Manati Park Bavaro
Manati Park Bavaro
3.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
Manati Park is a huge garden set in 80.000 m2 of typical caribbean flora and fauna. You will find more that 150 species of animals and plants in their natural habitat, will have the chance to touch different species as parrots, iguanas, snakes, dolphins, sea lions and so many others. Enjoy our 4 animal shows (Dolphins, Sea Lions, Parrots, Horses and don't forget that in Manati Park the ancestral Taino culture is relived, with its showy ritual dances and delicate handicrafts.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Does not meet animal welfare
guidelines
Tripadvisor does not provide bookings for this experience because it does not meet our animal welfare guidelines.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
2,029 reviews
Excellent
694
Very good
453
Average
399
Poor
186
Terrible
297
Inspiration9778
1 contribution
When I went it was a very short drive from the occidental grand flamenco. It was awesome being there!! You had to book your dolphon swim. I don't understand why people complain. We had to wait a bit in the stands while other people swam but they give everyone a fair chance. What do you expect to just jump in right away? They take small groups so that way you get a chance to touch the dolphins etc.
It was an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone. I also got to take a picture with a monkey and he was so cute!!!!!! You can also hold a snake and see a lot of different types of animals. It is pricey but even more pricey in other countries. The stuff to buy is kind of pricey there I recommend not shopping at the manati. Don't listen to people that say it wasn't good they obviously don't appreciate anything and complain way toooooo much!
All in all it was an amazing experience and one everyone should do in a lifetime!!!
have fun
ash
It was an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone. I also got to take a picture with a monkey and he was so cute!!!!!! You can also hold a snake and see a lot of different types of animals. It is pricey but even more pricey in other countries. The stuff to buy is kind of pricey there I recommend not shopping at the manati. Don't listen to people that say it wasn't good they obviously don't appreciate anything and complain way toooooo much!
All in all it was an amazing experience and one everyone should do in a lifetime!!!
have fun
ash
Written March 31, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ambassador36301
Germany1 contribution
Hi everybody.
Seven years ago, I made a trip to the Manati park during my holidays in the Dom. Rep.
I enjoyed the stay, because this park is a nice place if your are an animal fan like me.
Unfortunately I also read the stuff about the dolphins. That changed my whole opinion about this park. But please do not judge all the other parks, too. I think this is only a mistake made by the park's leadership.
Finally, you don't have to close the park.
There are many people who love these parks and they bring a lot of money for the Dom. Rep. so that it can still offer the opportunities you want to have during your stay...as a tourist.
If the government could change the leadership and use people who have experiences with animals and, furthermore, if the government would now use the money to restructure this park for an animals' treatment like it has to be, the park could be reopened within one year and as a matter of fact, the dolphins should then have a big sea-water pool and the Dom. Rep. receives more money from happier visitors.
Dom. Rep., think about it, it is a nice park with the wrong persons! Change it, make it more attractive and you will see, it is for your own advantage!
Seven years ago, I made a trip to the Manati park during my holidays in the Dom. Rep.
I enjoyed the stay, because this park is a nice place if your are an animal fan like me.
Unfortunately I also read the stuff about the dolphins. That changed my whole opinion about this park. But please do not judge all the other parks, too. I think this is only a mistake made by the park's leadership.
Finally, you don't have to close the park.
There are many people who love these parks and they bring a lot of money for the Dom. Rep. so that it can still offer the opportunities you want to have during your stay...as a tourist.
If the government could change the leadership and use people who have experiences with animals and, furthermore, if the government would now use the money to restructure this park for an animals' treatment like it has to be, the park could be reopened within one year and as a matter of fact, the dolphins should then have a big sea-water pool and the Dom. Rep. receives more money from happier visitors.
Dom. Rep., think about it, it is a nice park with the wrong persons! Change it, make it more attractive and you will see, it is for your own advantage!
Written May 7, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miz_velez
marietta Ga1 contribution
First of all, People come to the Dominican Republic expecting it to be like Bermuda or Puerto Rico. The fact of the matter is that The Dominican is a very poor country that has made it all this way on it's own, with no real help from the USA.
No one thinks of all the poor children that sleep in in groups of 4 on a lumpy bed on a dusty concrete floor that get to go see these animals and become educated on nature for free. Providing funds for this is our gift to them as tourists.
Public schools all over the island migrate to this park to learn and that funding is provided by the park.
If you want to see nature like sea world has it, than go to orlando and pay 2000.00 because they are the same over there as well, over charging you for everything. You go to a ball park with a coke and they make you throw it out to buy over priced products inside! Stop taking the country for granted and enjoy your trip.
