Puerto Vallarta Tours
Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta
5

Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

By Vallarta Natours
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English, French, Spanish
More


  • Soft Beverages
  • Lunch
  • Professional guide
  • Private tour
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • The listed price does not include a $40 pesos per person port tax, payable at the time of tour check-in. The departure tax is required by our local supplier and/or the local transit or governing authority and is not within our control.
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation to/from attractions
  • Souvenirs (available to purchase)


Start:
  • Mr. Cream Pancakes & Waffles, Condominios Marina Sol Int. 3y4, Marina Vallarta, 48354 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 46209P5

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
    • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
    • Rain or shine the tour will depart.
    • Seasonal operating December to March
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Due to covid restrictions, maximum 8 passenger per booking
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 46209P5

    From
    $760.00
    per group (up to 8)
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Vallarta Natours
      365
      Mexico
      Joined in November 2017
    • 718libbyb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Whale Watching!
      This was an amazing expereince. We saw 16 whales in our 3 hour tour. I loved how well we were able to see them while keeping a safe distance from the whales. I also loved learning about whale behavior and hearing them "talk". The tour guide was fun, funny and smart. The boat was very comfortable and the boat captain was expert. Thanks so much!
      Written April 23, 2024
    • kellymarie_12
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome whale watching experience
      I've watched whales from Puerto Vallarta's beaches but decided to take a tour this year. I wanted a tour that would bring me close to whales, teach me about them, and also respect the whales. Vallarta Natours does all that and more! We saw several different whales and at one point there were dolphins swimming along both sides of the boat. Towards the end Thalia put a microphone into the water so we could listen to the whales as well. My friend and I loved this tour, I will absolutely go again on a future trip!
      Written April 23, 2024
    • kattoqc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The highlight of our trip to Puerto Vallarta
      We had a wonderful day with our guide MaĂŻko and captain Angel! MaĂŻko is a very friendly and attentive guide who was very patient with the two of us who were scared at first in the water when we went snorkeling. We visited the wonderful little pueblo of Yelapa, which he knew very well! We really enjoyed the snorkeling and then the most amazing meal of our trip to the Puerto Vallarta region at Las Animas' restaurant. It was fantastic! Plus, we got to see the beautiful blue footed boobies and frigate birds in Los Arcos. It was a perfect day! Thank you, this made our trip very special.
      Written April 10, 2024
    • beckyn90
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great day on the Bay
      We had a wonderful excursion,with just 10 participants, on the bay. We were lucky enough to spot 5 or 6 mothers with babies and watched as they breached and rolled. We also saw a large pod of bottlenose dolphins. Thalia is a very knowledgeable marine biologist and JesĂşs is a safe pilot. Highly recommend!
      Written March 24, 2024
    • mexitexi
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic Tour
      Thalia, our guide, was very knowledgeable and informative. We were at the end of the mating season but she promised we would see whales and WOW we lost count of how many. One female was being pursued by 4 male whales and to watch the chase and the flirting (twerking) was such an incredible experience, This was the highlight of our 7 days in PV and it was amazing, don’t miss whale season and don’t miss this outfit, you will not be disappointed!!
      Written March 19, 2024
    • jilbcl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      One Of Our Best Tours Ever DO NOT MISS THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE
      This was (without a doubt) a do not miss experience Thalia, the owner, is a marine biologist and was just amazing! One of the best tours we’ve ever taken. If you’re in Puerto Vallarta, make a reservation for this tour. You will not be disappointed!
      Written March 17, 2024
    • donnacU28UE
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale watching tour
      Me and a friend booked the Half-day Small Group Whale Watching Tour with Vallarta Natours. We had an awesome experience and our guide Thalia was so knowlegeable on all the marine life. She answered all the questions posed to her and gave us so much information on the whales and dolphins. It was quite the experience and I would definitely recommend this tour and would go again myself. Five stars.
      Written March 16, 2024
    • L191FOjanf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect outing!
      A perfect outing! Thalia was a superb guide. She is a marine biologist with 20 years experience studying whales. Not only did we find and observe plenty of whales, Thalia was constantly sharing her knowledge and experience. Do not settle for any body else.
      Written March 13, 2024
    • B3491TGlindat
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful whale watching experience!
      We had an amazing time - the guide was so knowledgable and we learned a ton. The boat was small enough that we felt close to the action, the group was small enough to be able to ask lots of questions. We saw the "giant" boats and they seemed packed and so high up off the water. We saw so many whales and just really enjoyed the experience!
      Written March 13, 2024
    • heathermG7863SI
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Stunningly beautiful
