Whale Watching Guaranteed Experience in Puerto Vallarta

This tour heads out from Puerto Vallarta to watch whales from some of the best sea-level vantage points along the coast, which the operator says make for photographs of a perspective that's hard to capture elsewhere.

The season runs from December through March, when whales that have migrated more than 16,000 miles from arctic waters arrive in this stretch of the Pacific to breed and give birth — a journey that puts mothers and calves within view of the boat during these months.

Because the vantage point is close to the water rather than from a high deck, the operator frames the experience around this closer, sea-level angle on the whales rather than a distant view.

The tour is listed as suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it isn't recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. Public transportation options are available nearby.

The price includes bottled water, lunch, and a life jacket. Cruise ship passengers should head, after leaving the terminal, to the check-in desk on the second floor of the Puerto Mágico shopping mall, looking for the tour company's logo there; note that tour times run on Puerto Vallarta local time, not ship time.