We were staying in Tulum and wanted to snorkel and swim with whale sharks. After hearing nightmare stories from other travelers who were on unsafe boats and never saw any sharks, we decided to go with Riviera Adventours, because it seemed like the most reputable-looking company online. I couldn't have been happier, and now that I've done it, the $185 per person price seems like a bargain.
The company far exceeded my expectations. Juan picked us up at our hotel in Tulum at 5:15 a.m., the exact time promised, and pickup was included in the base price. He offered us coffee with cream and sugar, plus a plethora of snacks and muffins, which was much nicer than I was expecting. From there, we picked up two other groups and our guide, Francisco, on the way to the port of Cancun. It was about a two-hour drive one way. On the way, Francisco explained some basic safety and logistical information.
From the port, it was about a 90-minute boat ride out to where the whales were. Despite the boat being fairly small, I was impressed by how comfortable everything was. For example, they had a lot of water, coconut water, lemonade, and good sandwiches to snack on in case anyone got hungry. I was kind of expecting a sad piece of ham between two pieces of bread, but this was a legit sandwich with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard. I can't overstate how good this was for a free sandwich on a boat ride.
Once we got to the sharks, Francisco stayed in the boat to tell us when to go and jump and which way to swim, while Loco, the other guide, swam with us. Each person got to swim with the sharks 2-3 times and got really close, and it was a wonderful experience. For one couple who didn't get to see any sharks on their first, they got to go again. Everyone working on the boat was great about making sure all the customers had a good experience and got ample shark time.
After snorkeling with the sharks, we had one longer snorkeling session on a reef, where we saw some cool fish, but nothing amazing compared to the sharks. We then parked the boat off Isla Mujera and swam, while the crew prepared ceviche, guacamole, and fresh fruit for lunch. It certainly wasn't the best meal of my life, but again, way better than what I would expect out of the lunch on a boat excursion in such a touristy area.
From there, it was a 20-30 minute boat ride back to the port, and another two hours back to our hotel. Overall, it was just over 12 hours total. We paid $30 for all the pictures the company takes with their GoPro, and it was definitely worthwhile. My only complaint is that I wish the company would take credit cards, because their website seems to indicate that they do, but when we got there, it was cash only. Several people had to stop at an ATM, because it's rare to carry that much cash. I wouldn't let that deter me from the tour, because it was otherwise a really well-run and professional operation, and an unforgettable experience. read more
