3 Hours, Marine Biologist Guide
MeXplore runs this 3-hour small group swim with a marine biologist, from $178 per person.
Check availability
La Paz Whale Shark Tours: Prices, Season And Trip Types
Every bookable whale shark swim, combo and Cabo day trip in La Paz, grouped by trip type.
- $110lowest per-person from-price in the lineup
- 1 Oct to 30 AprOfficial Season · 2026-27 window for swimming with whale sharks in Bahia de La Paz, announced by SEMARNAT in September 2026
- 112Boats Authorized · authorizations for 2026-27, each tied to one holder, one boat and one pennant; the pennants were handed out on 20 October 2026
- 5Swimmers Per Guide · one specialised guide controls a group of up to five swimmers, kept together
La Paz Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour and Lunch From Los Cabos
from $259 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the live booking page with dates and prices. Book there; nothing is charged on this site.
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Cabo Adventures
La Paz Whale Shark Tours By The Numbers
6
Minimum Sharks To Sail · whale sharks that must be counted in the swim zone; with 5 or fewer no boats go out
2 m / 3 m
Swim Distance · minimum from the head and sides / from the tail fin
30 minutes
Time Per Shark · maximum for one boat with the same shark or group; waiting boats stay 50 m away
56
Sharks Identified 2025-26 · individual whales identified in the bay last season, with 950 sightings logged
MXN 225
Espiritu Santo Park Fee · per person per day for the island park wristband, per CONANP; confirm before travel
La Paz Whale Shark Tours By Trip Type
La Paz Whale Shark Swims
Tuna Tuna Tours, 3-Hour Small Group
Tuna Tuna Tours leads this 3-hour small group swim, rated 5 across 454 reviews.
Check availability
Premium Reduced-Group Encounter
A premium eco-friendly 3-hour encounter, from $295 per person.
Check availability
Budget Fare Whale Shark Swim
A 2 hour 30 minute swim from $110 per person, the lowest from-price on the list.
Check availabilityWhale Shark And Espiritu Santo Combos
6 Hours, Sea Lions Plus Balandra
Tuna Tuna Tours adds sea lions and Balandra to the swim in this 6-hour combo, from $234.
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Balandra Lunch Included, 6 Hours
Six hours with MeXplore combining whale shark and sea lion swims plus lunch on Balandra beach.
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9-Hour Combo, Island Picnic
A 9-hour Baja Sur Tours day covering whale sharks, sea lions and a picnic at Espiritu Santo Island.
Check availability
Combo With Ceviche Beach Picnic
Next Experience Travel combines whale sharks, sea lions and Balandra Beach in one Sea of Cortez day of 6 hours 30 minutes, from $299 per person.
Check availabilityWhale Shark Day Trips From Los Cabos
From Los Cabos, 10 Hours, Lunch
Cabo Adventures pairs the swim with lunch on this 10-hour day trip, from $259 per person.
Check availability
From Cabo, Marine Biologist, Lunch
Cabo Trek runs this full day trip at $399 per person.
Check availability
Todos Santos Day Trip, 7 Hours
BallardTours pairs a whale shark swim with a Todos Santos day trip, 7 hours, from $353.
Check availabilityNarrow The La Paz Whale Shark Tours To Your Trip
A starting shortlist of the best-reviewed swims. Answer any question below to rebuild it.
See the remaining tours
La Paz Whale Shark Tours Compared Side By Side
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All 27 tours, most reviewed first. Tap a sort chip twice to flip the order.