This is a dominican nature preserve and dominicans are proud of it. It is charming in its own way. It's an accomplishment for them within their resources and we were nice enough to make this place not only for the enjoyment of the natives in the country but for all the tourists as well.
No one thinks of all the poor children that sleep in in groups of 4 on a lumpy bed on a dusty concrete floor that get to go see these animals and become educated on nature for free. Providing funds for this is our gift to them as tourists.
Public schools all over the island migrate to this park to learn and that funding is provided by the park.
If you want to see nature like sea world has it, than go to orlando and pay 2000.00 because they are the same over there as well, over charging you for everything. You go to a ball park with a coke and they make you throw it out to buy over priced products inside! Stop taking the country for granted and enjoy your trip.
This is a dominican nature preserve and dominicans are proud of it. It is charming in its own way. It's an accomplishment for them within their resources and we were nice enough to make this place not only for the enjoyment of the natives in the country but for all the tourists as well.
Written December 10, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrailBlazer6569
Manitoba, Canada1 contribution
I was in the DR from Jan11-Jan18/04. The country is beautiful but I feel the need to warn people NOT TO GO TO MANATI PARK.
First, the entire park is based on commercialism, everywhere you go someone snaps a picture, at the gates, with a parrot, with the Village entertainers, which you must pay $8US for if you want it. You are not allowed to take your own picture of these events.
The worst is the dolphins. The tank is tiny and full of chlorinated water, rimmed with sunscreen and or bugspray. You are required to pay $70US for "Swim with the Dolphins" which entails about 10 minutes in the water along with up to 9 other people at the same time. As you leave the water another picture is taken with the dolphins (another $8US). I was disgusted by the size and care of the dolphins (and no I did not do the swim) Since I returned I have read numerous articles that state the dolhin tank there is the worst in the world. Many animal protection agencies have been trying to close the park for the last 3 years. Four dolphins were reported to have died in one day, most likely due to over chlorination of the water.
I went with an open mind, was disappointed with the park and disgusted with the treatment of these beautiful mammals. As long as this park continues making money, more dolphins will be abused and die. Please think before you condone this. There are many other wonderful adventures to take in the Punta Cana area.
First, the entire park is based on commercialism, everywhere you go someone snaps a picture, at the gates, with a parrot, with the Village entertainers, which you must pay $8US for if you want it. You are not allowed to take your own picture of these events.
The worst is the dolphins. The tank is tiny and full of chlorinated water, rimmed with sunscreen and or bugspray. You are required to pay $70US for "Swim with the Dolphins" which entails about 10 minutes in the water along with up to 9 other people at the same time. As you leave the water another picture is taken with the dolphins (another $8US). I was disgusted by the size and care of the dolphins (and no I did not do the swim) Since I returned I have read numerous articles that state the dolhin tank there is the worst in the world. Many animal protection agencies have been trying to close the park for the last 3 years. Four dolphins were reported to have died in one day, most likely due to over chlorination of the water.
I went with an open mind, was disappointed with the park and disgusted with the treatment of these beautiful mammals. As long as this park continues making money, more dolphins will be abused and die. Please think before you condone this. There are many other wonderful adventures to take in the Punta Cana area.
Written January 23, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daydream25911
Philadelphia, PA1 contribution
The tanks are too small for the dolphins at this horrible place. It
should be shut down. So far, 4 of their dolphins have died prematurely
due to extreme stress. This place is land-locked so that the dolphins
cannot even have a break swimming in the ocean. The owners are only
interested in making money here. We were pleased when we visited Punta
Cana last summer that our vacation company, Apple Vacations, does not
promote their travelers to even visit this horrible place. Enjoy the
beach and other attractions instead. Thanks!
should be shut down. So far, 4 of their dolphins have died prematurely
due to extreme stress. This place is land-locked so that the dolphins
cannot even have a break swimming in the ocean. The owners are only
interested in making money here. We were pleased when we visited Punta
Cana last summer that our vacation company, Apple Vacations, does not
promote their travelers to even visit this horrible place. Enjoy the
beach and other attractions instead. Thanks!
Written August 27, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Compass5202
Miami, Fl1 contribution
Our experience was horrible. All we can remember is the horrible conditions the dolphins were kept and we came out of the place more depressed than anything else. The parrots show was kind of good but the image of the horrible conditions and specially lack of space in the pools make the whole experience not worth the money.We found out later all the complaints filled agains this place. It was a shame that a experience that should have filled us with entertaining and education turned out to be such horrible experience.
