Swimming with Dolphins at Aquaventuras Park #LovePV

After we arrived in Puerto Vallarta our Spring Break vacation became real.  It is funny how you plan for months and think of all the fun things you want to do but reality never hits until you step off the plane and into the sunshine!  After a fun night on a pirate ship and a good night's sleep at Playa Los Arcos, we didn't think our vacation could get much better until we arrived at Aquaventuras Park for the Royal Dolphin Swim and Sea Lions Discovery!

I can't put into words how excited Cheyenne was to see a dolphin up close and personal and to swim with the dolphins.  When you're an eight-year-old girl swimming with the dolphins is a huge dream that you never thought could be possible.  Putting up with clouds and rain for the experience was well worth it.

We arrived and were greeted by friendly staff who checked us into our package which included:

• Royal Dolphin Swim
• Sea Lion Discovery
• Lunch
• Access to shows and activities

We were given a map that they were sure to point out meeting places with times, locker rental locations, tube rental for the waterslides, and where the dolphin and sea lion shows could be seen.

The whole experience was educational you learned about habitats, training, and taking care of the animals.  We were pleasantly surprised at how big the facility was for the animals.  Our group for the Swim and Discovery included a larger group of people which meant a lot of waiting while photographers grabbed a dozen or more shots of each individual.

The Royal Dolphin Swim included:

• dolphin kisses
• petting dolphins
• dorsal fin swim
• toe push on water (think flying over the water)

As a parent, it made my day to see the kids enjoying the dolphins up close and personal.  Cheyenne loved every aspect of it.  Dustin was a little small for the swim and toe push but he happily splashed in the water as he watched everyone else go.  For kids, the experience was fascinating, and watching their dreams come true was pretty amazing as a parent.  For the adults, it got to be a little boring with a large group and all the pictures but for us, it was all about the kids.

The Sea Lions Discovery included:

• learning about diet
• feed a sea lion
• pet a sea lion
• getting a kiss

The Discovery was short and sweet.  The trainer came out with the sea lion and introduced us to her and then did a quick speech while we were able to pet the sea lion and of course, there were photographers taking photos.  It was cute how well-trained the sea lion was to pose and stick out its tongue.  Dustin was too small for this activity as well and he would have made the sea lion nervous being so small.

Cheyenne and I had a quick chance to explore the water slides while the boys took in the Dolphin show.  The slides were great and would have been refreshing if it were an extremely hot day.  The new ropes course looks like a lot of fun but with the rain, it was a little dangerous to attempt.

A few things to remember about the experience is you can't take your photos while doing the Dolphin Swim or Sea Lion Discovery.  You can purchase photos afterward that were taken by a photographer, we felt a little pressured by employees to make a large package purchase at the end but remember it is your money and you can say no.  Bring a towel, since it was a tourist attraction we thought they would be provided, but we were wrong.

All things considered, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Aquaventuras Park, especially for the kids.  Watching their faces light up when they were up close and personal with the dolphins is truly priceless.

Have you ever swam with dolphins?