Whale Shark Tours in Cancun and Riviera Maya

Summer is here and this means that whale shark season in Cancun and Riviera Maya is about to begin. Herds of whale shark start to migrate to the warm waters of the Caribbean every summer looking for fresh feeding options. The whale sharks usually migrate to the warm waters around Cancun, Cozumel, and the Riviera Maya, so they can feed in the shallow, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, and for any summer vacation this is a sight to see and experience.

Whale shark season

The 2017 whale shark season in Cancun and Riviera Maya starts in July and runs through the middle of September, which allows the visitors to Cancun and Riviera Maya a unique and exciting opportunity to swim and snorkel next to these gentle giants and yet harmless creatures of the sea.

Harmless sharks

The submissive creatures are the largest fish species known in the ocean and can weigh over 20 tons. They get their name due to their massive, oversized body and because they look more like whales than sharks, growing as long as 32 feet. There have been some whale sharks reported to have reached over 40 feet long. Don’t let their size and weight scare you, because whale sharks proven to be harmless to humans. They are only looking for small fish and plankton for their diet and they move very slow as they cannot move faster than 3 miles per hour.

Snorkeling and diving

Swimming with whale sharks is great for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. The whale sharks swim close to the top of the water, so they can eat, and they are one of three sharks that actually filter-feed, which means they use their large mouth to gather fish and food, then they filter it through their fins. The whale shark season is the perfect time and opportunity to swim, snorkel, and dive next to these gentle giants.

Tours are available from Villa del Palmar Cancun’s onsite tour agency, and the tours include the transportation from the hotel to the dock where you will hop aboard the boat to search for the whale sharks.