ECOTOURS DE MÉXICO

What ECOTOURS DE MÉXICO does

Ecotours de México (DBA Ecotours Vallarta) is a privately held eco-tourism operator founded in 1996 and headquartered at Marina Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The company leads small-group nature excursions in the Banderas Bay and Riviera Nayarit region, including humpback whale watching with biologist guides, wild dolphin encounters, sea turtle camp visits, bird watching expeditions across multiple habitats, scuba diving, snorkeling at Los Arcos and Islas Marietas, hiking combinations, and private boat charters, with per-person tour pricing ranging from approximately $45 to $550 USD.

The business is operationally service-based with no proprietary software platform; its notable technical components are a hydrophone system deployed on whale-watching tours to relay humpback vocalizations to passengers, and the company's contribution to the FIBB (Fotoidentificación de Ballena Jorobada en Bahía de Banderas) catalog, which holds 1,300+ individually photo-identified whales and 3,500+ records through distinctive ventral tail-pattern matching. The company is the main sponsor of ECOBAC and a founder member of AMTAVE, and contributes staff and vessels to whale entanglement response (RABEN), sea turtle camp operations, and the Green Macaw Sanctuary.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-transaction tour fees collected via direct website booking (Peek platform), walk-in sales at the Marina Vallarta office and dive shop, pre-arranged cruise ship shore excursions, and direct institutional sales to school groups. Secondary revenue comes from retail sales of diving equipment (Scubapro, Cressi-sub, Mares, etc.) and eco-friendly products (biodegradable sunscreen, aloe gel, reusable bottles). Distribution is almost entirely direct-to-consumer with no apparent OTA presence, and the customer base is dominated by individual international and domestic tourists, supplemented by cruise ship passengers and a small set of named school customers.

Name

ECOTOURS DE MÉXICO

Legal name

ECOTOURS DE MÈXICO

Website

https://ecotoursvallarta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ecotours de México is a Puerto Vallarta-based eco-tourism operator founded in 1996 that runs biologist-led whale watching, diving, snorkeling, bird watching, and conservation tours for international tourists, cruise ship passengers, and school groups in the Banderas Bay region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Viewing & Birdwatching Tours (THAAAEAB), Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising) (THAAAEAK), River & Wetland Ecotours (Canoe/Kayak, Mangrove/Swamp Tours) (THAAAEAE)

Keywords

• Eco-tourism services
• Whale watching tours
• Bird watching expeditions
• Scuba diving excursions
• Nature adventure tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Puerto Vallarta

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Eco-Tourism Tours and Activities: Primary revenue from guided nature tours including whale watching, dolphin encounters, bird watching, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, and private boat charters. Prices range from $45 USD to $550 USD per tour depending on duration and activity type. One-time per-transaction revenue model.
2. Dive Shop Retail: Retail sales of scuba diving and snorkeling equipment including masks, fins, snorkels, and accessories. Offers products from brands like Scubapro, Cressi-sub, Speedo, Finis, Mares, McNett, Sea Life. Revenue from physical retail sales at Marina Vallarta location.
3. Eco-Friendly Products: Sale of biodegradable skincare and eco-friendly products including sunscreen, aloe gel, mosquito repellent, coconut oil, water bottles, and reusable bags. Products available in-store or add-on to tour bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ECOTOURS DE MÉXICO operates guided nature-based eco-tourism tours in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit (Banderas Bay), Mexico. Offerings include humpback whale watching, wild dolphin encounters, snorkeling, scuba diving, bird watching expeditions, hiking, and private boat charters, led by bilingual biologist and naturalist guides. The company also runs a retail dive shop at Marina Vallarta selling scuba/snorkeling equipment and eco-friendly products.

