Luxury camping at Atlantis Paradise Island? Yes, please. In fact, it might just be the most unforgettable way to experience the Bahamas’ No. 1 family resort. The Marine Life Camping experience combines behind-the-scenes access to Dolphin Cay, nighttime snorkeling through The Ruins, kayaking alongside dolphins, and sleeping under the stars in a luxury tent.
When we booked our Atlantis vacation, we expected water slides, beaches, and non-stop fun. What we didn’t expect was that this unique overnight adventure would be the highlight of our trip. Here’s everything you need to know—from how to book to which families will love it most.
Editor’s note: The writer was hosted.
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What’s Included in the Marine Life Camping Experience?
Does your family love adventure? Do you enjoy VIP behind-the-scenes tours? Does snorkeling and kayaking excite your family? Do you love nature and the chance to sleep under the stars?
These are just some of the fun adventures that you get to experience when you book this new experience
Kayaking with Dolphins
This was easily my favorite part of the whole night. I’ve loved dolphins since I was a kid and being able to kayak with them was an experience that I’ll never forget.
My three daughters spent the entire time laughing and watching the dolphins swim around them. My husband and I were each in a double kayak with our youngest daughters while my 13-year-old had a kayak all to herself.
We all walked away from that experience with the best memories.
Behind-the-Scenes Sea Keeper Tour
Get ready to learn a lot about The Royal Towers Fish Hospital, Rehab Center and Fish Kitchen! You will also get to meet a pod of rescued dolphins, a family of sea lions, baby sea turtles and a variety of other sea life.
We came away from this part of the program with a whole new appreciation for how much Atlantis does to help rescue and rehabilitate marine animals.
Dolphin Cay is one of the largest and most sophisticated marine mammal habitats in the world. Getting a VIP tour was educational and very special to us.
Twilight Snorkel in The Ruins Lagoon
This was the part of the night that my 13-year-old and 11-year-old enjoyed the most. Atlantis provides the snorkel gear, then takes you on a guided snorkeling tour of the ruins.
We snorkeled among stingrays, fish and more. My 9-year-old did less snorkeling and more swimming with her head above water because she was a little scared of all the sea life surrounding her. You will want to make sure ahead of time that everyone is on board.
Snorkeling The Ruins at night is special. We felt like explorers hunting treasure in the ruins of Atlantis. I would say this was a 10/10 part of the night!
Movies on the Lawn & Campfire S’mores
We ended the night around the campfire, enjoying s’mores and watching outdoor movies. We even enjoyed a little karaoke with another family which was a lot of fun. My oldest daughter, who has never sung in public, jumped right on the microphone and sang her heart out.
These are the moments and memories that family vacations are all about.
Morning Wake Up with the Dolphins
I woke up extra early, made a cup of coffee in my tent and went outside on the beach to watch the dolphins as they played right outside of our tents.
Everyone packed up and came outside to get into the water to learn more about the dolphins currently at Dolphin Cay.
This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was the cherry on top of our marine life camping night.
Camping Under the Stars in Luxury Tents
Yes, you will be tent camping but don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice your nice resort bed for a sleeping bag on the ground. You will be staying in either a 4- or 6-person luxury tent that is climate-controlled and pitched atop an elevated deck. Inside, we found cushioned cots with hotel-comfy bedding.
Our entire family slept great; we found the cots to be comfortable and easy to sleep on.
These tents will spoil every future camping experience we have. They are furnished with everything you need to make your stay comfortable, including a coffee pot, tea kettle, mini fridge (stocked with water) and snacks and treats our kids loved. The bathrooms and showers are only a short walk from the tents.
Is It Worth The Splurge?
Our family was completely pleased with the entire Atlantis Marine Life Camping experience. In fact, it exceeded our expectations and our favorite memories from our vacation to Atlantis came from this fun program.
It’s worth mentioning that I have a super adventurous family. We love outdoor activities and camping, which I think played a big role in our appreciation for this upgrade.
Is this experience right for every family? I’d answer no, only because a lot of the activities are more adventurous and require a family that is ready to embrace that.
This is also an expensive upgrade, so be prepared for that. You have to have a reservation at the resort for the night to book this experience, so technically you’ll be paying for two different accommodations on the same night.
Booking The Marine Life Camping Experience
There are a few things you need to know about booking this experience:
- You do not have to book this program at the time you make your reservations at Atlantis Bahamas. However, booking early does help ensure you’ll be able to experience this during your stay. Reservations for the Marine Life Camping experience require a minimum 24-hour advanced notice prior to desired night of camping adventure.
- An Atlantis room reservation is required to book, so technically you are paying for two rooms — one in an Atlantis hotel and one in a glamping tent — on the same night.
- This is a 13-hour dusk-to-dawn experience, beginning at 7pm one night and ending at 8am the next morning. Plan your day accordingly.
- Kids must be at least 6 years old to participate and they must know how to swim.
- Bring along a swimsuit, pajamas and a change of clothes for the next day, along with toiletries such as toothbrushes and medications. There are showers at the campsite that come stocked with towels, shampoos and bath soaps.
Book your Atlantis vacation now!
We hope you enjoy this Atlantis Marine Life camping upgrade to your vacation and come away from it with all the fun memories that we did.