Wildlife· La Paz (city and bay)· Mexico
La Paz Whale Shark Encounters (El Mogote)
24° 12.0′ N · 110° 22.8′ W · approximate
Juvenile whale sharks gather each winter in the shallow bay off El Mogote to feed, and licensed pangas take snorkelers to swim alongside them just 20 minutes from the Malecón.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate: a point in the bay north of the El Mogote peninsula, where Club Cruceros says the sharks usually feed (upwelling near the middle of the Mogote spit); the refuge zone boundary is not published in the sources. The zone is restricted: only licensed operators may enter, and private yachts and dinghies that go in face steep fines - book a tour (e.g., Cantamar, Cortez Club, Carey from Marina de La Paz). 2025-26 season ran November 12, 2025 to April 30, 2026 (56 sharks identified; peak visitors in February-March); tours cost 1,300-1,800 MXN per person. Reported rules: 14 boats per time slot, 4 slots a day, 2 hours in the zone, one shark per group, max 5 swimmers plus guide, stay 2 m from the head and 3 m from the tail, no scuba, freediving, drones or flash. Seasons open only when enough sharks are counted. Keep a sharp lookout when transiting the outer bay and the channel entrance - the sharks are oblivious to boats.
Best for
Swimming with whale sharks
Season
Roughly mid-Nov to Apr; peak Dec-Mar
Nearby
- Whale Shark Season (Bahía de La Paz)1.4 NM away
- Coromuel Wind3 NM away
- El Mogote Peninsula3.3 NM away
- Manglar Zacatecas Mangrove Paddle (Ensenada de La Paz)3.3 NM away
- El Mogote Anchorage (Inside the Mogote)3.5 NM away
- Hurricane Season and Haul-Out Options (La Paz)3.9 NM away
- Marina Palmar Boatyard (La Paz)3.9 NM away
- Café Capri (La Paz)4 NM away