Caribbean
Dominican Republic
La Altagracia Province
Punta Cana
Things to Do in Punta Cana
Dolphin Island
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Dolphin Island

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See all things to do
Dolphin Island
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#8 of 64 things to do in Punta Cana
Swim with Dolphins
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About
Come and Swim with Dolphins in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Dolphin Island Park is a business dedicated to creating moments of intense happiness for their visitors through a natural, friendly and safe interaction with dolphins, sea lions, sharks and stingrays. We are experts in creating the most memorable experiences with unique activities that bring you up close to these amazing aquatic animals. Our privileged location allows us to offer a one of a kind swimming opportunity in which you can interact with the animals in their natural habitat.
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See what other travelers are saying
  • Neil Joseph
    Chilworth, United Kingdom74 contributions
    Excellent Experience
    Organised this excursion from the official tour partner at our hotel, Melia Caribe. They offer three tiers of experiences - we chose the middle. This was a group tour which meant we were transported to our destination along with holiday makers from other hotels - all fine. After a briefing, we took a short speed boat ride to the dolphins. My wife and two children participated whilst I watched; I was not allowed to take photos so despite the negative reviews I would recommend getting them. The experience (I am told) was amazing. About 20mins in the sea with the dolphins followed by swimming with stingrays and sharks in a separate enclosure which I got to do. The trainer treated the dolphins with care and respect. All the staff were helpful and the tour overall was well managed. I would recommend this excursion
    Traveled with family
    Written September 10, 2022
  • Tiffany C
    Grand Rapids, Michigan14 contributions
    Once in a lifetime experience!
    My daughters 10 & 18 loved it! Worth the experience, just unfortunate they don’t allow any photos by family not in water and then want $150 for the photos or $39 for one. Should Make it more affordable for more than one family in the water. It was joyful to watch, the sea lion show was fun and taking pictures on the beach was worth the $30 entry fee for me.
    Traveled with family
    Written December 3, 2021
  • ives86
    Zadar, Croatia15 contributions
    Highlight of our trip
    They take you out to a platform out at sea, where you first swim in an area with sting rays and harmless sharks. Then the real show begins. We took the ‘action’ experience where you get about 40mins with a dolphin and its trainer between about 5ppl. Through various sequences you can pet it, it jumps in front of you, it claps to you, kisses you and pulls you through the water. The dolphins seem well looked after and the staff are great with answering questions about the dolphins. The photos were $75 for all the photos that the photographer took. You cannot take your own, which makes sense when you see it because it would be quite chaotic with everyone taking their own. All in all it was well worth the money.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 23, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
3,337 reviews
Excellent
2,050
Very good
593
Average
299
Poor
162
Terrible
233
Diana
1 contribution
Expencive and terrible
Mar 2022 • Family
The worst spent money in my life! For $120 per person (no children discount) you receive a 20 min show from a dolphin, staying at the wall of the pool and you are not even allowed to get in the pool. The programm with this "extra" included is $155.
So the pictures you receive include a very close shot of you kissing the dolphin, the ugly wall and the legs of the other people who are waiting foe the same.
When it is finished, you can swim for 10 mins in another pool with two or three stingrays. And that is all. We wanted to see the seelion, but because we already were at the side of the stingrays pool, we were not allowed to get back to see it. And when we were passing by it the first time, we didn't know where the trainers are leading us and that we won't be allowed to come back.
The pictures are ugly too, and you can take only all of them, for $125.
There is no toilet nor at this "place".
Terrible experience!
Written March 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
illan
1 contribution
Poor experience they only want your money!
Feb 2022
Very poor experience, they only thing they want is take tourists money!!

The activity with Dolphin only worth it for kids around 10, but it certainly not worth the price requested.
There is no time to stay at the beach, so you just go to the Dolphin and leave.

Person that are acompanying without making the dolphing activity (worth 50$ per person) are kept far from the Dolphin swiming pool and are not authorize to watch the activity, just to avoid that they are taking pictures. They want to sell their pictures

They do not allow people to bring phones or cameras at the activity, so you cannot take pictures and are obliged to buy their photos, which cost $100 and you need to buy the entire package. you cannot buy 2 or 3 photos only.

One of my kids was scared to swim with the dolphin and they did not allow me to switch with another of my kids. I have to pay for bringing the extra one while the other one did not do the activity.

the activity with the dolphin is not bad but it is really for children. People are neither fair nor nice, nobody can do anything for you.

The only thing they want is the money.

I definitely do not recommend it
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paulina V
2 contributions
Very sad experience!!! Not recommended
Jan 2021 • Couples
I am very upset about the conditions the animals live in. Today I saw 5 dolphins live in a small space and all the sharks were scared in a corner while all the people got in the water invading their space. I research this place and they leave the animals hungry so they can make tricks to the tourist for a price (food). I now understand why the dolphins were throwing a ball to te tourist so de can “play” ... it was for food.

