Swim with dolphins in Tulum.
Tulum is an excellent choice for a Caribbean vacation. It’s full of culture, history, and delightful beaches. Tourists flock to this spot every year for the water (and underwater) sports too. Tulum has tons of accommodations available, from cabanas on the beach to fancy resorts and everything in between.
One unforgettable experience that you can have while visiting Tulum is to check out the Dolphinaris Tulum dolphinarium, located inside the Gran Bahia Principe Tulum Hotel. This dolphinarium is among the best in Mexico and offers several different dolphin swim programs among other things. There are showers, lockers, an observation deck, and also an outdoor classroom. You can even get photos and videos made of your experience to show friends and family. If you are a guest at the Gran Bahia Principe Tulum Hotel, you can enjoy an educational and fun dolphin presentation for free.
Dolphinaris Tulum offers four different programs to swim with dolphins. Most of them last one hour, except for the Trainer for a Day program which lasts eight hours. The simplest program, the Dolphin Interactive Program, consists of an orientation session from a professional trainer, some information on dolphin physiology and behavior, and then 40 minutes of interaction time with the dolphins. The Dolphin Swim Program is the same, except you get to try a “foot push” or “dorsal ride” as well as greeting, kissing and petting the dolphins. The Dolphin Swim & Ride Program adds a belly ride and some underwater swimming time.
The most intensive and interesting program offered at Dolphinaris Tulum is the Trainer for a Day Program. As the name suggests, this full day (8 hour) program will let you see what it’s like to be a dolphin trainer and give you the opportunity to try it for yourself. It begins with an orientation session followed by some information on dolphin physiology and behavior. Then you get to see some training behaviors and learn them yourself while also getting a tour of the “backstage” area.
Lunch is included in the Trainer for a Day Program, as well as some beverages. Not only will you be able to practice some training tips, but you will also be able to interact with a dolphin, dive, and swim with them. There’s even a fun dolphin paint activity where you get your own t-shirt. At the end of the program, you will also receive two printed photos of the experience. If you’ve always wanted to see what it’s like to be a dolphin trainer, you will enjoy all eight hours of this wonderful program and cherish the memories your whole life.