Whale Sharks at Gladden Spit
About Whale Sharks Gladden Spit
Whale Shark Tour Dates
Join us at Gladden Spit during the annual snapper spawning aggregation, one of Belize’s most extraordinary marine wildlife events. We are scheduling Whale Shark & Spawning Aggregation Tours from April 20–30, May 20–30, and June 18–28, 2027, timed to coincide with the spawning activity that occurs around the full moon.
Gladden Spit, the most easterly part of the Belize Barrier Reef is one of the Caribbean’s most important spawning aggregation sites. Thousands of cubera, dog, and mutton snappers gather to reproduce, releasing vast quantities of eggs into the water. This seasonal abundance attracts a remarkable concentration of marine life, including dolphins, bull sharks, blacktip sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, jacks, barracuda, and, occasionally, whale sharks.
While whale sharks are the stars of the show, their appearance is never guaranteed. In recent years, sightings have become increasingly infrequent. However, the spawning aggregation itself creates an underwater spectacle unlike any other in Belize. One guest described a whale shark tour without a whale shark sighting as “the best trip of my life” after watching dolphins repeatedly dive through schools of spawning snapper and surface nearby to feed.
During the surface interval, we snorkel a pristine reef area just inside the barrier reef. Because this site is visited only during the spawning season, guests often enjoy a peaceful snorkeling experience away from the crowds.
If a whale shark appears, it is an unforgettable bonus. Regardless, Gladden Spit offers a rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s great marine gatherings and the incredible chain of life it supports.
We are scheduling whale shark tours April 9 to 19, May 8 to 18, and June 7 to 17 in 2028.
Whale shark sightings at Gladden Spit have become increasingly infrequent.
In each of April, May and June 2026, we did two whale shark trips without sighting a whale shark. During 2025 there was one whale shark sighting and in 2024 were no whale shark sightings. In April 2023 there was one whale shark sighting. In 2022, we did one whale shark tour in April and two in May (saw lots of bull sharks but no whale sharks). In 2021 we did three whale shark tours and saw a whale shark on one of them. In 2020 we did not do any whale shark tours due covid-19, although there were sightings by fishermen at Gladden Spit. For the first time ever, in 2019 there were no whale shark sightings. In 2018 we saw whale sharks on less than 1/2 of the days we went out.
Recent Whale Shark Sighting History
TRIP PLAN
The day includes two excursions to the Whale Shark Zone, with a relaxing break inside the barrier reef for an authentic Belize-style picnic lunch and snorkeling among healthy corals and abundant reef fish. Because this site is visited only during the spawning season, guests often enjoy healthy corals, abundant reef fish, and a peaceful snorkeling experience away from the crowds.
In accordance with Belizean sustainable tourism practices, the government allocates time slots for whale shark diving and snorkeling to tour operators. As a result, our departure time from Placencia depends on the assigned time slots. The travel time from Placencia to Gladden Spit is one hour and thirty minutes.
**Note:** the minimum age to enter the whale shark zone is 14.
