Here's what the ad copy says about Xcaret:

Xcaret, sacred nature's paradise, used to be one of the most important ceremonial centers and mayan ports.

Nowadays is an incredible eco-arqueological park where you are going to spend the time of your life. Travel through centuries and enjoy the Mayan ride, an unforgettable experience floating for thirty minutes through the underground rivers. Enjoy the Caribbean ocean swimming at the beach, lagoons, wells, canals, cenotes. Visit the botanical garden, the wild birds sanctuary, the horses stable, the aquarium and a thousand and one more attractions.

Xcaret (Shkar-et') is close to Playa del Carmen, on the coast highway. This place is pretty over-hyped (sort of a theme park in many ways), but it is beautiful. It costs US$25 each to get in. They advertise that you can swim with dolphins. Here's the deal... If you get there first thing in the morning before they open, and hot-foot it over to the dolphin area, you can make a reservation for sometime during the day (read that as you must stick around until your turn comes up - but that's OK, as there's plenty to do). You can then pay US$60 each to watch a short informational video and swim for about 5-10 minutes with captive dolphins.

While this may sound like quite an expensive activity, it was one of my family's high points in our trip. The dolphins are quite friendly (where else can they just swim around and get paid in fresh fish?), and it's quite fascinating to be that close to them. Part of the swim involves participation in some behaviors they've taught the dolphins. The first, and by far the most amazing was this: you lay in the water face-down with your legs together and your arms out, forming a T. Two dophins then swim behind you and power you across the enclosure by pushing the bottoms of your feet with their snouts. Our group of about fifteen people had a 93% success rate - quite amazing considering that the dolphins have to synchonize their efforts to push you straight, and with no action at all on your part. The second behavior had the participants line up in the water, then dolphins then swam under, behind, and then jumped over our heads. After the swim, you have the opportunity to watch (and subsequently purchase if you wish) video highlights of the swim. I don't think anyone in the group was dissapointed by the experience.

The park has a little of everything, interesting animals, and is really a fun day.

You don't have enough Zorkmids.  Go back...