Best Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Tours

Every winter, humpback whales come to Banderas Bay to mate and give birth, a short boat ride from the Puerto Vallarta waterfront. We compared five boat trips that go out to find them, from a small boat with a biologist to a sunset yacht with an open bar. Each one comes with its price and its catch.

  • Humpbacks from about December to MarchGetYourGuide listings give December to March, Viator stretches it from November to April
  • Book early in your stayWind can keep boats in port, so leave a spare day; mornings tend to be calmer

In a hurry? Our top pick is Ecotours Vallarta's small-group trip with a biologist: ~$120 a person for about 4 hours, with a hydrophone to hear the whales sing. It scores 5.0 from 300+ reviews on Viator. Book it here.

Book on Viator Book on GetYourGuide

Compare all 5 tours

If you only have a minute

Which Puerto Vallarta whale watching tour should you book?

Say a friend landing in Puerto Vallarta for a winter week asked us which whale trip to take. Over a coffee on the Malecón, this is what we would tell them.

Honestly? For most people, the best Puerto Vallarta whale watching tour is Ecotours Vallarta's biologist-led trip, from ~$120. It holds a perfect 5.0 from 300+ reviews on Viator, and you spend four hours with someone who studies these whales. Just don't expect a meal, because the boat serves snacks and drinks only.

Want breakfast, lunch and an open bar? Mike's Fishing & Tours sails a catamaran at ~$99. Los Veranos runs fast boats for ~$99, with transportation and a box lunch. Chica Locca Tours' sunset yacht at ~$110 mixes whales with cocktails, and Live & Travel Tours is the cheapest at ~$62, with the lowest scores.

No boat can promise a whale. Check what each trip costs with the small fees and your odds of a sighting, see how a trip unfolds, then read the small print we pulled out before you pay.

Our pick

The whale trip we would book: Ecotours Vallarta

It has the strongest record of the five and the most to teach you about what you are looking at. The price buys a biologist rather than a buffet, and that is its weakness for some.

A humpback whale raising a long pectoral fin above calm water in Banderas Bay Our pick

Small-Group Biologist-Led Whale Watching, Ecotours Vallarta

★★★★★ 5.0 from 300+ reviews on Viator · free cancellation up to 24 hours before

You meet at the Ecotours Vallarta office at Proa 20 in Marina Vallarta, near the ramp at the end of Calle Proa. Before anyone boards, a biologist gives a talk on humpback biology, ecology and behavior. It makes the rest of the morning far easier to read.

Then a small authorized boat heads out into Banderas Bay. When whales are close, the crew can lower a hydrophone so you hear them underwater, where the males sing. Viator lists a restroom on board.

While you watch, you take part in a research project, noting what the whales are doing. A donation to that project is already in the price. The trip runs about 4 hours on Viator and 3.5 hours on GetYourGuide.

Duration
4 hours on Viator, 3.5 on GetYourGuide
On the water
A small authorized boat with a restroom
Group
Small group with a biologist guide
Route
Marina Vallarta out into Banderas Bay
Departure
Proa 20, Marina Vallarta; no hotel pickup
On board
Hydrophone; coffee or tea, water, sodas, granola bars
Limits
Not for under 3s, pregnant travelers or back problems; not wheelchair accessible
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before
Price per person from ~$120 Small boat · biologist · hydrophone
Viator GetYourGuide

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

Powered by GetYourGuide

How the trip runs, step by step

This is the order the listings give. Wind and the whales themselves can change any part of it.

At Marina Vallarta

  • Meet at Proa 20, with pesos for the MX$80 boarding fee
  • A talk on humpback biology and behavior before boarding
  • Board the small boat and head out into the bay

Out on Banderas Bay

  • Looking for blows and tails, with the biologist explaining what you see
  • The hydrophone goes in when whales are near, and you log behavior for the research project
  • Back to Marina Vallarta, about 4 hours after the start

What the price covers

The fare pays for the boat, the biologist and a gift to the research. Lunch and the ride to the marina are up to you.

