Booked for the Dolphins, Fell in Love with Roberto the Manatee: A Travel Agent’s Review

 

Dolphins, Manatees & Sea Lions: An All-Inclusive Excursion That Delivered Big Smiles

This excursion turned out to be one of those experiences that sticks with you long after you’re back on the ship. From start to finish, it was engaging, well organized, and packed with memorable moments for our whole group.

First, the logistics. Everything ran smoothly. I purchased tickets ahead of time and they were delivered straight to the cabins. This made the morning feel easy instead of rushed. Once we arrived at port Cozumel, we were impressed with how easy it was to navigate our way to the excursion. It was well marked and easy to find. After signing our waivers we were transported to Chankanaab Park.

I was impressed with how well the facility was set up. There are changing rooms, plenty of life vests for every size and clear rules that keep everyone safe… including no sunglasses or phones in the water, which makes total sense once you realize how easy it would be to lose them to the dolphins forever.

The experience itself was unforgettable. Getting up close with the animals felt both exciting and surprisingly personal. I honestly can’t decide if I enjoyed the dolphins more or “Roberto the manatee”… and that’s saying something, because Roberto completely stole my heart. Add in the playful sea lion show and it became one of those moments where everyone in the group was smiling nonstop.

One thing that really stood out was how photo-friendly this excursion is. They took over 400 shots with our group! The pictures were incredible, especially with such a sizable group. Yes, the photo packages are a little on the pricey side, but the quality is fantastic and worth considering for the memories alone.

Meet Roberto!

Just a very important tip:

You must download the photos using their free app before you leave the facility. If you don’t, you get nothing later. Trust me, set that reminder in your brain immediately.

The venue also has a souvenir shop, a buffet, and a bar, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed and all-inclusive. You can rent lockers for $10, and when you return your key, you get part of that back, which felt like a nice little win at the end of the day.

Outside the facility, you’ll find several local shops that can be a bit of a hard sell, but honestly, that became part of the fun. The vendors love to negotiate, and we leaned right into it. There were laughs, playful bargaining, and even a couple celebratory shots along the way. One of my favorite moments was watching a shop owner create a custom-name bracelet on the spot. The speed and skill were amazing, and it turned into the perfect personalized souvenir.

When we returned to the port area, we still had time to explore the shopping plaza, which had everything from shirts and keepsakes to those unforgettable watermelon Jello-shots. It’s one of those spots where you can always find something for everyone back home… or at least something fun for yourself.

Highly recommend this little adventure!

REMEMBER~ 

If this post has you daydreaming about your next getaway, let’s turn that thought into plans! Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing cruise, organizing a group trip, celebrating a milestone, or just itching for a change of scenery, On Par Destinations is here to make travel easy and stress-free! Drop a comment or send a message anytime.

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