Location: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
VIP Whale Shark Expedition
Incredible Whale Shark Encounters
A Migration of Giants
In July and August, hundreds of whale sharks migrate to the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and form the largest whale shark aggregation in the world. On this trip, you will have the chance to experience them first hand by swimming alongside these gentle giants.
Snorkeling within touching distance of the largest fish in the sea is an experience you will never forget.
Leave Your Dive Gear at Home
Because the whale sharks spend much of their time feeding at the surface, there is no need for us to use scuba which creates too much drag to keep up with the sharks. This encounter requires nothing more than a mask, snorkel and fins so anyone (regardless of their experience level) can participate.
THE ENCOUNTER
Snorkeling with whale sharks and manta rays
2025
DATE
August 8-13 2 SPOTS AVAILABLE
PRICE (USD)
$2,495 per person double occupancy
$3,395 single occupancy
LEADERS
Jennifer Idol
2026
DATE
July 28-August 2 6 SPOTS AVAILABLE
PRICE (USD)
$2,795 per person double occupancy
$3,695 single occupancy
LEADERS
Jennifer Idol
2027
DATE
TBA 8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
PRICE (USD)
$TBA per person double occupancy
$TBA single occupancy
LEADERS
Jennifer Idol
DETAILS
ACCOMMODATION
Oceanfront Hotel, Isla Mujeres
EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Snorkeling experience only
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 5 nights accommodation in a beachfront hotel
- All room taxes
- Full breakfast
- Pack lunch and refreshments while at sea
- Four days of whale shark snorkeling and transfers from Cancun Airport
NOT INCLUDED
- Snorkeling equipment
- Flights
- Dinners
- Gratuities
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
Photo © Andy Murch
Whale Sharks, Mantas, Mobulas and More!
The area where the whale sharks gather attract other large animals too. Although we’re never sure exactly what we’ll see, its quite common for us to run into large schools of manta rays. Some years, we see them in their hundreds!
You may also see schooling cownose rays, mobula rays (they look like baby mantas), turtles and even a sailfish or dorado.
It’s your vacation and we want you to enjoy it
From the moment you arrive at Cancun Airport, you’re in our care. We will personally escort you to Isla Mujeres; the perfect staging point for visiting the whale sharks. Once you arrive at the hotel, simply relax and enjoy your time on the island until it is time to go snorkeling with the whale sharks. Its that simple.
Why come with Big Fish Expeditions?
We consistently provide our guests with longer, better and more intimate encounters with the whale sharks.
There are many operators that offer whale shark encounters. But, if you head out on a regular trip you’ll get two or three jumps with the sharks that may only last a few minutes and then you’ll be heading back to shore. If you’d rather spend hours out in the whale shark grounds and then sail directly back to your beachfront hotel, then join us for the whale shark encounter of a lifetime!
THE BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS DIFFERENCE
- We take a maximum of eight guests on our boat so you will be comfortable and feel uncrowded.
- You will board at the beach directly in front of the hotel so there is no time wasted with transfers to a crowded public dock each day.
- You will arrive at the whale shark grounds hours before most of the other boats.
- If you don’t want to bring your own gear, we provide short wetsuits for all guests and low profile life jackets.
- We provide lunch snacks and unlimited drinks to keep you hydrated and fed so that you can concentrate on the amazing encounters.
- We stay out with the sharks for as long as everyone wants – generally long after the other boats have returned to shore.
- We provide shuttles to bring you to your hotel on Isla Mujeres from Cancun Airport – a lengthy process that would otherwise involve you haggling for taxis, finding the right ferry to get you to the island and then more taxis once you get to Isla Mujeres. Let us take all the work out of your trip so that you can concentrate on having an amazing adventure with the sharks!
ITINERARY
A DAY AT SEA WITH BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS
While the other boats are still fueling up, our boat will be waiting just off shore for us to finish breakfast and then take us immediately in search of whale sharks. Once we find the sharks we will stay with them so if you’re looking for a quick swim with a whale shark and then time on the beach, this probably isn’t the trip for you because we are consistently the last boat in the ‘afuera’ – the outer ocean where the whale sharks feed.
By mid-morning more boats usually arrive from Cancun to see the whale sharks. By noon they start trickling back to port. Just the hardcore boats remain but even these don’t last much longer.
We will make the most of the encounters in the early morning before any other boats show up. Then we usually stay near the edge of the aggregation of sharks where there are fewer boats. By 11:30 ish after all that swimming everyone starts getting hungry so we break for a quick lunch of sandwiches, chips and fruit. Then, once the boats have thinned out, we head back into the middle of the action and stay there for as long as everyone wants or for as long as we can find sharks.