Included
  • Talk before boarding and a biologist guide
  • Hydrophone and a part in the research project
  • Donation to the research project
Not included
  • Hotel pickup
  • Gratuities
  • The MX$80 boarding fee, paid on the day
  • A meal (snacks and drinks only)

Between us, before you go

Carry pesos in small notes for the boarding fee and the tip, since neither is in the price. Eat something light before you leave, because granola bars will not carry you through four hours on the water.

There is no pickup, so plan your taxi or app ride to Marina Vallarta with time to spare. Staying in Nuevo Vallarta or the Zona Romántica adds to the trip. Where every boat leaves from sets out each start point.

Why it beats the bigger boats

Evidence and depth. Its 300+ Viator reviews all add up to a 5.0, and no other boat here explains the whales the way a biologist on board does. What a biologist adds goes into the difference.

What you give up is the party side. The catamaran serves pancakes for breakfast and runs an open bar, and that is the one thing this boat does not try to offer.

Who we would not send on it

Travelers who want a full meal and an open bar, who will be happier on Mike's catamaran. Anyone who would rather not arrange their own ride, since Los Veranos includes transportation. And families with toddlers, because the listing does not take children under 3.

Book it if

You want to understand what the whales are doing, not only photograph them. It suits curious travelers and photographers, and families with school-age kids who will love hearing a whale sing through the hydrophone.

Skip it if

Ready for the bay?

The trip is on Viator (5.0 from 300+ reviews) and on GetYourGuide (5.0 from 13). Both let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can watch the wind forecast before you commit.

Viator GetYourGuide

The season and the trip

When to go whale watching in Puerto Vallarta, and how it works

Every tour on this page goes looking for the same humpbacks in the same bay. The choices are the boat, the hour you sail and what gets served on deck.

Style · a wildlife trip by day

Whales first, the rest around them

Ecotours Vallarta, Mike's Fishing & Tours, Los Veranos, Live & Travel Tours

3–4.5 hout into the bay to find humpbacks, then back to port

The day is built around the whales, with a guide or a biologist to explain them. The boats differ a lot, from a small craft to a catamaran with an open bar. Faster boats reach far-off whales sooner but bump harder.

Style · whales on the way to sunset

An open bar in the evening light

Chica Locca Tours, sunset yacht

3 hwhales on the way out, city lights on the return

A party cruise that also watches whales. You get guacamole and a premium open bar, and the sky does the rest. There is no biologist, and afternoons on the bay tend to be breezier than mornings.

Humpbacks and heat in Puerto Vallarta through the year

  • Humpbacks in the bay, roughly
  1. Jan28°C high82 °F

    The heart of the season, dry and warm

  2. Feb28°C high82 °F

    Still the busiest weeks for whales

  3. Mar28°C high82 °F

    Whales still around, Easter boats fill early

  4. Apr29°C high84 °F

    The tail end, with thinner sightings

  5. May30°C high86 °F

    Humpbacks gone north, heat building

  6. Jun32°C high90 °F

    No humpbacks, the rains begin

  7. Jul32°C high90 °F

    Hot and humid, an empty bay

  8. Aug32°C high90 °F

    Rainy afternoons, no whale season

  9. Sep32°C high90 °F

    The wettest weeks, storms possible

  10. Oct32°C high90 °F

    The rain eases, still no humpbacks

  11. Nov31°C high88 °F

    First arrivals possible late on

  12. Dec29°C high84 °F

    The season opens, holiday boats fill early

Temperatures are rough daytime highs in Puerto Vallarta. The bars show how many humpbacks we would expect in the bay, based on the season the listings give; they are our opinion, not a count, and no promise of a sighting. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick. The best weeks in detail.

How each trip is spent

  • Talk, then the crossing
  • Among the whales
  • Longer on one partner

Total hours come from the listings; the split between the crossing and the time with the whales is our rough estimate, and on the day it depends on where the whales are. Ecotours Vallarta lists 3.5 hours on GetYourGuide and 4 hours on Viator.

