Swim with dolphins in Cancun: where it is still legal, prices and transportation
Yes, you can still swim with dolphins in Cancun in 2026. Mexico’s July 2025 reform banned dolphin shows, captive breeding and specific contact — riding the animals, holding their fins and the foot push — but supervised swims remain legal. The two operators are Delphinus, with its Interactive Aquarium at La Isla (km 12.5 of the Hotel Zone) and six more locations, at 109–199.50 USD per person before online discounts; and Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres, from 1,599 MXN with a free ferry from Playa Langosta. The Hotel Zone dolphinarium at the old Ventura Park has been closed since October 2025.
Where you can swim with dolphins in Cancun today
| Facility | Where | Price (September 2026) | Transportation from the Hotel Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delphinus Interactive Aquarium | La Isla Shopping Village, Hotel Zone km 12.5 | Programs from 109 USD (Splash, 20 min) to 199.50 USD (Couple); The One, a private swim, 499 USD. Online discounts of about 20–30% | It is in the Hotel Zone. Optional shuttle: 10 USD per booking, up to 10 people |
| Delphinus Punta Cancun | Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Punta Cancun | Same program menu | In the Hotel Zone |
| Delphinus Playa Mujeres | Dreams Playa Mujeres, north of Cancun | Same program menu | About 20 minutes from downtown Cancun |
| Delphinus Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Xcaret and Xel-Há | El Cid marina in Puerto Morelos; next to Xcaret; inside Xcaret and Xel-Há parks | Same program menu; inside the parks it is an extra on top of admission | Some park packages include transportation |
| Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres | Isla Mujeres, in sea pens | Dolphin Encounter from 1,599 MXN, Connection from 1,899 MXN, Royal Connection from 2,199 MXN, with lower online prices | Free ferry at 9:00 a.m. from Playa Langosta (km 5); last ferry back at 5:30 p.m. |
Locations, prices and transportation from the official Delphinus and Dolphin Discovery websites, checked on September 30, 2026. Program names and prices change; confirm on the booking page.
If you want a dolphin swim that includes transportation from the Hotel Zone, the two simplest options are the Interactive Aquarium, which is already on the boulevard and offers a paid shuttle, and Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres, whose program includes the ferry from Playa Langosta. Dolphin Discovery’s program also includes a buffet, drinks, lockers and pool access on the island.
Dolphinaris and the facilities that closed
The dolphinarium in the Hotel Zone at the old Ventura Park — reported in the press as Dolphinaris Cancun and operated by Dolphin Discovery — was closed by PROFEPA, Mexico’s environmental enforcement agency, in October 2025. Its nine dolphins, several with serious illnesses, remain in federal custody with daily veterinary care; PROFEPA said in April 2026 that they will be moved only when their health allows.
Dolphinaris Barceló, inside the Barceló complex in the Riviera Maya, received a permanent closure order from PROFEPA on May 12, 2025, along with a fine of more than 7.5 million pesos and a criminal complaint over the treatment of a dolphin named Mincho. Neither Dolphinaris location takes bookings, so treat any website still selling them with suspicion.
Dolphin Discovery’s parent, The Dolphin Company, has been restructuring under U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy since March 2025. The company says its parks in Mexico, including Isla Mujeres, operate normally. Pay by card and keep the refund terms in writing.
What the 2025 reform bans and what it still allows
Banned
Shows and entertainment with cetaceans, breeding in captivity (except for conservation without profit), riding the dolphins, holding their fins, the foot push, and touching the eyes, blowhole or genital area.
Still allowed
Supervised swimming alongside the dolphins and limited interaction, as long as it avoids the prohibited contact. Dolphins already in captivity can stay with their current operators for the rest of their lives.
Changing
Dolphins must move from concrete pools to sea pens or facilities with natural water exchange. Reporting by Mongabay puts that deadline in April 2027. The regulation that details how is still unpublished as of August 2026.
In practice this means a program you book today may change before your trip. Ask whether the swim is in a sea pen or a pool, and what happens to your money if the rules or the facility’s authorization change between booking and travel.
What to ask before paying
The facility
Legal name, exact location, operator and current authorization.
The program
Exactly what the participant does: movements, time in the water, whether there is a platform, water depth and which contact is prohibited.
The participant
Age, height, mobility, pregnancy and guardian rules. At Dolphin Discovery, children aged 1–5 or under 1.20 m need a paying adult with them; at the Interactive Aquarium, children under 8 must be accompanied.
The refund
In writing: what happens if the legal status or authorization changes before your date.
Wild alternatives
If what you really want is to be near marine animals, the wild options here are better: whale sharks off Isla Mujeres from roughly mid-May to mid-September with authorized operators, sea turtle nesting on the beaches through the summer, and the reef at Puerto Morelos or Cozumel with a guide. Do not feed, chase, touch or pose for photos with wildlife.
Plan the day with the Cancun guide and the Isla Mujeres guide. If you are heading to the Riviera Maya parks, Xel-Há tickets and Xcaret tickets show the live price of admission; the dolphin programs inside are booked separately.
Traveler questions
Can you still swim with dolphins in Cancun?
Where is the best place to swim with dolphins in Cancun?
How much does it cost to swim with dolphins in Cancun?
Where can I book a dolphin swim with transportation from the Hotel Zone?
Is Dolphinaris Cancun open?
What are the alternatives to Dolphin Discovery in Cancun?
Sources
- Delphinus, locations and programswww.delphinusworld.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Delphinus, Interactive Aquarium Cancun: prices, hours and shuttlewww.delphinusworld.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres, programs, ages and ferrywww.dolphindiscovery.com.mx · checked 2026-09-30
- Diario Oficial de la Federación, July 16, 2025 decreedof.gob.mx · checked 2026-09-30
- PROFEPA, permanent closure of Dolphinaris Barcelówww.gob.mx · checked 2026-09-30
- Infobae citing PROFEPA, the closed Hotel Zone dolphinariumwww.infobae.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Mongabay, the legal limbo of captive dolphins in Mexicoes.mongabay.com · checked 2026-09-30
- Sal! Revista, The Dolphin Company restructuringwww.salrevista.com · checked 2026-09-30