We won’t force you to keep snorkeling with massive whale sharks but if you have the energy, we’re happy to stay out until the park officially closes at 2pm; returning you back to the hotel around 3:30pm; with plenty of time to relax on the beach or at the bar before dinner. That is the Big Fish difference.
Ready to sign up or have a question about this trip?
Contact Big Fish about this Expedition
TRIP REPORTS
2024 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2023 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2022 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2021 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2019 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2018 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2017 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2016 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
2015 Whale Shark Expedition Trip Report
Delivering world-class wildlife encounters since 2010
Big Fish Expeditions Founder Andy Murch has spent the last three decades chasing big animals all over the world. Few people have Andy’s knowledge and organizational skills necessary to put together a professional expedition. Have a look through some of the comments from our guests: testimonials.
Guest Feedback from our Whale Shark Expedition Guests
In the deep blue sea and whale sharks everywhere - it was a snorkel adventure of a life time, totally thrilling! Andy's strategy for getting us quality time with these amazing fish was the essence of our success. The trip was just plain wonderful. Great photos, amazing videos, and new friends. Thanks again Andy! Best Fishes, Flo
Washington State, USA
I had an amazing time on your expedition and have to say it was one of the best vacations I've taken! Being in the water so close to the whale sharks (and with so many of them) has definitely been one of the coolest things I've been able to experience! Thanks so much for organizing!
Kate Ague Kneeland, New York, USA
This was the first of 3 bookings I've made with Andy and bigfishexpeditions.com and it certainly turned out to be a safe bet, so I keenly look forward to the next two. I've only had one brief encounter with Whale sharks before and so I was a little concerned as to whether we would find any on the 4 day trip or indeed how long the encounters would be. Well I need not have worried, Day one consisted of whales sharks for 6 hours and if I had gone home after that day I would have been content with the trip, however day 2 (albeit a little slower) and day 3 were also good days but day 4 surpassed even day 1 and the sea was awash with whale sharks, so many that you didn't know which way to turn. I have hundreds of pictures as well as video footage which I'm still trying to go through. In terms of what the trip promised, it certainly surpassed my expectations. Andy organised the trip well, he is a very likable and laid back individual who is obviously very passionate about what he does and very knowledgeable about the subject. The hotel was located in a prime spot on the beach requiring just a short paddle from the breakfast area to the awaiting boat. Would I go again? yes I certainly would, however I have other places and subjects to experience first so whale sharks will have to wait for a while. Would I recommend this trip? yes definitely and have done so to my friends already! Andy you're going to need a bigger boat!! 🙂
Manish Patel USA/UK
I know I speak for myself and everyone in my group when I say that everything about the whale shark trip was absolutely amazing! Great shark diving, great people, great service. Andy and Laura are friendly, passionate about what they do, and work hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I can't wait to take more Big Fish trips in the future!!
Chuelo Arias, Missouri, USA
… planes, busses, ferries, taxis, dive boats, through every aspect of our trip, Andy and Laura were there making sure things went smoothly. It made the trip much more enjoyable, as their experience from many previous trips made our trip flawless, even laid back! . We are going back next year, that says it all …
Nicki Miller, USA
When it comes to Big Fish trips, your Whale Shark adventure was second to none. Christine and I had a blast. Thank you for all your preparations.
Kathy Cope, Arizona
I have been on many Dive trips over the year's, and the attention to detail on our Big Fish Expedition was noteworthy. The knowledge that Andy shared about the animals, and photographing them far exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to go back next year!
Steve Miller
I had the pleasure of returning to Isla Mujeres with Andy Murch of Big Fish Expeditions for the Whale Shark trip this year. It was one of the most enjoyable expeditions I have been on. I like to photograph big animals underwater and have been with Andy on several other trips. Andy works very hard to make sure you are presented with every possible opportunity to get shots of the targeted species. In this case, the Whale Sharks. Not only did we have the appearance of hundreds of Whale Sharks this year, but also many Mantas. When you were waiting for a Whale Shark to swim by, and those waits weren't long, you could swim with the aerobatic Mantas as they looped and whirled around and under the Whale Sharks. On this trip as with others I have done with Andy, he and his staff work with local, experienced, providers to get you into the best situation to interact with the animals. In Isla Mujeres, Andy made sure we were first on site in the morning and had the peak time of day to shoot stills and video of the sharks. Unlike other trips I have been on, Andy ensures you maximize your time in the water rather than getting just a few short and very controlled encounters. Also, the accommodations were clean, comfortable and affordable. If you are interested in top notch photographs or the emotional high of being very close to such large animals, then Big Fish Expeditions is the operator to go with.
Dustin Hurbut, Bellingham, WA
