Whale Watching in Puerto Vallarta 2022 - 2023

For many travelers, winter is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta, giving them a chance to trade their coats and scarves for shorts and sandals, and the visitors to the city also include migratory whales. These majestic creatures are active in the bay, breaching the surface of the sea and waving their tails in the air.

While you can often spot them from the shore, whale watching tours take you out to see them up close, and the onboard marine biologist will teach you more about what kind of whales are in Puerto Vallarta and their unique behaviors. If you’re traveling during whale watching season, take advantage of this opportunity for an unforgettable vacation.

Whale Migration to Mexico

As temperatures in Arctic waters drop, whales make a 12,500-mile round trip journey to the coast of Mexico, seeking warmer waters with more abundant krill and small fish to feed on. To complete this trip, the different kinds of whales have to swim both day and night, making an average of 80 miles per day. During this time, many whales also mate and give birth, and there’s safe and protected water for whales in Puerto Vallarta where they can start their families.

Best Time for Whale Watching in Puerto Vallarta

Migration begins in late September for most kinds of whales, and by the end of the year, you’ll see whales in Puerto Vallarta. While they might start to appear in November, the official whale watching season begins in December when tour companies are allowed to operate and are almost guaranteed to find whales in the bay. In March, they start to make their journey back north, so the best time for whale watching in Puerto Vallarta is between December and March.

What Kind of Whales are in Puerto Vallarta

During a whale season Puerto Vallarta tour, you’ll get to learn about the different kinds of whales you see, their natural habitat, and their daily life. The most common whales in Puerto Vallarta are humpback whales, and it’s estimated that two thousand of them visit the Bay of Banderas each year. Humpback whale watching is popular in many different locations around the world, and as they swim at the surface of the sea, you’ll be able to identify their iconic hump. In other areas along Mexico’s west coast, blue and grey whales are also common during whale watching season. However, when you look at what kind of whales are in Puerto Vallarta, humpbacks are the main ones.

Tours for Whale Season Puerto Vallarta

Winter is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta, and there’s a variety of humpback whale watching tour companies that operate during this season. The morning is the best time for whale watching in Puerto Vallarta, which can be chilly in the winter, so be sure to bring a light jacket for sailing out across the water. The best whale season Puerto Vallarta tours have onboard marine biologists whose knowledge of whales and the bay will give you a better appreciation for the environment. As you sail across the water, most tours provide beverages and snacks.

With the cool weather and clear skies, winter is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta, and the whales agree. Humpback whale watching is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and with so many of them active in the bay, you’ll be able to experience the awe of watching them splash at the surface. To add a touch of magic and to learn more about our world, book a whale watching tour on your next vacation.