      This tour was absolutely incredible! We saw several humpbacks with babies, an orca and a few dolphins. The naturalist was so knowledgeable and kind and the captain was so respectful of the animals. I recommend this tour to everyone. Our 10 &11 year old boys enjoyed it, too, though both reported getting queasy. Since neither my husband or I gets motion sick, we didn’t consider that they might… so lesson learned for our family.
      Written March 12, 2024
    • Navigator04459436863
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Whale Watching!
      FANTASTIC! We had a great time on the Natours whale watching adventure! This was my 4th whale watching tour in PV, and diefinitely the best. The boat was clean and very comfortable, the crew was extremely knowledgable and friendly. Victor did a great job of pointing out the whales and where to watch for them using a "clock" to tell everyone where a whale was breeching. (This was exp helpful for me as I am visually impaired.) Added bonus - we recieved pictures and a great video following the tour. I would definitely book a tour with them again!
      Written March 11, 2024
    • G8546XOdebbies
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic whale watching
      Very exciting trip. Saw many humpback whales. Angel the captain was very good at getting us to the whales and the biologist, I think her name was Celia, was informative about the whales and answered all our question. She even put a microphone in the water so we could hear the whales singing . They were both very conscious of the whales space and didn’t what to stress them out. The small boat tour was the best to whale watch in my opinion. Everyone should consider this Small Group Whale Watching tour YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.
      Written March 9, 2024
    • Smilingthrulife
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Experience Whale Watching
      Victor our guide was not only informative but friendly and knowledgeable. He explained everything we saw and maybe would see thoroughly and answered our many questions. Boat was comfortable and not crowded. Lunch was delightful. Love that they were so ecofriendly, protecting the whales and dolphins we saw. The captain was excellent, knowing where and how to watch for whale activity without harassing them. Highly recommend this tour with Vallarta Natours!
      Written March 8, 2024
    • 518stephe
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome
      Such a wonderful experience!!! I also appreciated that they were very conscious of protecting the whales. Our tour guides were excellent!!
      Written March 6, 2024
    • NorthStar17180738862
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Inspiring Whale Adventure By Ethical and Knowledgeable Guides
      Thalia and Angel provided an informative and respectful whale tour while inspiring a deep appreciation for ocean life
      Written March 5, 2024
    See all 365 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles67 reviews
    Excellent
    66
    Very good
    0
    Average
    1
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    PKV3610
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022
    What an amazing Whale Watching tour we had with Thalia and her crew! After reading great reviews about Vallarta Natours, I booked a private 4 hour tour for 6 on Jan. 13, 2022. Thalia met us at the Marina and was very personable, escorting us to her boat. As we headed out into the bay, she educated us on all things Whales, most of it, none of us knowing. It was fascinating learning about these amazing creatures, something we would not of had, if we had just taken a tour boat! The love and respect she has for these incredible mammals is so apparent and is obvious she has dedicated her life to get to know and protect them and their environment. We must of seen over 30 whales in the 4 hours we were on the boat, and it was fascinating listening to her identity them just by their flukes! We enjoyed a yummy homemade lunch of sandwich’s, chips, and local sparkling waters and cookies! Thalia and her brother take many pictures and videos during the tour and share them with you at no extra charge! That in itself is unheard of! This was our first visit to the Puerto Vallarta area, but will not be our last. Our next visit will definitely include another excursion with Vallarta Natour! Exceptional tour and crew!! Thank you Thalia!!
    Written January 30, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Shawn MacDonald
    Joliet, IL2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    The boat was older but clean with new twin 175 HP Suzuki engines and was piloted by a great Captain.
    Our guide was great and very professional. She knew the whales and the bay very well. She provided very interesting facts throughout the entire tour. I love her passion for the whales and her job. When we saw some baby whales we all were like kids in a candy store. We saw more than a dozen different whales and our captain got close to the whales while still respecting their space. I have already forwarded the tour information onto friends that are coming to Puerto Vallarta in the next two months. This is the second time in thee years that my wife and I have visited PV and we took this tour both times and are very, very happy we did. Please don’t let the cost dictate if you will take this tour, TAKE IT, you won’t be sorry!
    Written January 9, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We get so happy to receive back guests that have been with us previously. It's such a warming sensation, knowing that our guest enjoys what we do as much as ourselves. looking forward to hosting you in the future and share more precious moments.
    Written January 21, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    toddalandry
    Augusta, ME4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2021
    One of the best experiences we have ever had. Thalia and her crew were the best. We were able to see a mother whale with her one-week-old calf before encountering a group of 10 whales which entertained us for nearly two hours as they swam around and very near our idling boat. Thalia explained what the whales were doing as part of their mating rituals. On our ride back in, we saw two additional whales, one of which did a partial breach.

