A favorite among families, couples and aquatic life lovers. Swim and spend time with these fascinating creatures as your love for them and knowledge about them grows even deeper thanks to a team of Marine Mammal Specialists at your side. Did we mention Sea Lions too?
Learn All About Dolphins!
Dolphins and humans have a natural affinity with one another, and at the top of the agenda on your vacation to Puerto Vallarta must be a visit to the Dolphin Adventure Center! Vallarta Adventures offers a wide range of heart-warming, educational and interactive programs geared towards dolphin lovers of all ages and abilities.
These marine mammals’ behavior is fascinating. Learn more than you ever thought possible about their unique vocalizations, personalities, and eating habits, along with how they socialize with one another and with human beings, all from the best teachers around—the dolphins themselves!
– Take a Dolphin Ride
– Learn To Be a Trainer
– Communicate Directly with the Dolphins
– Experience the Underwater Environment Like Never Before
Communicating and playing with these friendly and lovable dolphins will leave a lasting impression on your heart.
A Day To Remember
This will be the highlight of your time in Puerto Vallarta!
Children (4-9) $95 USD each
Kids ages 4-9 can experience the magic of swimming and playing with dolphins on this once-in-a-lifetime 20-minute Dolphin Kids excursion. This adventure begins at our world-renowned Dolphin & Sea Lion Center where our Marine Mammal Specialists will take you and your small group on a brief tour of our facilities.
After the tour, you’ll be close by as your kids (outfitted with lifejackets) enter our specially designed shallow water pool and are greeted by our friendly Pacific Bottlenose dolphins. During the encounter you’ll have a great time watching your kids pet, hug, and play with our dolphins under the watchful eyes of our trainers. This is a great hands-on experience that’s designed especially for younger children to have fun and safe interactions with dolphins and will most definitely be the highlight of their time in Puerto Vallarta!
A Truly Kid-Friendly Dolphin Encounter
You’ll be close by as your children (wearing life jackets, of course) enter our specially designed shallow water pool with our trainers and are greeted by the smiling faces and unique vocalizations of members of our family of highly-trained Pacific Bottlenose dolphins. All of our marine mammal encounter programs, including Dolphin Kids, have a remarkable and well-established safety record, so you can sit back in the observation area, relax and just enjoy watching your kids giggle and splash around with their new flippered friends.
Make Lasting Memories
Children in the Dolphin Kids encounter will do more than just meet a dolphin! They will pet and hug the dolphins, check out their fascinating anatomy first hand, shake a fin and even get a wet dolphin kiss. Our goal is to give kids who love dolphins the chance to be closer to these amazing animals than they ever dreamed possible – and the opportunity to do it all independently. Having this kind of experience with a group of other kids and our trainers (instead of with their parents) makes many young children feel extra grown up and special.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists
When children swim with dolphins, they fall in love with these intelligent, curious creatures and are driven to protect them. Helping kids understand why marine research and conservation is important isn’t always easy! But when kids have a chance to meet and communicate with a dolphin, they feel a stronger personal connection to the oceans and marine life. Kids who swim with dolphins naturally want to do their part to keep our oceans clean and healthy. After their Dolphin Kids encounter, your child may even decide they want to become a marine biologist!
Children (5-11) $119 USD each
Adult (12+) $159 USD each
Have you been dreaming of taking a swim with a dolphin?
You’ll have the opportunity to do that and more during our 40-minute, small-group Dolphin Signature Swim encounter, which has been specifically designed to be exhilarating, enlightening, tender, and relaxing all at once!
You’ll get a thrilling ride through the water, a chance to communicate with these intelligent animals using the same hand signals marine specialists use, and time to become fast friends with a member of our curious and charming Pacific Bottlenose family.
You’ll be able to learn about sea life and the behavior and communication of these marine mammals firsthand.
Learn All About Dolphins
Not only will you get to swim with a dolphin, in this encounter you’ll discover all there is to know about dolphins from the best teachers around—the dolphins themselves!
Dolphin behavior is fascinating. Learn more than you ever thought possible about their behavior and adaptations, including their unique vocalizations, personalities, and eating habits, along with how they socialize with one another and with human beings. Communicating and playing with our friendly and lovable dolphins will leave a lasting impression on your heart.
Take a Dolphin Ride
There’s nothing in the world like swimming with dolphins. These playful yet majestic marine mammals inspire childlike wonder in people of all ages. When you swim with a dolphin, you’ll experience a buzz of excitement unlike any other as you dance, play, and laugh with one of these lovable creatures before taking a lightning-fast dorsal ride across the water.
Children (5-11) $77 USD each
Adult (12+) $99 USD each
Learn about and be amazed by our furry friends!
You’ll be able to get up close and personal with your new flippered friend in our specially-designed shallow water pool in a 20-minute small group. The swimming with sea lions encounter is an experience you will never forget!
Education and Fun in One Package
Our hands-on sea lion swimming adventure is for guests ages 5 and up and is one of a kind! In addition to being one of the few opportunities to go nose-to-whisker with these energetic and mischievous creatures, swimming with sea lions is also highly educational.
