you will have the chance to experience them first-hand, snorkeling alongside these magnificent, gentle giants. Coming within touching distance of the largest fish in the sea is truly an experience you will never forget!
Leave Your Dive Gear at Home
This whale shark encounter is perfect for snorkelers because the action takes place right at the surface. Over the full moon, thousands of tuna spawn in the Gulf of Mexico. Their microscopic eggs rise to the surface and drift out into the Atlantic where the whale sharks are waiting to scoop them up. Although they’re too small to see, sometimes there are so many eggs that hundreds of whale sharks can be seen feeding at the same time.
2026
DATE
July 28-August 2 FULL
PRICE (USD)
$2,795 per person double occupancy
$3,695 single occupancy
LEADERS
Jennifer Idol
2027
DATE
July 17-22 6 SPOTS AVAILABLE
PRICE (USD)
$2,895 per person double occupancy
$3,795 single occupancy
LEADERS
Jennifer Idol
2028
DATE
TBA 8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
PRICE (USD)
$TBA per person double occupancy
$TBA single occupancy
LEADERS
Jennifer Idol
DETAILS
ACCOMMODATION
Comfortable Beachfront Hotel on Isla Mujeres
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Snorkeling experience only
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 5 nights accommodation in a comfortable beachfront hotel
- Full breakfast
- Packed lunch and refreshments while at sea
- Four days of whale shark snorkeling.
- Marine park fees
- Snorkeling equipment if required
- Bus and ferry transfers between Isla Mujeres and Cancun Airport
NOT INCLUDED
- Flights
- Dinners
- Crew gratuities
Caribbean Manta Rays
The nutrient-rich waters that attract whale sharks also draw in other incredible marine life. While every day is a surprise, it is quite common to encounter feeding manta rays. Some years, we even see them by the hundreds! Interestingly, the mantas in the Yucatan were recently classified as a unique species, distinct from those in the Indian or Pacific Oceans. Their new scientific name is Mobula yarae.
Ocean Diversity
The diversity doesn’t stop with whale sharks and mantas! You may also encounter massive schools of cownose rays and mobula rays (which resemble miniature manta rays). Keep a sharp eye out for sea turtles gliding through the blue, and even the occasional high-speed sailfish or vibrant dorado darting beneath the surface.
A Stress Free Adventure
Your vacation should be effortless. From the moment you land at Cancun Airport, you’re in our care. We will personally escort you to Isla Mujeres; the perfect island staging point for our whale shark expeditions. Once you reach the hotel, your only job is to relax and enjoy the island atmosphere until it’s time to head out on the water. We handle the logistics so you can enjoy the experience—it’s that simple.
Ready to sign up or have a question about this trip?
Contact Wild Animal Expeditions about this Adventure:
Why Choose Wild Animal Expeditions?
We are committed to providing our guests with longer, more intimate encounters that go far beyond the standard tourist experience. While many operators in Cancun offer whale shark trips, they often limit you to two or three brief “jumps” before heading back to shore.
At Wild Animal Expeditions, we do things differently. We spend hours out in the whale shark grounds, giving you ample time to truly connect with these gentle giants. Best of all, because we are based on the island, we sail you directly back to your beachfront hotel, maximizing your time on the water and your relaxation on land. Join us for the whale shark encounter of a lifetime!
The Wild Animal Expeditions Difference
We believe your focus should be on the wildlife, not the logistics. Here is how we provide a superior experience compared to standard day-trips:
- Small Groups, Big Comfort: We limit our boat to a maximum of eight guests, ensuring you have plenty of space to relax and never feel crowded.
- Doorstep Departure: Forget the hassle of transfers to crowded public docks. You will board our boat at a private dock, a short walk along the beach, saving time and effort every morning.
- Be the First on the Scene: We depart early to arrive at the whale shark grounds sometimes hours before the mainland crowds, giving you the most peaceful encounters possible.
