Private Tour

Private Wild Dolphin Encounter in Puerto Vallarta

Overview

Available languages

English

French

Spanish

3 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Bahía de Banderas, where Puerto Vallarta is located, is one of those natural environments where bottle nose dolphins live year round. During this tour, you will be able to to observe the dolphins from a distance and swim in an area close by them

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Infant meals not included

Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

Wheelchair accessible, but diifcult to interact-get off and on the boat

Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to Harbor master indications beacuse of unsafe weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Due to covid restrictions, there is a maximum of 8 passengers per booking

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Professional guide

Bottled water

Lunch

Use of Snorkelling equipment

Gratuities

Souvenir photos and t-shirts (available to purchase)

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Marina Vallarta Port fee

What To Expect

Vallarta Natours

This is the meeting place where your guide will greet you

Admission Not Applicable

Bahia de Banderas Municipality

We will be cruising in the bay, looking for resident pods of bottlenose dolohins. The guide will give you as much info as needed. Once behavior has been assessed, we will get into the water to have the dolohins leasing the way. It's rgeur choice, we don't feed them, nor push them to do anything they don't want to. It's in and out of the water as many times as possible to have more chances of getting a better interaction We will have lunch and then return to land

3 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Private Wild Dolphin Encounter in Puerto Vallarta

Reviews

5.00

13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Highlight of our week!
TCaruso29,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thalia is incredibly knowledgeable. We learned a great deal about dolphins and whales. Capt. Angel got us out into the bay where we found the dolphins and got to jump in the water where they were swimming. Amazing! This was the highlight of the trip! The turkey sandwiches on the boat—best Thanksgiving we could ask for. Definitely recommend this tour.
Magical Experience
Mike K,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Absolutely incredible experience. We saw dolphins continuously for nearly three hours. We swam with them several times. Our guide, Talia, knows these dolphins so well and provided an educational and surreal experience. She is the real deal marine biologist and it is very evident that the dolphins know and trust her. They follow her boat and were so curious and playful. She was also great with kids (10 & 7) and helped make them feel comfortable and enjoy every minute. Highly recommended!
Highly recommend!
Mml4dk,
Jul 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This excursion was the highlight of our trip. The guide and captain were wonderful and very knowledgeable. Ypu can tell that they love what they do. There were so many dolphins. They would swim under and around us. This is the second tour we have done with Vallarta Natours and we will definitely be back for another in the future. Highly recommend!!
Magical dolphin encounter
Roam258950,
Feb 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We spent a magical half day swimming with dolphins and watching whales. Thalia was so knowledgeable and made sure the best interests of the animals always came first. This experience was a highlight of our time in Puerto Vallarta. I can't recommend it more highly!
Never ever support dolphins in captivity - DO THIS WILD ENCOUNTER!
stringsbysarah,
Dec 31, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our private excursion with Thalia & Angel to search/find/encounter wild dolphins was absolutely incredible. Honestly, we were a little hesitant because we did not want to negatively influence the dolphins in any way. We have done snorkeling & whale watching with Natours in the past so I knew if we were ever going to experience wild dolphins, we had to do it with them - they are so respectful, compassionate, knowledgeable and safe. Thalia makes it absolutely clear that the dolphins come to US if they want and if they don’t want to, that’s the way it is. But the dolphins were inquisitive and independent. We learned so much about dolphin behavior and communication. We left the boat loving the sea - and Thalia & Angel - even more than when we got on. Every facet of the trip was fabulous, clean, safe, delicious lunch, comfortable accommodations (even for my older parents) and they took great photos to share with us. THIS is the only way to experience wild dolphins; totally worth the investment of money & time!
Excellent private excursion
fortyniner1340,
Nov 29, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thalia and Angel provided such a wonderful experience that I am ready to go again. We arranged a private excursion as we were arriving on a cruise ship. The 3 of us had multiple opportunities to swim and interact with some juvenile dolphins that are part of a pod who's territory is on the north side of the bay. This would be a great excursion for active adults as well as older children and teens. We also saw whales, manta rays and did some fantastic snorkeling. Thalia provided lots of information about the bay and its inhabitants. Totally enjoyable day.
The Champagne of Ocean Tour
mohnishm822,
Sep 1, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
There is pizza everywhere and then there is the really good pizza that compels you to close your eyes and moan a little as it does its thing to your brain. Thats is how I will describe the excursion with Thalia and her team. I have been on 6 rides so far since last year and I could never have enough. She has created this wonderful relationship with the dolphins where they let her know when its okay to jump into the water and play with them. Her in depth insight of the marine life is a joy to soak in.
Amazing experience!!
UshaBud,
Aug 30, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Once in a lifetime experience of swimming with the dolphins and what made it extra awesome was Thalia. She is extremely passionate about what she does, very knowledgeable and shares valuable information about Dolphins. She made the entire experience fun and has a very friendly personality. She even helped my sister overcome her fear of the water by getting her to jump in and staying by her side the whole time we snorkeled. I highly recommend her tour. Thank you Thalia for this wonderful experience.
Swimming with dolphins
DeepaK403,
Aug 30, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thalia and team are very professional and experienced. Thalia was with us, she is a marine biologist and is very knowledgeable about the marine life there. She knows many 9f the dolphins by names. She and her team are highly recomended.
Unforgettable
vanesaa756,
Oct 1, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Swimming with wild dolphins in such a beautiful place as Banderas Bay and with the guidance of Thalía, was an incredible experience. The treatment of Thalía and Captain Angel throughout the tour was excellent. They are very professional and nice. They adapted very well to the needs of my family (an elderly person with walking problems and an adult with Down syndrome with fear of water). We are all very very grateful. I'm definitely going back to take the whale watching tour!