  1. The briefingEcotours Vallarta starts on land with a talk on humpback behavior before boarding. On the other boats the guide explains on deck. What a biologist adds.
  2. The crossingThe boat heads out across Banderas Bay while the crew scans for blows. Fast boats bump and spray, catamarans ride steadier. The boats compared.
  3. Watching the whalesMexican rules limit how close boats may approach and how long they stay with a group, so the captain keeps a set distance and lets the whales come. What you may see.
  4. Back to portThe bigger boats serve food and drinks from their open bars. Take seasickness tablets before you board, not once you feel queasy. Seasickness and refunds.

On a tight budget? Live & Travel Tours' trip at ~$62 adds dolphin watching, a hydrophone and an open bar, with the lowest review scores of the five.

How to choose

How to pick the right whale watching boat

The humpbacks are the same on all five. What differs is the boat under your feet, who explains what you see and what comes out of the galley.

The boat

A small authorized boat on tour 1, a catamaran on tour 2, fast APEX boats on tour 3 and a mega yacht on tour 4. What each one feels like.

Who explains

Ecotours Vallarta and Live & Travel Tours list a biologist and a hydrophone. Mike's catamaran has guide commentary, and the sunset yacht has a captain. Why a biologist matters.

Food and drink

Meals and an open bar on the catamaran, a box lunch on the fast boat and snacks with an open bar at sunset. Tour 1 serves coffee and granola bars. What to pack anyway.

Budget

From ~$62 for Live & Travel Tours to ~$120 for the biologist-led trip, with small extras on some. Every price in one table.

Getting to the dock

Only Los Veranos lists transportation. The others start at Marina Vallarta, Puerto Mágico or a Nuevo Vallarta pier. Where the boats leave from.

Rough water

The harbor master can close the port on windy days. Refund or new date depends on the listing. What happens on the day.

Everything else to do in Puerto Vallarta

The 5 tours

Five ways out to the humpbacks, side by side

We read the Puerto Vallarta whale watching listings on both booking sites and kept one of each kind of trip. Each card gives the price and the length next to the tour company's name. It also names the catch, with a button for each site that sells it.

A humpback whale breaching close to the boat with a white pectoral fin and mountains behind Our pick

Small-Group Biologist-Led Whale Watching, Ecotours Vallarta

The one we would book to understand the whales.

About 4 hours from Marina Vallarta on a small authorized boat with a restroom. A biologist gives a talk before boarding and guides the trip, and a hydrophone lets you hear the whales. You help a research project while you watch, and a donation to it is in the price.

  • Rating5.0 from 300+ reviews on Viator
  • Duration4 hours on Viator, 3.5 on GetYourGuide
  • Tour companyEcotours Vallarta
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsA biologist on board; the hydrophone; a perfect score
  • Ideal forCurious travelers and photographers

Good to know: Snacks and drinks only, no hotel pickup, and an MX$80 boarding fee paid in pesos on the day. Not for children under 3. What the biologist adds.

~$120per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A humpback whale's tail lifting above the water with mountains behind Meals and open bar

Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise with Meals and Open Bar, Mike's Fishing & Tours

Whales with pancakes first and burritos after.

A catamaran that GetYourGuide calls stable leaves from Puerto Mágico or a Nuevo Vallarta pier for 4 hours. Breakfast brings pancakes with fruit and yogurt, and lunch has marlin burritos and vegan ceviche. Your guide gives commentary while the premium open bar runs.

  • Rating4.8 from 400+ on Viator, 4.8 from 30 on GetYourGuide
  • Duration4 hours
  • Tour companyMike's Fishing & Tours
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsTwo meals included; a steady deck; the most reviews here
  • Ideal forGroups who want the whole morning taken care of

Good to know: A bigger boat with a party side, and a catamaran is slower than a speedboat to reach whales spotted far off. No biologist on board. Catamaran or speedboat.

~$99per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A humpback whale arching its back near the shore with hotel buildings behind Fastest boat

Whale Watching Guaranteed Experience, Los Veranos Canopy Tour

The quickest way across the bay, with your ride to the dock included.

High-speed APEX boats glide at up to 40 mph (64 km/h), so more of the bay is within reach in 3 hours. Transportation is included from the Los Veranos office on the main boulevard in the Zona Hotelera. A box lunch brings a sandwich and seasonal fruit with a soft drink.

