You know what everyone wants when they vacation in the Riviera Maya?

Memories. You know? The ones that’ll stay with you forever. The ones that you get to relive the joy every time you tell the story. That’s why you came here.

Because when you’re here, anything is possible.

The Riviera Maya is Where Bucket Lists Come to Die

What’s on the top of your bucket list? For many, it’s swimming with a dolphin. So naturally, many ask “where is the best place for a dolphin swim in the Riviera Maya?”. Trust me. You’ll hear that a lot.

Everyone is wondering. Yet so many of you know the answer.

Looking for the best dolphin swim in the Riviera Maya? Consider Dolphinaris.

Here’s what Mesandro from New York had to say on Trip Advisor:

““Amazing lifetime experience”

“I just can’t believe it, fantastic from A to Z a beautiful experience really don’t know it words can describe it”

And that really captures it best. Words simply don’t do it justice.

So that makes what I’m about to do very hard.

I’M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT TRIPLE ADVENTURE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE.

Can you believe I came face to face with a dolphin? I just did it. Yet I can barely believe it.

Hold on, though. Let me back up for a moment. Let me start from the beginning.

I knew what I wanted. I wanted to dolphin swim in the Riviera Maya. So I did some research. AKA I went to Trip Advisor.

Why Trip Advisor?

Because you can trust them. They have 80 million active users every month. Their user-reviews are unbiased and reliable.

Take this Dolphinaris review for example. It comes from Nicole in Oregon.

“Dolphins”

We absolutely loved it! It was the best part of our trip, definitely recommend doing this! Everyone was very friendly!

That really stuck out to me. “Best part of our trip”. I want that. Let’s face it. Who doesn’t? It’s what we talked about right? Making memories that’ll last.

Why 3 is Always Better Than 1

So I took a chance. I went online to their website and booked the Triple Adventure Program.

That’s how I am. When I do things, I really go for it. So the Triple Adventure Program is perfect people like me. Here’s a tip. If you’re like me…don’t get one dolphin swim program. Get three. =)

The next morning, I was off. A short twenty-minute drive from Playa del Carmen and I was there. (Need directions there? Here are Google Map directions to Dolphinaris Riviera Maya)

Getting to Dolphinaris Riviera Maya

I walked past the lobby and registered. Couple minutes later I walked outside. The lounge area looks luxe. There are lounging beds next to a stunning pool. Around the lounge, they have games like ping-pong, foosball, and air hockey. Cool, I thought.

But something else caught my attention. What’s this thought?

Blu Ocean Care Station, it said on the outside. I walked inside. I have to say; I was really amazed. Inside, they have 8 different modules. Each module teaches you about marine environmentalism. I know. Sounds boring, right?

Yet Blu Ocean Care Station was different.

First of all, it was beautiful to look at. But it was more than that. It had a way of getting you to think. You know? About the bigger problems our planet is facing. And how I could make a difference.

Then we met our trainer, Julian. He was extremely and informative. He walked us through the Blu Care Station, explaining everything.

Then it was time to enter the water.

I couldn’t believe I was finally doing it.

First, they give you an introduction. We learned everything. From diet, species, training method—we even learned which dolphins were related to each other. Then it was time.

I have to admit; I was nervous. I was about to try my first dolphin foot push. What if I do something wrong? What if the dolphin doesn’t want to? Before I could finish my thought, I was soaring through the air!

WHOA

It pushed, with its nose, only one of my feet. But it was swimming so fast it pushed me up and out of the water. It was truly MAGICAL. That’s the best way I can describe it. It was like I had known this dolphin my whole life and we’ve spent decades perfecting this one trick. Yet I met the dolphin a few minutes ago.

I guess it makes sense then. A magical experience with magical creatures.

Everything we did with the dolphin was like that. The belly ride was epic. My favorite part, though? Putting on the masks and observing from below. I know. Doesn’t sound exciting huh? But believe me, you learn so much more from below.

Even coming face to face with them is surreal.

