There’s nothing so exciting as planning an upcoming vacation. But as exciting as the planning stage can be, sometimes it can also feel a little overwhelming. When you only get a couple of weeks off a year, you want to make sure you plan the PERFECT vacation. Well, in our experience, a perfect vacation includes fun, adrenaline and lots of laughs. That’s why, if you’re headed to the Dominican Republic this year, we recommend you swim with the dolphins near Puerto Plata!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are most likely aware that the Caribbean is an area of the world that has been truly blessed with natural beauty. But of all the lovely nations and islands that make up the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic has to be one of the most geographically diverse and gorgeous.
In the DR, your eyes can feast on stunning beaches, rugged mountain scenery, desert scrublands and charming colonial architecture. Spend an afternoon down in the bays and coves where pirates once roamed, and watch thousands of migrating humpback whales bob and drift in the turquoise waters.
If you’re headed to the DR on vacation, you may be wondering where to visit and what to do. That’s easy!
Head for the charming town of Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Here you’ll find incredibly friendly locals, Caribbean music and a relaxing atmosphere. You’ll also find a plethora of fun activities like snorkeling and scuba diving. But we suggest you make some time to visit Ocean World and swim with the dolphins near Puerto Plata!
What is it about dolphins that has captured the hearts and minds of so many people?! Not only are these sea creatures naturally curious, they are also incredibly intelligent and friendly to boot! It’s no wonder so many people from around the world come to Ocean World on Puerto Plata each year to swim with these amazing creatures.
If you are someone who has always wondered what it would be like to swim with these magical dolphins, now is your chance to find out! Head to Ocean World to partake in one of their thrilling dolphin programs:
Who is this program for? Generally, children 8 years and older and anyone who is a strong swimmer and comfortable in the water. The Royal Dolphin Swim program will be an unforgettable experience.
The hour-long program will get you up-close-and personal to dolphins in their natural environment. You’ll start by partaking in a brief orientation and learn about dolphin behavior. If there’s time, your instructor will be happy to answer any question the group may have. Once all questions have been answered, it’s time to slip into the warm water to meet your new dolphin pals.
You won’t ever forget waiting in the water for the dolphins to show up. Suddenly, a ripple of water can be seen coming right at you! Just before it seems like the ripple will crash into you, your dolphin pal will pop his or her head out of the water to say hello! Try not to giggle your head off like you’re 10-years old all over again!
Once the meet and greet is over, you’ll have plenty of time to get acquainted with the dolphins. You can hug and kiss them and watch them frolic about. Then it’s time for some BIG thrills! You’ll get the opportunity to experience shallow water activities that include boogie boarding, foot pushes and the amazing dorsal tow.
So what do you do if someone in your group is too young or not a great swimmer? Don’t worry, Ocean World has an exciting program for you, too to Swim with Dolphins in Puerto Plata.
If someone in your party is not big enough or not that strong of a swimmer, then this is the program for you! The Dolphin Encounter program is also truly a memorable and unique experience. Not only will you learn all about bottlenose dolphin habitats, but you also learn about their behavior, how they communicate and hunt.
After a brief interactive orientation, you’ll also be able to ask any questions you may have about dolphins and how they live in the wild. Once the questions are answered, you and your party will climb down onto a platform that is partially submerged in the water and wait for the dolphins to arrive!
From here you’ll still be able to experience heart-warming hugs and kisses from your new dolphin pals. You’ll also get to watch your dolphin friends dance around and do some pretty spectacular acrobatics. It’s hard not to think that dolphins really like to show off in front of humans when you see their funny antics. It’s like everything they do is an attempt to get a laugh out of us!
The trainers at Ocean World work hard to make sure this is a memorable experience for you and your party. Whether you partake in the Dolphin Swim or Dolphin Encounter program, your time at Ocean World promises to be incredibly special.
While the bottlenose dolphins you will meet at the facility are definitely the stars of the show, they aren’t the only animals ready to interact with you at Ocean World. There is also the sea lion encounter program and shark swim and encounter programs. Both are sure to get your adrenaline going. Plus, in between these shows you will have the opportunity to see colorful displays of fish, Lovebirds, Toucans, Iguanas and other native creatures.
Ocean World is the perfect setting for a birthday party or anniversary party, or any get-together with friends and family. The facility offers guests to use of their Ocean World terrace, a great option for entertaining, that overlooks the Marina.
Watch a beautiful sunset while enjoying music, snacks and a variety of beverages. This is one of the hottest spots for locals and visitors in all of Puerto Plata to hang out and enjoy time with loved ones.
Whether you hang out at Ocean World in the afternoon, interacting with amazing sea animals, or in the evening, enjoying a glass or two of wine, the staff of Ocean World genuinely cares that you have the best time possible. It is this care and attention, along with the spectacular setting and programs, that makes Ocean World such a great place to make memories.
The Ocean World facility is located in beautiful Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. If you are staying in the immediate area (we’ll talk about accommodations in just a bit), you have a couple of different options to get to and from the dolphin facility.
You should easily be able to flag a taxi from your hotel and take that to the Ocean World facility. The trip should be around 10 minutes and will cost you about $5 per person.
But there’s an even cheaper option!
The Ocean World facility offers free shuttle service from most hotels and resorts in the area. Just give them a call to set this up. It doesn’t get any more convenient or affordable than this option!
Puerto Plata has no shortage of accommodation options but here are a couple of our favorites.
