Puerto Vallarta Small-Group Whale Watching Experience
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Every winter, Humpback Whales migrate to breed and rear their young in Banderas Bay off the coast of Puerto Vallarta. This whale-watching tour cruises the bay on a large inflatable speedboat nimble enough to quickly reach the whales and get within close—but safe and respectful—distances from them. Hydrophones, a light snack, and purified water are included.
- A whale-watching tour from Puerto Vallarta
- Travel in a speedboat to reach the whales quickly
- Get insight into sea life from a marine mammal expert
- Includes hydrophones, light snack, and purified water
What's Included
- Hydrophones
- Light snack
- Purified Water
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Gratuities
- Admission Fee - Puerto VallartaMX$40.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Vallarta Adventures | Terminal MarítimaN Puerto Mágico, Heroica Escuela Naval, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 30-G1, Zona Hotelera Nte., 48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Please contact Vallarta Adventures if you have any questions regarding meeting details and check in instructions.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.7:30 am
Itinerary
Bahia de Banderas Municipality (Pass By)
Bay of Banderas (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Due to federal regulations, and in an effort to protect the flight path of endemic birds, drones are prohibited in this tour.
- An additional $25-peso conservation fee per person will be collected at check-in. All proceeds go toward the conservation of the humpback whales.
- Please note that this type of boat does not offer toilets or shaded areas on board.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Elyse
Lovely way to spend the first part of the day. Chai was really informative and entertaining. He explained the length of various times whales dive, and varying behaviours of them to manage the group’s expectations really well. We got some incredible photos and visited at least 3-5 groups of whales, including a very active baby!
Reviews
4.7
based on 187 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
MaryAnn_M, Feb 2026
Bring a fleece or lightweight jacket, saw humpbacked whales in numerous locations, as well as breaching! Was all we hoped for!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hola MaryAnne,
We’re so glad you had an amazing whale watching experience! Seeing humpback whales breaching in multiple locations sounds unforgettable. Thank you for sharing your tip about bringing a jacket—it’s super helpful for future guests. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you back for another adventure soon! 🐋
Warm regards,
Elyse, Jan 2026
Lovely way to spend the first part of the day. Chai was really informative and entertaining. He explained the length of various times whales dive, and varying behaviours of them to manage the group’s expectations really well. We got some incredible photos and visited at least 3-5 groups of whales, including a very active baby!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hola Elyse,
Thank you for joining us on your whale watching adventure! We’re delighted to hear Chai’s engaging explanations helped set expectations and made the experience even more enjoyable. Spotting multiple whale groups, especially an active baby, and capturing great photos sounds like a fantastic way to start the day. We hope to welcome you back on the water again soon 😊
Warm regards,
jennifer_b, Feb 2025
What a memorable experience. We saw many, many whales. Several breaches from the boys and mommas with their babies. What an experience! We had a wonderful trip with Alvin and Lily! We chose the speed boat tour and highly recommend. It allowed us to get closer than the other boats, and for more agile for positioning as the whales moves. 100% recommend.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hola,
Thank you for sharing your incredible experience! Witnessing so many whales, especially the breathtaking breaches and mother-calf interactions, is truly unforgettable. We're thrilled that Alvin and Lily made your tour exceptional. The speed boat option is definitely a great choice for a closer, more dynamic view. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again! Don’t forget to check our website for special offers! 😊
Warm regards,
KEVIN_J, Feb 2025
Great experience, definitely do the speed boat vs the slower boat. Saw about 20 different whales and some dolphins. The guide was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hola Kevin,
Thank you for joining our Whale Watching Experience! We’re thrilled you had an amazing time and saw so many whales and dolphins. The speedboat truly adds excitement to the adventure! Our guides love sharing their knowledge, and we appreciate your kind words. We’d love to welcome you back for another unforgettable tour! Don’t forget to check our website for special offers! 😊
Warm regards,
Marycarole_H, Feb 2025
Fantastic tour! It is a smaller boat (so no bathrooms) of 16-20 people so very intimate with whale watching. Enrique was an informative guide who took us to 2 sites. We saw numerous whales, including 2 males breaching and a mom teaching a baby whale how to tail slap. Very cool to hear the whale calls with the microphone in the water. It can be chilly so pants/jacket recommended. Have cash for port fees. We would definitely do this again!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hola,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the intimate whale-watching experience with Enrique. Witnessing breaching whales and a mother teaching her calf is truly unforgettable! The hydrophone adds a unique touch, making it even more special. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure soon! 🌊🐋
Warm regards,
Mya_V, Feb 2025
Top notch service, crew was polished and professional! Absolutely took care of us- would do again in a heartbeat!
