Season
The official observation window for the 2025-26 season ran from October 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, although CONANP opened the viewing area to tours on November 20, 2025, once enough sharks were present. That season, monitors identified 56 individual sharks. Local operators describe the reliable months as mid-November to April, with December to February usually best.
The authorities can open late or close early if few sharks are in the bay, so book with an operator that will refund or reschedule if the area is closed. For whale watching from Cabo in the same months, see our whale season guide.
The rules in the water
Whale-shark swimming in La Paz is permitted only in a designated area near El Mogote and only with authorized operators, whose boats carry an official flag and ID. Under the 2025-26 management plan, a maximum of 14 boats can be in the area at once and 56 a day, split into four shifts, with only one boat allowed per shark. Operators report a limit of about two hours per boat in the area.
Swimmers go in with a guide in small groups, entering the water quietly and staying to the side of the animal, well away from the head and tail. Touching, riding or chasing the sharks is forbidden, as are scuba gear, flash photography and drones. Use biodegradable sunscreen or, better, a wetsuit or rash guard. Some operators require life jackets at all times, and everyone snorkels at the surface.
- Authorized operators only (look for the official flag and ID)
- Snorkeling only: no scuba, no drones, no flash
- No touching, riding or blocking a shark's path
- Small groups with a guide; keep clear of the head and tail
- Biodegradable sunscreen only
Getting there and tour options
The fastest route from Médano Beach to La Paz is Highway 19 up the Pacific side through Todos Santos, about two hours each way. You have two main options. Full-day tours from Cabo handle the driving: Cabo Trek lists a small-group trip (maximum eight people) at USD 299 per adult and USD 249 per child, leaving at 7 a.m. and returning around 4:30 p.m., with transport, guide, snorkel gear, boat, snacks and lunch. It runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from November through March.
Alternatively, drive yourself or hire a driver and book a boat tour in La Paz. Local operators such as La Paz Divers and Sunrider list about USD 140 per adult for a trip of roughly three hours, including a wetsuit, snorkel gear and the permit; combinations with the sea lion colony and Balandra run about USD 225 to USD 275. Expect small extra dock and conservation fees on some tours. Pair the trip with lunch on the way back in Todos Santos (see our Todos Santos day trip).
Tips for the day
Leave early; the water is usually calmer in the morning and you will want daylight for the drive home. You should be comfortable swimming in open water with fins, even if the sharks are in fairly shallow water. Minimum ages vary by operator (Sunrider sets eight years). Visibility in the plankton-rich bay can be greenish; that is why the sharks are there.
Bring a towel, a warm layer for the boat ride, a hat, cash for tips and fees, and an underwater camera without flash. Gratuities for the guide and captain are usually not included; our tipping guide has typical amounts.
