My first sober, solo trip: Swimming With Whale Sharks in Isla Mujeres

It’s no surprise that traveling solo offers a unique opportunity for self-discovery and adventure.

It wasn’t until a few days in until my trip to Isla Mujeres in 2021 that I realized this was my first, sober trip.

I had quit drinking in January 2019, and was in a relationship until May 2020 where we traveled together.

And then March 2020 happened. Does anyone remember that?

So this was my first international trip. Sober. And Solo.

I had backpacked in Europe for 8-9 days and also spent time in Central America. Oh, also Africa and then the Middle East, but all of those I was still drinking.

So when I realized that this was my first sober, solo trip and I was like oh, damn. 

That must be a thing, right?

Isla Mujeres (the island of women) is a beautiful island off the coast of Cancun and is a perfect destination for a trip. I’ve been a few times at this time, I stopped keeping track about on how many trips to Mexico I’ve taken. It’s at least 15. Maybe more. And I think I’ve been to this island 3 or 4 times now?

I recommend it to anyone checking out Cancun. The second you step off the ferry, the charm is right there. The laid-back vibe and the friendly smiles of locals leaves you at home in no time.

I could probably write 15 pages about Isla Mujeres, and eventually, I will.

I want to share the most beautiful experience that you can have in Isla Mujeres and maybe anywhere.

Swimming with Whale Sharks. I did this once and literally signed up to do it again the next day.

They are gentle giants that migrate near Isla Mujeres from June to September. Encountering these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is a humbling and spiritual experience—hard to beat that.

A whale shark is actually not a shark but a fish—the largest fish in the world.

And there are rules to preserve the well-being of whale sharks and ensuring sustainable tourism practices. The main rules are that you:
>> Must wear a life-jacket
>> Must be accompanied by a guide
>> Only one boat per spotted whale sharks
>> Freediving is forbidden
>> No selfie sticks
>> No touching.

And getting to see them isn’t easy. I’m not going to lie, it was rough getting out there. The ride on the small boat was bumpy the entire two hours. Many people got seasick, but I just closed my eyes and kept breathing. (Thank you to all my breathwork teachers!)

We finally made it to the whale sharks. And man, was it worth it? Yes.

I positioned myself at the back of the boat, waiting for my guide to signal me in, and do my best attempt at gliding in without splashing it. I am not the most elegant person in the world, and I’ve been known to run into walls, trip easily, and also not be able to climb fences (that is a story for another day.)

This was not scary to me, people were scared. And I’m scared of things, mostly little things that do not matter. Big things do not scare me.

Immediately, whale sharks will start to swim past you, and with my snorkel, I am hauling ass trying to catch up to them. Someone also complimented my swimming skills. I’m no Mike Phelps but when the adrenaline kicks in, I can pretty much do anything.

It’s never felt so quiet. Being so close to these creatures. I could hear everything and nothing at the same time. I have chills.

I hope to do it again someday, maybe even take a private group for this magical experience.

I’m so grateful to have had this on my bucket list, and I’m excited to hear about your travels.

What’s the most beautiful up-close nature experience you’ve had?