We had gone to a timeshare presentation at another resort to check it out in case we might want to stay there on a future visit to Puerto Vallarta. One of the "gifts" we were given was a pair of tickets on Vallarta Adventures' Whale Watching cruise. We boarded their catamaran in the marina in Nuevo Vallarta and rode to the marina in Puerto Vallarta where more adventure seekers came onboard. Then we headed out into the Bay of Banderas, the winter home for the Humpback Whales. Between mid-October and mid-March, approximately 300 humpback whales visit Banderas Bay before starting back to their feeding grounds in Alaskan waters. They stay in Banderas Bay for a minimum of one day to a maximum of thirty-six days, most averaging about 11.4 days. Mothers with calves tend to stay within one to four kilometers from shore while the rest tend to stay farther out in the ocean. We were fortunate enough to spot about twenty different whales, including some calves, during our two and a half hours on the bay. There were several companies represented, all with smaller boats than the catamaran we were aboard. Our captain was able to get close enough for us to get good pictures without causing undue stress to the whales. However, some of the smaller boats were crowding too close to the whales with little or no concern for safety. Our crew members were courteous and helpful throughout the trip, providing a light buffet and humorous entertainment. The catamaran was in excellent condition and the crew were well-trained to take care of their passengers, especially the younger ones. We enjoyed seeing the whales and meeting many other vacationers from all over the USA and Canada. The weather was sunny and clear with smooth seas providing a perfect day for whale watching. One of the crew members was an experienced marine biologist and, with the help of a loudspeaker system, shared his extensive knowledge of humpback whales and other creatures found in the bay of Banderas. When we returned to the Puerto Vallarta marina, we chose to disembark and head to the downtown area for sightseeing and dinner before returning to Nuevo Vallarta for the night.