Staring into their eyes is like nothing else. You won’t believe how soft and smooth their skin is. And those flips! OMG. They’re so powerful they can fly several yards into the air! And they all do it like Olympic synchronized swimmers.

It’s a stunning display.

I guess that word sums up my day at Dolphinaris Riviera Maya. Stunning.

Trust me. If you’re looking for the best place for a dolphin swim in the Riviera Maya, consider Dolphinaris. Better yet. Trust Mesandro from New York. Or Nicole from Oregon. Or the thousands of favorable reviews on Trip Advisor.

Who knows? It could be the best part of your trip. I know it was mine.

The post Read all about my THRILLING dolphin swim in the Riviera Maya appeared first on Dolphinaris.

The Mayan Riviera is a majestic region that attracts millions of travelers from all over the world. What is the Mayan Riviera? The Mayan Riviera includes popular vacation destination Cancun, and up-and-coming Playa del Carmen as well.

It also features smaller yet still attractive places like Isla Mujeres, located just a couple miles off the coast of Cancun. There’s also Tulum, which is about an hour south of Playa del Carmen. And let’s not forget about Cozumel Island, just off the coast of Playa del Carmen.

If you’re new to the region, you’re going to need a Cancun sightseeing guide to help you navigate to all the hotspots.

Let’s get started!

What to see in the Riviera Maya:

Playa Tortugas:

This gorgeous beach is very popular with travelers. It’s located at kilometer 6.5 of Cancun’s hotel zone. It has everything you could want on a beach. Stunningly clear turquoise waters.  White sand as soft as powder.

Picture this: You’re laying back, enjoying the warm sunshine, and sipping on an ice-cold Corona. The music is pumping and the smell of good Mexican cuisine is in the air. Despite the fear, you can jump out from bungee also.

What to see in the Riviera Maya PlayaTortugas

Selvatica:

Sometimes you don’t want relaxation. Sometimes, you just want a jungle adventure! Well, we have found the perfect spot for a jungle tour. Selvatica is Cancun and Latin America’s number one outdoor adventure park.

At Selvatica you can hop on an undeniably badass Polaris ATV and rip through the muddy jungle in style and comfort. If you’re not familiar with Polaris difference, just understand they are the ‘Rolls Royce’ of ATVs. The acceleration, the cushiony-suspension. The difference is noticeable immediately.

Feel like a kid again, and get dirty at Selvatica’s ATV park. You are on vacation, after all, right?

If you are insterest on a #ComboTime : Selvatica Extreme Canopy + Dolphinaris this is for you!

What to see in the Riviera Maya Selvatica

Dolphinaris:

Find me one person. Find me ONE person on this planet that doesn’t want to swim with dolphins. Impossible right? What better place to take your whole family, than Dolphinaris? Swim and interact with these majestic sea mammals and create a memory you can share with your family forever.

If you act now, Dolphinaris is holding an incredible summer promotion. If you buy a dolphin swim, you get an entry into Wet’n Wild Waterslide Park, for free! The best part is, they are adjacent to each other. Just a 30-second walk, and boom, you’re right there.

Check it out the exclusive online deals here!

What to see in the Riviera Maya Dolphinaris

Casa Cenote:

Everyone is always asking: Where are the best cenotes in Cancun? Well, they should be asking, where are the best cenotes in the Riviera Maya?

A unique cenote to visit is Casa Cenote, located in Tulum, about a 2-hour drive south of Cancun. It isn’t a typical, circular cenote. This is a long, winding cenote that spans a few hundred yards. What attracts so many people here, is the water. It is so crystal clear, it will take your breath away.

What to see in the Riviera Maya Casa Cenote

Isla Mujeres:

If you want the best snorkeling in Cancun, go to Isla Mujeres. If you’re not familiar, Isla Mujeres is located just a couple miles of the coast of Cancun. A brief ferry ride will take you there. There you can purchase a variety of snorkeling tours. Walk through Isla Mujeres’ idyllic downtown after you’re done.

