Whale watching in Nayarit runs from December to March, when humpback whales arrive in Bahía de Banderas (Banderas Bay) and along the coasts of Compostela and San Blas to mate and give birth. The official 2025-2026 season ran from December 8 to March 23; similar dates are expected for 2026-2027, and Mexico’s environment ministry (SEMARNAT) confirms them each fall in the federal Official Gazette. A 2- to 4-hour tour costs approx. $800–2,000 MXN (45–115 USD) in 2026 and departs from Nuevo Vallarta, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta de Mita, Guayabitos or San Blas.
This is our main whale guide: season dates, where to set out, the rules boats must follow, prices and what to expect month by month. If you’re also into migratory birds in the San Blas mangroves, whose season overlaps with the whales, jump to our migratory birds section or see the San Blas page.
Whale watching season 2026-2027
Every year SEMARNAT publishes a notice listing the authorized areas and dates for each one. In the 2025-2026 season, Nayarit had three observation areas, all open from December 8 to March 23:
- Bahía de Banderas (Bahía de Banderas municipality), with two restricted zones where watching is not allowed because mothers and calves gather there: a 1.5 km radius around the Islas Marietas and a 2 km-wide coastal strip from Punta de Mita to the mouth of the Ameca River.
- Compostela: Rincón de Guayabitos-La Peñita and Jaltemba-Chacala.
- San Blas-Isla Isabel, in San Blas municipality.
You can read the official 2025-2026 season notice (in Spanish). If you’re traveling in early December 2026 or late March 2027, confirm the new dates before booking.
What to expect month by month
| Month | What’s happening | Chance of sightings |
|---|---|---|
| November | First whales arrive; no authorized tours yet | Occasional, from shore only |
| December | Season opens (approx. Dec 8); males singing and courting | Medium, rising every week |
| January | Lots of whales in the bay; groups of males competing for a female | High |
| February | Mothers with calves; frequent breaches and fin slaps | Very high; best value month |
| March | Calves more active; whales start heading north. Closes approx. Mar 23 | High in the first half |
| April – October | Off season; no whale tours | Very low |
No serious operator can guarantee a breach, but in January and February it’s rare to come back without seeing whales. To weigh this against weather and prices, see the best time to visit Nayarit.
Where to go whale watching in Nayarit
Nuevo Vallarta
The Nuevo Vallarta marinas have the widest choice: pangas (small open boats), catamarans and combo tours. It’s the easiest option if you’re staying in the hotel zone or flying into Puerto Vallarta. More in things to do in Nuevo Vallarta.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
The La Cruz marina is the departure point for most tours in the northern bay, with sailboats and smaller vessels. See things to do in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.
Punta de Mita
From here you’re minutes from open water and the area near the Marietas where whales gather. Remember that watching is not allowed within 1.5 km of the islands or inside the 2 km coastal strip, so tours head beyond them. Details in our Punta de Mita travel guide; to add Hidden Beach, read how to visit the Islas Marietas.
Rincón de Guayabitos, La Peñita and Chacala
For those staying in the northern Riviera Nayarit: local fishermen’s boats leave from the beaches of Guayabitos and Chacala, with less boat traffic than in the bay. See Lo de Marcos, Chacala and Platanitos.
San Blas and Isla Isabel
The San Blas-Isla Isabel area is also authorized. It’s less known and pairs well with birds, dolphins and a trip to the island; see Isla Isabel and our San Blas page.
Rules for boats (NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010)
Whale watching in Mexico is governed by the official standard NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010. Knowing it helps you choose a responsible tour and spot when something is wrong:
- Minimum distance: 60 m (about 200 ft) for small boats under 10 m long and 80 m (about 260 ft) for medium and large vessels such as catamarans.
- Waiting distance: 240 m. Only 4 boats may stay around one whale or group; the rest wait their turn.
- Time limit: 30 minutes with the same whale or group.
- Speed: under 5 knots (9 km/h) in the observation area and under 2 knots (4 km/h) when approaching, always slower than the slowest whale.
- Approach: diagonally from the rear side and parallel to the whale’s course; never head-on or cutting across its path.
- Engine: in neutral when the whale is stationary or approaches the boat on its own; switched off only to listen with a hydrophone.
- Prohibited: swimming or diving with whales, getting between a mother and calf, feeding them, littering and watching from jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards or inflatables.
- Permit flag: authorized boats display a visible badge; ask to see it.
