Swimming with whale sharks in Cancun is an amazing experience and gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal other large pelagic species including giant manta rays in open water.
Whale Shark Season
The whale shark season starts in June and finishes mid september which are the summer months in the Mexican Caribbean. This is when the spawning of millions of fish eggs bring large pelagic filter feeders such as whale sharks to the area.
If you are staying in Playa del Carmen, you book a whale shark tour from your resort. The tour consists of a 2-hour boat ride to get to the location where whale sharks feed on spawning fish eggs. The feeding grounds are often close to Isla Mujeres or Holbox and are the best places to see whale sharks in Mexico and the world.
You can even go on a private whale shark tour if you want a more intimate experience.
One of the most incredible creatures roaming the mesmerizing sea is huge in size, but one of the friendliest that you will encounter, we are talking about Whale Sharks. These gentle giants offer you the opportunity to explore the sea with them and indulge in an experience like no other in Cancun!
Fun Facts About Whale Sharks
#1 Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean
That is right; they can reach a whopping 40 feet long and 43000 pounds. Incredible!
#2 Whale Sharkshave a long lifespan
Whale Sharks can actually live up to 70 to 100 years old, kind of like humans. Imagine all of that time they have swimming through uncharted waters, wow!
#3 Whale Sharks don’t chew or bite
Though they have over 3, 000 tiny teeth, they never chew or bite. Have you ever seen someone who eats really fast and is like they aren’t t even chewing their food, well that is what whale sharks are like. These filter feeders consume plankton through their gills and “inhale” fish and shrimp when they open their huge mouths. Did you know that when a whale shark opens its mouth, it can reach up to 4 meters wide?
Swimming with Whale Sharks With Scuba Libre
At Sandos Cancun, Caracol, and Playacar, an onsite diving agency offers diving excursions for beginner, intermediate, and experienced divers. Though there are a lot of different diving excursions you can embark on, we do highly recommend Scuba Libre for swimming with whale sharks! Their experienced guides and top of the line equipment ensure that you will enjoy your time out it in the Sea and witness something remarkable and unique. Swimming with whale sharks is often seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it is something that you absolutely cannot miss while visiting Cancun or the Riviera Maya.
Why Swimming With Whale Sharks is Important
At all Sandos Hotels and Resorts, we care deeply about nature and all living things, which is why we promote the swimming with whale sharks excursion. Unfortunately, whale sharks have been labeled as an endangered species by the IUCN due to fisheries, demand for shark fins, skin, and meat. Also, due to baby whale sharks having to be dependent on their own after birth, only about 10% of whale sharks actually grow into full maturity.
These excursions of swimming with whale sharks actually help protect the species, monitor and make sure they are safe when they migrate into the Caribbean. By going on these excursions, not only are you supporting their well-being, but you are also promoting their life so that other people can see just how amazing these creatures are!
New Adventures and Experiences with Sandos Hotels and Resorts
Swimming with Whale Sharks is an incredible opportunity that we hope all guests that are visiting our hotels get to experience. But for us, it goes beyond the excursion. Sandos Caracol, Cancun, and Playacar offer incredible services and amenities in unbeatable locations in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Enjoy delicious international cuisine, high-class rooms, amazing performances, and endless activities for all ages of travelers. At Sandos Caracol, Playacar, and Cancun we offer an all-inclusive package while at Sandos Cancun we also boast a bed and breakfast package, so that if exploring the area and partaking in excursions is the main objective you can do so with ease and still lay your head in a beautiful hotel.
Whatever it may be, Sandos has options to exceed every type and age of traveler’s expectations. Alongside the Whale Sharks, Cancun has a lot more to offer; see all of the best excursions to do when visiting Cancun! Enjoy our summer hot sale and indulge in everything our beautiful destinations have to offer you! See here all of the deals that we have in store for you, and don’t miss out on a unique opportunity. Travel better with Sandos!