swim with the dolphins

[chilly]

This is my first time using this. We are coming down with our 13 year old daughter. It's just been "us" all the other times. This will be our 8th time to Playa. She really wants to swim with the dolphins. Where would give her the best natural experience?

[rob mackay]

Originally Posted by chilly

This is my first time using this. We are coming down with our 13 year old daughter. It's just been "us" all the other times. This will be our 8th time to Playa. She really wants to swim with the dolphins. Where would give her the best natural experience?

Hi Chilly, since i see that no one answered you, i will. I dont live there but am in the region in the winter months....perhaps some of the locals can pipe up....there is swim with the dolphins in cancun and also in puerto adventuras, which is about 40 kms south west of playa...i dont know of any beach thing or any natural thing however other than what i posted....enjoy

[Tommygurl]

Hi there,

We have done the Royal Swim at Xcaret & Dolphin discovery at PA. Both were great....I enjoyed the Royal Swim more but my daughter was too young (age 6 at time) to do it so we did the one at PA. Both were nice.....natural not really though...

[FrankRN]

Our kids did the dolphin swim at Xel Ha and just loved it. But that was several years ago.

[JimandKim]

I did the puerto adven. back in 2003! It was a blast, We spent so much money on the pictures and we even bought the video. I would do it over again in a heart beat!!

[orchardm1]

I've seen the set up at Puerto Aventuras....looks pretty good as far as i can tell.......However the person you should really ask is RISSASK.......it turns out that she is a closet Dolphin Swimmerer

[-Buzz-]

Yah, mee too.

I promised my kids we would swim with Flipper during our vacation. They gave me the "deer in the headlights" look. I guess Flipper has not been on the air for 20 some years. Ok, my bad. But at any rate, we're swimming with dolphins.

I would really appreciate if some locals could pipe in about price. I've seen some prices posted on websites and seriously wondered if we were taking the dolphin home after swimming with it......or eating it..... or something. Geez, pardon my nievity, but is it really that expensive?

I suggested to my wife perhaps we could save some money by buying some chum and take the whole family to swim with the sharks. Ouch! I still have the bruise on my arm.

Buzzzzzzz

[missixty]

We did the dolphin swim at Puerto Aventuras a few years back. I think it cost around $160-$200 per person for the Royal Swim. We really loved it although it's probably something we'd only do the once...or not for a long time again at least due to the cost. Really great fun though.

Here's some photos:

[missixty]

For more information here is a review I wrote of it:

Dolphin Discovery (Riviera Maya, Mexico) - Review - Once in a lifetime

[James A.]

Originally Posted by missixty

We did the dolphin swim at Puerto Aventuras a few years back. I think it cost around $160-$200 per person for the Royal Swim.

$160-$200 dollars?!?

[missixty]

We paid £80 each for our swim, plus £30 for the DVD and £6 for a photo. Which is roughly $160 each for the swim then around $60 for the DVD and $12 for a photo. Expensive, but worth every penny, at least the once.

[Big Fish]

I believe last summer at Puerto Adventurous - which seems to have larger enclosures for the dolphins than Xel-Ha or Xcaret, plus you don't have to pay an extra entrance fee like at the parks and it is a nicer setup for this activity (imho) we paid $118US/pp for the Royal Swim. They gave us a 15% discount as we paid with cash and got to book it 3 days in advance. Reg price is $139.00 for the most expensive and interactive Royal Swim (2 dolphins instead of 1). Kids under 12 have to have 1 adult per 2 kids in water - min age 8 for the royal swim. Tip - wear some board shorts (girls) over your bikini bums or a one piece suit!!

[Big Fish]

Tried to edit my own post - but it wouldn't save so.......

Oh....then they hose you I forget $40-50 for the DVD and approx $10/photo......but they do a great job on the dvd and the pics are wonderful.....a truly memorable experience. Plus you get pics taken on the island before the swim with the macaws and see the sloth and monkeys! The dvd would be even better if your entire group were people you know.....otherwise you will have a bunch of 'unknowns' on your show!

[chilly]

Thank to all for the info. Wow it does cost a pretty pennie. We were thinking of trying out Xel Ha, so will let you know how that goes.....our days are ticking by quickly. Can't wait to get to the beach and see Carlos.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by orchardm1

I've seen the set up at Puerto Aventuras....looks pretty good as far as i can tell.......However the person you should really ask is RISSASK.......it turns out that she is a closet Dolphin Swimmerer

shhhhh

Yes, my principles against the practice went out the window when we were in Cuba recently. I admit it.

In my (lame-o) defense I was talked into it by the rest of our group! And it was a huge facility with large and very deep pens and right in the ocean (in a saltwater bay, actually). At high tide the dolphins could jump out actually, one did once and returned a month later. They stick around because they are tame and fed.

I guess you could say I amended my opinion somewhat. I still think that it's preferable to see them in the wild, and I wouldn't go to a place that held them in small, cramped or overly shallow tanks. (Sorry I have never been to one in the MR, so I can't help you.)