The 14 Best Whale Watching Tours in Mexico

1.Luxury Catamaran Whale Watching Cabo San Lucas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,107 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129Our pick

Cruise from San Jose del Cabo toward Cabo San Lucas on a double-decker catamaran with guides such as Jacob, Marco, and Captain Reyes. See the Arch, listen for whale songs through a hydrophone, and watch humpbacks from the Sea of Cortez. Pickup, drinks, snacks, and a light lunch-style platter are available.

“What a lovely morning on the water! We saw numerous whales and soaked up some sunshine. The crew was fabulous, the snacks delicious, and the drinks plentiful. Transportation from and to the resort made it all so easy.”

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2.Whale Watching Cabo-Women crew-Sightings Guaranteed & Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,743 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $100

Join Cabo Nature for a two-hour whale search from Cabo San Lucas with a women-led crew of marine biologists. Listen to humpback songs through a hydrophone, stop at El Arco for photos, and receive digital pictures. The boat carries up to 10 people in the intimate format described, and a second tour is free if no whales appear.

“My wife and I carefully searched for a whale watching guide for our cruise to Cabo. Let me say that there's a reason Cabo Nature has the most reviews. These ladies are amazing! Having the tour with experienced marine biologists added so much to the experience. Our guides were so knowledgeable and you could hear the genuine excitement in their voices when telling us about the whales. We took a quick ride to the Arch for photos (which by the way are included!) and went to several spots and saw multiple whales and even a calf. It really was an amazing experience that we'll never forget. Sure you could book…”

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3.SMALL GROUP Whale Watch | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,106 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109

Join a maximum-12-person boat tour from Cabo San Lucas with marine biologists such as Oscar, Victoria, or Payo. Look for humpback whales, dolphins, sea lions, turtles, and sometimes gray or sperm whales. You will pass The Arch, Lovers Beach, and Pelican Rock, hear whale songs through a hydrophone when conditions permit, and receive tour photos at no extra cost.

“A small group with an excellent marine biologist as a guide & a boat skipper who got involved with the group made this excursion into one that we won’t forget.”

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4.Humpback Whales in Cabo San Lucas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,005 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Spend about 2.5 hours on a small boat from Cabo San Lucas, visiting El Arco and its sea lions before searching for humpback whales. A marine biologist such as Andrea, Vanu, Maria, or Vanusa explains the animals and local waters. Boats hold about 10 to 12 people, and morning trips usually offer calmer seas.

“We had a great time! We were on a boat with a small group. Our guide was so knowlegeable about the sea life and we learned a lot about whales. The captain zoomed us around the ocean to find the spots where the whales were breaching. Great tour!”

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5.Whale Watching, The Famous Arch and Fast Boat Tour in Los Cabos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 693 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Set out from Cabo San Lucas in a fast inflatable boat with a captain and marine guide. Search for humpback whales from December to April, listen for their songs through onboard hydrophones, and pass the Arch, sea lion colony, and Lovers Beach on the way back. Hotel pickup is offered, but expect extra transportation and dock fees.

“The whale watching was AMAZING! Great people at Cabo Adventures. Especially Jerry our guide and his crew. Super informative and lots of WHALES! Don’t hesitate to book this, it’s some of the most fun you’ll have in Cabo!”

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6.Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 398 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend about four hours on a spacious catamaran in Banderas Bay, watching humpback whales, dolphins, and possibly sea turtles. Mike’s Fishing & Tours includes breakfast, lunch, an international open bar, shaded seating, bathrooms, and live commentary. Meet at Puerto Magico in Puerto Vallarta. Port fees are extra.

“The boat's captain and crew were very good at spotting whales. We saw quite a few mother and calf pods. They took good care of us with drinks and the food was pretty good.”

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7.ZODIAC Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 365 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109

Ride a small zodiac from Cabo’s marina with a marine biologist such as Oscar, Josephine, or Victoria. Search for humpback whales, listen for whale calls with a hydrophone when conditions allow, and pass El Arco, Lovers Beach, and Pelican Rock. The crew takes free photos, and a second tour is free if no whales appear from December 15 to April 15.

“The experience was great in every aspect. The weather was perfect the boat size allowed quick mobility to follow the whales but the crew was ultimately what made the experience the best it could be as they were engaged, knowledgeable and made us feel like they were enjoying the experience as much as we were. Remember they do this 3 times a day so staying that engaged each and every time shows their love for what they do and their willingness to make sure we have a great time. I highly recommend the experience.”

