--- title: Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya lang: en type: tour city: Cancún country: Mexico price: 145 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.56 reviews: 1017 duration_minutes: 480 languages: [en, es] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Without transport? rank_in_category: 10 of 11 (Day Trips from Tulum) schedule_checked: 2026-09-19 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/mexico/playa-del-carmen/tours/whale-sharks-small-group-tour-in-cancun-and-riviera-maya/ --- # Whale Sharks Small-Group Tour in Cancun and Riviera Maya **Guidekin's take:** A small group whale shark day off the Yucatán coast with a naturalist guide, snorkel gear, ceviche and shared transport from Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. An environmental and dock tax is paid in cash on the day, and the trip needs a minimum number of guests to run. 4.56 from 1017 reviews at €145 per person. **Without transport?:** Without transportation tier at €145 per person: naturalist, gear and ceviche; minimum passenger count applies, cash tax extra. 4.56 from 1017 reviews. Trade-off: Needs minimum passengers; cash tax on the day. (last checked September 19, 2026) In our comparison: #10 of 11 in Day Trips from Tulum, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Go to this amazing adventure where you will be able to see the Mexico's gentle giants - whale sharks! Cruising the Gulf of Mexico with an expert guide, you'll visit the biggest fish and maybe spot dolphins, manta rays, and turtles on this small-group snorkeling adventure off the Yucatan coast. *NOTE: WE CAN OPERATE A PRIVATE WHALE SHARK TOUR ALL DAYS (EXCEPT 30 OF EACH MONTH). ## Before you book - Hotel pickup: no car needed - Food included: Water and soft drinks - Age rule: Minimum age is 5 years **Pickup:** Hotel pickup included ## Key facts - Price: from €145 per person for the Without transportation option; other options up to €190 - Duration: 8h - Rating: 4.56/5 from 1017 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: EcoColors Mexico - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English, Spanish - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-19 ## Reviews 4.56 from 1017 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 89% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 901 of 1017. - 5 stars: 810 (80%) - 4 stars: 91 (9%) - 3 stars: 41 (4%) - 2 stars: 30 (3%) - 1 star: 45 (4%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise close whale shark encounters and supportive guides; seasickness on rough boat rides is a recurring caveat. **Praised:** - Swimming alongside whale sharks, with manta rays also spotted - Knowledgeable guides explain whale sharks and the swim instructions clearly - Patient help in the water for nervous or less confident swimmers - Fresh ceviche and guacamole prepared by the crew - Punctual hotel pickups and clear communication before the trip **Complaints:** - Rough boat rides and seasickness, sometimes despite motion sickness medication - Some felt rushed during the whale shark swims, while others reported ample time - Photo and video packages felt expensive - Some found boats crowded around the sharks, while others described respectful spacing Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-08-03 to 2026-09-18); last checked 2026-10-03. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | Without transportation | €145 / person | Spanish, English | Meet us directly at Marina Xtabay, located at: Carretera Puerto Juárez, Carr. a Punta Sam, Supermanzana 84, 77500 Cancún, Qu Fish Ceviche | | Cancun Departure | €172 / person | Spanish, English | Departs from Cancun hotels. •EXACTLY PICK UP TIME WILL BE PROVIDED ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR TOUR BY A MESSAGE ON VIATOR. | | Playa Del Carmen Departure | €181 / person | Spanish, English | Departs from Playa del Carmen hotels. •EXACTLY PICK UP TIME WILL BE PROVIDED ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR TOUR BY A MESSAGE ON VIATOR. Fish Ceviche, Water and Soda | | Riviera Maya Departure | €181 / person | Spanish, English | Departs from Riviera Maya hotels •EXACTLY PICK UP TIME WILL BE PROVIDED ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR TOUR BY A MESSAGE ON VIATOR. | | Tulum Departure | €190 / person | Spanish, English | Pick-ups will be in Super Aki Market in Tulum. •EXACTLY PICK UP TIME WILL BE PROVIDED ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR TOUR. Pickup included | ## What's included - Bilingual naturalist guide - Water and soft drinks - Use of snorkeling equipment (life jacket, visor, fins, snorkel) - Shared Transportation - Fish Ceviche and Sandwiches ## Not included - Gratuities - Alcoholic Beverages - Personal expenses - Environmental tax and dock use: $20.00 USD in cash per person, payable the day of your tour. ## Itinerary 1. **Join us for an informative briefing at Marina Xtabay, where our certified gui...** (30m; admission included) - Join us for an informative briefing at Marina Xtabay, where our certified guides will share fascinating insights about whale sharks and the unique ecosystems of the region. Learn more about these gentle giants and their natural habitat before your adventure begins. 2. **Playa Norte** (pass by, no stop) - Enjoy a delicious lunch onboard, just off the coast of Isla Mujeres—home to one of the world's most stunning beaches, as recognized by Condé Nast in 2013. Take time to swim and relax in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of this tropical paradise. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Schedule last checked: 2026-09-19 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point Carretera Puerto Juárez, Carr. a Punta Sam Supermanzana 84, 77500 Cancún, Q.R. "Marina Xtabay" Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries - Not recommended for pregnant travelers - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - Minimum age is 5 years - This tour requires a minimum number of passengers to operate. There is a possibility that the tour may be canceled after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be provided the option to take the tour on an alternative date or be refunded in full. - We only permit Mineral sunscreen. - We recommended to ask your doctor if you can take seasickness pills before your tour. - Whale Shark ‘No Sighting’ Guarantee: Unfortunately, we can never 100% guarantee a wildlife sighting. But we can guarantee to do everything we can on the day to maximise your chances of swimming with a whale shark. ## Compared with other Day Trips from Tulum | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #10 of 11** | €145 | 8h | 4.56 (1017) | shared | | [Snorkeling with Caribbean fish and private cenote exploration](/mexico/playa-del-carmen/tours/snorkeling-with-caribbean-fish-and-private-cenote-exploration/?format=md) | €154 | 6h | 4.97 (213) | shared | | [Private Guided Cenotes and Underground River Exploration](/mexico/playa-del-carmen/tours/private-guided-cenotes-and-underground-river-exploration/?format=md) | €181 | 5h | 4.99 (172) | private | | [Whale Shark Snorkeling Experience from Cancun and Riviera Maya](/mexico/playa-del-carmen/tours/whale-shark-snorkeling-experience-from-cancun-and-riviera-maya/?format=md) | €208 | 6h 30m | 4.78 (78) | shared | Ranked #10 of 11 in Day Trips from Tulum by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €38 to €208, median €126; typical length 8h. 1 of 11 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/mexico/playa-del-carmen/day-trips-from-tulum/?format=md ## More in Cancún - All Cancún tours: https://guidekin.com/mexico/playa-del-carmen/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/mexico/playa-del-carmen/tours/whale-sharks-small-group-tour-in-cancun-and-riviera-maya/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/mexico/playa-del-carmen/?format=md