Written August 20, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seabass101
London16 contributions
Manati Park is quite rightly heading rapidly to the bottom of all the trip advisor reviews for Dominican Republic visitor attractions - this place is simply horrible. As previous reviewers have explained in detail, the staff around the food and shop area are overly pushy trying to sell all manner of tacky rubbish, as well as quite openly leering and attempting to hit on any attractive female visitors.
But the worst thing about this place is their utterly depressing lack of respect for the animals they keep. This was at its worst for the marine mammals - sea lions and dolphins. The sea lion show was utterly demeaning to these clearly intelligent animals, like some hideous throw back from the 1970s with the animals mindlessly performing anthropomorphic tricks for food.
The two dolphins are kept in a pool far smaller than your average hotel swimming pool - this for animals which live in complex social groups and swim up to 50km a day in the wild. Then a few times a day they have ear-splitting music blasted at them (dolphins have very sensitive hearing and this must be turturous to them) along with their pool being filled with up to 15 hapless tourists who seemed at liberty to grab and poke at the dolphins as they swam around them.
We stayed in the arena for a while after the crowds had left and saw 'Cain' (one of the dolphins) sink to the bottom of the pool and stare at the corner for at least 10 minutes - we were then asked to leave as visitors aren't allowed to watch the depressed dolphins in between manic shows. What a horrible schizophrenic existence, all to 'entertain' tourists and make a quick buck.
It's extremely sad that our love of dolphins and our understanding of their intelligence does not translate into respect for them - if it did then we wouldn't keep them in places like Manati Park. What's more, the food-bribed behaviours of the dolphins in the shows don't teach visitors anything about dolphins in the wild. And then the sign on the wall has the audacity to say that the facility is about 'Nature, education and conservation' - this couldn't be further from the truth.
If you love dolphins don't support cruelty to them by paying to visit Manati Park. If tourists vote with their wallets eventually places like this will go out of business and dolphins will be left where we can best appreciate them - in the wild.
But the worst thing about this place is their utterly depressing lack of respect for the animals they keep. This was at its worst for the marine mammals - sea lions and dolphins. The sea lion show was utterly demeaning to these clearly intelligent animals, like some hideous throw back from the 1970s with the animals mindlessly performing anthropomorphic tricks for food.
The two dolphins are kept in a pool far smaller than your average hotel swimming pool - this for animals which live in complex social groups and swim up to 50km a day in the wild. Then a few times a day they have ear-splitting music blasted at them (dolphins have very sensitive hearing and this must be turturous to them) along with their pool being filled with up to 15 hapless tourists who seemed at liberty to grab and poke at the dolphins as they swam around them.
We stayed in the arena for a while after the crowds had left and saw 'Cain' (one of the dolphins) sink to the bottom of the pool and stare at the corner for at least 10 minutes - we were then asked to leave as visitors aren't allowed to watch the depressed dolphins in between manic shows. What a horrible schizophrenic existence, all to 'entertain' tourists and make a quick buck.
It's extremely sad that our love of dolphins and our understanding of their intelligence does not translate into respect for them - if it did then we wouldn't keep them in places like Manati Park. What's more, the food-bribed behaviours of the dolphins in the shows don't teach visitors anything about dolphins in the wild. And then the sign on the wall has the audacity to say that the facility is about 'Nature, education and conservation' - this couldn't be further from the truth.
If you love dolphins don't support cruelty to them by paying to visit Manati Park. If tourists vote with their wallets eventually places like this will go out of business and dolphins will be left where we can best appreciate them - in the wild.
Written January 4, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MontrealDuke
montreal287 contributions
Just thinking about the trip makes me cry and laugh at the same time.The bus trip is fine if you can find a seat that is not broken and dont mind the gas smell.When you arrive dont stand in line for the daulphin swim it`s a rip off.Those poor daulphin do nothing else but swim around for 7minutes with a tourist on their fins and voila its over.7minutes for 70 u.s. dollars thats hot profits.Keep your cash and give it as tips at your hotel instead.The rest of the park is a1950`s make believe of sea world,frontiertown,safari park and rip off artist heaven.The shows are sadly funny.Try to leave the park before the crowds cause if you dont ...the bus will leave without you and they will keep you and feed you to the sharks....No they wont, the shark died last year but they still advertise it and dont look for the petting zoo,that`s gone also.Manati park...watch it on your hotel t.v. station it`s much nicer and cheaper then being there..and to all you kids out there,forget the dolphin swim,they will end up dead and on your plate at you resort.
