Xcaret Eco Park

[misty9960]

Has anyone ever done the dolphin swim here? I was searching on the internet and saw that they also have a dolphin swim. I have already booked the Dolphin Discovery in Cozumel at Chankanaab Park but, from the pictures this place looks nicer. Any comments from anyone who has visited this park. Our kids are 10 & 7. There seems to be more to do at Xcaret. Thanks for any tips!

 

[loveBond]

We're trying to book for the same time (I think) and trying to get the best BANG for our buck!
Hope this bumps this ? up there to get us some answers!!
thanks to all who help!

 

[PatriciaH]

I have done the dolphin swim twice at Xcaret and the encounter once. I love Xcaret- there is a lot to do but you will not see it all on a cruise. The night show starts around 8pm and it is awesome. Too bad most cruise line people miss it (it is included in admission.) The park has two dolphin swim areas-I like the one out near the beach area much better than the interior park one. It is real ocean water which is nicer than Discovery Cove. You are also allowed to use water cameras and swim with the dolphins for much longer. There are also many more dolphins with you during the swim than DC. It is well worth the money. They claim they let the dolphins go and they come back and forth between the park and the ocean. I don't know if this is still (or ever was) true but it would be great. They said they have become attached to the trainers and want the food too

Xcaret also has an aviery, orchard farm, mushroom farm, small ruins, monkeys, jaguars, 2 underground rivers to snorkel through, an aquarium, a beautiful butterfly pavilion, several restaurants, beach area with floats, snorkel area, snuba, horseback riding, etc..!

Chankanaab Park is nice but much smaller than Xcaret.

 

[disneydawn]

More questions...how far is Xcaret from the cruise ship? Do you have to go through DCL? can you just take acab? Any info is appreciated.

 

[Doctor P]

As stated in your other thread, Xcaret is on the Mexican mainland and requires a tender (approximately 30-40 minutes on the boat) and then land transportation from the dock in Playa Del Carmen to Xcaret. This is one excursion that is not recommended that you try to do on your own from a cruise ship docking in Cozumel.

 

[loveBond]

You don't happen to live in IA do ya? We lived there a few yrs bk in Burlington.

You mentioned not doing this on your own from the ship in Cozumel. How else could you? Are you meaning if and when we are there to stay for an extended amt of time?

You sure have made it sound WAY better than any of DCL's Dolphin deals.

Is there a way I can find out more on how we can enjoy this from the ship?

Sorry to know so little. Little time leaves me w/a lot of ?'s.

Thanks for your help so far!

 

[Doctor P]

loveBond,

Most of the people who have talked about doing Xcaret on their own have done so from Cancun or another place on the Mexican mainland. Cozumel is an island and requires you to get to the Mexican mainland before you can even begin to make your land trek to Xcaret. There are many things that can potentially go wrong in your plans with so many things that need to be coordinated. Before making the decision to go on the Disney organized excursion to Tulum I talked with several people who I knew and trusted who had lived on both Cozumel and the Cancun area on the Mexican mainland. Consistent with the advice received from fellow travelers, they unanimously said that this is one type of excursion that you do not want to try on your own. There are just too many variables for someone on a fixed schedule and not fully familiar with the territory. If you miss a tender and don't get back for some reason, DCL will not wait for you. In addition, if you have problems on the mainland there will not be a DCL rep available as there is on the Tulum/Xcaret excursion through DCL (yes, they send CM's with on this excursion with first aid capabililites and as a DCL rep).