Only from May 15th to Sept 17th
In our opinion, it's the no.1 activity you can do in Cancun because it's one of the best places in the world to do it! This is because:
1) Generally, if you see whale sharks somewhere else in the world, you'll see one or two because they're solitary creatures. Here you can see DOZENS of them, which is extremely rare. The record was over 400 in one day!
2) It’s practically guaranteed to see them. Nowhere else in the world can you see this many whale sharks in one place.
3) They are naturally located here. Most places in the world where whale sharks are found, they bait them/feed them which is generally considered to have a negative effect on their feeding patterns. It’s an environmental friendly activity :D
4) It’s only 4 months a year!
5) It helps our Captain Beto, a local guy who goes out with a boat that has two engines which burns more fuel, and is much safer than the other options you can find.
Whats Included? / Schedule
7:30 am: Transport to the docks in the morning - Taxi that we pay for $150 arranged via the Taxi Whatsapp group
Snorkeling Gear (Fins, Mask, and tube. If clients have their own, they should bring them since it's always better that they have their own gear)
Coffee and bread at the dock
Drinks on the boat (water/Coke, and beer after swimming with the sharks)
Swimming with the sharks two to three times. Most people swim with them 2 times and are generally exhausted. It doesn't seem like they swim quickly, but they're so big that it's pretty fast for us little people.
People jump in the water in groups of two, with the guide and swim with the sharks for around 5 mins at a time, then the next group jumps in. So this goes on until everyone has swam with the sharks.
After swimming with the sharks, you get a small meal of (amazing) chicken sandwiches. Vegetarian options are available if we let the captain know early enough.
Once done with the sharks and the snack, the boat will either go to a reef off Isla Mujeres or one off of Isla Contoy (North of Isla Mujeres, it's a bird Sanctuary). At the reefs, you'll snorkel for about 30 mins while the captain makes a fresh ceviche lunch of fish or shrimp for everyone. If the boat went to Isla Mujeres, you'll go to the nicest beach of Isla: Playa Norte where they'll serve the food with beers. If the boat went to Isla Contoy, you'll swim back to the boat and have lunch on the boat. (Isla Contoy vs Isla Mujeres, depends on the weather and where they found the sharks).
2h/2:30pm: They drop you off at the dock where you take a colectivo back to the Hostel for $10mxn
What you should bring with you:
• Towel
• Swimming shorts, Bikini etc.
• Sun cream should be applied before leaving the hostel as it can not be applied on the boats unless it is the “environmentally friendly sun creams”
Note:
If you book the tour and the port is closed because of bad weather, of course you can re-schedule the trip or get the money back.
This is also a great activity to offer if you want to go to Isla Mujeres. You can take all your stuff with you and store it on the boat while during the activity, and then get dropped off on Isla Mujeres. You can also get dropped off and just stay for the day and then take a ferry back to Cancun. Ferries go until 11pm from Isla to Cancun (Puerto Juarez).
This makes it ideal as an activity if you have a late flight. If you're in a rush, there are always taxis at the docks that you can take to the Hostel.
We also rent out a GoPro for $20USD per day!