  • Rating4.9 from 100+ on Viator, 5.0 from 8 on GetYourGuide
  • Duration3 hours
  • Tour companyLos Veranos Canopy Tour
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsSpeed; transportation included; a short morning
  • Ideal forTravelers short on time who don't mind spray

Good to know: The listings we read don't spell out what the "guaranteed" name means if no whale shows, so ask first. A $2 port fee and tips are extra. Not for pregnant women. Sighting odds.

~$99per person
Viator GetYourGuide
Passengers relaxing on the deck of a yacht in warm evening light Sunset cruise

Mega Yacht Whale Watching Sunset Cruise, Chica Locca Tours

Whales on the way out, cocktails on the way home.

A mega yacht with a captain sails for 3 hours in the late afternoon. You look for humpbacks on the way out, watch the sun go down and come back under the city lights. Guacamole and chips come with a premium open bar, and GetYourGuide gives it a "Top pick" badge.

  • Rating4.7 from 100+ on GetYourGuide
  • Duration3 hours
  • Tour companyChica Locca Tours
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsWhales and a sunset in one outing; the open bar
  • Ideal forCouples and groups celebrating

Good to know: A party cruise that watches whales, not a wildlife trip, and there is no biologist. Sold on GetYourGuide only. Tips are extra, and it is not for people with mobility impairments. Sunset or morning.

~$110per person
GetYourGuide
Passengers at a boat's rail watching a humpback whale alongside in deep blue water Lowest price

Whale and Dolphin Watching with Hydrophone, Live & Travel Tours

The cheapest seat on the bay, drinks and food included.

A 4.5-hour trip on what the listing calls a specialized vessel, with a marine biologist and a hydrophone on board. It looks for dolphins as well as whales. Food is included, along with drinks from tequila and rum to beer and brandy.

  • Rating4.5 from 24 on GetYourGuide, 4.2 from 200+ on Viator
  • Duration4.5 hours
  • Tour companyLive & Travel Tours
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsLowest price; a biologist and a hydrophone; dolphins too
  • Ideal forBudget travelers who want it all included

Good to know: The lowest scores of the five on both sites, and it costs more on Viator than on GetYourGuide. The meeting point is in the Área Militar de Vallarta. Prices compared.

~$62per person
GetYourGuide Viator

Honest note: the GetYourGuide and Viator buttons are affiliate links. Booking through them sends us a small commission and costs you nothing extra. It never decides which tour we recommend.

Before you go

Eight things about whale tours that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page. Each one can decide whether your morning ends with a tail on your camera or a long, queasy ride back to port.

What you should know

  1. Take the tablet before you board. Motion-sickness tablets work best taken before the boat moves, not once your stomach turns. Sit low and in the middle, and watch the horizon. Seasickness and refunds.
  2. Carry pesos for the top pick. Ecotours Vallarta charges an MX$80 boarding fee on the day, and there is no hotel pickup. Small notes cover the tip as well. Getting to Marina Vallarta.
  3. The same trip, two prices. Tour 1 costs a little more on GetYourGuide than on Viator, while tour 5 is cheaper on GetYourGuide. Check both buttons before you pay. Every price compared.
  4. No one can promise a whale. Even the trip named "Guaranteed" doesn't spell out on the listings what happens if the bay stays empty. Ask the operator before you book. Your real odds.
  5. Mornings tend to be calmer. Wind usually builds over the day, so an early trip often meets flatter water. Book early in your stay to leave a spare day for a port closure. The best weeks.
  6. The sun on the water burns fast. There is little shade out on the bay. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat with a strap and sunglasses on a cord. What to bring.
  7. The boats keep their distance. Mexico sets a minimum distance and a time limit for every boat near a group. The best close encounters happen when a whale chooses to come nearer. What a biologist explains.
  8. Small extras add up. Gratuities are not included on tours 1, 3 and 4, and Los Veranos adds a $2 port fee in cash or by card. Budget for them before the day. The full costs.