    Great experience and highly recommended.
    Written January 2, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for joining us. Our excursions are interés more than just a tour, it's a life experience Getting to learn about the magnificent whales as they are in front of us is simply magical. Hope to see you back
    Written January 7, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Dave P
    New Jersey12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Family
    The whale watching with Vallarta Natours was excellent. Their 32' boat has many comfortable places to sit and provides terrific whale viewing. Our guide Victor was engaging and had interesting knowledge of whale anatomy and behavior. The captain always kept a respectful distance from the whales and was skillful regarding maneuvering the boat for optimal viewing. Victor's knowledge of whale behavior, in particular regarding being able to predict when they would surface after a dive was uncanny and enhanced the experience greatly. I would highly recommend a smaller boat over a large tour group boat so as to not have to compete for an optimal viewing position. They also provided a homemade lunch and remembered we had both a vegan and vegetarian in our group. I feel lucky to have found Vallarta Natours for my family's whale viewing experience while in Puerto Vallarta.
    Written March 20, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Charlie10339
    Denver, CO44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022
    This was the most amazing boat trip we’ve ever taken. We saw a female humpback breach 8 times over the course of 20 minutes ! During another stretch, we saw a pod of 6-7 males chasing a female as part of their mating. Thalia (and Angel) were outstanding hosts that understood the whales and their behavior to a degree that was so impressive. We’ve whale watched in Hawaii before but this was SOOO much better - it was truly outstanding.
    Written December 31, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Claudia S
    Minneapolis7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    This whale watching trip with Vallartanatours and guide Thalia was a highlight of our trip to Puerto Vallarta. On a small, comfortable boat seating only 12 people we were able to follow many Humpback whales around the bay, watching their activities and learning about them from Thalia, who is a marine biologist and very respectful of the whales and their comfort level.We saw over 15 different whales -males, females, females with calves. If you are in Puerto Vallarta during the whale season be sure to take this tour!!
    Written March 15, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear CLaudia Thank you for your review, we are thrilled to learn that you had such an amazing time with us. education through this type of experiences is unique... once in a lifetime (well for some lucky ones, more) Small groups ensure great personal care! See you soon, hopefully
    Written March 23, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    MawCincinnati
    Rehoboth Beach, DE160 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Thalia, the owner and our guide was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. She explained the habits of whales and we were able to see many whales displaying these habits. Thalia and the captain, Angel, were experts at finding the whales and were diligent in their efforts to ensure that we followed the whales in a manner that did not cause them distress. The tour itself was incredible and the best part was when we saw a momma whale teaching her baby whale how to breach! What a great experience for our family and we had a very nice lunch with snacks on our way back to the marina. We have been on several whale watching tours on our trips to Puerto Vallarta, but this was by far the best tour ever.
    Written February 17, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Andy D
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022 • Friends
    We had a morning of whale watching with Tallia and it was amazing. I would definitely recommend is for anyone who wants to get on the bay Banderas and spend a morning watching nature at its best! I was expecting to see maybe 10 whales. We ended up seeing 38 whales, multiple dolphins as well as a manta ray!
    Written February 14, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Elizabeth B
    New Jersey29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Had a wonderful informative time - the boat is comfortable and Thalia brought homemade sandwiches plus hibiscus drinks. We saw dolphins and rays and many whales. Whale watching included a calf breaching in play to a competition pod (multi males pursuing a female) - the team explains everything we are seeing and hearing. They also educated us as to their research and guidelines to ensure the whales are not harassed. Definitely recommend - we went in the morning as the ocean is calmer.
    Written March 7, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Corky2104
    Widnes, UK4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We had booked this private tour with Thalia prior to our cruise and communication was great all round. Thalia was right on time for the tour and the six of us had plenty of space on the little boat to move around.
    We saw more than 15 whales during the morning and learnt a lot from Thalia. She really cares and is very knowledgeable.
    A wonderful morning that we wouldn’t have missed for anything. We even got loads of photos sent to us when we got home, so you can just sit back and enjoy being around these gentle giants.

    Very highly recommended - nothing but positive things to say about this company - just book it!!!
    Written February 7, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta provided by Vallarta Natours

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