It was our final day cruising along the Mexican Riviera as the Carnival Splendor brought us into the port of Puerto Vallarta. This cruise ship stop on the Pacific Coast rests on the edge of Banderas Bay, protected by the tropical forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains. My friend Dani and I were so excited for this day because we had booked the dolphin excursion from the ship. We would have plenty of time after our tour to explore this popular port town and enjoy an authentic meal of tacos, nachos and quesadillas.
As soon as we disembarked the ship, we boarded the ferry that shipped us off to the Dolphin Rescue and Reserve. It was a short ride but the scenery was beautiful as we took in the bay and watched the ship fade into the distance. Our group size totaled twenty, which included not only adults but several children. The kids were so happy to see the dolphins and their energy made us just as excited as well.
Once we arrived, we followed a path through dense brush where our tour guide pointed out several native birds. The iguanas were difficult to find, camouflaged against the green foliage so we were thrilled to point them out to our fellow travelers the moment we spotted them.
It wasn’t long until we had arrived at the pool and distracted by wanting a glimpse of the dolphins, we strayed away for a minute or two in hopes of seeing these amazing creatures. The research team led us to a covered space providing us with a safety briefing as well as instructions on how to interact with the dolphins.
We were asked to remove our jewelry so that we did not scratch the dolphins’ delicate skin. It was also important that we allowed the dolphins to take their time to get comfortable with us once we entered the pool. The trainers would be looking for any signs of distress by the dolphin(s) and our interaction could cease at any time should the caretakers feel the dolphins were not comfortable. Cameras were not allowed in the pool area, but we could purchase our photos from the reserve.
Prior to hearing the rules, Dani and I happened to take a photo of the dolphins as they were let out during our educational session. I was happy that they allowed us to keep the photos, but of course, reminded us not to take any additional photographs.
Once we finished our dolphin swim, we followed our guide to an observational deck below where we could catch a better glimpse of the dolphins underwater. A highlight of my trip was to watch a seven month calf swimming side by side with her mother.
I would have loved to have had more time watching the dolphins, but our group was preparing to leave as another tour began. Dani and I had decided to stop by a local restaurant to enjoy a couple of margaritas before boarding the ship.
We selected a cozy, open-air café where we could people watch and place an order for an authentic Mexican meal.
We started by requesting a Pacifico, the local beer.
An order of chips and salsa….
and guacamole.
After finishing our snacks, we decided to return to the ship a little early and hang out by the pool. The excitement of swimming with dolphins lasted throughout the evening and I wished I would have purchased the photo. Removing “Swimming with Dolphins” from my bucket list, I was ready to relax for the rest of the evening.
Have you had the opportunity to explore Puerto Vallarta? Or have you recently marked off one of your bucket list items? I would love to hear about your adventure if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for checking out my day at the Dolphin Reserve and Rescue and I wish you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Dolphin Discovery Vallarta
Tepic Km 155
63732, Nuevo Vallarta, Nay Mexico
Telephone: 866 393 5158
Where to Stay:
Fiesta Inn Puerto Vallarta Isla
Blvd. San Francisco Medina Ascencio 2477
Puerto Vallarta, JAL 48333, Mexico
Telephone: 888 734 8507
Ranked 9.2 out of 10
Where to Eat: (our restaurant has closed, but the following comes highly recommended)
Azul Vallarta
Playa de Oro #126,
Zona Hotelera, Zona Hotelera Nte.,
48333 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Telephone: 52 322 221 9606
What to Eat:
- Birria is made of goat or lamb boiled in local spices and prepared spice. It is served with lime, onion and tortillas.
- Fish roasted on a stick or “pescado embarazado”
- Tamales are corn meal stuffed with meat, tomatoes, chilis, while some have pineapple without chiles. The corn meal is then wrapped by a corn husk and steamed. A favorite during the Christmas holiday.
- Tequila, mescal and raicilla are alcoholic drinks. While most are familiar with the tequila and mescal (with the worm), raicilla is much stronger and has a smoky taste.
What to Read:
- Knock Until the Dog Barks, by D. E. Brobst
- Getaway, by Lisa Brackmann
- Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, by Robert James Walter
- Boomers in Paradise: Boomers in Puerto Vallarta, by Robert Nelson
- Tomorrow There will be Sun. by Dana Reinhardt
Photo Guide for Puerto Vallarta:
- Bay of Banderas
- Cultural sights
- Beaches of Puerto Vallarta
- Cuale River Island
- Stairway to heaven
- Local Hotels
- Pool shots
- Los Muertos Beach
- Brightly colored architecture
- Old Town
- Angel Wings in Old Town Puerto Vallarta
- Beautiful Murals
- Sayulita
- Charming alleys
- Iguanas
- Murals
- Restaurants
- Wall art and art vendors
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