Many of us have had the unbelievable experience of swimming with the mighty giant of the sea-the Whale Shark. This magnificent creature is welcomed into water outside the Yucatan Peninsula from June 1-Sept 15. This year SEMARNAT has limited the number of tour licenses and limited the number of boats and people in the water with the whale sharks to help protect the gentle giants. So be sure and plan early as there may be limitations that would effect your plans.This is a great experience you should not miss. Whale sharks swarm the waters of Isla Mujeres from May through September, providing guests with an opportunity to swim alongside. Isla Mujeres is home to the largest aggregations of whale sharks in the world. Typically there are hundreds of whale sharks in the waters – as many as 420 have been sighted in one day. Researchers estimate that as many as 1,400 whale sharks migrate through the waters surrounding Isla Mujeres annually.
The island of Isla Mujeres is hosting their 8th Whale Shark Festival July 18-24. This would be a perfect time to experience these loving creatures. Proceeds from the Festival will go to The Blue Realm Project, an organization dedicated to the monitoring, study, and conservation of the pelagic organisms in the Mexican Atlantic, and to Amigos de Isla Contoy, a 501c3 non-profit working to advance education on sustainable marine conservation and ecotourism in the region. “Isla Mujeres is home to countless marine species, and the whale shark is king among them. It is a magical experience to swim with the whale sharks,” said Lic. Agapito Magaña Sánchez, Presidente Municipal of Isla Mujeres. “We welcome the world to join us to celebrate the week-long Festival de Tiburón Ballena – the Whale Shark Festival — enjoying this great show of nature and beautiful Isla Mujeres.”
The 8th Annual Whale Shark Festival kicks off with a parade on Saturday, July 18. Following will be activities for children such as sand sculpting events and crafting fun, to get kids excited about environmentalism. Exhibitions showcasing the beauty of the island will feature whale shark murals, photography and local handcrafted works of art.
The Festival continues with dancers presenting time-honored traditional dances. There will also be a contest to name “Miss Caribe Quintana Roo 2015.” Guests can visit nearby attractions such as the Whale Shark Exhibition.
This schedule of events is still in the planning stages, so check AkumalNow Calendar as we get closer to the festival for final confirmed times and more information.
July 18
8:30am — Festival opening celebration and parade
July 19
10:00am — Sand Sculpture competition
8:00pm — Classical dancers
July 20
5:00pm — Conferences, documentaries, and workshops
7:00pm — Sculpture competition
July 21
5:00pm — Conferences, documentaries and workshops
7:00pm — Children’s drawing contest
July 22
5:00pm — Conferences, documentaries and workshops
7:00pm — Piñata contest
July 23
5:00pm — Conferences, documentaries and workshops
7:00pm — Children’s costume contest
July 24
7:00pm — Gastronomic fair
9:00pm — Awards for photo contest
9:30pm — Cultural music festival
for more information contact:
www.whalesharkfestival.com or
on FACEBOOK- WhaleSharkFest
Leave a Reply