Our Marine Mammal Specialist will give you a short poolside lesson all about the sea lions’ unique physiology, feeding habits, and behaviors before you slip into the crystal clear water to meet the group of sea lions.
Did you know that Pacific sea lions are fin-footed marine mammals? Or that they are members of the “eared seal” family, which means they have external ear flaps that set them apart from other seals? You’ll learn more about these and so many other sea lion facts during your encounter!
Playtime in the Water
Get ready to clown around! Sea lions are known for their intelligence, affectionate playfulness, and noisy “barking.” And, you’ll experience all of that and more in your sea lion encounter. You can pet a sea lion, shake a flipper, give them a hug and maybe even get a wet, fishy kiss in return.
This is an unforgettable experience for the entire family. Kids and grownups alike will be smitten with our sea lions, all of whom love spending time with people and showing off for guests. They don’t hesitate to let us know what’s on their minds! Their exuberant barks, honks, and trumpets will have everyone in your group giggling.
This Is an Experience You’ll Never Forget
If you have enjoyed any of our dolphin tours, then you know how profound interacting with marine mammals can be. However, sea lions are a different creature and it shows! They’re smart, but they’re also more affectionate and expressive than dolphins.
The silly faces they make are a delight to behold! Are you ready for a full-flipper hug? We’ll have photographers on hand while you’re swimming with sea lions to capture all the memories of this incredible experience.
Children (5-11) $89 USD each
Adult (12+) $119 USD each
The perfect dolphin encounter for swimmers and non-swimmers alike!
During this Dolphin Swim Adventure in Vallarta, Mexico, you’ll spend time getting to know and play with our friendly dolphins on a shallow platform before hopping into deeper waters and riding across our crystal clear dolphin pool belly-to-belly with one of these lightning-fast creatures.
Vallarta Adventures with Dolphins: Hands-On Fun and Learning
The sweet smiles of our dolphins make learning a treat! As part of this swim adventure, you will spend time learning about the Pacific Bottlenose’s unique anatomy and behaviors from one of our marine mammal experts.
You’ll gaze into your dolphin’s eyes, rub their smooth skin, and become so familiar with their quirks that you’ll feel like you’ve made a new friend.
Did you know that dolphins, like people, can have very different personalities? As you play, dance, and swim with a specific dolphin, they’ll be learning about you as much as you’re learning about them!
Get Inspired by Your Swim Adventure with Dolphins
Everyone knows that dolphins are smart, friendly, and fun, but there’s actually a lot that scientists don’t know about these animals yet. What we do know is that we can all help protect them from the impact humans are making on their habitats.
Our programs help inspire people to think about how their actions impact the health of our oceans and of the creatures who call them home.
When people, in particular children, spend time with dolphins at our dolphin center and during other encounters, they naturally think more about how they can personally help dolphins thrive in the wild and are more likely to support research and conservation initiatives.
Safety Is Our First Priority at the Dolphin Center
We are serious about the safety of both our guests and our dolphins! Our staff has over 30 years of experience in all areas of the marine mammal field.
From overseeing the health and welfare of our dolphins to offering dolphin education programs at our marine life center, our team of specialists is working hard to create a greater understanding and appreciation of dolphins and the environment we share.
Children (5-11) $89 USD each
Adult (12+) $99 USD each
Coming with toddlers and non-swimmers? This is the ideal program for all!
For 20 minutes, you will learn all about the Pacific Bottlenose from the best possible teacher – one of our cheerful dolphins! As part of this small-group program, you’ll communicate with your dolphin like the professionals do and make a new friend for life.
The experience will be a truly magical one that you will never, ever forget.
A Dolphin Connection for the Whole Family
Under the guidance of our knowledgeable marine mammal specialists, children as young as one can bond with a dolphin through touch and play. Have you ever wondered what a dolphin feels like?
Or dreamed of giving one of these playful animals a hug and getting a wet dolphin kiss in return? You and your family will do all that and more in our specially designed shallow-water lagoon.
Your program will begin with a short poolside introduction to our dolphins! Our trainers will share information about the Pacific Bottlenose’s fascinating anatomy, what makes them unique among marine mammals, their history with human beings and their underwater social lives.
From there, you’ll get into the water and start interacting with your new dolphin friend. You’ll feel their sleek skin, give them a treat, play with them, give them a smooch and even talk with them using hand signals.
Communicate Directly with the Dolphins
As part of our Dolphin Connection, you will learn to talk to a dolphin using the same hand signals that professional marine animal trainers use.
On our shallow water platform, you’ll be able to concentrate on the experience of getting to know your dolphin and letting them get to know you. Bonding is the focus of this dolphin encounter, and you’ll discover that these curious creatures are just as interested in learning more about you!
Throughout the encounter, you will feel the warmth and sense the intelligence of what we believe are the ocean’s friendliest creatures.
Why Connecting with Dolphins Is Important
We know that dolphins are smart, friendly and fun, but there is still so much we don’t know about these marine mammals – including how best to protect them from the impact human beings have on their habitats.