Product overview

ECOTOURS DE MÉXICO is a nature tour operator offering eco-tourism and adventure experiences in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit (Banderas Bay) since 1996. The company operates a portfolio of nature-based tour products including whale watching, dolphin encounters, bird watching expeditions, sea turtle conservation programs, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, and private boat charters. The company also maintains a retail dive shop selling equipment from major brands and eco-friendly products. Small group tours are led by biologist and naturalist guides, with conservation partnerships supporting whale, sea turtle, and bird protection projects. The company is a founding member of AMTAVE (Mexican Association of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Humpback Whale Watching Marine wildlife excursion in Banderas Bay to observe humpback whales, led by marine biologist guides with educational presentations and hydrophone equipment to listen to whale songs. From $94.50 USD per person.
• Wild Dolphins & Snorkeling Combo Combined marine wildlife tour offering dolphin observation and snorkeling at Los Arcos Marine Park, with opportunities to enter the water with wild dolphins. From $94.50 USD per person.
• Photoidentification & Humpback Whale Research Research-focused whale watching tour contributing to the FIBB Catalog for humpback whale identification, operated in collaboration with ECOBAC.
• Sea Turtle Release Camp Experience Conservation-focused tour to Boca de Tomatlán sea turtle camp where participants learn about turtle biology and release hatchlings into the ocean at sunset. From $45 USD per adult.
• Bird Watching Tours Multiple birdwatching excursions to Sierra del Vallejo, El Tuito Southern Sierra, Ameca River, San Sebastián del Oeste, Botanical Garden, and La Desembocada for diverse tropical and endemic species. From $99 USD per person.
• Military Macaw Sanctuary Tour Visit to Green Macaw Sanctuary supporting conservation efforts, with birdwatching across three different habitats in southern Puerto Vallarta. From $108 USD per person.
• Snorkeling at Islas Marietas Snorkeling excursion to UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Islas Marietas, including access to Hidden Beach and diverse marine life. From $103.50 USD per person.
• Los Arcos Snorkeling Tour Snorkeling tour at National Marine Park Los Arcos featuring volcanic rock formations, diverse fish species, manta rays, sea turtles, and coastal birds. From $76.50 USD per person.
• Hiking and Snorkeling Combo Combined land and water adventure including hiking through southern Vallarta trails to Colomitos Beach with snorkeling. From $67.50 USD per adult.
• Scuba Diving Scuba diving excursions to multiple sites including Los Arcos, Majahuitas, Chimo, Islas Marietas, El Morro, and La Corbeteña. From $115 USD per person for 2 tanks.
• Private Boat Charters Private vessel rentals with destinations including Yelapa, Quimixto, Majahuitas, Las Animas, Los Arcos, and sunset cruises, using Zodiac, Panga, and sailing vessels. From $400 USD per boat.
• San Blas 2-Day Birding Expedition Multi-day birdwatching expedition to San Blas, Nayarit, featuring La Tovara boat tour, mangrove and wetland birding, with overnight accommodation at Hotel Paraíso Miramar.
• School Trips Program Educational nature tours for school groups of all ages (kindergarten through university) covering marine life, conservation, and outdoor activities, with curriculum-aligned offerings.
• Cruise Ship Excursions Pre-arranged shore excursions for cruise ship passengers including whale watching, kayaking, snorkeling, and birding tours with scheduled departure times aligned with ship itineraries.
• Dive Shop Retail dive shop offering snorkeling equipment, scuba gear, and accessories from brands including Scubapro, Cressi-sub, Speedo, Finis, Mares, and Sea Life.
• Eco-Friendly Products Biodegradable skincare and eco-products including water bottles, coconut oil, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, aloe gel, and carrot oil sold at the dive shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,300+ humpback whales individually photo-identified in FIBB database with 3,500+ total records
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Green Macaw Sanctuary (Las Juntas y Los Veranos)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017In 2017, donated artificial nest for green macaw protection, conservation and reproduction project. Staff supported assembly of nest. Makes per-person donation during sanctuary tours.
• ECOBAC (Ecology and Conservation of Whales, AC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain sponsor of ECOBAC, a non-profit association responsible for humpback whale research and protection in Banderas Bay, as well as dissemination of NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 federal whale watching standards. Actively participates in whale rescue maneuvers and provides boats and trained personnel.
• FIBB Catalog (Fotoidentificación de Ballena Jorobada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative participation in the Humpback Whale Photo Identification Project catalog in Banderas Bay. Ecotours provides photographs of humpback whales for individual identification. Astrid Frisch of Ecotours serves as lead researcher. Database contains 1,300+ identified individuals.
• RABEN (Network of Assistance to Entangled Whales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOBAC and RABEN handle cases of whales entangled in fishing gear. Ecotours supports these activities by providing boats and trained personnel for rescue maneuvers.
• AMTAVE (Mexican Association of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder member of AMTAVE, the Mexican Association of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism, demonstrating industry leadership and commitment to sustainable tourism practices.
• Hotel Paraíso MiramarminorOthersPartner hotel for San Blas 2-day bird watching trips. Rustic beachfront hotel with 28 rooms located on outskirts of San Blas with gardens for continued bird observation.
• Boca de Tomatlán Sea Turtle CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonates materials (tarpaulins, buckets, boxes, rakes, shovels) and teaching materials. Makes per-person donation during visits to the Sea Turtle Camp tour.
• CONANP (National Commission of Protected Natural Areas)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Fishing Garbage Tournament at Marietas Islands organized by CONANP and National Park managers for beach and ocean cleanup activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• AMTAVE (Asociación Mexicana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo): Mexican trade association for adventure travel and ecotourism, of which Ecotours is a founding member. Not a competitor but an industry body that sets standards, lobbies regulators, and channels customers—relevant ecosystem participant and partner for the company.
• ECOBAC (Ecología y Conservación de Ballenas, A.C.): Mexican non-profit leading humpback whale research in Banderas Bay, of which Ecotours' partner Astrid Frisch is the lead researcher and Ecotours is main sponsor. Strategic scientific partner rather than competitor; supplies scientific content and rescue capabilities that anchor Ecotours' differentiation.