Everything in one table

Five whale watching tours, catch included

The five tours side by side. Each row sets the strength of a tour against its catch.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Boat, food and drink Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
Ecotours Vallarta biologist trip (our pick) Understanding the whales ~$120per person 3.5–4 h Small boat; snacks, coffee and sodas Ecotours Vallarta
5.0 on Viator		 Biologist, hydrophone, a perfect score. No meal, no pickup, MX$80 fee in pesos.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Mike's catamaran cruise A relaxed morning with meals ~$99per person 4 h Catamaran; breakfast, lunch, open bar Mike's Fishing & Tours
4.8 on Viator		 Steady deck, two meals. A party side; slower to reach far-off whales.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Los Veranos fast boat A short, fast morning ~$99per person 3 h APEX speedboat; box lunch Los Veranos Canopy Tour
4.9 on Viator		 Up to 40 mph, transportation included. Bumps and spray; guarantee terms unclear.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Chica Locca sunset yacht Couples and celebrations ~$110per person 3 h Mega yacht; guacamole, chips, open bar Chica Locca Tours
4.7 on GetYourGuide		 Whales and a sunset together. A party cruise with no biologist.
GetYourGuide
Live & Travel Tours budget trip The tightest budget ~$62per person 4.5 h Specialized vessel; food and an open bar Live & Travel Tours
4.5 on GetYourGuide		 Lowest price, dolphins too. The lowest scores here.
GetYourGuideViator

All prices are per-person "from" rates in US dollars, and they shift often, so the booking page has the final say. The Book buttons are affiliate links that help keep this guide free, and your price stays the same.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who saw the tails

Travelers who sailed on a glassy morning and some who rode out a choppy one, on what won them over and what they would do differently.

★★★★★Biologist, small boat

The talk before we boarded changed the whole morning for me. The biologist showed us how to read a blow, a tail and a breach, so out on the water I knew what I was looking at. Then she dropped the hydrophone over the side and a male was singing somewhere below the boat. Our two teenagers went completely silent for once. We stayed with that whale long enough to hear the song change, and nobody asked when we were heading back.

KMKatrin M. · Munich, GermanyCalm sea
★★★★★Biologist, small boat

Small boat, good questions answered, a mother and calf for twenty minutes. Bring pesos for the dock fee.

JRJorge R. · Guadalajara, MexicoCalm sea
★★★★☆Biologist, small boat

A brilliant guide and real science, but go in knowing it is coffee, water and granola bars, not a meal. We were starving by the time we got back to the marina. Eat a proper breakfast first and you will enjoy it far more.

ELEmma L. · Bristol, UKChoppy sea
★★★★★Biologist, small boat

I photograph birds at home, so I came for the pictures. The crew helped me with the light and knew where to look.

TSTakeshi S. · Yokohama, JapanCalm sea
★★★★★Biologist, small boat

We found the meeting point in Marina Vallarta easily and the small group meant everyone had a place at the rail. Seeing the whales was wonderful, but the part I keep telling friends about is hearing them. Sound through a speaker on a rocking boat, and the whole deck holding its breath. Bring a light jacket, because the spray on the crossing was cooler than we expected that early.

ABAmina B. · Toronto, CanadaCalm sea
★★★★★Catamaran, meals, open bar

Pancakes, then whales, then marlin burritos. Hard to argue with that order.

DCDave C. · Phoenix, USACalm sea
★★★★★Catamaran, meals, open bar

My parents are in their seventies and wanted something steady and comfortable. The catamaran was roomy, with shade, and nobody felt sick even when the swell picked up on the way back. We saw several tails and one breach in the distance, and the guide kept up a running commentary the whole time. Breakfast came out as we left Puerto Mágico, and by lunch my father had made friends with half the crew.

SPSofia P. · Milan, ItalyChoppy sea
★★★★☆Catamaran, meals, open bar

Plenty of food and the bar never stopped, which some of the group enjoyed more than the whales. When a pod surfaced far off we took a while to get there on the big boat. A good morning out, just more cruise than wildlife trip.

GHGreg H. · Sydney, AustraliaCalm sea
★★★★★Fast boat, box lunch

Those boats really are fast. We crossed half the bay in no time and were watching tails while other boats were still leaving.

