Holguín Travel Forum

How much does it cost to swim with the dolphins in Holguin, Cuba?

I'm afraid I dont know the cost but I did a swim with dolphins off Varadero and really regretted it. the dolphins seem unhappy and bored and the standard of care/ enclosures very poor. I love Cuba and I understand the financial restraints that Cubans work under but I was very upset with the dolphins situation and could not recommed this trip to anyone who cares about animal welfare.

Before you decide to do this please consider some of the facts.
Wild Dolphins travel up to 40 miles a day diving hundreds of feet under the ocean spending 80% of their time underwater. They travel in pods where babies accompany their mothers for years the pods communicate by echo and form deep attachments and a family like heirachy and structure.
Captive dolphins are kept in small corralled enclosures trained mainly by food deprivation to perform tricks. The emotional distress of being seperated from the pod causes stress and anxiety with the death rate being 6x that of those in the wild. The captures are often violent and the majority do not survive their first 3 months in captivity.
Some of the tricks are things you would never see a wild dolphin do unless under extreme duress. The practise of beaching themselves due to their extreme weight crushes internal organs. The swimming around in circles or staying stationary are also signs of their distress as dolphins are forever in movement.
I understand the desire to to interact with these wonderful creatures as they are so very beautiful. It is something I strongly desire to do myself but I will wait until one day a dive or swim may one day bring such a magical moment. make an informed choice