If you've searched for whale sharks in La Paz lately, you may have seen headlines saying the tours were "suspended." A few of our own guests have asked us if the season is closed. It certainly is not! Whale sharks have already been seen in La Paz Bay this season. Here is where those old headlines come from, how the season actually opens and closes, and what it means for your booking.
Season status · updated October 5, 2026
Whale sharks have already been seen in the bay. The 2026–27 season window opened on October 1 and runs through April 30. We're taking reservations now, with November 15 as our target start date. Swimming begins once CONANP's counts confirm six or more whale sharks in the swimming zone — last season that was November 12. Nothing has been suspended, and this season is shaping up to be amazing. We'll update this note as soon as the first official count is announced.
The Short Answer
No! Tours are not suspended and the season is not closed. The sharks are already back in the bay. Whale shark swimming in La Paz Bay runs on a simple rule: CONANP, Mexico's protected-areas commission, counts the sharks in the swimming zone at least twice a week. When the count averages six or more, boats go out. If it drops to five or fewer, swimming pauses until the sharks come back. A pause is temporary and tied to the sharks themselves — not a cancelled season.
Where the "Suspended" Headlines Come From
Pauses have happened, and they made the news:
- Early 2023. CONANP suspended swimming at the start of February after only two sharks were counted on several days in late January.
- Early 2025. SEMARNAT and CONANP suspended swimming from late January after shark numbers in the bay fell.
Articles about those pauses still rank in search results, and they often say "suspended until further notice" without a later update. That's why they can read as if they're about this season.
What Happened Last Season
The 2025–26 season ran from November 12, 2025 to April 30, 2026, with no pause reported. According to preliminary figures from the La Paz Whale Shark Committee, 56 individual sharks were identified — 20 of them new to the bay — with 950 sightings and more than 45,000 visitors. February and March were the busiest months. One day we could see more than a dozen from the boat at once.
How the Season Opens and Closes Now
SEMARNAT's new 2026–2029 management plan makes the rule explicit:
- The official window runs October 1 to April 30.
- A monitoring boat counts the sharks in the swimming zone at least twice a week, with a CONANP representative validating the count.
- The average of the two latest counts sets the day's limit: five or fewer sharks, no boats; six or more, boats go out — more sharks, more boats, up to 56 a day.
- Counts can be done more often at the start and end of the season, when numbers change fastest.
So the season can open later than October 1 if the sharks arrive late, and it can pause for a stretch if they thin out. Most years, the sharks are here from November through April.
What It Means for Your Booking
We watch CONANP's updates every day. If a pause ever affects your date, we contact you right away, and you get a 100% refund or the option to reschedule to another date. You don't need to chase anyone for it.
In six years of running whale shark trips in La Paz Bay, we've had one day without a whale shark encounter. Booking ahead is still the best way to get the date you want — February and March are the busiest months of the season.
Sources
SEMARNAT, Plan de Manejo Tipo 2026–2029, La Paz Bay Whale Shark Refuge (September 2026). 2025–26 season figures: La Paz Whale Shark Committee, reported by Gringo Gazette (May 2026). Past suspensions: The Cabo Sun (February 2023) and Baja Adventures (February 2025).
The Season Is On. Book Your Date.
Max 10 guests, certified marine biologist guides, 2 hours in the zone. If CONANP ever pauses swimming on your date, you get a full refund or a new date.
Book Your Whale Shark Tour → See the Season Guide