La Orca de Sayulita is Sayulita's first pure whale watching and research company. We are a small group of biologists who offer a non-invasive, environmentally-conscious option for whale watching in Sayulita. We use a hydrophone to gift you the amazing experience of listening to the whales communicate. Our boat seats up to 8 guests.
A private tour is $10,000 pesos/ $500USD, an individual tour is $1,600pesos/ 85USD.
If you are traveling alone or in a group, we welcome to you come and learn more about the whales and dolphins of the region. We are the first in the area to conduct whale research and we invite you to be a part of the learning experience. We aim to improve cetacean knowledge in the pacific region to help to better protect and conserve the whales and dolphins. We watch the whales away from all the tourist masses in the Bay of Banderas and leave directly from Sayulita Beach.
All guides are passionate biologists engaged in whale research with incredible knowledge of the local whale life. We use our whale watch trips as a platform to conduct research while using profits to support our independent studies. We have been working with whales in Nayarit for 15 years and know individual whales by name and much of their life history! Additionally we have worked in El Salvador.
We Offer:
Sayulita Whale Watch Trips (3 hours) ($85 USD/$1600 Pesos per person)
- Biologist led, 3 hour whale watching tours, leaving directly from the beach in Sayulita.
- 9 people maximum onboard (individuals can book alone), multiple boats available for larger groups
- Experienced biologist guides engaged in whale research
- A hydrophone, a special marine microphone, is onboard so you can listen to the whales
- Licensed whale watching boats
- Snacks and water, life jackets to fit all ages and sizes
- Departures 8:30am, 12pm and 3:30pm
Sayulita Private Whale Watching Trips (3 hours) ($500 USD/$10,000 Pesos for the whole boat)
- Biologist led, hour whale watching tours, leaving directly from the beach in Sayulita
- Groups of up to six people maximum
- Experienced biologist guides engaged in whale research
- A hydrophone, a special marine microphone, is onboard so you can listen to the whales
- Licensed whale watching boats
- Snacks and water, life jackets to fit all ages and sizes
- Departures 8:30am, 12pm and 3:30pm
Chacala Private Whale Watching Trips (5 hours) ($600 USD / $12,000 Pesos)
- We take you to the small, quiet beach town of Chacala - an hour drive north of Sayulita, we go out whale watching in the morning and let you enjoy Chacala for the rest of the day before returning home to Sayulita early afternoon for an early lunch.
- Biologist led, 5-hour whale watching tours, leaving from Chacala Marina
- Groups of up to nine people maximum
- Experienced biologist guides engaged in whale research
- A hydrophone, a special marine microphone, is onboard so you can listen to the whales
- Licensed whale-watching boats
- Snacks and water, life jackets to fit all ages and sizes
- Departures 8:30am, 12pm and 3:30pm
Two Day Whale Research Trips to Isla Isabel National Park $500 USD / $10,000 Pesos per person
- This trip is for the adventure traveler and for people who are physically fit and like wildlife, whales, the ocean and camping.
- We will drive to San Blas stopping for breakfast on the way to Chacala. We then take a boat out to the National Park of Isla Isabel, whale watching en-route and collecting important whale data. Isabel is an incredibly beautiful island full of booby birds, great snorkeling and a central crater, you can enjoy the island all afternoon and then have dinner around the campfire. We then camp the night and before returning back to Sayulita the next day, we will pass through the area with the highest densities of whales in the region. We get home at around 6PM to Sayulita.
- Minimum four people needed to book. Groups of up to nine people max.
- All food and accommodation is included over the two days.
- Experienced biologist guides engaged in whale research
- A hydrophone, a special marine microphone, is onboard so you can listen to the whales
Extra Information.
The whale watching industry in the area is based around humpback whales migrating to the region each winter. However, we may also see Bryde's Whales, Gray Whales, false killer whales, orca killer whales, bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins and rough toothed dolphins. Of course being out on the ocean... anything is possible!
The word "ORCA" in our name "La Orca de Sayulita" is an acronym originating from the following Spanish words. Oberva (observe), Respeta (respect), Conserva (conserve), Ayuda (help).
We hope to inspire a passion within you, so that you leave as a life-long ambassadors for humpback whales and other whale species!