- Snorkeling Gear Provided: No need to pack bulky equipment. We provide high-quality shorty wetsuits and comfortable, low-profile life jackets for all guests.
- All-Day Refreshments: We keep you fueled and hydrated with unlimited drinks and a filling lunch so you can stay focused on the incredible marine life.
- Maximum Time in the Water: We don’t rush back to shore. We stay with the sharks until the last available minute, often remaining out at sea long after other boats have left.
- Seamless Airport Transfers: Getting from Cancun Airport to Isla Mujeres can be a stressful ordeal involving taxis, ferries, and haggling. We provide a private group shuttle service that handles the entire journey for you.
Wild Animal Expeditions Whale Shark Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
At 2pm we will meet you at Cancun Airport and escort you by land and sea to your beachfront hotel on Isla Mujeres.
After check-in, yu will have time to relax and freshen up before we head out for dinner. The hotel is just a short walk from the island’s ‘cafe strip’ with many excellent restaurants to choose from.
After dinner, you will have time to explore the town, talk a moonlit stroll along the beach, or relax and prepare for the adventure ahead!
Days 2-5: Swimming with Whale Sharks!
We start the day right with a full cooked breakfast, fruit, tea and coffee. Once your hunger is sated, we’ll take a short stroll along the beach to meet or boat captain and crew, and the head north directly to the ‘Afuera’ (literally the outside) an area 20-30km north of the island where the Whale Sharks congregate to feed on microscopic fish eggs.
As soon as we find the whales we will start snorkeling; taking turns to swim with the sharks so as not to overcrowd them or inhibit their ability to feed.
Towards midday – when the area tends to get busy with boats from Cancun – we’ll back off and relax while we eat lunch. Once the boats thin out, we’ll resume our snorkeling encounters until mid-afternoon. At that point we’ll bid the sharks farewell and head back to the island, arriving with plenty of time to relax and download images before we gather again for dinner.
We’ll continue this dreamy routine for four fabulous days; swimming with giants, capturing images and videos, and creating enduring memories.
Day 6: The Journey Home
After a hearty final breakfast, we will escort you back to Cancun Airport for fond farewells before you your homeward journey.
Ready to sign up or have a question about this trip?
Contact Wild Animal Expeditions about this Adventure:
TRIP REPORTS
2025 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2024 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2023 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2022 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2021 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2019 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2018 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2017 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2016 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2015 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
A Day at Sea with Wild Animal Expeditions
While most of the other boats are still fueling up, our boat will be waiting just offshore for us to finish breakfast and then take us immediately in search of whale sharks. Once we find the sharks we will remain with them for as long as we can, so if you’re just looking for a quick selfie with a whale shark and then time on a Mexican beach, this probably isn’t the right trip for you because we are often the last boat in the ‘afuera’ – the offshore area where the whale sharks congregate.
By mid-morning more boats complete their long journey from Cancun to see the whale sharks. Fortunately for us, by noon most of them start heading back to port. Only the serious expedition boats remain, but even these don’t remain much longer.
By heading out from shore early and leaving from Isla Mujeres, we get to enjoy the morning encounters when there are relatively few boats in the area. Once it gets busy, we stay closer to the edge of the aggregation of sharks where its quieter. Around 11:30 – after trying to keep up with whale sharks all morning – everyone starts getting hungry, so we take a break for lunch; usually sandwiches, chips and fruit. Once the boats from Cancun have thinned out, we move back into the middle of the activity and remain with the sharks for as long as everyone wants or for as long as the sharks keep feeding at the surface.
You don’t have to keep snorkeling with enormous whale sharks, but if you want to, we’re happy to stay out in the afuera until the park officially closes at 2pm; returning you back to the island around 3:30pm each day, with lots of time to relax on the beach or look through your images and videos before supper. That is the Wild Animal Expeditions difference!
