If you have a group or just want to enjoy a private tour this option is for you. Typically private tours host from 1-6 guests and provide more personal attention, flexibility and (most importantly) more time in the water with these amazing creatures. The tours still provide the same tour plan as our shared tours…. pre-tour meet up and education/orientation along with coffee a morning treat, guided swim/snorkeling with the whale sharks, reef snorkeling and north beach swim time on your return to the island. On board you’ll be provided with all equipment, water/soft drinks and sandwiches during the tour. Private tour guests can choose between fresh ceviche prepared on the boat at north beach of a seafood grill lunch (fish, shrimp, squid, octopus and lobster(when available) at Muelle 7 upon return.
We only offer 1 private tour per day and utilize a boat that is more comfortable than the typical tour boat.
More time in the water with the whale sharks is probably the most attractive part of a private tour. Participants still enter the water 2 at a time with your guide, but you won’t be sharing water time with other guests on the boat and you have more say in how long you’ll stay out or when you come back.
Ramon prefers private tours to head out before the rest of the tours to give you more time with the sharks before the other boats begin to arrive and give you more chance to appreciate the number of whale sharks out there. If your group prefers to get a later start that is also possible with a private tour that isn’t available to shared tours.
**If you have concerns about COVID-19 this option allows you to safety of not sharing the tour with strangers.
**Private tours still follow all restrictions and rules as regular tours for your own safety and protection as well as that of the whale sharks. Private tours do not allow breaking rules.
Zane Homesly –
We reserved a private tour with Ramon. He is extremely knowledgeable about whale sharks and all things conservation. I think the private tour is well worth paying the extra money, even if it means forgoing another tour or two while on your trip. There was so much extra value for the private tour. We were able to leave the docks earlier than other tour boats. Our guide located whale sharks fairly quickly. And while we were swimming with whale sharks the captain radioed our location to the other tour boats. We were able to spend almost an hour in the water with our guide and the whale sharks before the mass of tours boats (maybe as many as 50) showed up. The experience alone with the guide and whale sharks was so much better than with 50 other boats around. Chris was easy to communicate with via email during the reservation process and preparation for our departure. The boat captain and his son (guide) were the ultimate professionals too. This was a double 5-star experience and checked off one of the bucket list items for my wife. Private tour with Ramon’s group is the only way to go. – Google – July 2022
Youri (verified owner) –
This is more than a Tour. It is a unique experience. Others can take you to swim with these incredible sharks, but Ramon and the Isla Whale shark team can really make you feel the passion, the history and how fragile these whale sharks are. I wouldn’t go with anyone else. – TripAdvisor Aug 2021