NVNadia V. · Lyon, FranceCalm sea
★★★★★Fast boat, box lunch

Picked up near the hotel zone, out on the water quickly, and the guide had clearly done this a thousand times. We spent a long while with a mother and her calf, keeping our distance, and the box lunch was fine for a three-hour trip. Keep a couple of dollars for the port fee.

BOBen O. · Dublin, IrelandCalm sea
★★★★☆Fast boat, box lunch

Exciting ride, but sit near the back if speed bothers you, because the front takes every bump. My husband was green for the first twenty minutes. Once we stopped near the whales it was wonderful, and the crew were careful to keep a respectful distance. I would ask about the guarantee before booking, as nobody explained it to us. The box lunch was simple but welcome after all that wind.

LWLaura W. · Chicago, USAChoppy sea
★★★★★Sunset yacht, open bar

We booked it for our anniversary. Guacamole, a glass in hand, a humpback tail against an orange sky, then the city lights on the way back.

CRCarmen R. · Madrid, SpainCalm sea
★★★★★Sunset yacht, open bar

Twelve of us for a fiftieth birthday and the crew made it feel like our party. Two whales on the way out, a sunset you could not have planned better, and music on the way home. Not a nature lecture, and we did not want one.

MFMark F. · Denver, USACalm sea
★★★★☆Sunset yacht, open bar

Lovely evening and attentive service. The whales were further away than on a morning trip, and the open bar got loud by the end. If the animals are your main reason, go in the morning; if you want a sunset with a chance of whales, this is good.

HJHanna J. · Stockholm, SwedenChoppy sea
★★★★★Budget, whales and dolphins

Cheapest we found and we still saw whales and a pod of dolphins riding the bow. Drinks included too.

RTRahul T. · Pune, IndiaCalm sea
★★★★★Budget, whales and dolphins

We chose it for the price and expected little, but the marine biologist on board knew her subject and put the hydrophone in the water so everyone could listen. The dolphins were a bonus for the kids. A long morning, nearly four and a half hours, so bring sunscreen and a hat. We met at the naval area on time and the boat left promptly, which we honestly had not expected at that price.

OKOlga K. · Warsaw, PolandChoppy sea

Back from the bay?

Help the next traveler choose

How did your morning on Banderas Bay go, and how close did the humpbacks come? The breaches and the queasy stomachs both help someone else decide.

Stars out of five
The sea that day

At least 40 characters, 40 to go

Binoculars ready

Book Ecotours Vallarta for your whale morning

If you have one morning to give to the humpbacks of Banderas Bay, we would book Ecotours Vallarta's small-group trip. You learn what the whales are doing before you see them, and you may hear one sing through the hydrophone.

Cancelling is free until 24 hours before, which leaves room to watch the wind. Pack pesos for the boarding fee, sunscreen and a light breakfast in your stomach.

~$120

per person · about 4 hours · from Marina Vallarta

Viator GetYourGuide
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ A biologist guide on every trip
  • ✓ Hydrophone to hear the whales
  • ✓ Research donation included

Good to know

Why the humpbacks come, and what you are watching

Five minutes of reading makes a blow on the horizon and a tail in the air much easier to follow from the deck.

Humpback whales spend the summer feeding in colder northern waters and swim south for the winter. Banderas Bay, the wide bay that Puerto Vallarta faces, is one of the places they come to mate and give birth. That is why the boats only go looking from about December to March.

01A winter nursery on the Pacific

The whales arrive in Bahía de Banderas to breed and calve, not to feed. Warm, sheltered water suits a newborn calf, and mothers often stay near the surface with their young. When the bay is busiest.

02What you see from the deck

The first thing you usually see is a blow, a puff of spray as a whale breathes out. A tail rising clear of the water often means a deep dive. Long white pectoral fins slapping the surface are a humpback trademark.

03The song under the boat

Male humpbacks sing long, repeating songs in the breeding season. Some boats carry a hydrophone, an underwater microphone, so you can hear whale song on deck. Which trips carry one.

The moment most people remember is not a photo but a sound: a whale singing through the speaker while the boat sits still.

