Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar
4.6(64)Puerto Vallarta3 hours
VIATOR4.7(12)TRIPADVISOR4.6(52)
At a glance
Duration
3 hours
Price from
$89 / person
Location
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Rating
4.6 / 5 · 64 reviews
Languages
EN, ES
Group
Small group, up to 150
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Vallarta Adventures
Meeting point
Please arrive 30 minutes before departure. Look for the Vallarta Adventures check-in area and staff in turkish blue color uniform. Check in with our team before proceeding to the boarding area.
Description
Designed for those who want to enjoy whale watching from the comfort of a steady and ample catamaran with all facilities on board. Spend a day in Puerto Vallarta, marveling over the most exciting migration of the ocean.
To close out on a high note, our Whale Watching Adventure includes open bar service and a Deli-style buffet on board. You might even be lucky enough to spot whales while having lunch! Book it now; you deserve it!
This is the most comfortable way to enjoy a Whale Watching experience in Puerto Vallarta!
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
8:00 AM
Season
Starts Dec 8
Next available
Tue, Dec 8
Adult (ages 12+)
$89
Child (ages 4–11)
$75
Infant (ages 0–3)
Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
Whale Watching Adventure
Catamaran boat
What's included
Included
Lunch
Open bar
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop off
Gratuities
Puerto Vallarta
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
64 reviews
5
52
4
5
3
3
2
2
1
2
How it compares in Puerto Vallarta
Starting price $89 is 18% above the typical $76 for tours of similar length in Puerto Vallarta
Excurgo comparison of 900 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Due to federal regulations, and in an effort to protect the flight path of endemic birds, drones are prohibited in this tour.
Please be advised that Mexico's Federal Maritime Ports operate a strict No-Drug Policy, including electronic cigarettes, vapers, and all kinds of drugs. Please be advised not to bring them to any of our tours. We cannot offer a refund or change of day for any guest to whom Federal Security has denied access.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar take?
Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar lasts about 3 hours.
How much does Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar cost?
Prices start at $89 per person for this Puerto Vallarta experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM.
How much does Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar cost for children?
Children aged 4–11 pay from $75, adults from $89. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Please arrive 30 minutes before departure. Look for the Vallarta Adventures check-in area and staff in turkish blue color uniform. Check in with our team before proceeding to the boarding area. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 150 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 64 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Vallarta Adventures.
Reviews(64)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
danpS4999XR
March 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great time whale watching!
Amazing experience. We saw a lot of whales breeching the water. Not full leaps out of the water but plenty of them surfacing. Friending environment for couples or people with kids
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time on your Whale Watching experience. Seeing whales breach and surface in their natural habitat is truly something special, and we’re so happy you were able to witness so many of these incredible moments.
It also means a lot to know you found the experience welcoming for both couples and families. We strive to create an environment where everyone can feel comfortable while enjoying the beauty of nature together.
Thank you again for choosing to spend this memorable time with us—we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future!
Warm regards,
D
dirtyharry47
March 29, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Impressed with service
Tour and staff were great. Saw lots of whales. What I most want to say is we paid for pictures of the tour a little pricey but good. You have 7 days to download. Well I forgot. Got ahold of them and they got them to me right away. Very happy with response. Just to let people know you can have confidence in receiving your pictures.
Operator response
Hola,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour, saw plenty of whales, and found our team to be great throughout your adventure.
It means a lot that you highlighted the follow-up service regarding your photos. We understand how important those memories are, and we’re always happy to help when something like that comes up. We’re thrilled our team was able to respond quickly and make sure you received your pictures without any hassle.
Your recommendation and confidence truly mean a lot to us. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another unforgettable experience! 🐋📸
Warm regards,
A
amarisk2016
March 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
ideal whale watching tour
Wow! From start to finish this was a great experience. The staff are wonderful- so attentive with drinks, clearing used plates. Our guide provided informative facts and told enough jokes to make the tour interesting. We saw more whales than I expected, from the legally required distance. Vallarta Adventures is a highly-organized operation, definitely recommend!
Operator response
Hola,
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that your whale watching tour exceeded expectations from start to finish. It’s wonderful to know our staff kept everything running smoothly and that your guide made the experience both informative and entertaining. Seeing so many whales must have been incredible! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon! 😊
Warm regards,
V
V8946FAtamib
March 23, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great experience!
Great experience! Crew was so fun and accommodating, and created a great experience finding whales even at the end of the season!
Operator response
Hola,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed the fun, attentive crew. It’s amazing that you were able to spot whales even at the end of the season! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again soon! 😊
Warm regards,
J
JudyMTomlinson
March 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Good cruise, knowledgable and friendly crew!
We had a very successful whale watching cruise and saw several whales! The crew was very knowledgeable and took good care of us!
