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After You've Made Your Reservation
 Please read this entire page so that you are fully aware of the information that you will need as it relates to pier location and entry, arrival times, gift shop information and more.
After you have made your reservation PayPal will provide you with a receipt that will serve as your boarding ticket. If you are unable to print the receipt you can bring a copy of it on any mobile device. Nevertheless, once you receive a confirmation email your name will be noted on the passenger list as confirmed and paid.
The following information will be helpful as you prepare for you incredible journey to visit the Humpback whales of Banderas Bay!
Departure/Return Point: All tours depart from the Los Peines Pier. The pier is located between the Naval Hospital and the Puerto Iguana Condominiums. All taxi cab drivers are familiar with the pier. Rates from downtown Vallarta vary. But, expect the fare to be between $80.00 - $120.00 Mexican Pesos (Approximately $8.00 - $12.00 USD).
 Please arrive at the pier no later than 8:30 am. We depart the pier promptly at 9:00 am and there are no refunds for no-shows.
Allow at minimum 30 minutes for transportation time to the pier from downtown Vallarta. Allow more time if you are coming from other locations either north or south of the departure point. If you arrive the pier early, there are restrooms and facilities for purchasing coffee, drinks, snacks, etc.
However, meal service offered on board on morning departures consisting of homemade pannini sandwiches, condiments, fruit, snacks, bottled water and soft drinks. Afternoon departures include: fruit, snacks, bottled purified water and soft drinks. Please advise us if you require a vegetarian lunch when making your booking.
Pre-departure briefings will include Humpback whale information and the day's proposed itinerary and it will begin about 30 minutes before departure. We will be observing nature in real time and while we can't promise you what we will encounter we will provide the best possible sightings of what nature has to offer us on any particular day.
Afternoon Tours: When available, we offer afternoon tours. Please inquire for details and double check with our reservations manager for departure times if you are booked for an afternoon tour.
Terms & Conditions: Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Terms & Conditions governing your purchase and the tour.
If you are running a little late you can always call us at 044-322-294-0385 from within Vallarta. Most taxi drivers have a cell phone and will probably let you use it for small extra tip. However, for the respect of other guests, if we do not hear from you, we do depart the pier promptly at 9:00 am.
Important Information for Port Entry: You will be asked at the entrance gate for the name of your tour company and the boat you'll be traveling on. The tour company name is Ocean Friendly Tours and the name of the boat is the Twin Dolphins (Delphines Gemelos).
Port Entry Tax: After you've passed the initial entry gate to the pier you'll arrive at the taxi drop off and parking area. Before you pass through the next gate you'll be required to pay a $20 peso (per person, approximately $2.00 USD) entry fee either at the entry gate or at the window located under the roof top canopy directly in front of the entrance to the pier. Proceed to this covered area and wait to be approached by a representative of Ocean Friendly Tours. This is also the area where our pre-departure briefing will take place.
What to Bring: We recommend that you dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes or sandals. The mornings are cooler and it generally warms up throughout the day. We suggest that you bring along a towel, sunglasses, sun block, hat, jacket, wind breaker or sweater and your camera or video recorder to capture the incredibly special moments of your adventure on the water.
Avid bird watchers will want to bring their own binoculars. We do provide a limited number of Bushnell “H2O” 8x25 binoculars on board.
Gift Shop On Board: You will have the opportunity to purchase Ocean Friendly Tours’ branded merchandise on board the boat. Please bring cash as we do not accept credit cards on the water. The proceeds of these sales benefit the Kite Aerial Photography Project and other current research projects.
Seasickness: Don't let seasickness ruin your adventure. If you're concerned about seasickness, please consult your physician or pharmacist about preventatives that might be good for you. We have a limited number of Sea-Band Wristbands available on board for guest usage at no additional charge.
To help ensure a better experience we urge you to get a good night's sleep and to moderate your alcohol consumption the night before your whale watching tour.
If you have any questions about your booking please e-mail us. Our e-mail address is: ofrey@oceanfriendly.com
Thank you for you for choosing Ocean Friendly Tours. We look forward to welcoming you on board!
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