{"id":2933,"date":"2017-01-28T21:08:15","date_gmt":"2017-01-29T05:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beckyvandijk.com\/?p=2933"},"modified":"2025-08-17T08:05:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T15:05:30","slug":"snorkelling-whale-sharks-holbox-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/snorkelling-whale-sharks-holbox-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Swim With Whale Sharks In Isla Holbox, Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Swimming with whale sharks is becoming an increasingly popular activity, with images of these gentle giants all over social media from Mexico, to the Philippines and Australia. But it is important to consider how ethical your experience swimming with them will be. I snorkelled with whale sharks a few years ago from the island of&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.holboxisland.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Holbox<\/a>, north of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. This was probably one of the best experiences of my life and something I am so pleased that I did in Mexico!<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3007 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-108.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\"><\/p>\n<p>Having had such an incredible time with whale sharks, I have been desperate to go again and recently looked into other locations to do this, specifically&nbsp;the Philippines. Only to find upon research that in certain areas, such as Oslob many of the whale sharks are baited with krill by fisherman, creating a reliance on humans for food which is not good for them or for the eco system.<\/p>\n<p>I read stories of boats creating a circle around the shark essentially trapping them, sharks being bumped by the boats, ridden on by tourists, touched and too many people being allowed in the water at once with the animals. Upon reading all of this I wanted to share with you my experiences of diving in Holbox, which bares no resemblance to these stories and is a place where the whale sharks are protected and a more natural encounter can be experienced!<\/p>\n<h3><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2976 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-65.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\"><\/h3>\n<h3>WHY CHOOSE MEXICO<\/h3>\n<p>Several years ago the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldwildlife.org\/blogs\/good-nature-travel\/posts\/know-before-you-go-responsible-whale-shark-tourism-in-mexico\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">World Wildlife Organisation<\/a> began working with the local fisherman in the area to create guidelines for taking tourists to view and <a href=\"https:\/\/holboxwhalesharktours.com\/about\/whale-shark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">swim with the whale sharks<\/a>. As such there are very strict rules about seeing whale sharks and from my experience I can confirm they firmly enforced.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Is Swimming With These Endangered Whale Sharks Helping or Hurting Them? | National Geographic\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9m8zXa0PWq8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>WHAT TO EXPECT<\/h3>\n<p>If you choose Holbox, you will take a boat ride which can be over 2 hours straight out into the ocean. Deep water, not the shallows we are now seeing these animals in in other countries. You will likely have 6-12 people in your boat, unless you choose a private boat which is recommended if you would like more time with the whale sharks. And I would advise you to take some sea sickness tablets before you leave, as it can be a very bumpy journey and several people (including me) were sick on our boat.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2945 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-12.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\"><\/p>\n<h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><!-- Widget Shortcode --><div id=\"enews-ext-7\" class=\"widget-1 widget-first widget enews-widget widget-shortcode area-arbitrary \"><div class=\"enews enews-2-fields\"><h2 class=\"widgettitle\">Join A Travel Girls Getaway!<\/h2><p>Sign up to be the first to know when we launch new trips and receive exclusive discounts!<\/p>\n\t\t\t<form id=\"subscribeenews-ext--1\" class=\"enews-form\" action=\"https:\/\/form.flodesk.com\/submit\" method=\"post\"\n\t\t\t\t target=\"_blank\" \t\t\t\tname=\"enews-ext--1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" id=\"subbox1\" class=\"enews-subbox enews-fname\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"First Name\" placeholder=\"First Name\" name=\"firstName\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" id=\"subbox\" class=\"enews-email\" aria-label=\"Email Address\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" name=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequired=\"required\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" style=\"display: none; background-image: url(https:\/\/t.flodesk.com\/utm.gif?r=60906be5568cfec4a59991a8)\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"submitToken\" value=\"54309abe200531ff3fa000a45236f33011502a96b325e402f676235062f5dc511db737d7af9ed794d846313ab25dc2840dff100ed7cde5071a4337c36a2c9bc53878f9b9c8dfdf92181287e96f648cf72b4bb5ee2511a2785c6c603689ba6710\">\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Sign Up\" id=\"subbutton\" class=\"enews-submit\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><!-- \/Widget Shortcode --><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>Finding a whale shark feels much like finding a needle in a&nbsp;haystack! You will boat around looking out into the vastness of the ocean, no land in site hoping for a sighting. Once you do find one, which hopefully you will, then the guide will remind you of all the rules before you are allowed to enter the water. This may be the second of even third time you are told the rules. One of the principle rules being do not touch the whale shark!<\/p>\n<p>Only two people are allowed in the water with a guide at any one time. This is so that the whale shark is not disturbed by your presence. If more than one boat arrives to view that same shark, again no persons from that other boat will be allowed to enter the water until it is clear. Plus the boats make efforts to stay well away from the sharks so as not to crowd them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3013 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-120.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2965 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-50.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\"><\/p>\n<p>If you are lucky like I was, then you may only have a few people in your boat and have plenty of time to enjoy swimming with the whale shark and be able to go back into the water several times. However, I have been told others have only been able to go once or twice into the water so make sure you have your camera ready the first time! If you are especially lucky, you will get to see more than one whale shark. I recommend giving yourself a few days&nbsp;in case you do not see any on your first day or you love the experience so much that, like me, you go back again the next day!<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2987 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-79.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\"><\/h3>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2985 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-75.