Swim with Dolphins in Puerto Vallarta | My Niece15th Birthday Gift

Finding myself out of town for a few weeks visiting relatives, I was ready to start packing again and set out on the journey back to Puerto Vallarta. Was approximately 10 pm when my wife received a call from my sister-in-law, asking when we would return to Vallarta and the possibility that my niece would come with us since she would be celebrating her 15th birthday and wanted to spend it on the beach as a birthday present.

–Of course! Was the response of my wife right away, and I was so happy to be able to fulfill my niece’s wish’ and a bit surprised that my niece has chosen that trip as a gift, especially at that age that here in Mexico for a girl it is such a big event!

Was at the moment when my wife asked me the following question –What have you thought about what we could give her as a birthday gift? -Think about it and tell me later.

–What did you say?  I was trying to get out of the almost hypnotic induced sleep mode of a boring plot from a TV series I was watching in bed. Was at that moment that my insomnia was triggered. – Thank you very much, my love, I already suffer regularly!

The truth, I had not given it much importance, what problem is it to bring along one more passenger in your car? I also thought – cool, the girl wants to go to the beach with us, and how beautiful it is of her that she does not ask her parents for those increasingly unreal birthday gifts that go from those spectacular celebrations to beach trips that seem more like a premature spring break than family parties.

What I was not considering by continuing thinking like a Man or using only my masculine brain side, is what it really represents for a girl of that age, the desire to fulfill the dream of her 15th birthday celebration.

These celebrations have as a requirement to be unique, be remembered for a lifetime, and have the evidence to show to all their friends from school. Oh yes, this is also important.

You want to create that memory for your loved ones in the most positive way because as far as I remember when I turned 15 years old, a classmate intentionally makes me contracted chickenpox so I only remember pure itching and isolation in my room seeing myself covered with a white ointment, very upset and unhappy.

I was Meditating and keeping thinking about that matter – I did not want my niece to remember her birthday on the beach and revive her trip with a photo where her uncle is seated under the beach umbrella drinking beer from a liter bottle and showing a tremendous belly burned by the sunlight as evidence.

Finally, a moment of inspiration.

Then the enlightenment finally came to me as divine inspiration. NO, rather it came to my mind after remembering that during one of the job trips that I made in my life, it was the commotion at the airport of a family during New Year’s Eve, due to bad weather, our flight was canceled causing that would not reach the destination until next day canceling the activities for this family they already have booked and one of these was the Swim with the dolphins.

Witnessing the great drama that a young girl, gave to her parents screaming and with nonstopping tears. –That was the only reason for this trip! She cried out loud to her parents, and all of us who were stranded there at the gate would realize. I was moved by the sadness and frustration of the girl and her family.

So after recalling this event and that girl, I had found a perfect gift, actually more than a gift, an experience.

Swimming with dolphins. Yes, this would be my big surprise and I wanted to keep the suspense even to my wife who slept soundly without realizing the whole odyssey worthy of a movie that was going through my head and keep wondering, –How does she sleep so fast and deeply? Is this a feminine thing? Please I want someone to explain to me!

The next day very early to my surprise, my niece arrived. I had not finished packing and checking the car. On her face, I saw that look of joy before the trip and I wanted to make it last longer, now she would become my challenge, for her to return home with an even bigger smile!

Here we go! We hit the highway and onto this little mini-adventure. While I was driving and looking at the road, I kept meditating on my surprise plan and how to carry it out. I know some acquaintances in Puerto Vallarta who could help or advise me on how and where to do it and if they have had any experience like swim with dolphins from which they could give me their feedback and if could be worth it as a gift for my niece, otherwise I would do another activity such as snorkeling boat trip or whale watching.

After driving for several hours, I looked to my right side to ask my wife if they weren’t hungry or if they wanted to stop for a few minutes at the next gas station, and guess what, both were sleeping, my wife and niece!

Wondering once again, is this sleeping thing something only for women?

We got safely and happily at home, having my plan in mind, I immediately took action before my wife could ask me, I wanted to keep it as a surprise for her too but first needed to book it so I could confirm to them, I did not want to excite them and then disappoint both of them if I was not able to find a spot. So I looked in the contact book that I kept at home, I had a business card from a friend who worked in tourism and wanted to check if he could help me.

Bingo! My friend still had contact with one of the water parks in the city and he could sell me the package of swimming with dolphins if I wanted or do it directly via the internet and book it.

The truth was that he gave me a lot of information on how to do it although it motivated me to buy it as soon as possible due to the high demand; I thought that after all, he is a sales agent and it was his job to convince me to buy. I decided not to rush my decision and wait for a little as I wanted to talk first to some of my friends and get their opinion of the service in general if any have had that experience.

Only one of them that I was able to reach have done this before and when he told me, I could feel the emotion expressing many details and reliving those moments over the phone. End of the call.

Now I was a hundred percent convinced. I was looking for this, that when somebody asks her about her birthday present, she will respond with a large smile of happiness and excitement by just remembering again that everlasting moment. -It was such a great experience!