The Royal Suites of Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort are located in Puerto Plata just a half block from the gorgeous Cofresi Beach. This puts you right next door to the Ocean World facility.
The resort offers spacious deluxe and standard one- and two-bedroom suites in a lush tropical setting. The lovely Mediterranean-style buildings surround a gorgeous pool. You’ll also have access to tennis courts.
The resort offers guests multiple pool bars and restaurants as well as a fully equipped gym, day spa, a kid’s club and multiple beach clubs. No matter what you are hoping your vacation becomes, these suites make the perfect setting.
Cofres, Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
Phone: +1 250-884-7070
Same great location, but different amenities. Here’s what you get when you opt for the all-inclusive resort experience at Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort & Spa:
If your budget allows, the all-inclusive option just makes your vacation so much nicer!
Puerto Plata 57000
Dominican Republic
Phone: +1 809-970-7777
While we definitely feel swimming with dolphins at Ocean World should be at the top of your list of fun activities, there are some other excellent activities to be had in and around Puerto Plata.
There is far more to the Dominican Republic than just gorgeous stretches of golden sand beach. You can’t visit this nation without exploring the rainforest, and that’s exactly what you’ll be able to do on this waterfalls adventure.
Take a hike deep into the rainforest to explore Damajagua Waterfalls. You’ll get to jump and slide down the falls under the supervision of your guide. This is pretty thrilling and you’ll see so much of the unique flora and fauna in the area!
Cam. de Damajagua
Damajagua 57000
Dominican Republic
Phone: +1 809-272-1438
If this is your first-time visiting Puerto Plata, we definitely recommend you try this fun city tour! You’ll explore the historic Fortress of San Felipe, tour the Brugal Rum Distillery, visit the Amber Museum, taste hand-crafted chocolates at the Del Oro Chocolate Factory, and ride a cable car to the top of Mount Isabel. Plus, lunch and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
There’s just something nice about being shown around by a friendly guide and really getting to immerse yourself into a new culture. Plus, with free lunch and snacks and free pick-up and drop-off, you can’t go wrong!
Antigua Via Ferrea
Puerto Plata 57000
Dominican Republic
Phone: +1 809-972-6876
If you’re someone that loves fishing, then you’ll want to fish with Captain Nelson of High Z’s Fishing Tour. This guy has over 36 years of experience, so he knows exactly where to take you and how to ensure the safety of everyone on board. If you can’t catch a trophy fish with Captain Nelson, you can’t catch one with anyone! You will have the opportunity to catch fish like Sailfish, Marlin, Mahi Mahi, and Wahoo.
Ocean World, Calle Principal #3
Cofresi 57000
Dominican Republic
Phone: +1 809-299-6336
The climate in the Dominican Republic is very tropical. Much of the year is sunny and warm and the average annual temperatures hover right around 80°F (26° C). Of course, the higher up in the mountains you go, the cooler the days will be. For instance, temps in the Cordillera Central can drop into the 60s F (17° – 18° C), whereas it’s not uncommon to see temperatures above 90°F (32°C) on the coastal plains.
As far as rain, that changes with the seasons. The rainy season for the north coast, where Puerto Plata and Ocean World are, runs from November to January. For the rest of the country, the rain falls more regularly between May and November. But don’t worry, during the rainy season, the rain tends to fall in the afternoons for just a little while, and then the sun comes back out to play!
Yes, there certainly can be. In fact, the DR is squarely within the hurricane belt. Interestingly, hurricanes claim a special history in Dominican culture. It is said that the name “hurricane” originated from the indigenous Taino people’s word for the fierce and destructive storms that can batter the island: “hurakans.”
When Europeans started arriving in the Caribbean during the 16th century, they had never seen weather like they saw here. In fact, they had no word for these powerful tropical storms, and so they borrowed the word “hurakan” and that word was then incorporated into Spanish as huracán. Hurricane is the anglicized form of the word.
Generally, the Dominican experiences hurricane season from June to November, with September being the most active month. Of course, it’s impossible to predict when storms will come. We can tell you that historically, the DR has been hit with a major storm every quarter-century, but the island can be affected by at least outer bands of storms more frequently – closer to every five years.
Having said all of this, the islanders are used to life in a tropical paradise that deals with its fair share of storms. And for this reason, they are always prepared. You can rest assured new construction, as well as much of the older construction, is up to hurricane code and drainage is sufficient around the entire country. Because the DR has become such a hot spot for globe trotters, they are taking precautions to ensure their visitors are always safe.
So, no matter what time of year you decide to visit the Dominican Republic, you can be sure your time here will be safe and secure. But, depending on when you come, you may have to beat off other tourists for that perfect spot on the beach. Most people enjoy the milder temps had here in the spring or fall. If you want to stay away from the crowds, and you don’t mind warmer temps, then you may want to come in the summer.
The Dominican Republic always has something fun going on. From art shows to food shows and giant rowdy parades, The DR’s festivals show the entire array of cultural influences which make this country so unique!
Dominican Republic Chamber of Commerce
I’ve had the pleasure of traveling around the world, and I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in the Caribbean. And I have to say one of my all-time favorite places to visit is Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
If you are headed to the DR on vacation this year, you’re sure to have a fabulous time. I highly recommend you spend some time in Puerto Plata and, while there, be sure to visit the Ocean World facility to swim with the dolphins. There is no better way to make memories in my opinion!
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