| Tour | Length | Meets | From | Rating | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Los Cabos, 10 Hours, LunchCabo Adventures | 10 hours | San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos hotel pickup area) | $259 | ★ 4.91,141 reviews | Check availability |
| 3 Hours, Marine Biologist GuideMeXplore | 3 hours | Calle Topete, MeXplore office | $178 | ★ 4.9649 reviews | Check availability |
| Tuna Tuna Tours, 3-Hour Small GroupTuna Tuna Tours | 3 hours | Marina La Paz, Calle Topete | $178 | ★ 5.0454 reviews | Check availability |
| Premium Reduced-Group EncounterLa Paz Whale Sharks VIP Tours | 3 hours | The Dock Cafe, Calle Legaspy | $295 | ★ 5.0422 reviews | Check availability |
| Budget Fare Whale Shark SwimSunrider Tours | 2 hours 30 minutes | Sent once you book | $110 | ★ 4.4155 reviews | Check availability |
| 6 Hours, Sea Lions Plus BalandraTuna Tuna Tours | 6 hours | Marina La Paz, Calle Topete | $234 | ★ 5.0113 reviews | Check availability |
| Baja Wild, Snacks and WetsuitsBaja Wild Adventures | 3 hours 30 minutes | La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal | $159 | ★ 4.9109 reviews | Check availability |
| Flexible 2-4 Hours, SnacksAlonso Tours | 2 to 4 hours | La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal | $122 | ★ 4.977 reviews | Check availability |
| Balandra Lunch Included, 6 HoursMeXplore | 6 hours | Calle Topete, MeXplore office | $234 | ★ 4.973 reviews | Check availability |
| From Cabo, Marine Biologist, LunchCabo Trek | 9 hours | Hotel Tesoro, Cabo San Lucas (CaboTrek meeting point) | $399 | ★ 4.962 reviews | Check availability |
| No tours match that combination. Set the Show or Meal chips back to Any and all 27 tours come back. | |||||
Best Months For La Paz Whale Shark Tours
Sea Temperature (C)20.119.120.021.323.825.627.729.530.128.925.521.7
Whale SharksPeakPeakLate season, sharks varySeason ends 30 AprSeason opens 1 Oct, sharks varySharks varyPeak
- Under 21 C
- 21 to 25 C
- 25 to 29 C
- Over 29 C
- Not named
- This month
January
Typical figures for January
Daytime High (C): 25.4 Rain (mm): 9.3
Sea Temperature (C): 20.1
February
Typical figures for February
Daytime High (C): 26.5 Rain (mm): 5.5
Sea Temperature (C): 19.1
March
Typical figures for March
Daytime High (C): 29.3 Rain (mm): 0.8
Sea Temperature (C): 20.0
April
Typical figures for April
Daytime High (C): 32.2 Rain (mm): 0.2
Sea Temperature (C): 21.3
May
Typical figures for May
Daytime High (C): 35.3 Rain (mm): 0.2
Sea Temperature (C): 23.8
June
Typical figures for June
Daytime High (C): 37.4 Rain (mm): 0.5
Sea Temperature (C): 25.6
July
Typical figures for July
Daytime High (C): 38.2 Rain (mm): 11.7
Sea Temperature (C): 27.7
August
Typical figures for August
Daytime High (C): 37.8 Rain (mm): 45.5
Sea Temperature (C): 29.5
September
Typical figures for September
Daytime High (C): 35.9 Rain (mm): 81.4
Sea Temperature (C): 30.1
October
Typical figures for October
Daytime High (C): 34.0 Rain (mm): 16.7
Sea Temperature (C): 28.9
November
Typical figures for November
Daytime High (C): 29.8 Rain (mm): 6.0
Sea Temperature (C): 25.5
December
Typical figures for December
Daytime High (C): 25.5 Rain (mm): 6.9
Sea Temperature (C): 21.7
Open the month-by-month table
| Month | Sea Temperature (C) | Daytime High (C) | Rain (mm) | Whale Sharks | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 28.9 | 34.0 | 16.7 | Season opens 1 Oct, sharks vary | Whale shark season |
| November | 25.5 | 29.8 | 6.0 | Sharks vary | Whale shark season |
| December | 21.7 | 25.5 | 6.9 | Peak | Whale shark season |
| January | 20.1 | 25.4 | 9.3 | Peak | Whale shark season |
| February | 19.1 | 26.5 | 5.5 | Peak | Whale shark season |
| March | 20.0 | 29.3 | 0.8 | Late season, sharks vary | Whale shark season |
| April | 21.3 | 32.2 | 0.2 | Season ends 30 Apr | Whale shark season |
| May | 23.8 | 35.3 | 0.2 | None in season | Closed |
| June | 25.6 | 37.4 | 0.5 | None in season | Closed |
| July | 27.7 | 38.2 | 11.7 | None in season | Closed |
| August | 29.5 | 37.8 | 45.5 | None in season | Closed |
| September | 30.1 | 35.9 | 81.4 | None in season | Closed |
La Paz Whale Shark Tours Vs Cabo Day Trips And Espiritu Santo Combos
| La Paz Departure | Cabo Day Trip | Espiritu Santo Combo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day length | 3 to 5 hours on the water, boat ride to the zone 20 to 40 minutes | 10 to 12 hours door to door | varies by operator |
| Getting to the boat | walk or short taxi from Malecon hotels; Costa Baja and El Mogote 10 to 20 minutes | about 160 km, 2 to 2.5 hours by road each way with hotel pickup | same La Paz docks as a local swim |
| Where the swim happens | Zone I of the Bahia de La Paz refuge | the same Zone I; Cabo has no shark swim of its own | Zone I plus the island park |
| Extra fee | some listings add cash fees on the day: US$5 dock fee and US$3 conservation fee | none listed in the Cabo day-trip listings | Espiritu Santo park fee MXN 225 per person per day (CONANP, confirm before travel) |
| Sea lion swim at Los Islotes | not part of the swim | not part of the swim | closed 1 June to 31 August, so open during shark season |
| Price band (USD) | From $110 to $295 per person (private charter priced per group) | From $259 to $399 per person | From $234 to $345 per person |
| Best for | travellers sleeping in La Paz | travellers based in Los Cabos with one free day | travellers adding the island to a shark day |
Where La Paz Whale Shark Tours Depart
Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.
Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Departure Points
- From Los Cabos, 10 Hours, Lunchfrom $259
- 3 Hours, Marine Biologist Guidefrom $178
Day Trip Stop
- Todos Santos Day Trip, 7 Hoursfrom $353
- La Paz Malecon, Muelle FiscalDeparture Points
- Marina La Paz, Calle TopeteDeparture Points · 1.1 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- The Dock Cafe, Calle LegaspyDeparture Points · 1000 m from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- Calle Mutualismo, Eco Migrations officeDeparture Points · 230 m from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- Calle Topete, MeXplore officeDeparture Points · 2.0 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- Hotel Tesoro, Cabo San Lucas (CaboTrek meeting point)Departure Points · 148 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos hotel pickup area)Departure Points · 138 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- El Mogote, whale shark swim zoneSwim Zone · 1.4 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- Isla Espiritu SantoIsland · 34 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- Playa BalandraBeach · 11 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
- Todos SantosDay Trip Stop · 80 km from La Paz Malecon, Muelle Fiscal in a straight line
Where To Stay In La Paz Before Your Swim
Seven Crown La Paz Malecon
Malecon, La Paz
Check rates
Perla La Paz, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Malecon, La Paz
Check rates
Hotel Catedral La Paz
Centro, two blocks from the Malecon, La Paz
Check ratesLa Paz Whale Shark Tours FAQ
When is the whale shark season in La Paz?
The season runs from 1 October to 30 April under Semarnat rules, though most boats swim from November through April. The live booking page shows which dates are open in a given week.
How many swimmers are allowed per guide?
Swimmers enter the water in small groups, with one guide responsible for up to five people at a time. Only one boat may swim with a given shark or group, for a maximum of 30 minutes, while other vessels wait 50 m away.
How close can you swim to a whale shark?
Swimmers must stay at least 2 m from the head and sides of a shark and 3 m clear of its tail. Boats shadow the animal from behind, keeping 5 m away, and set snorkelers down roughly 15 m ahead with the engine in neutral.
Can you swim with whale sharks on a day trip from Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, day tours from the Cabo area run 10 to 12 hours door to door, with about 160 km or 2 to 2.5 hours of driving each way plus boat time. The only authorized swim zone lies in the Bay of La Paz, so Cabo visitors travel there for the activity.
How long does a whale shark tour in La Paz last?
Trips out of La Paz generally run 3 to 5 hours, and reaching the swim zone takes about 20 to 40 minutes by boat. Under the 2026-27 rules each vessel gets up to 30 minutes with one shark or group, across four daily shifts.
What should you wear for swimming with whale sharks?
Everyone in the water wears a lifejacket or wetsuit, with a 3 mm shorty up to a 5 mm full suit the usual advice for seas of 20 to 24 C. Sunscreen must be biodegradable and put on before entry, and while photos are permitted, flash, artificial light and selfie sticks are not.
Whale Shark Guides And Answers
Guides
Balandra Access
Best Time To Visit
Cabo Day Trip
Choosing A Swim
Espiritu Santo Tours
Free Things To Do
Getting To La Paz
Is La Paz Safe? What Visitors Should Know
La Paz Or Cabo
La Paz Vs Cabo: Which Baja Base Fits Your Trip
Sea Lion Swims
Season By Month
Swim Prices
Swim Rules
Swims Suspended?
Things To Do In La Paz
Weather By Month
What To Bring
What To Expect
Where To Stay
Where To Swim In Mexico
Answers
- Are Tours Worth It
- Best Place In Mexico
- Is It Ethical?
- Is It Safe To Travel To La Paz Right Now?
- Is La Paz Nicer Than Cabo?
- Kids And Whale Sharks
- Loreto Or La Paz
- October Whale Sharks
- Sea Lion Swim Cost
- Swim Ability
- Touching Whale Sharks
- Whale Shark Attacks
- Whale Shark Odds
- Whale Sharks Cabo Months
- What La Paz Is Known For
- Worth Going To La Paz