What to see in the Riviera Maya Isla Mujeres

Wet’n Wild Waterslide Park:

Like we mentioned above, for a limited time, you can get a free pass to Wet’n Wild. There you can find a variety of waterslides for you to cool off on. Some like it fast. Can I suggest the Kamikaze slide? Some like it peaceful. Can I suggest the Lazy River inner-tube float?  Psst click here!

What to see in the Riviera Maya Wet’nWild

Ventura Park:

Wet’n Wild and Dolphinaris are actually located inside of Ventura Park. For an extra 20 bucks per person, you get access to Ventura Park’s other attractions like Fun World. Fun World features Cancun’s only roller coaster. You also get access to AaahVentura. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you’ve found heaven.

At AaahVentura, you can soar through the air on a zipline. You can do a crazy bungee-jump. You can test your agility of a wobbly hanging aerial bridge.

Exclusive online deals here!

What to see in the Riviera Maya Ventura Park

We hope our “what to see in Riviera Maya” guide will serve you will this summer vacation!

The post What to see in the Riviera Maya appeared first on Dolphinaris.

Traveling is never easy. But it becomes even more complicated with children. That is if you’re unprepared. You don’t need to worry, though. With this guide, we’ll show you the best way to travel with kids.

First things first:

Before you even get on the plane, you’re going to want to make sure you have everything necessary to travel. Also, just as important, you want to make sure you DON’T have anything unnecessary. With that in mind, you should pack your child’s suitcase. Giving them independence is great, but not when so much is at stake. Once you’re at the airport, you don’t want to find out your child’s suitcase is over the weight limit, or has packed something prohibited by TSA.

Make sure to bring clothes for any temperature. Even if you’re going to a warm place, like Cancun, you should still bring at least one sweater. You never know what the temperature will be like in the airplane or bus. Don’t forget about bringing a swimsuit and sandals either. You’ll also want to bring a small first aid kit, in the event of a bump or scratch. Keep in mind that children’s passports expire every 5 years, so make sure it’s up to date. The last thing you want to do is pay for a new passport last minute. That will cost an arm and a leg, and it will be extremely stressful.

Oh yeah, entertainment. You’ll want to bring lots of entertainment options, like an old-fashioned coloring book and the all mighty tablet. Bring a power bank too. When their tablet dies, just plug in the USB into the power bank, and you’re good to go again.

Now that you have taken the necessary precautions, let’s move on to the next phase.

Destination:

Picking the right destination is absolutely key when you travel with kids. You’re going to want to pick a destination that suits both you and your child. Allow us to suggest Cancun. Cancun!? Isn’t that for alcohol-thirsty college students on Spring Break? Don’t let that stereotype fool you. Yes, college students like frequenting the All-Inclusive hotels during Spring Break. But that just scratches the surface of available attractions in Cancun.

In reality, most of what Cancun has to offer is outside of where the Spring Breakers are. They tend to be sequestered to a few hotels who cater to their, um, needs. Cancun is actually the perfect place to take your whole family. No matter your age, there are LOTS of unique activities you will only find in Cancun.

Attractions:

Now let’s see. You’re going to want to choose an attraction that fits both you and your child. You don’t want to spend lots of time traveling in between attractions either. Allow us to recommend Ventura Park in Cancun’s Hotel Zone (Kilometer Marker 25).

Bring the whole family. There are entertainment options for everyone. Let’s start with the youngest, and work our way up to the impossible-to-please teenagers.

For your youngest ones, there are old-fashioned carousels and an incredible water playground. There’s also a child-friendly roller coaster available (children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult). Right next to the roller-coaster, there’s a 275-yard go-kart track. If supervised by an adult, your child can experience what it’s like to actually drive! To a child, it doesn’t get much more exciting than that.

Kids (and adults) love Star Wars. Have your child hop inside a Star Wars Battle Pod to realistically simulate a pod battle. Right next to that, are Laser Tanks. Think Bumper Cars meets Laser Tag. Don’t get shot, or you’ll be going for a spin!

Remember we told you to bring a bathing suit for your child? Here’s why. At Dolphinaris, located inside Ventura Park, you can swim with dolphins! Imagine how eager and excited your child will be to swim with a dolphin. Let’s face it, anybody of ANY age would be over the moon to swim with a dolphin.

