There are a few places in the world where you can observe whale sharks in the wild, even less where you can actually get in the water and experience them up close and personal! This day-long tour departs from a designated marina in La Paz at a specified time, which is determined when your guides get the Park permit*. Usually this is early in the morning, but you will be informed the day before of the exact time. The trip takes about 4-5 hours, depending on a variety of factors. Snacks are included in your outing as well as the full services of talented interpretive guides. Make sure to sign up early! Due to Baja Park authorities, permits to swim with whale sharks are highly restricted and limited.
You’ll depart from La Paz marina and travel about 45 minutes to the whale shark swimming zone, a designated area where the whale sharks are feeding and swimming. You’ll prepare by putting on a wetsuit, fins, mask, and snorkel. Once a whale shark is spotted, you slide off the skiff under the direction of your guide. This is your chance to swim alongside the ocean’s gentle giants! Watch their gaping mouths engulf mass amounts of plankton as they slowly glide along. The juvenile whale sharks in La Paz are a whopping 4-8 meters (12-24 feet) long with mouths that yawn open over 4-5 feet, yet they’re no Moby Dick with their mild disposition. It’s rare to experience something as awe-inspiring as swimming alongside these mammoth, polka-dotted creatures that course the Gulf of California. A talented local, National Park-certified whale shark guide accompanies you on your swim. Their knowledge and passion for whale sharks is obvious as they work to make your time swimming in La Paz educative, meaningful, and memorable.
*Note that this activity is very well managed by the Park and marine authorities of Mexico. There has to be a minimum number of whale sharks in the area before it is opened for swimming with them. There is a strict limit to the number of boats that can enter the whale shark-protected zone. These regulations have changed every year in the past few years and are generally getting more and more restrictive. Therefore, it’s of paramount importance that you sign up as well in advance as possible.