Dolphins

This controversial activity is available in Veradero. I do not know if it is done with captive dolphins or dolphins in the wild. A simple google search should provide you with information. Cuba was a major player in the brokering and sale of wild dolphins to acquatic amusement parks several years back by the way. One of Che Guevara's daughters was associated with this business through her position with the National Acquarium.

Responsible Travel--Swimming with Dolphins

The Varadero Dolphinario is a captive lagoon, the beast are fenced in.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>In Varadero the beginning of the tour starts off at the dolphinarium where you have to pay $ 10 CUC to see the show and if you want to swim with the dolphins you have to pay $60 CUC for a half hour.

If you want a big photo with the dolphins like the above the prices is $ 10 CUC, or if you want a video swimming with the dolphins the price is $ 35 CUC <hr></blockquote>

Geocities

The dolphins are of the Taliban Albino variety. They are kept at Guantanemo Bay between engagements.

What you are probably about asking about is an excursion organized by Gaviota (but also sold by other Cuban tour operators like Cubanacan or Cubatur) called Crucero del Sol (google it up). The excursion is as follows:

You are picked up from your Varadero hotel sometime between 7:30am and 9:15am, depending on how close you are to the marina (the further up the peninsula you are, the later you will have to wake up). The bus takes you to the marina, where those in charge will tell tourists on which catamaran to go. There are 6 or 7 catamarans altogether, most of which have a capacity of 40 people. Mind that this excursion is so popular that sometimes it's impossible to find availability even a week before. The catamaran will start its engines and at some point you will be given snorkelling gear so as to see the reef. The quality of snorkeling depends on the wind and on the place they chose to stop for snorkelling; not all catamarans can stop at the same place, so sometimes it's pretty decent, sometimes very unimpressive. Once snorkelling time is over, tourists get on the catamaran once again and head to an open space in the ocean where a platform has been set up and a bunch of trained dolphins (the number varies from two to four) are confined within a spacious extense of water (bordered by stilts and some underwater net). You will be lined up on the platform and you will jump in the sea water in groups of five. The dolphins come up to you under the instructor's orders, they will kiss you in pairs and sometimes they will even "grab" you from your arms (which you put on their fins) and drag you around at full speed. For most people this is the highlight of the excursion. You can touch the dolphins (always do what the instructor tells you to and do NOT even pretend you are biing the dolphin; you will end up arrested - TRUST ME), make pictures with them (there is a professional photographer who will pass by all hotels and charge...10 CUC per big picture...bring your own camera), feed them etc. If the number of tourists is too big, it may look a bit too short, but ost people love this part. Then you will all go on to the catamaran once again and head to a tiny island called Cayo Blanco, where there is a white sand beach (which some people find "great" others mediocre), a restaurant and (what a surprise) a musical band playing Guantanamera and the like. You are given 1,5-2hrs to spend there for sunbathing, swimming and eating. Bring strong sun protection, although there is shade available. Once this whole thing is over, you all get on the catamaran and go back with the engines turned off, using the wind. You will be back at the marina at 17hrs, which means you will be back at your hotel by 18:15pm the latest.

The excursion is sold by Gaviota hotel desks at 85CUC and there are reductions for groups of people (not less than five, sometimes ten , but give it a shot). You can also by the excursion at Havana, in which case you pay more (around 110-120CUC) because transfer to/from Varadero is included (you will have to wake up much earlier). En route to Varadero you will stop at Bacunayagua,a spectacular bridge viewpoint. Regardless your start point, the price includes all drinks (yes, including alcoholic ones) on the catamaran and Cayo Blanco, as well as a lunch at the island which includes seafood and of course lobster. Sometimes the restaurant stuff will offer you "better and fresher" lobster for 5CUC, which of course goes to their pocket. Lately this has been stopped, due to stiff controls (Gaviota belongs to the army, mind you and the recent changes in its leadership have caused some small chaos), but the offer appears from time to .time

Most people seem to think it's a fantastic activity, despite the rather expensive price (although with the euro so high it's getting cheaper and cheaper). Some complain that the beach is not all that great, the food is very controversial (I've had complaints that it's awful while people from the same group will say it was the best lobster they've ever had) and that the catamaran crew were trying too hard for the tip (they do all sorts of dances, drink games and choreographies during sailing time). The overall outcome is quite positive I should say, but there are always some who won't like it. Staying at the Sandals, you will be one the last to leave (so you won't need to wake up too early) and you will be one of the first to be returned to your hotel.

This has nothing to do with the activity described by poster #2, which costs too much for what it offers and is very dull, imo. It is an option for those who fail to find a vacancy for Crucero del Sol or with very old people who are afraid they won't make it in the open sea.

Last remark: There is a 5-star hotel in Lima, Peru called Los Delfines. Its owner is a Mexican who built the hotel on the concept of having a couple of dolphins swimming in a pool, which is separated by a glass with the dining room (meaning you go downstairs to dine and you see the two dolphins swimming next and over you in a tank). The owner takes pride in "having saved these dolphins from the horrible conditions they were kept at in Cuba". They are kept in two tiny tanks, seperated from each other for several hours a day; there is a Peruvian NGO that checks their "health and happiness" and has credited the hotel with a license to keep them. The dolphins I have seen at Crucero del Sol had more space and seemed somewhat better off, I must say (but I am no dolphin psychologist).

Have fun.

They have a dolphin exprience in Freeport GBI. The dolphins often develop strong emotional attachments to the their trainers (male dolphin/ female trainers). Locals think this is kind of funny since so many of the trainers are unlikely to be involved with male humans.

They take the dolphins out for "walks" on the reef. The dolphins frequently stay out late after these "walks" playing with their wild cousins but invariably come home for supper.

. . . many of the ()female) trainers are unlikely to be involved with male humans.

You mean as in Ellen or Rosie types? :-)

I think I'd prefer a dolphin to some of the men I've know.

Patty

You'd have to be careful, one the dolphins broke a tourist's ribs swimming into her when he caught the scent of a female dolphin in the mood. Swam through one tourist and jumped two pens to be with his paramour. Romantic on a certain level I suppose . . . .

#8

I can just see the headline now:

"Dilettante Dies Dick-Dancing with Dolphins!"