How to Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz (Mexico) Responsibly – 2024 Guide
Affiliate Disclosure: This Whale Shark Tour La Paz post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. All opinions are entirely my own.
INTRODUCTION
Are you looking to see a whale shark in La Paz, Mexico? You are not alone – so was I! In fact, seeing whale sharks in La Paz had been on my bucket list for about a decade, after my first experience swimming with these magnificent creatures in Cancun.
Truth: My first time swimming with whale sharks in Mexico left me feeling a little disenchanted. The whale sharks had recently migrated from feeding in a more remote area in the north (near Isla Holbox), to just off of Mexico’s most popular tourist destination (Cancun). The regulations for Mexico whale shark tour operators had not yet caught up with this bonanza for tourism. There were simply way too many boats and way too many people flailing around in the water for this activity to be considered even remotely responsible or ethical.
Thankfully, my recent La Paz swimming with whale shark experience was so much different! The local regulations and licensing requirements that have been put into place for La Paz whale shark tour operators and guides over the past decade are much more stringent.
What also makes La Paz particularly special for whale shark excursions is that it attracts only about 5% of the visitors compared to Cancun. The experience of swimming with whale sharks in La Paz, feels ethical, respectful and responsible.
In this comprehensive guide, I will delve into the enchanting world of swimming with whale sharks responsibly in La Paz, exploring everything from some fun facts about whale sharks, to suggestions on how to find the best La Paz whale shark tours.
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SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS IN LA PAZ – GUIDE
WHAT IS A WHALE SHARK?
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is not actually a whale at all. It is the world’s largest fish and one of only three species of filter feeding sharks in the world.
Whale sharks are easily recognizable by the distinctive horizontal stripes and white spots adorning their bodies. They have large, wide mouths that can be up to 1.2m (4ft) wide.
Whale sharks sustain themselves by filtering nutrient-rich plankton through their gills. The warm waters of the Gulf of California, where La Paz is situated, boast an abundance of plankton during the winter months, establishing it as one of the best places to encounter these majestic creatures in the northern hemisphere.
ARE WHALE SHARKS DANGEROUS?
No, not at all. Whale sharks are intimidating in size, but are in fact very gentle creatures. They have tiny teeth, but as filter feeders, they do not bite.
While it is exciting and a little adrenalin-inducing to snorkel beside one, it is not dangerous. Whale sharks largely seem indifferent to humans.
HOW BIG CAN WHALE SHARKS GET?
According to National Geographic, whale sharks are typically 18-32ft (5-10m) long. The largest one we swam with in La Paz was about 26ft (8m) long.
HOW FAST CAN WHALE SHARKS SWIM?
While feeding, whale sharks typically cruise at a speed of approximately 3 miles (5 km) per hour, slightly exceeding the average snorkeling pace. Swimming beside them demands a bit of effort to keep up, despite the fact that they deceptively appear to be gliding along quite slowly.
WHERE CAN YOU SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS?
There are numerous places in the world where you can swim / snorkel with whale sharks, including the Australia, Honduras, the Philippines, the Maldives, Mozambique, Thailand and Djibouti. That said, certainly the easiest (and least expensive) place for North Americans is Mexico.
Within Mexico, these gentle giants of the sea congregate to feed north of Cancun (near Isla Mujeres and Isla Holbox) between June and September, and in the Gulf of California (a.k.a. the Sea of Cortez) between October and April.
HOW CLOSE ARE WHALE SHARKS TO LA PAZ?
Whale sharks feed on plankton just outside of the Bay of La Paz, in Baja California Sur. The viewing area for La Paz whale shark boat tours is in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that is only about a 20 minute boat ride from the major La Paz marina departure points.
WHEN IS LA PAZ WHALE SHARK SEASON?
The whale shark La Paz season runs roughly from Oct. 1 to Apr. 30th. I say roughly, because it can only officially start once 7 or more whale sharks have beens spotted in the protected whale shark area for several consecutive days.