Operator response
Hola Judy,
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that your whale watching tour was successful and that you saw several whales. It’s wonderful that our knowledgeable and friendly crew made you feel well taken care of. We hope to welcome you back soon for another unforgettable adventure! 😊
Warm regards,
7
739elisew
March 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Majestic, educational, and fun!
My family had the best time whale watching with Vallarta Adventures. Our tour guide Alex and our boat driver Francisco were by far the greatest whale watching crew I have ever met in my entire life. I could not rave about them any more, they found a big meeting of whales for us to see and were so knowledgeable about them. Alex taught us so much about the whales and you could tell he was passionate about them! Thank you from the Welch family :)
Operator response
Hola Elise,
Thank you for your amazing review! We’re thrilled that your family had such a majestic and educational whale watching experience. It’s wonderful to hear that Alex and Francisco made it unforgettable, sharing their knowledge and passion for these incredible creatures. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back soon! 😊
Warm regards,
J
JanetJ1134
February 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Outstanding tour guide Pablo, amazing boat captain Jesus. So many whales and amazing educational information. I would h
Jesus and Pablo were outstanding.
We saw 17 whales. Breaching, tail slapping and fin slapping. Pablo was a great source of information, explaining feeding and breeding information.
Jesus was great at getting us to the whales quickly.
Both were very respectful of these majestic creatures.
There were 4 of us on the tour and all of us were thrilled with the morning adventure.
We took the speed boat instead of the catamaran. I feel this is the best option if you want info and sightings without all the extras like booze and partying folks.
Thank you for a very informative tour.
Operator response
Hola Janet,
Thank you for your incredible review! We’re thrilled that Pablo and Jesus made your whale watching tour so memorable. Seeing 17 whales breaching and tail-slapping is truly unforgettable, and it’s wonderful that you appreciated the educational insights and respectful approach of our team. The speed boat option is perfect for an up-close, focused experience, and we’re so glad it exceeded your expectations. We can’t wait to welcome you on another adventure soon! 😊
Warm regards,
F
Fog_sEnd
February 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Saw some whales
Very hospitable, great crew, maximized the experience
Operator response
We appreciate your excellent review! Thank you for choosing us, and see you again!😊
5
591jebs
February 12, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
El Tejano and wife love the whales and the Vallarta Adventures crew.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The whales put on a show, and the Vallarta Adventures staff is amazing. Luis Candela, the main whale guide, is very knowledgeable and does a great job at animating the tour groups - this was my second whale watching trip with V.A. in the past 3 months - both were superb! My congratulations to you for having such a professional outfit, and for having Luis Candela as our guide! We will be back soon.
Operator response
Hola,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled that both of your whale watching trips with us were superb and that Luis Candela made such a positive impact with his knowledge and energy. Your kind words about our crew mean a lot, and we can’t wait to welcome you and your wife back for another unforgettable adventure soon! 😊
Warm regards,
A
alishablevins
February 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Horrible Horrible Customer Service
I booked my best friend's bachelorette party specifically in Puerto Vallarta to go whale watching at this time of year. We arrived to the location and checked in. The lady handed us tickets and said "go this way" with no other direction. We followed the crowd of people getting on boats. I gave my ticket to a Vallarta Adventures employee who was collecting tickets on the dock and he directed me to get on the boat. We rode the boat completely expecting to be going whale watching with no indication of what this excursion actually was. APproximately 1 hour later we arrived at an adventure island that was actually a 7 hour excursion and NOT a 3 hour whale watching tour that I had booked. Luis (the boat host) told me the guy at the dock who was collecting tickets had worked at the company for 20 years and should have known better not to put us on that boat. We took a very small boat back to the dock and did not participate in any exucursion on the adventure island (Las Caletas). I returned to the check in desk and let them know what had happened - asking for a refund or resolution to the issue. The company blatantly BLAMED us (the customers) for not getting on the correct boat. There was no discussion when we were checking in that the boat number was actually on our ticket. We were just told by the check in lady to "go this way" and that was all the instruction we received. The second mistake was the employee on the dock who took our tickets and directed us to get on the WRONG BOAT. Yet - the company still blamed us and refused any resolution or refund. Very very very disappointing since again I specifically booked this trip in PV for whale watching.
Extremely horrible customer service. Blaming customers for a company's multiple mistake is absolutely unacceptable.
Operator response
Hola,
Thank you for sharing your experience. We are truly sorry to hear about this situation, especially given the importance of your trip.
What you describe does not reflect the level of service or coordination we aim to provide. We sincerely regret the confusion during check-in and boarding, as well as the lack of clear guidance from our team. This should have been handled much better to ensure you boarded the correct tour.
We are also very sorry to hear how the situation was addressed afterward. Your feedback regarding the response you received is extremely important and will be reviewed with our team, as this is not the standard of customer care we strive for.
Please know your comments are being taken seriously, and we will work to improve both our communication and service to prevent situations like this in the future.
Warm regards,
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Tour
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Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching with Lunch and Open Bar
