Category Banderas Bay Whale & Dolphin Watching

Puerto Vallarta · BANDERAS BAY WHALE & DOLPHIN WATCHING

Top 15 Whale & Dolphin Watching Tours in Puerto Vallarta

35 reviewed

Humpbacks fill the bay from December to March, and dolphins turn up year round. These are the best whale and dolphin watching tours in Puerto Vallarta: biologist-led small boats, big all-inclusive cruises, and everything between, with prices, boat sizes, and the honest note that sightings are seasonal.

Watch and Swim with Dolphins in the Wild

Watch and Swim with Dolphins in the Wild - Marina Vallarta Morning: What the 9:00 Start Feels Like

1.Watch and Swim with Dolphins in the Wild

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 668 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $105Our pick

Puerto Vallarta dolphin swim in the wild with a biologist and hydrophone search, then optional snorkeling with bottlenose dolphins.

“The trip was awesome. Camila was an amazing guide, and provided information about marine mammals and what to expect before the trip. On our way out to find dolphins, we stopped to watch some humpback whales. When we entered the dolphin territory, a group of dolphins swam towards the boat - a sign they’re happy to play. We jumped into the water and swam with them - an incredible experience! This was very fun for my adventurous 6 year old, not as exciting for my 3 year old who was fussy. But still a great experience for kids.”

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Whale and Dolphin Watching with a Biologist in Puerto Vallarta

Whale and Dolphin Watching with a Biologist in Puerto Vallarta - First stop: Opequimar and the pre-cruise setup

Sunsets and Whales Mega Yachts ALL INCLUSIVE: Puerto Vallarta

Sunsets and Whales Mega Yachts ALL INCLUSIVE: Puerto Vallarta - Bay of Banderas: how the whale-hunt usually plays out

3.Sunsets and Whales Mega Yachts ALL INCLUSIVE: Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 509 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $80

A 3-hour Puerto Vallarta sunset yacht cruise with whale-spotting, an open bar, and guacamole snacks as you cruise Banderas Bay.

“Let me say this was a great experience. Although in the beginning there was a delay of 30 minutes, so expect the boat to be late but once it’s there, you have an amazing time. The drinks, snacks, service, & views were excellent. The sunset was stunning & the servers bring everything to you. We did not see any whales, but we went in April not during whale season. I recommend this experience.”

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Whale Encounter Puerto Vallarta

Whale Encounter Puerto Vallarta - The 3-Hour Flow: What Happens From Check-In to Return

4.Whale Encounter Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 469 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Whale Encounter Puerto Vallarta by Eco Explorer Vallarta: 3-hour small-boat excursion with expert guides, hydrophone, safety gear, snacks.

“Rodrigo and Emilio were the most amazing guides during our tour! They were very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. We saw many whales and he even explained what was happening under the water. Great short excursion to start our day! Thank you”

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Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta

Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta - The onboard setup: catamaran comfort, bathrooms, and the open bar reality

5.Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 398 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $99

A 4-hour catamaran whale watching cruise from Puerto Vallarta with breakfast, a big lunch, and an open bar while you hunt humpbacks in Banderas Bay.

“Wonderful excursion. Catamaran was large! There were around 40-50 of us 9nbaord amd it never felt crowded. Crew was amazing! Great sense of humor, kept filling our drinks and made an incredible lunch consisting of a vegetarian ceviche, some ham & cheese sandwiches and a yummy fish dip/salad. The icing on top was the magnitude of whales we were able to see. I've seen whales in Norway & Alaska so wasn't sure what to expect. This did not disappoint and the crew knew where to find them! Amazing tour. Definitely don't overlook this one if you're here during whale watching/migration season!”

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Small-Group Half-Day Whale-Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

Small-Group Half-Day Whale-Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta - Meet at Mr. Cream and Get Checked In Without a Hassle

6.Small-Group Half-Day Whale-Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 334 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110

Small-group humpback whale watching in Puerto Vallarta with a marine biologist guide, responsible viewing, and included lunch.

“This was magical. Our group was only 8 people. We all arrived early, so we left early (0845 instead of 0900). Our guide, Thalia, has a masters degree in marine biology and it showed! She answered all of our questions— and we had a lot. She was so kind, knowledgeable and genuinely loves what she’s doing. You can tell she has a passion for the ocean and its inhabitants. We saw 2 large sea turtles, probably around 50 dolphins (I’m not even exaggerating) , 20 whales, and a sea lion. The captain did a fantastic job of putting us near the action, without disrupting nature. We had a delicious homemade…”

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Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise in Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive

Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise in Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive - Getting to the Boat: Meeting Point and the Port Tax Reality Check

Whale Watching Experience

Whale Watching Experience - Hydrophones and Expert Host Talk: Hearing Whale Calls

8.Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 186 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $89

Puerto Vallarta humpback whale tour by speedboat with hydrophones, expert guides, light snack, and small-group feel for 3 hours.

