Close
We're Sorry
Dolphin Encounters
Dolphin Encounters
view website
Vallarta Adventures (ride leaves from there)
Ave Las Palmas 39
Nueva Vallarta, Mexico 63732
888-526-2238
52-322-297-1212
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Dolphins
Swimming
Dolphin Encounters Description
"This is going to be my new Facebook page!" was the refrain shouted by every kid in our group as we looked over the photos from our dolphin encounter. There's no doubt that a dolphin swim is likely to be the experience your kids remember most vividly from your trip, for no other reason than that they will have to tell everyone they know about it. What do you do? You get into a giant swimming pool with the dolphins, in a small group of four to six people. And then you hug, kiss, dance with, and even ride on the dolphins — truly it's not like anything else you've ever done.
Kid Tips
Toddlers & Pre-K: The dolphin encounter isn't permitted for children 5 and older, so younger children will need to stick with watching until they're older. However, "family encounters" are available upon request; a parent may hold one child under age 4 in their arms during the program. If you have two kids, you'd have to have both adults in the pool, each holding one child.
School-Age Kids: The "Dolphin Kids" program is a 30-minute educational program especially for kids ages 4 to 8. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a paying adult, so it's not possible to cut costs by sending kids on their own unless they're 11 or older.
Planning Notes
- Bring towels, bathing suits, clean-up supplies. You're getting into an aquarium tank inhabited by enormous mammals, so the water is not going to be pristine. Bring towels and a change of clothes, so you can shower off and change afterwards. If your kids are prone to ear infections, bring swimmer's ear plugs or ear drops as well.
- Spend more, get more. There are several levels of "experience" offered, so find out exactly what you're getting so you won't be disappointed. The Dolphin Swim Experience involves interacting with the dolphins in shallow water, with a larger group; the more expensive "signature swim" allow more intense interaction in deeper water with fewer people per dolphin. There is also an all day "trainer for a day" program, if your child is a real dolphin freak, but you'll need to reserve in advance.
Just the Facts
Hours: Morning and afternoon sessions available. Amount of time required depends on which experience you choose.
Fees: More than $40.
Recommended Time: 1 - 2 hours
Reviews of Dolphin Encounters
Only 1 time in life.
By dwcastaneda December 26, 2010 | Sons: Ages 11 & 7, Daughter: Age 10, Step-son: Age 18
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age Kids
Pre-Teens & Teens
What we loved:
You get to love them from close up
What we didn't love:
the price
My mother and I took my 3-8 year olds last year. I was not cheap and then the pictures were almost twice the price of the trip itself. The kids loved it but I was disappointed at the amount of time we actually got to touch the dolphin. We were not in the "swimming" group of the adventure because of our young ages but I have also done this before in Orlando and perhaps that is part of the reason why I say this is a once in a lifetime thing and in that case, expect to pay big prices to own the memory in photos! Read More
Related Vacations
Life's a Beach on Mexico's Pacific Coast
Puerto Vallarta, MexicoBanderas Bay has more beautiful beaches than any other stretch of Mexi...