I will never return to this place. I thought the animals where free and they attract them with food, my mistake not searching first. I don’t recommend going there. The dolphins are mostly captured because is very rarely they reproduce in captivity because of the stress.
Written January 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Isabelle_T
Edmonton, Canada22 contributions
Family Had A Blast
Feb 2020 • Family
We had booked Dolphin Island directly online because the Paradisus Punta Cana Resort activates representatives called Otium were not honest, and were trying to charge us more than was advertised on the Dolphin Island website. Even when we called them out on it by showing them the website pricing, they tried to cover up by saying that’s the booking early discount if you had booked a least so many days in advance. So beware and do your research before going through these resort activities representatives! Booking directly online includes direct resort transfers.

Our family and extended family had a blast (3 adults and 3 children - two 10 year olds and one 7 year old), and receive lots of swim time with the dolphins due to being in a group of 10 max. for the Royal Swim package. The children loved it and had a very memorable experience.

Would we pay ~$265 CDN per person ($195 USD) on the Royal Swim again? Absolutely not. We had wanted to experience it at least once in a more “natural” out in the ocean enclosures. We had great pictures which you had to purchase as well for ~$123 CDN ($90 USD) for 3 people (they include all the pictures, which we had 110 professional quality pictures) - we had reservations for 2 groups of 3 people. The photo pricing is based on the number of people under your reservation.

We were all glad we had done it at least once!
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Grupo_Interparks
Thank you very much for your comment, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Dolphin Island Park, we hope we can welcome you again very soon.
Written February 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Will Berry
Bourbonnais, IL3 contributions
Beware of the "observer only" option
Jan 2023
Overall we enjoyed this activity. My only complaint is that I paid $50 as an "observer" only meaning I did not intend to swim with the dolphins. When I arrived at the area I was kept far away from where they were and could barely see them swim with the dolphins. I felt it was inconsiderate and unfair for them to keep me that far away. I saw other guests complaining about the same thing.

Other than that they enjoyed the excursion.
Written January 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jack A
Montrose, UK5 contributions
Photo scam ruined the day
Dec 2022 • Couples
Overall a good day until you find out after that if you want photos you much purchase them all at 150 USD.. about £120, can’t buy just one or two. On top of that, I’ve you would like a picture of you with the Seal, it’s an additional $15.. I was expecting pictures to be pricey, but not that much, ruined the whole day for me personally.
Written December 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ronald Ramirez Guerrero
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic54 contributions
Surprise your kids with this Dolphin interaction, and create a memorable family experience!
Jun 2021
First of all, we would like to recommend the Supervisor at Grand Bávaro Princess, Mr Felix, who gave us an introduction that we could not say "no". He is very polite and had all the time to give us tips to make this trip enjoyable. Then, thanks to Alex Perez who coordinated and arranged a special time with my family. It was my son's Birthday, and let me tell you that after one week, he is still talking about it. Maybe that is what we have to give to our kids, more experiences with family like this. We had a morning trip which was more enjoyable because of the weather, especially if you have kids. The experience was amazing, and had a great interaction with Dolpnhin Eros which was very cute; as well as, the trainer was very kind, professional and always able to answer all questions about animals. His name is Alex. Good for you.
At the end of the trip, once we were getting ready to leave, they had a surprise for my son: a cake. It was a NICE detail which I can highlight. Thank you very much for such a good present.

Overall, it is a great experience to share a while with animals in their own habitat, and although maybe I will not do it again soon, it worth to surprise your kids with this kind of presents, instead another thing. Totally recommendable.

Thank you Dolphin Island team!!!
Written June 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helen D
Samos, Greece3 contributions
Dolphin Dream
Apr 2022
Had an enjoyable and lovely experience getting up close to these beautiful creatures. They are well looked after and have a special bond with their trainer. All I'd say is have enough money to cover the cost of photos so you can the memory home with you!
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SamuFigu
Porto District, Portugal153 contributions
Great amazing experience under water
Aug 2021 • Friends
Staff very cool and worried about the safety of all. Drinks, snacks and fruit available. Underwater activities were very safe and well organized. My wife was worried and all staff members helped her. Fotos at the end are a must: 55$ not expensive. We felt that on the boat there were to much people and almost no one had mask on. Price of the tour is about 90$ per person.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dad527
Greenwich, CT235 contributions
Poor experience
Apr 2021
Trip there took one hour though only 20 minutes away then waiting an hour for a 10 minute walrus show in burning sun followed by 40 minute wait to go the dolphins which was enjoyable though the water for the dolphin area is not very clean. Then they wanted you to wait 90 minutes to shop and buy photos before taking you back to your hotel...we took a taxi instead!
Written May 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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