When people, especially children, have an opportunity to interact with dolphins through our Dolphin Connection, they’re inspired both to learn more about what they can do personally to ensure that dolphins in the wild can thrive and to support ongoing research and conservation efforts.
Children (8-11) $179 USD each
Adult (12+) $179 USD each
Go underwater with Dolphins and Have fun with Sea Lions!
Equipped with a mask and fins, you’ll join our Pacific Bottlenose dolphins right in their element, floating, twisting, gliding and diving alongside them as if you were part of the pod.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to actually be a dolphin, this is the encounter you’ve been searching for. And best of all, your day will include a bonus sea lion encounter!
Experience the Underwater Environment Like Never Before
Exhilarating is the best way to describe this hour-long dolphin encounter that includes not only education and play, but also thrills!
After a short introduction by our marine mammal specialists, you’ll have the opportunity to skim across the surface of the water on a boogie board during a two-dolphin foot-push, speed through the deep on an underwater dolphin ride, and watch a private acrobatic performance by our talented Pacific Bottlenoses.
Meet a Sea Lion!
As part of Dolphin Extreme, you’ll also enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hands-on encounter with one of our quirky and lovable sea lions. After one of our marine mammal specialists introduces you to the sea lion’s fascinating physiology and behaviors, it’s time to get up close and personal!
These animals are full of personality and love to have fun, so be ready to clown around with your new friend.
Dolphin Extreme Lets Us Learn from One Another
Swimming with dolphins is an experience unlike any other, but these encounters are about more than just excitement. Marine mammal researchers still have a lot to learn about dolphins and how to protect them.
When people meet these curious, intelligent creatures face to face – whether they enjoy a shallow water encounter or swim with dolphins – they are inspired to learn more about how human beings can care for dolphin habitats and support conservation and research efforts.
Adult (12+) $189 USD each
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Train Dolphins in Vallarta
Are you looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience on your trip to Puerto Vallarta? Do you love dolphins? Have you ever wanted to become a dolphin trainer? If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, our Dolphin Trainer for a Day experience is the perfect choice for you.
As a Dolphin Trainer for a Day, you’ll learn how to train dolphins firsthand from our expert dolphin trainers at our Dolphin Center in Nuevo Vallarta. Throughout a dolphin-filled day, you’ll learn how to speak with the dolphins, how to care for them and train them — and you’ll even get the chance to engage in exciting water activities with the dolphins.
You’ll also get to participate in a Sea Lion Encounter, where you’ll get the chance to interact with sea lions up close. At day’s end, you’ll receive an exclusive Dolphin Trainer for a Day official t-shirt!
Learn From the Most Professionals Marine Mammals Specialist
Here at Vallarta Adventures, we are passionate about helping travelers like you experience the many wonders Vallarta has to offer. If dolphins are your thing, you’re in luck. Our Dolphin Trainer for a Day is designed to give you the chance to interact with dolphins just like a real trainer.
This truly amazing experience is led by our very own expert dolphin trainers. With decades of knowledge and hands-on experience training dolphins, our trainers will educate you on everything that goes into training these wonderful marine mammals.
We’ll also spend time providing information and resources on local and international conservation efforts put in place to protect dolphins. For a hands-on dolphin learning experience unlike any other, book our Dolphin Trainer for a Day experience with our award-winning team today!
Please take a look at the Humane Conservation program in which Dolphin Adventure is certified, to learn more about how we care for our dolphins and sea lions.
Book your adventure
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COVID-19 protocols are implemented to ensure the safety of all our guests. Please be aware that you must be at the check-in point 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. All programs are designed with the dolphins’ well-being in mind. Cameras are only allowed in the guest observation area. No jewelry or sunscreen is allowed. Life jackets are provided and required. Expecting mothers are restricted. See FAQ for info on minors.
PRICING
Adult (12+)
$95 – $189 USD per person (varies by excursion type)
Children (4-11)
$95 – $179 USD per person (varies by excursion type)
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Life jacket
- Use of lockers
- Wetsuit¹ (in winter months)
- Lunch²
- Diploma²
- Specialist’s uniform²
- Dolphin Signature Swim²
- Sea Lion Encounter²
¹ Included in the Dolphin Extreme package.
² Included in the Dolphin Trainer for a Day package.
ADDRESS
Av. Las Palmas #39, Nuevo Vallarta, Nay.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday – Saturday: Tour starts at 8:30 am, 9:30 am or 11:30 am
WHAT TO BRING
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Sun protective clothing
- Money for souvenirs and photos
WHAT NOT TO BRING
Please be advised that Mexico’s Federal Maritime Ports operate a strict No-Drug Policy, including electronic cigarettes, vapers, and all kinds of drugs. Please be advised not to bring them to any of our tours. We cannot offer a refund or change of day for any guest to who Federal Security has denied access.
Do I need to reserve in advance?
YES! Spaces are limited and fill quickly. In order to ensure your tour date/time we recommend booking in advance.