04Telling one whale from another

The underside of every humpback's tail carries its own pattern of black and white. Research projects use photos of those tails to tell whales apart and follow them from year to year. On a science-led trip you may help collect them.

05How close the boats may go

Mexico has rules for whale watching that limit how near boats come and how long they stay with a group. A good captain keeps the distance and lets curious whales approach. What you may see up close.

06Why the wind decides

Banderas Bay is sheltered, but wind can still raise a chop, and the harbor master closes the port on rough days. Trips then move or get refunded according to the listing. How refunds work and what to pack for the spray are worth reading first.

Dec–MarThe season on GetYourGuide listings

5Tours compared on this page

40 mphTop speed of the fastest boats here

24 hFree cancellation before every trip

Traveling with children? Our guide Whale watching with children sets out the age rules on each tour.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about Puerto Vallarta whale watching tours

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

How much does whale watching in Puerto Vallarta cost?

The five tours on this page start at ~$62 per person with Live & Travel Tours. Mike's catamaran costs ~$99, Los Veranos ~$99, the sunset yacht ~$110 and the biologist-led trip ~$120. Every price and extra is in our cost guide.

Which Puerto Vallarta whale tour should I pick?

For most visitors, Ecotours Vallarta's small-group trip, because of its 5.0 from 300+ reviews and the biologist on board. If you would rather have meals and an open bar, Mike's catamaran is the natural alternative. Couples after a sunset should look at Chica Locca Tours.

When is whale season in Puerto Vallarta?

GetYourGuide listings give December to March, and one Viator listing stretches it from November to April. In our view the middle of the winter brings the most whales, and the edges are thinner. The best weeks.

Am I sure to see a whale?

No trip can promise that, since wild whales go where they like. Los Veranos calls its trip "Guaranteed", but the listings we read do not say what happens if none shows, so ask before booking. Your odds of a sighting.

How long are the trips?

Three hours on the fast boat and the sunset yacht, 4 hours on the catamaran, and 4.5 hours with Live & Travel Tours. Ecotours Vallarta lists 4 hours on Viator and 3.5 hours on GetYourGuide.

Where do the boats leave from?

Ecotours Vallarta starts at Proa 20 in Marina Vallarta. Mike's catamaran leaves from Puerto Mágico or a Nuevo Vallarta pier, and Los Veranos from its office on the main boulevard. Every meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

Only Los Veranos lists transportation. On the other four you make your own way to the dock by taxi or app ride, so allow time for traffic on the main boulevard. Ecotours Vallarta says plainly that hotel pickup is not included.

Is food included?

On most, yes. The catamaran serves breakfast and lunch, Los Veranos a box lunch, and the sunset yacht guacamole and chips. Live & Travel Tours includes food and drinks. Ecotours Vallarta offers snacks and drinks only.

Can children come?

Yes, on most trips. Ecotours Vallarta is not for children under 3, and the sunset yacht's open bar is for adults 18 and over. The hydrophone and the biologist's talk are a good hook for school-age kids. Whale watching with children.

How close do the boats get to the whales?

Federal rules cap both the distance and the viewing time, and good captains stick to them. Whales sometimes come nearer on their own, which is when the closest views happen.

Which boat is best if I get seasick?

A catamaran rides steadier than a fast boat, which bumps and throws spray. Whatever you book, take a tablet before boarding, sit low in the middle and skip the open bar on a rough day. How to handle a rough crossing.

What should I bring?

Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat with a strap, sunglasses and a light layer against the spray. Add pesos for fees and tips, a camera or phone on a strap and motion-sickness tablets. The full packing list.

Is a sunset cruise a good way to see whales?

It is a good evening out that may include whales. Chica Locca Tours looks for humpbacks on the way out, but it is a party cruise with no biologist, and afternoons tend to be breezier. Sunset yacht or wildlife trip.

Can I cancel for free?

Usually. The listings we checked allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before, but confirm it on yours at checkout. If the operator or the port calls off a trip for weather, you get a refund or a new date, depending on the listing's policy.

Read before you travel

Guides to a morning with the humpbacks

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.