(The 2023/24 season was delayed until nearly mid-November.)
ARE WHALE SHARKS PROTECTED IN LA PAZ?
The whole experience of whale shark viewing in La Paz is highly regulated. Guides must be certified and boats must be licensed and operating with a valid permit.
The boats are required to check in and check out of the National Marine Protected Area by radio and visual contact. There are actually 4 separate agencies that oversee the marine environment off the town of La Paz.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
Some of the regulations around whale shark viewing in La Paz include:
- A season that runs from Oct. 1 to Apr 30th.
- A limited number of boats in the viewing area (14 per time slot, 4 times slots/day).
- A time limit of 2 hours in the viewing area (the early morning groups get 3 hours because they must find the whale sharks first).
- One whale shark per group of swimmers.
- A maximum of 5 swimmers + 1 guide with a whale shark.
- Swimming is only allowed beside a whale sharks, never above or in front.
- No drones.
- No scuba diving or free diving.
- No touching or riding* the whale sharks.
*I know, right? That actually has to be spelled out? Perhaps it is more of an issue in party-central Cancun.
I really like this infographic from the conservation organization Whale Shark Mexico. (They offer internships!)
HOW LONG ARE LA PAZ WHALE SHARK TOURS?
If you are just going out to see the whale sharks in La Paz, the tours are typically 2-3 hours, with morning or afternoon departure options.
Some tours, however, can be 6-8 hours and include other activities. For example, we did a six hour tour with MeXplore that included the unique experience of swimming with sea lions and lunch at the must-see Balandra Beach.
Note: Balandra Beach has limited and timed access when you arrive by land so this is a good way to see it.
THE WHALE SHARK TOURS LA PAZ EXPERIENCE
You will typically meet your fellow guests, tour guide and boat captain at one of the local marinas or a dock along the Malecon. Following the completion of a waiver, you’ll be outfitted with a wetsuit, snorkel, mask, and fins.
Once on the water, your boat will need to check in with the authorities to gain permission to enter the protected whale shark area. (This is done by radioing in to a building on the shore.)
Upon receiving permission to enter the whale shark area, the search begins to locate one, as each boat is required to find their own shark. Once spotted, the boat captain will position snorkelers and a guide to the side of the whale shark, allowing them to drop in from the boat and commence swimming alongside it.
On our tour, my husband and I were able to swim beside two different whale sharks for a total of three times.
As mentioned, many swim with whale shark La Paz tours include other activities. Our 6-hour excursion with MeXplore had stops to view the blue-footed boobies on Gaviota, lunch on a remote section of the gorgeous Balandra Beach, and a snorkel stop at a sea lion colony.
Bonuses on our tour included seeing a young humpback whale and a pod of dolphins! The Gulf of California is simply teeming with marine life!
IS IT HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH WHALE SHARKS?
For such a special experience, of course you want to try to capture those memories. I will say, however, that it is quite hard to get good shots of whale sharks. The ones I used at the top of this post are from professional photographers (Shutterstock).
First of all, you have to put quite a bit of energy into just keeping up with a whale shark. This can lead to some rather blurry shots, or herky-jerky footage. (A stabilizing feature is helpful.)
Second, plankton-filled waters are often dark and murky, making it quite difficult to get a clear shot.
Third, you are swimming beside the whale shark. That angle makes it very difficult to capture the whole of it. If you are far enough away to get the whole thing, it is probably not going to be clear enough to actually see it.
This is my best shot from my La Paz experience taken with a GoPro. As you can see, it is not very clear at all. You can also see how much plankton there is in the water.
Honestly, I almost want to tell you not to bother…to just be present and experience it. Alternatively, I would look for a company that takes photos and videos for you. (Many do, including MeXplore.)
If you are set on taking your own footage (as I always am), I would definitely recommend buying (or better, borrowing) the latest and greatest version of the GoPro with action-mode and stabilization.
See GoPro cameras on Amazon.
ARE WHALE SHARK SIGHTINGS GUARANTEED?