Who likes water slide parks?  Wet’n Wild water park, located inside Ventura Park is perfect for kids of all ages. Bring the little one. Bring the teen. There are water slides perfectly suited for every kind of person. Want speed? Want relaxation? There’s a water slide just for you.

Let’s not forget about the teens. If they like adventure, they will LOVE AaahVentura, world located inside of Ventura Park. Here they can go bungee-jumping. They can ride a roller coaster/zip-line hybrid. Or they can simply go zip-lining over the whole park! And I know what you’re thinking. Are these activities safe? Not to worry. Everything in Ventura Park is certified by the Association for Challenge Course Technology.

Now you can see why Ventura Park in Cancun is perfect for those who travel with kids of all ages. From the little one to the teen, everyone will be entertained from morning till night.

Book online now at www.venturapark.com and receive massive online discounts! We hope to see you, and your kids, soon at Ventura Park!

The post How to Travel with Kids appeared first on Dolphinaris.

What is the Riviera Maya? The Riviera Maya is a Mexican treasure along the eastern Caribbean coastline, where tourists come to receive the royal treatment. All over the Riviera Maya, you will find white-sanded beaches, sparkling turquoise seas, dazzling cenotes, and a countless variety of tourist attractions. But perhaps the Riviera Maya’s most distinct feature, however, are its impressive lineup of luxurious hotels.

What makes a luxury hotel in the Riviera Maya unique from other places in the world? First and foremost is its attentive level of service. If you want to be treated like a king or queen, you need to come to a luxury hotel in the Riviera Maya. Not only will your every need be attended to with a smile, but you will find a number of things to do, right in the hotel.

Of course, we’re not talking about a hostel filled with backpacking twenty-year-olds. We’re talking about the best hotels in the Riviera Maya. Let’s face it. You’ve toiled at your job tirelessly for a reason. It wasn’t to wake up earlier and come home later than everyone else. That was merely the means to an end. You worked harder than everyone else so you and your loved ones can enjoy the finer things in life. Nothing defines better the best hotels in the Riviera Maya than “the finer things in life”.

Let’s take a look at a couple of the best hotels in the Riviera Maya.

Barcelo Maya Resort in the Riviera Maya

This award-winning hotel has everything you could possibly dream of. It’s the type of hotel, that once you check in, there is no need to check out until it’s time to fly home. Everything you need is on property. Barcelo has a scuba diving center, tennis and basketball courts, croquet, table tennis, shops, boutiques and a beauty salon. Also, there is an Asian restaurant that has been awarded four diamonds by AAA.

Did you ever want to have a fancy English high tea party? The same type that British royalty enjoy? At Barcelo, you can live like a King or Queen with English tea service that includes finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and pastries.

There’s no restaurant table, like the chef’s table at Las Ventanas. Enjoy a private and interactive taste dining experience with Barcelo’s resident chef. Your culinary wish will be the chef’s command.

But best of all, like all Barcelo hotels in the Riviera Maya, you will have the opportunity to swim with dolphins! Swim and interact with these highly intelligent and playful creatures right from your hotel. Prepare ta o be thrilled as two dolphins push your feet and you soar through the air. Blow up your Facebook with likes and shares as you post a photo of you receiving a peck on the cheek by a dolphin. Or perhaps a more business-like ‘fin-shake’.

English tea service, private dinners with a fine-dining chef, swimming with dolphins and much more. It is no wonder Barcelo is widely regarded as one of the best hotels in the Riviera Maya. It should be no surprise that it has won Conde Nast Travelers Reader’s Choice Award in 2015.

Book a room at Barcelo now and find out why travel readers call it one of the best hotels in the Riviera Maya.

Grand Bahia Principe in the Riviera Maya

This luxury hotel has so many things to do, it’s like its own town. Appreciate water activities? How about paddle surfing, snorkeling, boogie boarding, scuba diving, or riding a catamaran or a kayak?  Maybe you want something more traditional like playing tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer. Don’t want to interrupt your workout routine? Not to worry, Grand Bahia Principe has a full gym equipped with an area for aerobics and stretching. Need a babysitter so you can enjoy a romantic dinner, just you and your spouse? Take advantage of Grand Bahia Principe’s babysitter service, and you can finally get some well-deserved alone time.

