Mario's Tours

I am still glowing after my incredible gray whale tour with Mario’s. It truly exceeded my expectations in every way. I really appreciated the 30-minute presentation before the tour; it was full of interesting information about gray whales and their migration, and it made the experience even more meaningful. I also loved hearing more about them as we drove to the lagoon. The highlight, of course, was the whales themselves. Mario’s is one of only three companies with access to the northern part of the lagoon, which made it feel like we had the entire place to ourselves. I was shocked by how many whales there were. They were everywhere! We spent a long time in a calmer section of the lagoon where the whales surrounded our boat and came right up to us, allowing us to gently pet them. It felt like they were putting on a private show just for us. We then moved to a more shallow, rougher part of the lagoon where the whales were breaching, jumping, and showing off their tails, an unforgettable sight. It was an absolutely amazing experience. If you’re deciding who to book with, I wholeheartedly recommend Mario’s. You can truly feel their deep love and respect for these magnificent animals. This is an experience I’ll never forget, and I’m already hoping to return sooner rather than later to do it again.

5/5

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure – Whales, Salt Flats & Unforgettable Moments! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" This experience is beyond extraordinary! It starts with a fascinating whale museum, where the explanations are engaging and eye-opening. Then, Mario’s incredible family team ensures everything runs smoothly with top-notch service and great recommendations. But the real magic? Getting up close with whales, dolphins, and seals in their natural habitat—an energy like nothing you've ever felt before! And for just 900 pesos, you get a boat expedition, a delicious lunch, and a front-row seat to nature’s most breathtaking show. To top it off, the adventure continues at the stunning salt flats, where you can capture jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind photos that look straight out of a dream. If you're anywhere near this place, DO NOT miss this! It’s not just a tour—it’s a life-changing experience.

5/5

Absolutely amazing! I came here in 2019 outside of whaling seasons and swore I would come back to see the whales! I went today and had an absolutely magical experience! 5 whales swam up to our boat, made eye contact, and interacted with us! I thought I had bad luck with whale watching as I went on a tour in Seattle before, and the guide told us it was the first time he hadn't seen a whale for the entire tour... so was pleasantly surprised when my bad luck streak ended today! I came in late January, and was nervous that the whales hadn't arrived yet, but couldn't even count the number of whales I saw today. It was incredible and I highly recommend! The whales are curious and you look out for their spouts and then the boat "parks" a few hundred meters away. Either the whales stay away or some curious ones will come up and inspect the boat. One even nudged the boat! Absolutely incredible. We had 5 whales surrounding the boat at one point. Also, never did I feel like we were bothering the whales. They came up to the boats on their own!

5/5

We had an amazing whale watching adventure with Mario's tours going out on two separate days for gray whale watching. Their museum is a lovely introduction to what you're going to see and their briefing is thorough and informative. I appreciate that they don't chase the whales and they let the whales come to the boat. I also liked the stop at the giant salt pile on the way out.

5/5

Located on main highway 1, a few minutes out of town. Plenty of parking, bar, restaurant, toilets & souvenirs. Didn't eat but reportedly good food. Staff respectful and attentive in tours. I had difficulty understanding the English but that was me. See the separate salt Exportadora (salt ponds and processing) only on low wind days. Operations stop when windy and you will see everything again if you do the whale watching tour.

4/5