Alas, we are dealing with nature, so a sighting is never guaranteed. To increase your chances of seeing whale sharks in La Paz, however, I would recommend the following.
- Visit in peak season. The best time to see whale shark in La Paz is during the winter months of December to March.
- Go on a La Paz whale shark tour at the very beginning of your stay so that you have can try again if you do not see any.
- Choose a tour that has multiple activities so that if you don’t see a whale shark you aren’t totally crushed. (Some tours include swimming with sea lions which is also amazing.)
- Choose a tour company that gets great reviews for reliability and service.*
*Note: There are more licensed whale shark viewing boats than there are time slots available each day. Boats can apply ahead of time for a slot if they can proved that they have passengers booked. Otherwise, the remaining slots can be applied for at 3pm the day before, on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a chance your tour could be cancelled if the company is not successful in winning one of these spots.
IS THE WATER WARM?
The water temperature in Gulf of California can range from 19°C (66°F) in the winter to 24°C (75°F) in the summer. As the peak season for whale shark viewing is in the winter, you will want to wear a wet suit to stay warm.
Whale shark tour companies typically provide wet suits and snorkeling gear for their guests.
WHAT TO BRING ON A WHALE SHARK TOUR
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Hoodie (in the cooler months of Dec.-Mar.)
- Camera (in a water-tight case) and/or Go Pro
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Pesos to tip guide and captain
- Optional: Hat and Sunglasses
Wet suits and snorkel gear are typically provided by your La Paz whale shark tour company. Some companies will also take Go Pro photos and video that will be shared with you after your tour.
The boats are covered, so you may not want to bother with a hat and sunglasses, unless you are on a longer tour that includes beach time.
IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE?
Most whale shark La Paz tours require that kids be at least 8 years old to participate. The activity requires you to be able to jump into the water from the side of the boat, and snorkel well enough to keep up with the whale sharks.
Note: I did see that La Pax VIP tours will take kids as young as 5 years old on private tours.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The cost of a basic whale shark snorkel tour in La Paz runs between $95-$150 USD per person. If you want to make a day of it, and include other activities like swimming with sea lions and lunch on Balandra Beach, that will set you back closer to $200 USD per person.
If you are on a day trip to see the whale sharks (including transportation) from Los Cabos or Todos Santos, you are probably looking at $200-$300 USD per person. While pricey, if viewing whale sharks in their natural habitat is a once in a lifetime experience for you – it will most certainly be worth it.
HOW TO FIND THE BEST WHALE SHARK TOURS
I did a ton of research before deciding which company to book with to swim with whale sharks in La Paz. The truth is, however, that the industry is so highly regulated on all levels (from guest safety to whale shark safety), that the experience on the water is pretty similar.
There are, however, still a few things to look out for before booking with a particular company.
- Book early. During high season, the best tours and best tour companies book out weeks, even months in advance. (I booked a month ahead and my first choice was full.)
- Look for companies that are giving back to the community and marine environment.
- Look for companies that employ marine biologist guides.
- Read recent guest reviews (Tripadvisor, Google etc.)
- Beware of companies that seem to have frequent cancellations. While a small number of cancelled tours is expected during whale shark season La Paz, this should not be a regular occurrence.
- If you are not Spanish-speaking, confirm that the guide is fluent in English.
RECOMMENDED WHALE SHARK TOUR COMPANIES
At the time of writing this post, there are more than 90 boats that are licensed to take guests out to see whale sharks in La Paz. While of course, some companies have multiple boats, that still leaves a lot of choice.
Here are some companies, however that get consistently great reviews, including the one we went out with (MeXplore).
LA PAZ WHALE SHARK TOURS
1. MeXplore – We had a very good experience with this company. Everything was super organized and the wildlife viewing was very respectful. Our marine biologist guide and captain were both exceptional.