“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!”

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Whale Watching Adventure – Led by a Marine Biologist

Whale Watching Adventure – Led by a Marine Biologist - The boat time in Marina Vallarta: small group + active spotting

9.Whale Watching Adventure – Led by a Marine Biologist

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 176 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Puerto Vallarta whale watch led by marine biologists, with hydrophone whale song, small-group boat time, and a pre-ride biology talk.

“The trip with the Whale Biologist was very informative. We found that to be a huge benefit to this trip. We saw a number of whales during this trip displaying a number of mating as well as mother and newborn babes behaviors. I would recommend that you book directly with ECOTOURS. VIATOR has a low price guarantee that is not truthful. I found the booking price for anyone in the public, not associated with any organization or discount group on the ECOTOURS website at a lower price than thru Viator. VIATOR would not respect that lower price and stated that it was not honored because of this policy. "Viator's Lowest…”

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Whale Watching Guaranteed Experience in Puerto Vallarta

Whale Watching Guaranteed Experience in Puerto Vallarta - Meeting Point at Los Veranos Canopy Tour: Fast to Find, Worth Double-Checking

Wild Dolphin Encounter & Snorkeling Adventure

Wild Dolphin Encounter & Snorkeling Adventure - Ecotours Vallarta briefing: learning dolphin behavior before the boat goes looking

Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta - Where You Meet (and How to Start Without Stress)

12.Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $760

Private whale watching in Puerto Vallarta with winter humpbacks, expert guide, close sightings, and lunch on the water for up to 8.

“We traveled with 6 adults and 4 kids from ages 4-11. They all loved it! Some good information at the beginning, answered any and all questions throughout and the provided sandwiches and snacks were great even for the adults! The kids liked the cookies the best of course! Boat had a bathroom, clean, and felt safe entire time. Would highly recommend!”

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Puerto Vallarta: Mega Yacht Whale Watching Sunset Cruise

Puerto Vallarta: Mega Yacht Whale Watching Sunset Cruise - The 3-Hour Timeline: How the Evening Flows From Pier to Sunset

13.Mega Yacht Whale Watching Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Puerto Vallarta sunset whale watching on a mega yacht: premium open bar, snacks, and a return cruise with city lights in 3 hours.

“Hands down the best tour in town! Nice boat, great staff, and an amazing atmosphere. The whole tour feels like you’re on a private charter yacht, especially when you see what the other boats look like. They were packed like a subway train at rush hour, while our boat had so much space it felt almost empty. Sit wherever you want: left, right, aft, bow. First deck, second deck: it’s all yours. Fantastic. The crew was extremely attentive. As soon as one cocktail was finished, another one appeared on my table. Yes! free! cocktails on board! Another pleasant surprise was a plate of ceviche and guacamole. So tasty! And last,…”

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Puerto Vallarta: 3-Hour Whale Watching and Snorkeling

Puerto Vallarta: 3-Hour Whale Watching and Snorkeling - From Marina Check-In to Boat Safety Basics

14.3-Hour Whale Watching and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 62 reviews · 3 hours · from $45Best value

A short Puerto Vallarta boat ride for humpback whale watching, with possible snorkeling time and scenic stops—check timing and snorkel details.

“No pudimos ver ballenas , sabemos que no es culpa del guía , en eso no se puede saber. Sin embargo como compensación nos llevaron a otras playas , pero fue demasiado el tiempo de estar, el tour era para 4 h y se convirtió en 6 o 7 h, esto afectó nuestros demás planes.”

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Private Whale watching Puerto Vallarta

Private Whale watching Puerto Vallarta - Stop 1: the wildlife search around Eco Explorer Vallarta

15.Private Whale watching Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $650

Private whale watching in Puerto Vallarta with a hydrophone, snacks, and a conservation-focused crew cruising Banderas Bay for marine mammals.

“Carlos was so great at explaining the whales and finding them for us, and hector was a perfect captain! For being the end of whale season, we had plenty of wildlife to see (we are guessing about 20 whales and tons of dolphins). This tour definitely did not disappoint and I would recommend it for anyone wanting to see these magnificent animals!”

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