Experiences. Travel is, and really should be, all about the experiences! While in Puerto Vallarta I had the unique opportunity to visit Dolphin Discovery for an incredible experience, the opportunity to learn about and swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove!
Arriving in the early morning our small group was ushered through the large and clean Aquaventuras Park which offers lockers to store your belongings for the day, inner tubes for the many water slides and swimming pools, as well as bathrooms, showers and dressing rooms to freshen up in. All settled in, we were ready to get in the water and make some memories!
We started our day by being treated to the Dolphin Royal Swim. This program includes plenty of time learning about these magnificent creatures from their caring and well educated trainers. I was incredibly impressed by the dedicated trainers who not only took excellent care of their animals, but took time during each session to teach about these awe inspiring creatures as well as the parks message to protect our environment every day, driving home the message to remember to “Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce”, always.
We were eased into the program, allowed to pet the dolphins and then greet these graceful creatures with a simple Dolphin Hand Shake. One at a time each swimmer was allowed to meet and greet our dolphins for the day. It was amazing. 
Then we worked up to the Dolphin Kiss! Such sweetness!
Soon it was time to swim out into the large pool to try a Dolphin Dorsal Tow. All that was required of the swimmer was to old onto the dolphins dorsal fins and have them pull you across the water. The smiling from ear to ear was optional.
Then, the experience of a life time, the famous Dolphin Foot Push. Two dolphins meet you mid pool, push you from the soles of your feet, and you are propelled across the top of the water in a Super Woman pose! Clearly I rocked it! (I promise this is the face of a girl having an incredible time)
Also offered at this experience is the opportunity to get up and close with a Sea Lion! Whiskery kisses anyone?
Following our incredible experience with the animals, we were given a little bit of time to cut loose in the water park. With shady umbrellas, warm pools and multiple water slides, there was a lot to cram in before lunch!
And the lunch! The lunch was not your typical water park food fare! We were spoiled, served al fresco,and presented with fajita’s, seafood, fresh cheeses and meats. It was healthy, fresh, and delicious.
Details about our experience:
The Royal Swim Experience includes:
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Swim with Dolphins (40 minutes)
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Sea Lion Exchange & Education
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Dolphin Show & Education
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Water Park Access
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Lunch
Pricing:
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$139.00 Adults
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$79 Children
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Children must swim with a paying adult
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(prices in US dollars)
Aquaventuras Park Opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dolphin Discovery operates daily: 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
If you are taking a vacation in Puerto Vallarta and have an aquatic animal lover in your house, you will want to consider the Dolphin Royal Swim Program at Discovery Cove. A great place to make some memories with your family!
Disclosure: I attended this tour as a guest of @PVVisit #pvpress trip, as always all opinions and thoughts are my own. Please note that many photos were taken by our Discovery Cove Photographer, cameras were not allowed on part of this adventure.
Wish I could take my family there. I love dolphins!
I hope you get to take your family to see the dolphins! They are incredible!
So jealouls! In love with the first photo!!
LOL Thank you! I wasn’t sure if I should put that first photo up, but it really does depict the joy and excitement of the day!
Glad you did it’s my fav!
WOW! Such an adventure. I have never seen a dolphin before!
Time to add it to your list!
I bet you had so much fun there! One day me and my family (or even JUST ME lol) will go and experience that.
Yes! I hope you do! I promise it will be something you will never forget!
Always wanted to do a dolphin experience – one day!
I hope you get to do your dolphin experience one day!
Looks like many great water adventures, Ive never been swimming with dolphins
Thanks Beth, it really was a great adventure!
Looks so fun . We swam with the dolphins in Cuba!!!!!!!
It was so much fun! (and I need to go back to Cuba!)
What a great experience. (I want a sea lion& a dolphin!) I love the photo of you doing the dolphin push….that is amazing!
LOL I debated putting that picture of me doing the “foot push” with the dolphin up but in the end decided that was the one that best depicted me being caught between thrilled and shocked! LOL
PS The Sea Lion was so huge, he was almost scary!
Wow , looks beyond fun !
It really was beyond fun and I was so blessed to be able to share it with my Hubby!
Looks like so much fun!! Dolphins are awesome
The dolphins were incredible!
I just love these photos! What a blast that must have been! Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Thank you! And thanks so much for stopping by to comment!
i don’t think i’ve ever seen dolphins in real life
Really! You’ve never seen dolphins in real life? Time to add that to your bucket list!
This looks like so much fun! I love sea lions!
I must confess, the sea lion was so HUGE he was almost scary!
Haha awww. He does look pretty big! I’ve always loved sea lions. I really want to visit Pier 39 in San Francisco and see all the Sea lions there.
Omg, the dolphins. That table of food. Geeze looks like an awesome day!
Awesome day completely sums it up!! Oh with perfect weather 🙂
Wow – that table full of food looks so good and fresh!
The food was so good it was shocking! I had no idea food that good could be produced at a water park!