Whale watching tour from Puerto Vallarta
- From Departs from Puerto Vallarta
- 4 hours
- up to 50 guests
- December to March
Photos: TerryDOtt, CC BY 2.0 · The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Andrew Milligan sumo, CC BY 2.0 · DarkNight0917, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Terry Lucas, CC BY 3.0
Four hours from Marina Vallarta watching humpback whales in Banderas Bay, December to March, with an optional swim at Los Arcos de Mismaloya before the run home.
What you do
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Whale watching
Highlights
- Humpback whales in their winter water
- Open bay south-west of the marina, clear of the protected coastal strip
- Time to wait out a long dive and move between groups
- A swim or a snorkel at Los Arcos de Mismaloya once the whales are done
About this trip
Humpback whales spend the winter in Banderas Bay, and Puerto Vallarta looks straight out onto it. From Marina Vallarta the open bay is a short run away, which leaves most of the morning for the whales.
Federal rules shape the route. The season notice closes a 2 km strip along the coast from Punta de Mita to the mouth of the Ameca River, just west of the marina, where mothers and calves gather, and a 1.5 km ring around the Marietas Islands. So the yacht heads out south-west, away from that strip, and the captain works the open bay, moving south through the morning toward the rock islets of Los Arcos.
Swimming is not allowed during whale watching, so the swim comes after it: half an hour at Los Arcos, a protected marine area off the south shore, if you want it.
We designed this trip from the official zones and the distances from the marina; it is our plan, not an operator's. It runs on two motor yachts based at Marina Vallarta whose operators sell whale watching there: Escándalo, a 48 ft Sea Ray, and New Beginning, a 90 ft Cheoy Lee.
Itinerary
After departure: 0:00
Board at Marina Vallarta
Meet the crew at the dock and head out of the marina into the bay. The times here are at 12 knots, the cruising speed we plan on for both yachts.
After departure: 0:15
Whales in the open bay
Clear of the marina, the search begins. A little over two hours with the whales, moving between groups as they surface and dive, and working south toward Los Arcos.
After departure: 2:45
Swim stop at Los Arcos de Mismaloya
Half an hour by the rock islets for a swim or a snorkel. Skip it to stay longer with the whales.
After departure: 3:15
Back to Marina Vallarta
About 8 nautical miles back up the coast, a little over 40 minutes.
Yachts that run this trip
Questions
When is whale watching season in Puerto Vallarta?
SEMARNAT, the federal environment ministry, sets the dates for Banderas Bay each year in a notice. They were December 8 to March 23 for 2025-26. The 2026-27 notice had not been published by mid-October 2026.
Are whale sightings guaranteed?
No. Whales are wild and nobody can promise one. Our cancellation policy covers a trip we cannot run because of weather, maintenance or other unforeseen circumstances, with a full refund or a new date; a trip without a sighting is not covered.
How close do we get to the whales?
The federal standard for whale watching, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, sets the rules. A boat over 10 m long, as both yachts on this trip are, stays at least 80 m from a humpback. No more than four boats may stay with one whale or group, each for up to 30 minutes, and near whales a boat keeps under 5 knots. Only boats authorised by SEMARNAT may take guests to watch whales, and they carry its identifying mark in plain view.
Where do we board?
At Marina Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, where both yachts on this trip are based.
What should we bring?
A light jacket, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, shoes with rubber soles, a camera and binoculars if you have them, and swimwear for the stop at Los Arcos. Each yacht's page lists the gear it carries.
How do I book, and what if I have to cancel?
A 50% deposit confirms your date and the balance is due 7 days before the trip. Apart from a trip we cannot run, the deposit is not refundable, but it can be moved to another date within 6 months on the same yacht. Terms vary by yacht and we confirm them in writing before you pay.
Is the crew's tip included?
No. Tipping the crew is customary, usually 10% to 15% of the charter price, at your discretion. No official fee for Los Arcos was found; we'll confirm any fee that applies to your yacht in the quote.
$1,200+ Tax
4 hours · 2 guests