Wild Animal Expeditions: Delivering life changing wildlife adventures since 2010
Guest Feedback from our Whale Shark Expedition Guests
In the deep blue sea and whale sharks everywhere - it was a snorkel adventure of a life time, totally thrilling! Andy's strategy for getting us quality time with these amazing fish was the essence of our success. The trip was just plain wonderful. Great photos, amazing videos, and new friends. Thanks again Andy! Best Fishes, Flo
Washington State, USA
I had an amazing time on your expedition and have to say it was one of the best vacations I've taken! Being in the water so close to the whale sharks (and with so many of them) has definitely been one of the coolest things I've been able to experience! Thanks so much for organizing!
Kate Ague Kneeland, New York, USA
This was the first of 3 bookings I've made with Andy and bigfishexpeditions.com and it certainly turned out to be a safe bet, so I keenly look forward to the next two. I've only had one brief encounter with Whale sharks before and so I was a little concerned as to whether we would find any on the 4 day trip or indeed how long the encounters would be. Well I need not have worried, Day one consisted of whales sharks for 6 hours and if I had gone home after that day I would have been content with the trip, however day 2 (albeit a little slower) and day 3 were also good days but day 4 surpassed even day 1 and the sea was awash with whale sharks, so many that you didn't know which way to turn. I have hundreds of pictures as well as video footage which I'm still trying to go through. In terms of what the trip promised, it certainly surpassed my expectations. Andy organised the trip well, he is a very likable and laid back individual who is obviously very passionate about what he does and very knowledgeable about the subject. The hotel was located in a prime spot on the beach requiring just a short paddle from the breakfast area to the awaiting boat. Would I go again? yes I certainly would, however I have other places and subjects to experience first so whale sharks will have to wait for a while. Would I recommend this trip? yes definitely and have done so to my friends already! Andy you're going to need a bigger boat!! 🙂
Manish Patel USA/UK
I know I speak for myself and everyone in my group when I say that everything about the whale shark trip was absolutely amazing! Great shark diving, great people, great service. Andy and Laura are friendly, passionate about what they do, and work hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I can't wait to take more Big Fish trips in the future!!
Chuelo Arias, Missouri, USA
… planes, busses, ferries, taxis, dive boats, through every aspect of our trip, Andy and Laura were there making sure things went smoothly. It made the trip much more enjoyable, as their experience from many previous trips made our trip flawless, even laid back! . We are going back next year, that says it all …
Nicki Miller, USA
When it comes to Big Fish trips, your Whale Shark adventure was second to none. Christine and I had a blast. Thank you for all your preparations.
Kathy Cope, Arizona
I have been on many Dive trips over the year's, and the attention to detail on our Big Fish Expedition was noteworthy. The knowledge that Andy shared about the animals, and photographing them far exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to go back next year!
Steve Miller
I had the pleasure of returning to Isla Mujeres with Andy Murch of Big Fish Expeditions for the Whale Shark trip this year. It was one of the most enjoyable expeditions I have been on. I like to photograph big animals underwater and have been with Andy on several other trips. Andy works very hard to make sure you are presented with every possible opportunity to get shots of the targeted species. In this case, the Whale Sharks. Not only did we have the appearance of hundreds of Whale Sharks this year, but also many Mantas. When you were waiting for a Whale Shark to swim by, and those waits weren't long, you could swim with the aerobatic Mantas as they looped and whirled around and under the Whale Sharks. On this trip as with others I have done with Andy, he and his staff work with local, experienced, providers to get you into the best situation to interact with the animals. In Isla Mujeres, Andy made sure we were first on site in the morning and had the peak time of day to shoot stills and video of the sharks. Unlike other trips I have been on, Andy ensures you maximize your time in the water rather than getting just a few short and very controlled encounters. Also, the accommodations were clean, comfortable and affordable. If you are interested in top notch photographs or the emotional high of being very close to such large animals, then Big Fish Expeditions is the operator to go with.
Dustin Hurbut, Bellingham, WA