This thought was the trigger and then I made the reservation online. I realized that my friend was telling me the truth, there was a lot of demand. I was able to get a spot, not at the desired time but more importantly, the same date as my niece’s birthday! Yeah!

Now very happy, I decided to tell them, wishing with my heart that my niece did not have a phobia of dolphins! I went to the room where they talked with my sister-in-law via mobile and my wife had activated the loudspeaker so that my niece could hear and participate. I heard when my sister-in-law asked them how the trip to Puerto Vallarta had been, which they responded as if they were mouth synchronized:

–We are very tired from the trip! Followed by a sigh they answered.

– Seriously? Are you both tired? I asked, – How come if I drove all the way while you girls were sleeping!

Anyway, I didn’t want to argue anymore, I was happy and decided to tell them about my big surprise.

I would have liked to have my camera ready and be able to take a picture of the reaction that the two of them had when they found out about my birthday present surprise. My wife asked me how I had come up with that idea since not for a moment did she ever imagine something like that, she just thought that we would have a picnic on the beach and that I would drink beer, as usual; -If you had NOT fallen SLEEP after you asked me, you would have known right away, I told her. (Never try to be sarcastic with your wife, if you want to live for many years.)

I think that my niece and my wife did not sleep for the first time, now they were looking for what to wear and what not to wear, etc. Was around midnight when something important came up and I was unaware nor have any idea, as I was immersed in the emotion and trying to sleep after a very long day.

Surprise! – Who is the surprised one now?

Happy with the reaction they have, I was feeling like a champion and proud of myself, my wife asked me something again that made me get out of bed and investigate. 1.- if she could be able to take a camera, she didn’t want to lose any detail; 2.- In addition to a swimsuit, if wearing goggles is allowed since she needed to protect her eyes from the water, 3.- if there was a place to put her clothes, 4.- if it was necessary to swim as my wife did not know if my niece was able to swim, etc.

Another sleepless night I thought, it is true, all this information is important to know before making the reservation, what would happen if you are not able to swim? The activity is precisely and literally noted, Swim with dolphins! Duh!

I sent a text message to my friend hoping that just like me, he was not asleep. Surprise! He answered my message and almost all my doubts, except the one about what would happen if I had booked the swim with dolphins and the participant did not know how to swim. My friend only advised me in going to the park anyway and wait for another experience called Dolphin Encounter which is perfect for people who do not know or wish to swim and the dolphin comes towards you while you are standing on a shallow platform, very simple and safe for the participant. I still had to wait for the next day.

In the morning and preparing for our experience is when I confirmed my greatest fear of the whole night. My niece couldn’t swim! Oops, trust the good luck and we headed to the park.

We drove about 30 minutes and arrived at the facilities, I was surprised by the number of people who were lined up and how organized the place was. There was park staff filtering visitors at the entrance to direct them to the correct window to redeem their tickets or reservation number, but I needed to do an exchange of the activity and most importantly, the possibility of doing it the same day.

Fortunately, there was no problem since there was a time frame with available spaces ended up reserving the original schedule that initially wanted and for us to enjoy the other activities available in the park throughout the day that are included with your ticket.

Dolphin Encounter – What an experience!

The Dolphin experience was fantastic! Perhaps for many, this is something normal or accessible, but for us in Mexico, it is not so accessible, the cost per person varies from $70 to 150 dollars depending on the activity.

Believe me that after seeing the reaction she had, the smile, and the expression that she still keeps when someone asks her about it, Yes, it was completely worth every single penny of the cost of the ticket.

I remembered the girl from the airport and I understood that feeling and from a distance, I thanked her for giving me that idea and wishing she could have realized her dream, hoping that she was able to swim so for she could not miss the chance to swim with the dolphins!

For my part, I would like now to be able and fulfill the dream of my other little niece, who is turning 15th in a couple of years, and guess what? After hearing the experience directly from her older sister, she has now asked her parents to come with us to Puerto Vallarta.

She has not told me anything either my wife, about what she hopes or wants to do, but she has already started taking swimming lessons! I think my little niece wants us to give her the same “Surprise”.

Now I’m prepared and definitely, I would love to be able to give my other little niece that great life experience as well, the satisfaction of drawing a big smile on their faces, is priceless.

The picture below is Amairany, my dear niece!

Are you planning to visit Puerto Vallarta?

In case, you have a trip planned to Vallarta and you are thinking of one activity for the family, without a doubt, this is an excellent activity worth doing.

I’m going to leave you the link below to the park where I made the reservation in case, you need it and where you can find more information about the Dolphin Encounter & Swimming with Dolphins also other different activities you could find there, and according to your budget, you can get the most out of your visit.

I hope you have enjoyed my story and if you have any questions about the above that I can help with or need any piece of advice that I can give you according to my experience, please leave me your comment or send me a message so I can give some recommendations.

Looking forward to hearing from you!