- Small Group Whale Shark, Sea Lions and Balandra Beach (Viator)
- Small Group Whale Shark Tour (Viator)
2. Alonso Tours – This company is locally owned, and family run. It came highly recommended to me by the hotel owner of the beautiful Mantarraya Outpost boutique hotel (where we stayed), who is a champion of La Paz conservation herself.
- Snorkel with Whale Sharks Tour (Viator)
- Snorkel with Sea Lions (Viator)
3. Tuna Tuna Tours – Tuna Tuna runs very similar tours to MeXplore and receives very good reviews from guests.
- Small Group Whale Shark Tour (Viator)
- Small Group Whale Sharks & Sea Lions (Viator)
TODOS SANTOS WHALE SHARK TOURS
Despite being located on the opposite coast of the Baja peninsula, it is quite easy to do a day trip from Todos Santos to La Paz to see the whale sharks. The drive is only 1 hour, and if you don’t have a rental car, tours run quite frequently.
Eco Tours Todo Santos – This company runs their tours from Todos Santos and would have been my first choice if I had looking for a tour from that town rather than La Paz.
They are very dedicated to sustainability and conservation and are part of several organizations that I support, including the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF).
CABO WHALE SHARK TOURS
While you cannot swim with whale sharks in Los Cabos, there are whale shark tours that run from Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to La Paz.
Whale shark tours from Cabo are typically a full day (10-12 hours) as it is a 2 hour drive to where you will get on the boat in La Paz. The price per person is around $250-$300 USD per person with a small discount for kids.
OTHER POPULAR WHALE TOURS
Whale shark season in La Paz happens to overlap with the migration of grey whales to the west coast of Baja. Seeing these whales can be an exceptional experience, as they have developed a very unusual relationship with the local fishermen. Since the 1970s, these whales have been approaching and interacting with boats (safely) – often spy hopping beside them and even pushing their babies towards them.
The closest place to view the grey whales from La Paz is Puerto Chale (2 hr. drive). We took a day trip tour with Freefall Academy. I chose this company because I love their commitment to respectful wildlife viewing and keeping tourism dollars in the local communities.
Everything was going great with our tour until we arrived at the port and found it was too windy for the boats to go out. (The Port Authority would not allow it.) We did, however, still get to enjoy a lovely ceviche lunch at our would-be captain’s home. This unlucky turn of events is very rare, and I will definitely try to go out with Freefall Academy again one day.
- Gray Whale Watching Tour From La Paz (Viator)
Fun Fact: Freefall Academy co-owner Valentina Kochian has broken two Argentinian free diving records.
WHERE EXACTLY IS LA PAZ, MEXICO?
The town of La Paz, is located along the south east coast of the Baja peninsula (Baja California Sur). It is about a 2 hour drive from Los Cabos airport.
HOW DO YOU GET TO LA PAZ, MEXICO?
Most visitors arrive at San Jose del Cabo International Airport (SJD) and either rent a car, take a bus, or arrange a private transfer to La Paz. There are also direct flights to La Paz from Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Tijuana.
Here are the two driving routes to La Paz:
1. Highway 19 is the fully-paved toll highway that follows the west coast and passes through Todos Santos. The toll is cash only (114 pesos or approximately $7 USD at the time of publishing).
2. Highway 1, on the east coast, although beautiful, is a much rougher road. If you choose to take this route in a rental car, please check that your insurance will cover you.
BEST CAR RENTAL FOR LA PAZ
After reading many great reviews, we chose to rent from Cactus Rental Car at San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD). It was very easy and fast – I would recommend them.
Fun Fact: You know you are in Mexico when the rental car agency offers you a water…or a beer. I drink about 2 beers a year and this seemed like the time to do it. I wasn’t driving, but let me tell you, the beer was much more popular with renters than the water.
MORE QUESTIONS?
I hope I have answered all of your questions about swimming with whale sharks in La Paz. If I haven’t, or if you have a comment, please reach out. I absolutely love hearing from my fellow travelers.
I communicate best via direct message on Instagram or by email. Alternatively, you are welcome to leave a comment below.
Happy travels!
