The Best Places to See and Swim With Dolphins

April 14 marks National Dolphin Day, a day set aside and dedicated to celebrating one of the world's most friendly and intelligent animals. However, these magnificent creatures are certainly worthy of love and appreciation year-round. Fortunately, travelers have no shortage of amazing destinations to visit where they can encounter dolphins either in their natural habitat or in a protected environment with trained professionals. Whether touching noses and shaking fins in shallow waters or watching them from afar on a scenic cruise, these places are guaranteed to both educate and inspire dolphin lovers through an array of unforgettable experiences.

South Carolina's Hilton Head Island is a great destination for travelers looking to reconnect with nature and experience awe-inspiring wildlife up close, including Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, which visitors can experience in their natural habit during a scenic dolphin cruise and nature tour along Broad Creek. Lowcountry is also kayak-friendly, meaning visitors can venture out on their own in search of these majestic marine mammals.

Bimini in the Bahamas is home to both Atlantic Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphins. Visitors can experience them on the Bimini Scuba Center's "Wild Dolphin Safari." This adventure allows guests to dive with a pod of dolphins and learn helpful tips on how best to interact with them. Travelers with a true passion can also schedule a special dolphin retreat in Bimini with WildQuest. Additionally, Atlantis Paradise Island guests can experience one of the world's largest and most sophisticated marine-mammal habitats at Dolphin Cay, where they can swim, paddleboard and kayak with their seafaring friends.

Visitors to Cancun and Mexico's Riviera Maya can look forward to a once-in-a-lifetime dolphin swim experience with Dolphinaris, which offers a handful of convenient locations throughout the region including the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort where guests can select the dolphin encounter that best suits them, whether its a friendly meeting in shallow water or a pulse-pounding swim including a thrilling dorsal ride.

The Florida Keys are one of the best places in the U.S. to experience dolphins up close and it doesn't get any better than Marathon, where guests staying at the Hawk's Cay Resort can encounter Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins while learning about conservation. The Dolphin Research Center also hosts unique encounters and interactive programs designed to not only educate but entertain.

Travelers visiting Jamaica will have access to one-of-a-kind dolphin encounters and swimming sessions in places like Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Guests can spend the day exploring Dolphin Cove at both locations or receive exclusive access to these remarkable creatures by booking a stay at Moon Palace Jamaica, which features its own dolphin habitat in the on-site Dolphin Cove.

Between SeaWorld Orlando and its all-inclusive day resort Discovery Cove, families visiting Orlando will have plenty of opportunities to experience dolphins up close. The latter became the first autism-certified animal interaction park in the U.S. in 2019 and allows guests to get nose to nose with these captivating mammals as well as learn about dolphin habits, behaviors and the animal's impressive communication abilities.

They don't call Las Vegas the Entertainment Capital of the World for nothing. Guests staying at The Mirage will want to check out Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, where they can explore the enchanting world of Bottlenose Dolphins right from the famous Las Vegas Strip. In addition to meeting the dolphins and working side by side with a trainer, guests can paint with and even enjoy yoga alongside the dolphins.