Food was delicious and fresh!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hola,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the exceptional service, professional crew, and delicious fresh food. Providing unforgettable whale-watching experiences is our passion, and we'd love to welcome you back for another adventure. See you on the water again soon! 🌊🐋
Warm regards,
Andrew_C, Jan 2025
Great experience. Our host , I believe her name was Lilu, did an excellent job educating us on all things whale and dolphin. We saw dozens of whales and hundreds of dolphins! Our boat captain was great too! It’s a speed boat type setup, but was surprisingly a smooth ride. Use the bathroom before the tour starts given there’s no bathroom aboard. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you’re not a fan of loud speakers and such and a smaller group
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hola Andrew,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled you had an unforgettable whale-watching experience with Lilou and our expert captain. Witnessing dozens of whales and hundreds of dolphins is truly magical! Our small-group setting ensures a more intimate and immersive adventure. We’d love to welcome you back for another incredible journey! 🐋🐬
Warm regards,
Joanna_A, Jan 2025
Our whale-watching tour in Puerto Vallarta was incredible! The crew, Lele and Raymond, were amazing—super knowledgeable and fantastic at spotting whales. We learned so much about these majestic mammals and saw several up close. We went in January, so definitely dress a little warm—the sea breeze can get chilly. An unforgettable experience!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Hola Joanna,
Thank you for sharing your incredible whale-watching experience! We're thrilled that Lilou and Raymond made your tour both educational and exciting. Seeing these majestic creatures up close is truly unforgettable! Great tip about dressing warmly—January's sea breeze can be brisk. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure soon! 🌊🐋
Warm regards,
Amber_W, Jan 2025
This was so much fun! The whales did not disappoint. Lila and Captain were they best! This experience is the best. Take the little boat.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Hola Amber,
Thank you for joining our Whale Watching Experience! We're thrilled you had an amazing time and that the whales put on a great show. Lilou and our captain are truly exceptional, and we’ll be sure to share your kind words with them. We appreciate your recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back for another adventure! 🌊🐋
Warm regards,
Sharon_R, Feb 2024
Seeing the whales breach was my most memorable experience.
I would have liked to be able to get closer.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hola Sharon,
We're thrilled to hear that witnessing the whales breaching was such a memorable experience for you! We understand your desire to get closer and strive to provide unforgettable encounters while prioritizing the safety and well-being of both our guests and the majestic marine life. Thank you for your feedback!
Warm regards,
Tina_H, Jan 2024
What a perfect way to spend a morning in PV. The guides were so knowledgeable.
We saw several pods of whales close to our boat, even a mom and baby that was feeding. They used the hydrophones so we could hear their song. It was a magical experience that I would recommend to all PV visitors.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hola Tina,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable experience on our whale watching tour in PV. Our knowledgeable guides strive to provide unforgettable moments for our guests, and we're delighted that you were able to witness the beauty of these magnificent creatures up close. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon!
Warm regards,
SarahHowes, Jan 2024
We were lucky enough to see lots of males fighting over a female. It was a fantastic experience although it does say ‘three hours’ but was only 2.5 hours.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hola Sarah,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed witnessing the natural behaviors of the animals. We apologize for any discrepancy in the duration of the experience and appreciate your feedback. Hope to see you back soon!
Warm regards,
Beatriz_W, Dec 2023
Our guide Enrique and Capt. Chava were excellent. Not only did we get to see whales but we got to HEAR them communicate underwater! An unforgettable experience. I would absolutely recommend and will definitely return in the future.
Leigh_M, Mar 2023
Our Captain, Jesus and guide Daniel were 5 stars! Knowledgeable and very invested that we had a great experience. Respectful of preservation and mindful of not stressing them! The tour was actually longer ( in the best way) than we paid for and we were literally surrounded by humpback whales we also saw pods of bottle nose dolphins. A large pacific Ray, a sea turtle and a mom and 1 week old baby learning to breathe air.
Heather_B, Mar 2023
Although we are at the end of the “season” we managed to find some whales. This is a quicker adventure that allows you to still have beach time the rest of the day.
Cristina_G, Feb 2023
The guide Lilu was energetic and wonderful. Full of wonderful info and interesting facts.
Wear sunscreen, there is no cover for the boat so if you burn easy cover up.
Kristin_M, Feb 2023
This was an excellent tour and we saw breaching whales close up! Andrea was an excellent guide with a wealth of knowledge about humpback whales
Virginia_B, Jan 2023
Had a great leader. Saw many whales and learned much about them. Saw a family of dolphins playing with the whales. Greatly enjoyed.
Leonard_I, Jan 2023
the guide, Pablo, seeing a whale breach, the hydrophone, seeing PV from the water, seeind the Mariatas Islands
From $79.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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