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\">WHEN TO GO<\/h3>\n<p>Between June and September the largest aggregation&nbsp;of whale sharks are seen around <a href=\"http:\/\/www.isla-mujeres.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isla Mujeres<\/a>, with many sightings around the less touristic island of <a href=\"https:\/\/holboxwhalesharktours.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Holbox<\/a> and more recently <a href=\"http:\/\/www.islacontoy.org\/aboutus.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isla Contoy<\/a>. I went to Holbox at the end of May \/ beginning June and was fortunate to see three whale sharks on day 1 and one whale shark on day 2. This is also a great time to visit the island when the weather is beautiful and you can enjoy many other activities like kite boarding and kayaking and see plenty of flamingos and dolphins.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3010 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-114.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\"><\/p>\n<p>I hope this post has inspired you to see the whale sharks in an environment that does not interfere with them, bait them or cause harm or distress. These are wild animals and we are fortunate to be able to view them in the natural habitat. Please make sure that you fully research your trip before planning and find a country that protects these beautiful animals.<\/p>\n<p>And if you are interested in seeing them in the Philippines, then Bonsol in the Sorsogon province of the Philippines is also a protected area for whale sharks where the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/who_we_are\/wwf_offices\/philippines\/index.cfm?uProjectID=PH0965\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donsol Whale Shark Research and Ecotourism Sustainability Program<\/a>&nbsp;was set up with the help of WWF Philippines in 1999. I am planning a trip there in April and will share my experiences there when I visit!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2941 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/isla-holbox-mexico-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\"><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Please share you own tips on how to become a responsible tourist, and any other advice for swimming with whale sharks in the comments below.&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><!-- Widget Shortcode --><div id=\"enews-ext-9\" class=\"widget-2 widget enews-widget widget-shortcode area-arbitrary \"><div class=\"enews enews-2-fields\"><h2 class=\"widgettitle\">Get Access To Our Library Of Freebies, Checklists, eBooks, Travel Guides And More!<\/h2><p>Subscribe to receive free access to the Travel Library<\/p>\n\t\t\t<form id=\"subscribeenews-ext--1\" class=\"enews-form\" action=\"https:\/\/form.flodesk.com\/submit\" method=\"post\"\n\t\t\t\t target=\"_blank\" \t\t\t\tname=\"enews-ext--1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" id=\"subbox1\" class=\"enews-subbox enews-fname\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"First Name\" placeholder=\"First Name\" name=\"firstName\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" id=\"subbox\" class=\"enews-email\" aria-label=\"Email Address\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" name=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequired=\"required\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" style=\"display: none; background-image: url(https:\/\/t.flodesk.com\/utm.gif?r=6090615d568cfe3fdf9991a4)\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"submitToken\" value=\"54309abe200531ff3fa000a45236f33011502a96b325e402f676235062f5dc511db737d7af9ed794d846313ab25dc284e120219c91823b8f1fb7b41b447335db294b82aec4086551ce75c2a64a61c59ac98cb43912f52c578e238682bcd02912\">\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Sign Up\" id=\"subbutton\" class=\"enews-submit\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><!-- \/Widget Shortcode --><\/span><\/h4>\n<hr>\n<h4><em>My Favourite Places To Stay On Holbox<\/em><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/casasandra-boutique.en.html?aid=1435954&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Casa Sandra Boutique Hotel<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/mx\/tribu-hostel.en.html?aid=1435954&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tribu Hostel<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find the best price on hotels in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/searchresults.en.html?city=900048082&amp;aid=1435954&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1\">Holbox here<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sign up to<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Air BNB with this link<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and receive a US $35 off your first booking!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<h4><em>Read More<\/em><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beckyvandijk.com\/8-reasons-isla-holbox\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">8 Reasons To Visit Isla Holbox, Mexico<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beckyvandijk.com\/reasons-visit-gili-islands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">11 Reasons To Visit The Gili Islands<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beckyvandijk.com\/philippines-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12 Things You Need To Know Before You Go To The Philippines<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beckyvandijk.com\/a-guide-to-visiting-the-galapagos-on-a-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A Guide To Visiting The Galapagos On A Budget<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<h4><em>Pin For Later<\/em><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3053 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/swim-whale-sharks-holbox-mexico-becky-van-dijk.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1697\"><\/p>\n<p><i>This website is a free resource and to keep it free for my readers I may use affiliate links in articles. If you make a purchase via the links on this site you will pay the same price, but I may receive a small percentage which helps me to keep bringing you new and informative content every day! Any products I endorse I personally use and love. Please see my<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/beckyvandijk.com\/disclosures\/\">&nbsp;<i>Disclosures<\/i><\/a><i>&nbsp;for more information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swimming with whale sharks is becoming an increasingly popular activity, with images of these gentle giants all over social media from Mexico, to the Philippines and Australia. But it is important to consider how ethical your experience swimming with them&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/snorkelling-whale-sharks-holbox-mexico\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43963,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[500,41,2550],"tags":[2568,1248,461,626,1466,772],"class_list":{"0":"post-2933","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mexico","8":"category-north-america","9":"category-travel","10":"tag-diving-snorkelling","11":"tag-holbox","12":"tag-mexico","13":"tag-responsible-travel","14":"tag-whale-sharks","15":"tag-yucatan","16":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why You Should Swim With Whale Sharks In Isla Holbox, Mexico | We Are Travel Girls<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you are planning on swimming with whale sharks, do your research first! 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