|
Recommended Whale Watching Tour Companies
The Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Forum does not book whale watching tours directly. However, we do maintain a listing that contains only those tour companies that conduct whale watching only tours and participate in cooperative scientific research and whale fluke identification on Banderas Bay and operate within the official whale watching regulations of the Mexican government.
These are not paid listings and we receive no compensation from the companies that we recommend.
- Ocean Friendly Whale Watching Adventures
Web Site: www.oceanfriendly.com
E-mail: ofrey@oceanfriendly.com
Reservations & Information: (322) 225-3774/Cell: 044-322-294-0385
Approved Vessel(s): Delfines Gemelos I & II
Rating: *****
 Additional Notes: Ocean Friendly Tours offers daily and customized trips to view the whales and dolphins that make their home in the Bay of Banderas. This is far and away our favorite whale watching company in Puerto Vallarta. Ocean Friendly offers an onboard lunch and stays out longer than any other tour. The ENTIRE trip is spent whale watching. Ocean Friendly Tours is definitely the “purist’s choice” when it comes to whale watching. The best part is that they limit their tours to 12 passengers and you have much more freedom to move around the boat and experience the whales up close. Private charters are available for groups of 8 or more. The guide, Oscar Frey, is a professional oceanographer who has been conducting tours on the bay for more than 10 years. His knowledge and passion of the Humpback whales are unsurpassed. The 27 foot Delfines Gemelos (Twin Dolphins) and its smaller sister are fast vessels with space enough for people to move freely around the deck to get the best possible views and photographs of the whales. The larger of the Delfines Gemelos also offers and onboard toilet. Groups of less than 8 in total will usually travel on a smaller vessel, so inquire when making your booking. Ocean Friendly Tours participates in the Humpback Whale Research Program and the Fluke Identification Catalog (FIBB) and operates within the Federal Mexican Whale Watching Laws.
SPECIAL NOTE: Be sure to inquire about chartering the boats for your group and if your a bird enthusiast, ask about the trips to the Tres Marietas Islands to see the bird nesting and breeding sanctuary. This trip is combined with whale watching.
- Ecotours de México
Web Site: www.ecotoursvallarta.com
E-mail: info@ecotoursvallarta.com
Reservations & Information:
El Centro & South Side: (322) 222-6606 or (322) 223-3130
Marina Vallarta: (322) 209-2195
Approved Vessel(s): Miss Vicky II, Orion II, Sylvia II & III
Rating: *****
 Additional Notes: This tour operator’s whale outing is different from others, mainly because their boats do not depart from any of the marinas in Puerto Vallarta, they depart from Punta Mita, North of Banderas Bay. Participants on the trip are picked up in Puerto Vallarta and transported in vans with air conditioning. Along the drive the biologist and naturalist guides will highlight the bay’s ecosystem, flora and fauna. Once in Punta Mita, the group will stop for a continental breakfast, while the guides give a lecture about Humpback whales and other marine mammals. The tour is limited to nine passengers. This tour also offers a visit to the Marietas Island and a lunch back on shore. Ecotours now offers a sunset whale watching tour. Ask for details when you call. Ecotours has been conducting whale watching adventures for over 10 years and Astrid Frisch (co-owner of Ecotours) is the head researcher of the Banderas Bay Humpback Whale Research Program (FIBB Catalog). This tour company operates within the Federal Mexican Whale Watching Laws as they pertain to whale watching on Banderas Bay.
- Open Air Expeditions (Cielo Abierto)
The Whale Watching Center
Web Site: www.vallartawhales.com
E-mail: openair@prodigy.net.mx or openair@vallartawhales.com
Reservations & Information: (322) 223-3310
Approved Vessel(s): Prince of Whales, Nautica Adventure
Rating: *****
  Additional Notes: Open Air Expeditions is fully licensed and very reliable. The company is owned and operated by marine biologists and oceanographers. They have enthusiastic, multi-lingual guides and a great respect for the Humpback whales of Banderas Bay. They conduct their trips in a fast, Zodiac-style vessel (Prince of Whales) that is close to the water and provides great views of the whales. They limit their excursions to 12 people per trip and provide snacks and drinks on board. Lunch is not served on board, but if you take the morning tour, you’ll be back in time for lunch on shore. This tour company operates within the Federal Mexican Whale Watching Laws pertaining to whale watching on Banderas Bay. Open Air Expedition participates in the Humpback Whale Research Program and the Whale Fluke Identification Catalog program.
Want to have you company listed here?
If you’d like to have your whale watching tour company listed on this page, please contact us at: info@puertovallartawhalewatching.org. There is no charge for listing, but, your tour company and/or vessel, must participate in cooperative whale research (i.e. the Fluke Identification of Banderas Bay catalog) with other authorized area operators, you must operate your tours within the official whale watching regulations, you must appear on the Official Approved Vessel Listing and you must agree to provide a link from your web site back to ours.
If you are not a whale watching tour operator, check out our Link To Us page for specific instructions about how to link to The Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Forum. If you have any questions about linking, just drop us an e-mail.
|
