How the season works
The federal parks agency CONANP sets an observation window and only opens the whale shark area once enough sharks are feeding in the bay. For 2025 to 2026 the window was October 1 to April 30, but tours were allowed in from November 20. Monitors identified 56 different sharks that season. The 2026 to 2027 dates weren't announced when we checked, so we list the season as TBA and usually mid-November to April.
December to February is usually the sweet spot. Book with an operator who refunds or reschedules if the area closes on your day, because it can.
Getting there from Médano Beach
La Paz is about two hours up Highway 19 through Todos Santos. You can drive yourself and book a boat in La Paz, or take a full-day tour from Cabo with pickup; small-group tours are listed around US$249 to $299 per person. Our whale shark day trip page covers the rules (small groups, no touching, limited time in the water) and what the tours include.
Start early. Winds pick up in the afternoon, and visibility in the bay is often best in the morning. On the way back, a stop in Todos Santos for a late lunch breaks up the drive.
Do you need to be a strong swimmer?
Not really. Confident swimmers of any age will love it; the sharks cruise slowly at the surface and you snorkel alongside. Nervous swimmers can wear a wetsuit and hold the guide's float. It combines well with whale watching season in Cabo, since both peak in the same months.
Where to eat and stay
Most tours finish by early afternoon, which leaves time for fish tacos on the La Paz malecón before the drive home. If you'd rather not do four hours in the car in one day, spend a night in La Paz and come back through Todos Santos the next morning. Back in Cabo, a late dinner at Los Claros for more fish tacos is an easy way to end the day.