Written August 8, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There you can visit an excellent show with delphins. You can swim with the delphins. It is very interesting. The price of swimming with the delphins is 70 USD. There are beautiful kinds of orchids. There you can see sharks and crocodiles.
Written August 5, 2002
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mobile
Great Britian2 contributions
As Manati Park was advertised within our hotel we were missled into thinking the Park would be a fun place to visit.
As soon as we arrived at the park the surroundings made us feel unwelcome. The park was very dirty and the conditions which the animals were kept in were appauling. We thought things could not get any worse untill we say the dolphin tank, we were so disgusted that we refused to swim with the dolphins, even after paying for it and left the park.
As soon as we arrived at the park the surroundings made us feel unwelcome. The park was very dirty and the conditions which the animals were kept in were appauling. We thought things could not get any worse untill we say the dolphin tank, we were so disgusted that we refused to swim with the dolphins, even after paying for it and left the park.
Written July 21, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quisiera saber si actualmente está abierto, gracias
Written February 18, 2021
Is Manati Park open? We plan to visit Punta Cana in mid April. Thanks
Written January 3, 2021
Hola quería saber el precio de la entrada y del nado con delfines.
Me recomendarían el nado con delfines en otro sitio?
Written June 22, 2020
Bonjour, je souhaiterais visiter ce parc, comment s y rendre? Est ce qu il y a un service de navette pour venir chercher les touristes à leur hôtel ? Je séjournais à punta cana. Et faut il réserver pour nager avec les dauphins ?
Written September 1, 2019
"Bonjour, désolé pour le retard, j'étais en vacances en Jamaïque, à Manati Park, il est préférable d'engager une tournée complète à l'hôtel.
Les dauphins n'ont pas besoin de réserver.
bon voyage
Written September 28, 2019
"No se permite el acceso de cámaras fotográficas en la piscina de delfines, se pueda perjudicar al delfín" sobre lo indicado, si hacen fotos profesionales , cuál es el costo aproximado porque he leído en foros que son muy elevados
Written January 6, 2019
Las fotos salen desde 100usd en adelante! Ese es el negocio...
Written June 8, 2019
Hello,
Can I buy a ticket in the park (at the entrance)? Is the price the same as in web or a hotel? Do you work everyday? Do the shoes do everyday? What’s the timetable of shows? Thank you in advance for quick reply.
Taisia
Written January 4, 2019
0
votos
Hello Taisia,
Thank you for your interest! Manati Park is open daily except Mondays. You can purchase your ticket at the entrance without any problem and the prices remain the same as if you buy them in the hotel.
We have different shows every day with the following timetable:
11.15 and 15.45 - Sea lions show
11.30 and 16.00 - Dolphins show
12.30 and 17.00 - Parrots show
13.00 - horses show
10.30 and 15.15 - Tainos show
You are always welcome in Manati Park!
Warmest regards from all our team
Written January 4, 2019
Se pueden Tomar fotos en el park o se deben pagar por ellas? y al ser pagadas cuanto cuentan?
Written July 24, 2018
Hola Mariela,
Muchas gracias por escribirnos. Se permite hacer fotos con vuestra propia cámara en el parque.
Ademas, tenemos fotógrafos profesionales que hacen fotos, se puede comprar las fotos al fin del día en el parque.
No se permite el acceso de cámaras fotográficas en la piscina de delfines, se pueda perjudicar al delfín.
Saludos de Manati Park
Written July 24, 2018
Es apto para niños menores de 2 años? Que extension ocupan las atracciones? Cuantas horas se necesita para ver el parque y los shows? Venden refrescos, agua y picadera dentro o hay algun restaurant?
Written January 21, 2018
Estimado Cliente,
Este parque se caracteriza ms por ser un parque familiar los niños disfrutan mucho las actraciones y los animales. en total son 5 show, el de los delfines y leon marino, show taino, el de papagallos y de caballos. el programa dura alrededor de 4 a 5 horas. Puede comprar los refrigerios en la cafeteria, que esta localizada al entrar al parque.
Written January 31, 2018
Hello Marisol,
Thank you very much for your question! You can contact our customer service department (you can find their contacts on the webpage of Manati Park) and we will help you to book your Manati Park experience in advance.
Best regards from Manati Park
Written January 9, 2018
I will be staying at the Grand Palladium next month. How often and at what times do you come to the hotel to pick us up to come to the park?
Written April 10, 2017
Hi,
First you wil need to make the reservation and they will give you the information.
Hope this helped.
Written April 26, 2017
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