Direct peers

• Adventure Life: Small-ship expedition and nature tour operator offering wildlife cruises, snorkeling, and birding itineraries in Latin America and beyond. Closely comparable product mix (whale watching, snorkeling, private boats, naturalist guides) and similar conservation storytelling.
• Vallarta Adventures: Puerto Vallarta's largest multi-activity adventure and nature tour operator offering dolphin encounters, snorkeling, whale watching (seasonal), and zip-line experiences out of Marina Vallarta. Direct competitor for cruise and tourist bookings in Banderas Bay.
• Wild Planet Adventures: Wildlife-focused small-group tour operator running naturalist-led trips in Latin America with strong birding and marine wildlife components. Highly comparable positioning as a 'naturalist-led, small-group, conservation-aware' competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Habitat Adventures: U.S.-based small-group wildlife and nature expedition operator running biologist-led trips worldwide. Comparable positioning around conservation-aligned, expert-guided nature experiences but at much larger scale, with multiple destinations and a global customer base.
• Intrepid Travel: Globally scaled small-group adventure tour operator offering nature, wildlife, and eco-tours including in Mexico. Indirect competitor for the educational/small-group traveler, but with much wider distribution and a B2C brand that overshadows regional specialists.
• G Adventures: Large adventure-travel brand with small-group wildlife and nature itineraries across Latin America. Comparable customer type (experience-led international travelers) though broader portfolio and standard tour-group structure differ from Ecotours' naturalist-only model.

Regional players

• Cabo Adventures: Los Cabos-based nature and adventure tour operator with dolphin encounters, snorkeling, hiking, and eco-tours in a similar Mexican Pacific resort corridor. Comparable operating model, segment mix, and reliance on international tourists and cruise lines, but in a different destination.

Emerging players

• Bahía de Banderas Whale Watching Operators (independent small operators): Local small-boat whale watching and dolphin-encounter operators around Banderas Bay competing directly for tourists and cruise line passengers with shorter-format offerings and lower guide qualifications. Direct local competitors for the seasonal core product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecotours-de-m%C3%A9xico

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ECOTOURS DE MÉXICO