Each room features a magnification mirror for flawless and cut-free shaving.  Did all of your clothes get wrinkled in your suitcase? Don’t sweat it. Each room comes with an ironing board so your clothes stay looking sharp and crisp. Care for a cup of tea or coffee? There are coffee/tea machines located right inside the room. Take in the splendid seascape the Caribbean Sea offers right from your room’s balcony.

Feeling hungry? How’s this for a bevy of international cuisine options. At Grand Bahia Principe you can eat Tex-Mex, Brazilian, Mediterranean, Italian, or Japanese. Each restaurant features exquisite culinary choices depending on your dining mood.

Who enjoys golf? If you do, you’re in luck. There is a 220-acre golf course at the Riviera Maya Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Play a full 18 holes on a course awarded a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.

Ready for the icing on the cake? Part of what makes Grand Bahia Principe one of the best hotels in the Riviera Maya is the fact that you can swim with dolphins, within the confines of the hotel. How many people can say they’ve swum with dolphins? Everyone dreams of it, and you can finally make that fantasy a reality. Get ready to make your bucket list shorter by swimming with dolphins, right from your hotel.

Whether it be swimming with dolphins, playing golf, paddle surfing, or kayaking, Grand Bahia Principe has a variety of entertainment options that makes it one of the best hotels in the Riviera Maya.

Get ready to walk the red carpet and receive the royal treatment at some of the best hotels in the Riviera Maya. You’ve put in all the hard work, and now it’s time to indulge yourself the way a King or Queen would.

Book now and see for yourself why everyone is talking about the best hotels in the Riviera Maya.

The post The Best Hotels in the Riviera Maya appeared first on Dolphinaris.

All over the world, people know about Cancun. However, the locals and some fortunate tourists know a secret most people don’t. That secret is called Playa del Carmen. It is one of the fastest growing cities in all of Latin America. Playa del Carmen is a small but animated city with a remarkably great deal of things to do. Considering this, it should come as no surprise that this small but growing city has so many unique attractions. If you’re new to the area and are looking for things to do, we’ve got you covered.

Here are 3 attractions for newcomers to try out and enjoy:

1. SAYAB Planetarium

This new planetarium just opened a couple of months ago. Astrophysicist, José Vicente Hernández is the well-experienced coordinator of the planetarium. He puts on a variety of shows he calls “Circus of Physics”. Be prepared to wowed by the wide variety of shows available. There’s even virtual reality available! Don’t forget to check out the astronomical observatory to see the amazing celestial bodies that exist in our galaxy.

2. 5^th Avenue

If you come to Playa del Carmen, you absolutely have to visit 5^th avenue. It is basically the main street where all of the most popular bars, restaurants, and stores are located. To top that off, it connects to the beach located about 100 yards away.

3. Ventura Park’s El Beach-Oh Club

Just a short drive away from Playa del Carmen is Ventura Park. There you will find El Beach-Oh Club. You be asking: what is that?

Well, do you enjoy being treated like royalty? Then come get the royal treatment at Ventura Park’s El Beach-Oh Club.

If you’ve never been to a beach club, let me explain how it works. You pay for access for a luxurious, 4-post bed complete with a top.

Then, the money you paid to access the bed actually functions as a bar + restaurant credit. So basically, you lay down on your comfortable bed, just a few yards from the water, and then a server will come to you. He then takes your order of a margarita and shrimp ceviche, and delivers it right to you and places it on a table alongside your bed. Does it get any better than that?

As you can see, Playa del Carmen is the perfect way to expand your vacation to Cancun. While it may be smaller than Cancun, it has a very large personality. Come see for yourself what makes Playa del Carmen one of the fastest growing cities in Latin America.

The post 3 Things to do in Playa del Carmen appeared first on Dolphinaris.