| Puerto Vallarta sits on the largest natural bay in | | | | bay, where they can watch these playful animals do |
| Mexico, and it would be a shame to visit the city and | | | | their thing in their own world. A dolphin tour in a small |
| not pay a visit to the area's friendliest marine | | | | boat puts you up close and personal with the objects |
| mammals. After all, some people speculate that | | | | of your attention, and if you join a group led by marine |
| cetaceans (the species that includes dolphins and | | | | biologists, you'll pick up some fascinating information |
| whales) are extremely intelligent. They may be wrong, | | | | about the world of marine mammals. |
| or they may be right; if they're right, local dolphins may | | | | Swim with the Fins |
| feel slighted if you overlook them. | | | | It may not be practical to try to swim with wild dolphins |
| It's completely natural for visitors to gravitate toward | | | | in the bay-they have the all the advantage in that |
| the water; after all, it's right there and it's big. Folks bail | | | | environment. Don't despair! That opportunity is there at |
| out of their villa Puerto Vallarta each morning looking | | | | one of the dolphin centers in Puerto Vallarta. And |
| for some kind of adventure on the high seas. Many | | | | visitors have all kinds of great things to say about |
| people jump on the chance to interact with dolphins; | | | | swimming with dolphins. |
| they set off on an excursion to see dolphins in their | | | | The Dolphin Center in Nuevo Vallarta is a favorite for |
| natural habitat or take a swim with the dolphins in a | | | | many dolphin-lovers. You can choose how you want |
| controlled setting. Either way, time spent in communion | | | | your dolphin encounter to unfold: meet dolphins in an |
| with these creatures is time well spent. Quite often, the | | | | intimate, small-group encounter; join a bigger group of |
| experience leaves visitors with a new-found respect | | | | humans interacting with dolphins in the water; or stay |
| for the natural world. | | | | dry and enjoy the dolphins from the side of the pool. |
| Watch Them Blow | | | | It's entirely up to you. |
| Dolphins fin around Banderas Bay throughout the year, | | | | Aah... Home Again |
| and dolphin watching is not highly regulated in the same | | | | Whether you choose to meet Puerto Vallarta's Pacific |
| way as the government restricts encounters with | | | | bottlenose dolphins on the waves of Banderas Bay or |
| whales. You may find that most tour operators focus | | | | nose-to-nose at the dolphin center, you'll have the |
| their efforts on whales during the official | | | | experience of a lifetime. You'll return to your villa rental |
| whale-watching season, however, which creates | | | | Puerto Vallarta with wonderful memories, some great |
| something of a de facto dolphin-watching season. | | | | photos, and a finer appreciation for the wild world. |
| Dolphin tour guides take guests onto the waters of the | | | | |