Whale watching in Mexico
3 towns and 10 operators, with the months each species is around. Listed trips run from $69 to $124 per person.
When to go, town by town
Dark squares are peak months for at least one species, light squares are the rest of the season.
| Town | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Trips from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabo San LucasHumpback whale, Gray whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: quiet | June: quiet | July: quiet | August: quiet | September: quiet | October: quiet | November: quiet | December: in season | $73 |
| Puerto VallartaHumpback whale | January: peak | February: peak | March: in season | April: quiet | May: quiet | June: quiet | July: quiet | August: quiet | September: quiet | October: quiet | November: quiet | December: in season | $69 |
| San Ignacio LagoonGray whale | January: in season | February: peak | March: peak | April: in season | May: quiet | June: quiet | July: quiet | August: quiet | September: quiet | October: quiet | November: quiet | December: quiet | MXN 1,350 |
Every operator in Mexico, cheapest trip first
| Operator | What you get | Town | From | Length | Group | If no whales | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whale Watching Photo Safari |
$69 per adult |
3 hours |
Small groups (number not stated) |
Second free tour if no whales are seen (December 20 to March 1); no refunds | Check dates | ||
Whale Watching Tour |
MXN 1,350 per adult |
About 2 hours on the water |
Up to 12 passengers per boat; boats may be shared with other groups |
None; operator says whale encounters cannot be guaranteed | Check dates | ||
Whale Watching |
$73 per adult |
About 2 hours plus transport; daily 9am and 12pm |
No guarantee; you still get the scenery and landmarks | Check dates | |||
Cabo Whale Watching |
$76 per person |
2 hours |
None; operator says it cannot give an absolute guarantee | Check dates | |||
Whale + Dolphin Watching |
$90 per adult |
4.5 hours; morning start 08:00, afternoon 12:30 |
12, 14 or 20 passengers depending on boat |
100% guarantee the animals are found or your money back | Check dates | ||
Zodiac Whale Watching Adventure |
$99 per adult |
2.5 hours |
Small groups (number not stated) |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
Humpback Whale Watching |
$124 per adult |
3 hours plus a half-hour talk before; 8:30am-12pm or 1-4:30pm |
Max 14 guests |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
San Ignacio Whale Watching |
$1,640 per adult |
3 days with 2 nights at camp; whale watching sessions of about 2 hours |
Up to 6 guests per panga; minimum 4 guests per departure |
None; operator says it cannot guarantee whales or mothers with calves | Check dates | ||
Whale Watching Cabo San Lucas |
Not listed |
2.5 hours |
Another trip free of charge if no whales are spotted | Check dates | |||
San Ignacio Lagoon Gray Whale Watching |
Not listed |
4 days/3 nights or 6 days/5 nights; up to 8 or 14 whale sessions of about 90 minutes |
Pangas hold up to 12; operator aims for 6 to 7 guests plus captain and naturalist |
Not stated | Check dates |
Each operator's cheapest listed trip, from its own website on October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Other countries and states
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