Puerta Vallarta: Dolphin Swim vs Dolphin Encounter?

[melika091900]

Ok I called again

and I was told WE CAN BOOK online.. so hopefully they know what they are talking about... I was also told that it depends on what ship you are coming on if you can do this or not... which i didnt know ..

so wish us luck with booking

melissa

[Mom2Joce]

I go the EXACT same email!! I just went through the ship excursion section!

[LuAnn]

Paul....Ditto...!! Just got back and had the same wonderful experience...booked it on line and thought it was a once in a life time experience....do it on your own...it is a MUCH better deal re time/price/interactions etc.....plan to go back and do it again!!! LuAnn

[Nilla]

Lu Ann may I ask what Park you went too? I am seeing there are two different ones? DO you recall if the bus went there or did you take a cab?

[LuAnn]

Nilla...go to puertovallartatours.com and book it there...for $225.00 you get a "trainer for a day" which is 7.5 hours with the dolphins, (ask for Nicole as your guide...she is great) tee shirt, hat, video, picture, lunch, TONS of time with the dolphins, interaction with the VET, preparing the fish for the dolphins, and on and on....this is a experience that you will NEVER forget if you are an animal lover!!!!! LuAnn

[gottago2mexico]

Hi Luann...

 

I don't see that puertovallartatours.com offers online reservations and they don't show prices. Did you have to e-mail them to get the price, or?

[LuAnn]

Johann....sorry..the website is .net not .com....there (as you know :) ) you'll find the prices etc.!!!! Thanks for your help on this tour...got my cast off and loved every minute of it...I'll talk it up! Don't worry !!! LuAnn

[Love Boat Dream]

thanks for all the great info on booking the dolphin adventures online. I'm going to try to book mine online. The ship wants $75 per kid and $25 for adults just to watch. Looks like booking online is $54 for the child and nothing for the adults. I was wondering if anyone remembers how much the taxi fare is to the place? And, is PV the place with 2 different color taxis and different prices?

 

Hopefully I won't get the email saying I have to book on the ship, but even if I do I'll still try to book online.

 

Susan

[Mom2Joce]

We are sailing on Carnival's Pride Feb. 5th and I tried booking on my own through their website. They told me that we had to go through our cruise ship as they were completely booked (the cruise lines do this).

 

I believe in Mazatlan it's the WHITE cabs that you want. As for Puerto Vallarta I'm not sure? Maybe someone will know!

[Love Boat Dream]

I just got that same message that I have to book through the cruise line. Has anyone who got that message managed to successfully book online?

 

I prereserved the one on the ship just in case.

 

Susan

[LuAnn]

Try booking at puertovallartatours.net...not the Dolphin Adventures directly...also I have read it is the yellow taxis that are less expensive...we took a white one and it was $25.00 US to get from the dock to the Adventure....LuAnn

[Love Boat Dream]

If it was $25 each way by taxi, then I might as well book through the ship since it is the same price. Anyone know if the other taxi's are a lot cheaper?

 

Thanks

Susan

[devinc]

If it was $25 each way by taxi, then I might as well book through the ship since it is the same price. Anyone know if the other taxi's are a lot cheaper?

 

Thanks

Susan

 

Right there with you... DW will do the trainer for the day next week.

[LuAnn]

We only paid one way for the taxi, because when the bus was ready to take the ship passengers back our "day" was not finished...when they realized we were from the ship they paid for our taxi back....LuAnn

[gottago2mexico]

That's the fare for the expensive white taxis, not the much cheaper yellow taxis - they're about half of that (if that). You can also take the bus back to the marina if you want - it costs $1.50. Of course, you can also scab a ride like Luann did!

[gottago2mexico]

One other note - you'll find it much easier to find online reservations on the Swim With Dolphins for $115 and the Trainer for a Day for $225 than you will with the Dolphin Encounter.

 

It's based on availability, and because the ship excursions for the longer (and better) activities is SO much money, most ship passengers settle for the Encounter - in turn, the ship buys out the spaces.

 

The full Swim, or especially the Trainer for a day, are much better than the Encounter - worth the extra $$ for sure, IMHO.

[seabreezer]

Go to wildlifeconnections.com and read the description. The Dolphin Tour is from 9:00 - 12:30 starting at the Marina and includes a light breakfast, snacks for 650 pesos ($62) per person with a 10% discount for booking online. This is actually a research organization and they conduct the tours to help offset their expenses. They track about 350 dolphins in the bay year round and know exactly where they are. They can't guarantee you'll be able to swim with them but state that you will probably get to swim with them. There are lots of babies right now. I'd personally much rather see them in the wild up close rather than swim with them in captivity. There's also the advantage of going out with a marine biologist and really learning about them and the habitat.

 

The website is actually wildlifeconnection.com and is an excellent alternative to supporting the cruel industry of swimming with captive dolphins in Puerto Vallarta.