Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz, Mexico: 2026–27 Season Guide
Hola, fellow travelers! 🐋🌵 Welcome to our refreshed guide for the 2026–27 whale shark season in La Paz.
If you only do one thing in La Paz, make it this. Floating next to a whale shark, the biggest fish on the planet, is the kind of moment you replay for years. And La Paz is one of the easiest places in the world to do it.
At a glance
Best whale shark tours in La Paz
These are the tours we’d book ourselves. All are licensed, run small groups, and follow the rules. Prices are per person and can shift with the season.
Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz
- Highest-rated tour in La Paz
- Small groups, local guides
- Short and sweet: perfect for a half day
Whale Shark Adventure with a Marine Biologist
- Biologist in the water with you
- Learn what you’re seeing, not just see it
- Great with kids
Whale Shark Snorkeling in La Paz
- Solid mid-range option
- Longer 4-hour outing
- Good back-up if the others sell out
Prefer to book direct? Tuna Tuna Tours (max 10 guests, marine biologist on board) and Baja Adventure Co. (shared, private and catamaran trips) are both local favourites.
When is whale shark season in La Paz?
Roughly October to April. The young sharks gather at El Mogote, the sandbar across the bay from the Malecón, to feed in the plankton-rich shallows.
Here’s the catch: the season doesn’t open on a fixed date. Mexico’s park authority (CONANP) counts sharks every morning, and tours only start once enough animals have settled in. Last season opened in mid-November 2025 and ran until April 2026.
Also worth knowing: in early 2025 the authorities paused tours for a few weeks because shark numbers dropped. It’s rare, but it can happen. A good operator will reschedule or refund you.
La Paz or Los Cabos: where should you start?
From La Paz Our pick
- Price
- USD 125–195
- Day length
- 3–4 hours
- Travel
- 15 min by boat
- Best for
- Anyone staying in La Paz, families, photographers
- Verdict
- ✅ Stay a night in La Paz and go early
From Los Cabos
- Price
- USD 200–300
- Day length
- 10–12 hours
- Travel
- 2 hrs each way by road, then boat
- Best for
- Cabo resort guests with one spare day
- Verdict
- Fine if you can’t move hotels
From Cabo, Cabo Trek runs a day trip on Tuesdays and Fridays from November to March for about USD 299 per adult, transport included.
The rules in the water
La Paz takes this seriously, and so should you. A management plan running through 2029 caps how many boats go out each day based on the morning shark count. In the water:
If a shark changes direction or speeds up, the encounter ends. That’s a good thing: it means the system is working and the sharks keep coming back.
What to expect on the day
- Early start. Tours leave between 7 and 10 am, when the water is glassy and the sharks feed at the surface.
- Short boat ride. El Mogote is only 15 to 20 minutes from the Malecón pier.
- Spotting. Your guide finds a shark, the boat slows, and groups of five slip in from the side.
- Rotations. You’ll get several turns in the water, usually 20 to 40 minutes of swimming in total.
- Bonus wildlife. Watch for dolphins, mobula rays and sea turtles on the way out.
What to bring:
Ready to book?
The top-rated tour is from $127 and sells out first in December and January.
Where to stay in La Paz
Most tours pick up from the Malecón, so stay close to it. Our picks:
Hotel Catedral
Right downtown, rooftop pool, a short walk to the pier. Our go-to for a one-night stay.
Check rates →
Posada de las Flores
Colonial-style boutique hotel right on the Malecón, with a courtyard you won’t want to leave.
Check rates →
Hotel Indigo Puerta Cortés
Beach club, marina and pool, 15 minutes from town. Best if you want to unwind after the swim.
Check rates →More options in our guide to the best hotels in La Paz.
Getting to La Paz
Fly into Los Cabos (SJD) and drive north for about two hours on a good highway, or fly straight into La Paz (LAP) from Mexico City, Guadalajara or Tijuana. Our complete guide to getting to La Paz has all the routes.
🚗 Rent a car. It makes the drive from Cabo easy and lets you add Balandra and Tecolote beaches to your trip.
Hertz Mexico rates →Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to swim with whale sharks?
Yes. They’re filter feeders with no interest in people. The only real risks are the tail (stay 3 m back) and sunburn.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. You wear a life vest, the water is calm and shallow, and a guide is with you. If you can snorkel in a pool, you’re fine.
Can kids go?
Most operators take children from around 5 or 6 with a parent in the water. The marine-biologist tour is especially good with kids.
What if we don’t see any sharks?
Rare in season, but it happens. Many operators offer a second trip or a partial refund; check the policy before you book.
Can I combine it with Espíritu Santo or Balandra?
Yes. Combo tours (around USD 190–250) add the sea lion colony at Los Islotes or a beach stop at Balandra. Great if you only have one day.
When will the 2026–27 season open?
It hasn’t been announced yet. The authorities open the refuge once their morning count finds enough sharks for several days running. Last season opened in mid-November. We’ll update this page as soon as it’s official.
Why it matters
Whale sharks have been listed as endangered since 2016, mostly because of fishing and boat strikes elsewhere in the world. Well-run tourism gives La Paz a reason to protect them, and it’s working: the bay is one of the few places on Earth where numbers are watched closely every single day.
Ready to meet the gentle giants?
Spots fill fast from December. Lock in a licensed tour and we’ll see you on the water.
Keep planning your La Paz trip:
Questions about your trip? Drop them in the comments and we’ll answer. ¡Buen viaje! 🌊
I cannot come until late March or early April. Are the whale sharks usually still there? Is scuba diving or snorkeling the preferred way to swim with them?
Hi Gary, The whale sharks will be there until May, and snorkelling will be the best way to swim with them as they feed on the surface.