Whale Shark Tours in Holbox Plunge 80% as Season Ends

Holbox, Quintana Roo — Demand for whale shark tours on Holbox island has dropped nearly 80% as the summer season winds down, leaving most of the island’s tour boats idle.

Víctor Sánchez, a member of the Ensueño del Caribe tourism cooperative, said only eight or nine of the 40 vessels authorized for whale shark excursions are still operating. The season officially ends Sept. 15.

Operators have cut prices to attract the last visitors, with tours that started the summer around 2,800 pesos per person now priced between 2,000 and 2,300 pesos. The discounts come as fuel costs remain steep: trips can last up to seven hours. A boat with a smaller engine consumes between 4,000 and 5,000 pesos in gasoline per outing, while larger vessels spend up to 7,500 pesos per trip.

Hotel bookings on the island have also cooled. Holbox recorded an average hotel occupancy of 58.1% from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28, according to the Quintana Roo Tourism Department (Sedetur).

Community marks whale shark day

On Aug. 30, International Whale Shark Day, the community held its annual Festival of the Whale Shark to promote awareness of the species’ conservation. Juan Rico Santana, president of the island’s tourism cooperatives, highlighted the performance “Lumma, the Great Traveler of Holbox,” an artistic tribute to the whale shark’s migratory routes.

With the viewing season ending Sept. 15, tour operators and island families are bracing for the slow months ahead, focusing on nature experiences and sustainable conservation.