Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 413 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta worth booking?
Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta is a 4-hour experience in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from $50 per person. It scores 88 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 413 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 88 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (413)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $50 per person
Embark on the ultimate winter whale watching expedition across Banderas Bay aboard a spacious double-decker catamaran! Witness majestic humpback whales leaping and interacting in their natural habitat, offering a breatht
What you get
- Live commentary on board
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lunch
- Breakfast
About this experience
Embark on the ultimate winter whale watching expedition across Banderas Bay aboard a spacious double-decker catamaran! Witness majestic humpback whales leaping and interacting in their natural habitat, offering a breathtaking wildlife show you cannot miss. ✨ WHAT MAKES THIS TOUR UNIQUE: • TWO MEAL SERVICES INCLUDED: Enjoy a hot Continental Breakfast (pancakes, fresh fruit, yogurt, bread, coffee) followed later by a delicious buffet Lunch (marlin burritos, paninis, ceviche, and chips). • INTERNATIONAL OPEN BAR: Sip on unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from our premium selection throughout the cruise. • DOUBLE-DECKER COMFORT: Sail safely on a large, stable catamaran (up to 120 travelers) with open-air viewing zones perfect for professional-grade wildlife photography. • DUAL DEPARTURES: Convenient boarding options from Nuevo Vallarta (8:30 AM) or Puerto Vallarta (9:20 AM).
What's included
Included
- Live commentary on board
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Entrance fees (port fees applies at API, Puerto Vallarta)
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Puerto Vallarta
2 DOCK OPTIONS! Check hotel location: Nuevo Vallarta (Paradise Village): 8:30 AM. Puerto Vallarta (API/Puerto Magico): 9:20 AM. Port fee NOT included (pay cash at pier). Arrive 20 mins early! Check Viator messages.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
2 DOCK OPTIONS! Check hotel location: Nuevo Vallarta (Paradise Village): 8:30 AM. Puerto Vallarta (API/Puerto Magico): 9:20 AM. Port fee NOT included (pay cash at pier). Arrive 20 mins early! Check Viator messages.
Options you can book
Departure from Nuevo Vallarta
Departs strictly at 8:30 AM from Paradise Village Public Pier. Arrive 20m early! Check Viator messages.
Departure From Puerto Vallarta
Departs strictly at 9:20 AM from Puerto Mágico (API Terminal). Arrive 20m early! Check Viator messages.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Mike's Fishing & Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 413 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
6 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
413 verified traveler reviews for Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Top notch service!
Mikes Fishing was an excellent host. From the giant boat, the amazing food and drinks, and the service was spectacular. Top it off they had us on whales the entire time. Highly recommend this group!
Response from the operator: Hi! 🐋✨ Thank you so much for the review and for the 'top notch' praise! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our giant boat and that the food, drinks, and service were spectacular. Our main goal is always to provide the best possible sightings, so hearing that you were on whales the entire time truly makes our day! It was a pleasure being your host in the bay, and we truly appreciate your high recommendation. We hope to see you back on board for another spectacular adventure soon! ⚓🍹🌊
via Tripadvisor
A wonderful whale watching excursion - top notch!
We and our teen daughter went on the whale watching tour out of Riviera Nayarit Marina today. The directions provided to us for the pick up spot were detailed and perfect. The boat was, surprisingly, a huge 93 foot luxury yacht that would have held 100 people. The ship was accessible in that there was lots of seating and the bar and food were on the main deck, but there is also a top deck and the bathrooms were down some windy stairs from the main deck (not wheelchair accessible). Twenty of us or so embarked from Nuevo at 8:30 AM, then we sailed to Puerto Vallarta to pick up another 25 people. There was coffee, fruit, pancakes and sweet bread for breakfast, and we were served mimosas, Bloody Mary, or any other drink we wanted from the open bar. There were servers who brought the drinks so we didn’t need to miss a moment of the ocean viewing. We stopped with engines and music off at a few spots where there were Mama and baby humpbacks and enjoyed watching them frolic. The crew are all part of the whale conservation effort and were very respectful of giving the whales their space. The chef then prepared some turkey and cheese sandwiches, delicious marlin salad with tostadas, vegan ceviche (which was a mixture of fruits and veg and was absolutely delicious) and chips. The open bar and drinks service continued for the whole voyage. The tour guide, Israél, was knowledgeable about the ocean animals and whales in particular and gave lots of interesting info in both English and Spanish. He was very funny too, and made the trip super fun. There was a pro photographer onboard who took photos of the guests and all the whale sightings. Her photos were available for purchase. The crew was all very friendly and the ship safe and clean. We also saw sea turtles and dolphins! We would highly recommend this tour! Pro tip: If you embark at Nayarit you are first on the boat and can choose your viewing spot first, and you get extra time as you’re dropped off last. Muy bueno!