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8.Small-Group Half-Day Whale-Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 334 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110

Join Vallarta Natours for a 3.5-hour whale-watching trip from Marina Vallarta. A guide such as Thalia or Pilar explains humpback behavior while Captain Angel searches Banderas Bay for whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life. The boat holds up to 12 people and includes lunch, soft drinks, and a shaded area.

“The tour far exceeded my expectations! Thalia is extremely knowledgeable and you can tell she really loves the wildlife. I highly recommend this tour if you want to do whale watching.”

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9.Dolphin & Whale Watching in Puerto Escondido

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $65Best value

Leave Puerto Escondido around 7am with a small group and guides such as Alex, Johnny, or Fernando. Cruise past Playa Zicatela and nearby bays, then search offshore for dolphins, humpback whales, turtles, manta rays, and seabirds. Swimming with dolphins may be possible, but jellyfish and sea conditions can change the plan.

“Absolutely wonderful experience! It was better than we hoped! We saw so many dolphins, even got to swim with them which was magical. We also saw many tortugas and manta rays.”

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10.Whale Watching Group Tour in San Jose del Cabo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 243 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $99

Set out from Salty Cabo in San Jose del Cabo for about two hours with a maximum of 10 people. Guides such as Paola, Sofia, Luisa, and Kate explain whale behavior, migration, and conservation while you watch for humpbacks, gray whales, dolphins, and more. Water, cookies, photos, and hydrophone listening are included.

“Sofia was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable. Small group so felt very intimate. So much nicer than whale watching groups we have done out of CSL.”

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11.Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 186 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $89

Head out from Puerto Vallarta in a small speedboat during humpback season. A marine mammal expert such as Chai, Enrique, Lilu, or Daniel explains whale behavior while you listen to their calls through hydrophones. Expect about three hours on open water, a light snack, purified water, and no toilet or shade aboard.

“Lovely way to spend the first part of the day. Chai was really informative and entertaining. He explained the length of various times whales dive, and varying behaviours of them to manage the group’s expectations really well. We got some incredible photos and visited at least 3-5 groups of whales, including a very active baby!”

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12.Whale Watching in Cabo San Lucas: Sightseeing Cruise and Shopping

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $115

You’ll ride from your hotel to El Arco, then spend about two hours on a glass-bottom boat searching the Sea of Cortez for gray and humpback whales. Mele may help locate the action, followed by tequila tasting and free time for shopping, the beach, or another Cabo stop when conditions allow.

“The boat was comfortable, clean, and spacious, offering plenty of room to move around and take in the breathtaking views. The crew was knowledgeable and friendly, providing interesting facts about the marine life and making sure everyone was comfortable. We were lucky enough to see several whales up close, including a mother and her calf breaching the surface—an absolutely magical moment! The boat captain did a great job positioning us for the best views while respecting the whales’ space. After whale watching, we had the option to have one of their drivers take us around shopping, the beach, or somewhere we were interested in going. The kids had enough after…”

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13.Whale Watching Adventure – Led by a Marine Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 176 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Join a marine biologist in Puerto Vallarta for a three-and-a-half-hour humpback whale trip from Marina Vallarta. After a short biology talk, you’ll head out in a small group of up to 14 people with guides such as Cynthia, Michael, Francisco, or Maggie. Listen to whale songs through a hydrophone and watch for mothers, calves, dolphins, turtles, breaches, and flukes.

“This tour was absolutely amazing! It starts with an informative presentation about whales, so you learn a lot before heading out on the water. The guide was passionate and knowledgeable, which made the whole experience even more fun. We were lucky enough to see two different groups of whales, each demonstrating different behaviors. We even got to hear some of the male whales singing.”

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14.Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $200

Set out from San José del Cabo with your own group aboard a comfortable private boat. Guides such as Sophie, Paola, or Marianne explain the whales and Sea of Cortez wildlife, while a hydrophone lets you hear whale song underwater. Tours include free photos and run Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

“Paola was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide! We wanted to be away from the craziness of the San Lucas marina and our efforts were rewarded. The entire process was effortless and wonderful. I recommend contacting Salty Cabo directly, however, because Viator isn’t helpful to modify or change your excursions.”

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