Approximate prices in 2026
| Tour type | Duration | Approx. price 2026 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared panga (small boat) | 2–3 h | From approx. $800 MXN (45 USD) | Closest legal views (60 m); tighter budgets |
| Catamaran or sailboat | 3–4 h | Up to approx. $2,000 MXN (115 USD), depending on inclusions | Families; more stability and shade |
| Private boat | 2–4 h | Quoted per boat | Groups and photographers |
Book directly with authorized operators; middlemen usually charge more. For a full trip budget, see how much a trip to Nayarit costs.
How to choose a good operator
- Ask to see the boat’s authorization badge for the season.
- Ask whether the captain keeps the 60 or 80 m distance and the 30-minute limit; if they promise you can “touch” a whale, find another tour.
- At the start of the trip, the crew should brief you on how to behave on board during the sighting.
- Check there are life jackets for everyone, kids included.
- If you’re staying in Sayulita, some tours leave directly from there during the season.
What you’ll see
The star is the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), which can reach 16 meters (52 ft) and weigh 40 tons. It travels from feeding grounds in the North Pacific to breed in warm water. What you’ll see most: the blow (a spout of vapor several meters high), the arched back, the tail fluke as it dives, pectoral-fin slaps and, with luck, full breaches. Some tours carry a hydrophone so you can hear the males sing. Now and then a gray whale makes it into the bay too.
On the same outing you’ll often spot bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, mobula rays and seabirds such as frigatebirds, pelicans and blue-footed boobies.
Migratory birds and other marine mammals
Whale season overlaps with bird migration. In winter, the coastal wetlands of Nayarit welcome birds flying down from North America, and the San Blas mangroves become one of the best birding spots on Mexico’s Pacific coast: more than 300 species have been recorded in the area, and the 2019 Christmas Bird Count logged 310 in a single week. San Blas also hosts an International Migratory Bird Festival, usually in late January or early February, with guided outings and workshops; check each year’s dates before you go.
- How to combine them: if you go whale watching in the San Blas-Isla Isabel zone, spend another morning on the boat ride through the mangroves to the La Tovara spring (La Tovara route), with herons, ibises, kingfishers and crocodiles.
- Timing: birds are best at dawn; whales, on calm-sea mornings. Two days in San Blas cover both.
- Other marine mammals: bottlenose dolphins are seen in Banderas Bay year-round, so a boat trip outside whale season isn’t wasted. Whales, however, are only around from December to March.
- Extra gear: binoculars and repellent for the mangrove no-see-ums.
For places to stay and beaches in the port, see the beaches of San Blas.
What to bring
- A sweatshirt or windbreaker: it’s windy at sea even when it’s hot on land.
- Biodegradable sunscreen, a cap and sunglasses.
- Seasickness tablets, taken before boarding, if you’re prone to it.
- A camera with zoom and a charged battery; whales will be 60 m away or more.
Frequently asked questions
When is whale season in Nayarit?
December to March. The official 2025-2026 season ran from December 8 to March 23; similar dates are expected for 2026-2027, pending SEMARNAT’s notice.
What is the best month for whale watching?
January and February. February adds mothers with calves, calm seas and lower prices than the Christmas holidays.
Where can you see whales in Nayarit?
In Bahía de Banderas (Nuevo Vallarta, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta de Mita), in Guayabitos, La Peñita and Chacala, and in the San Blas-Isla Isabel area.
How much does a whale watching tour cost?
In 2026, approx. $800–2,000 MXN (45–115 USD) per person, from a shared panga to a catamaran with more amenities.
How close can boats get to a whale?
60 m for small boats and 80 m for medium or large vessels, for up to 30 minutes. If a whale approaches on its own, the boat must stay in neutral.
Can you swim with whales in Nayarit?
No. NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 bans swimming or diving with whales and watching them from kayaks, paddleboards or jet skis.
When is migratory bird season in Nayarit?
In winter, the same months as the whales. San Blas is the top spot, with more than 300 recorded species and a migratory bird festival usually held in late January or early February.
Area map
- 1Nuevo Vallarta Marinas with the widest choice of whale tours.20.7028, -105.2885 · Open in Google Maps
- 2La Cruz de Huanacaxtle Marina; departure point for most northern-bay tours.20.7507, -105.3829 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Punta de Mita (Corral del Risco) Quick access to open water; 2 km coastal strip is restricted.20.7729, -105.5179 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Islas Marietas (Isla Redonda) Restricted zone: no whale watching within 1.5 km of the islands.20.7013, -105.5682 · Open in Google Maps
- 5Rincón de Guayabitos Authorized Guayabitos-La Peñita area (Compostela).21.0258, -105.2649 · Open in Google Maps
- 6San Blas pier Authorized San Blas-Isla Isabel area.21.5408, -105.2914 · Open in Google Maps