Response from the operator: Hi Leah! 🐋✨ Thank you so much for this 'top notch' and incredibly detailed review! We are thrilled that you and your daughter had such a wonderful time on our 93-foot luxury yacht. It’s great to hear that our directions made your arrival easy and that you enjoyed the breakfast spread—nothing beats starting a whale-watching adventure with pancakes and mimosas! We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Israel. He takes great pride in being both funny and knowledgeable about our humpback friends, and we’re glad he made the trip so much fun for you. It’s also wonderful to know you enjoyed the lunch, especially our marlin salad and the vegan ceviche. Seeing the mama and baby humpbacks while maintaining a respectful distance is exactly how we love to operate, so thank you for noticing our commitment to being an ethical tour. Topped off with dolphins and sea turtles, it sounds like you had the 'full house' of marine life! Lastly, thank you for sharing that pro-tip about embarking at the Riviera Nayarit Marina. It's a fantastic piece of advice for future travelers who want to snag their favorite viewing spot early. We can't wait to welcome your family back on board for another adventure! ⚓🍹📸
via Tripadvisor
Highly recommended
Nice boarding and the crew was great
Response from the operator: Hi! 👋 Thank you so much for the 5-star rating. We are glad to hear you had a 'nice boarding' experience and that our crew made your trip great. We hope to see you back on the water with us very soon! ⚓✨
via Tripadvisor
Excellent whale watching!
Whales, Dolphins, and Turtles, oh my! We saw many humpback whales, mostly mamas with their babies. We also saw a pod of dolphins and several sea turtles. One of them swam right alongside our boat. The drinks and food were great and the staff and service were fantastic. Highly recommend
Response from the operator: Hi Lisa! 🌟 Whales, dolphins, and turtles—oh my! We are absolutely thrilled you got to see the 'full house' of marine life, especially the humpback mamas with their babies. It’s wonderful to know one of the sea turtles swam right alongside the boat for you to see! Thank you for your kind words about our food, drinks, and staff service. We truly appreciate the high recommendation and hope to see you again! ⚓🍹✨
via Tripadvisor
Awesome time!
It was well worth the time. We saw many humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles. The service was great! Plenty of food and drinks! The crewmembers were great.
Response from the operator: Hi! 🤩 Thank you for the 'awesome' review! We are so happy the tour was well worth your time and that you had such a productive day of sightings with humpbacks, dolphins, and turtles. Our crewmembers take great pride in keeping the food plenty and the drinks flowing, so we’re glad you felt well taken care of. Cheers to a great time in Vallarta! ⚓🐋🍻
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat
- Price range
- $50 to $99
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 145
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 88
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Puerto Vallarta.
How much does Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta cost?
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Prices start at $50 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Puerto Vallarta usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Puerto Vallarta is not rushed.
Is Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 88 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 413 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Puerto Vallarta, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta?
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Around 145 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Puerto Vallarta can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Puerto Vallarta and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Whale Watching Cruise In Puerto Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Puerto Vallarta within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta?
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On Outty we rank every Puerto Vallarta experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Winner 2026 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours, Signature Taco Tour in PV with Vallarta Eats, Food & Mixology Tour:Tequila,Tacos, Mezcal and Agave Cocktails. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Puerto Vallarta?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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