WILD QUESTIONS
Plenty Of Answers
We have collected a list of questions which we are commonly asked about our dolphin swim retreats in the Bahmas. To make it easy for you we have grouped them into different sections. Just click on the section header and the relevant questions will be displayed. We hope that the answers will help you further along.
The retreat finishes at 8:30 am after breakfast on Saturday morning. When flying with our recommended airline, the return flight from Bimini to the Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) Airport is on Saturday morning. You should clear US customs by around 11:00 am.
It is recommended you arrange your flight home*:
From Fort Lauderdale International Airport (domestic flights): after 1:30 pm*
From Fort Lauderdale International Airport (international flights): after 2:30 pm*
From Miami International Airport (domestic flights): after 3:30 pm*.
From Miami International Airport (international flights): after 4:30 pm*
*Please check with your airline if more time is required.
No, you have to arrange your flights to/from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.
Check in time is 4:00 pm, and most retreat groups are on their own for dinner Sunday night. (If your retreat has a guest facilitator, check with them about possible dinner meet-up.) We recommend ordering dinner at the hotel and enjoying it outside in the fresh air, pool-side.
No, it is not included in the price.
If you choose to fly with our recommended airline, their round trip fare is approximately $507 + $99 cash payable at departure from Bimini ($42 Departure Tax + $57 Airport Tax *subject to change).
including all travel-related taxes as well as all transfers:
- from the Hilton Marina to the Fort Lauderdale Airport on Monday morning,
- from Bimini airport to WildQuest on Monday morning
- and from WildQuest to Bimini airport on Saturday morning, when travelling with the group.
The island flight is about 25 minutes.
If you book with our recommended airline, the flight is scheduled to leave the Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) Airport at 8.30 am, arriving in Bimini around 9.00 am. We meet in the lobby of the hotel usually at 6.45 am. The shuttle bus leaves at 7.00 am to take us to the International airport. The times and details will be confirmed by email one week before your retreat starts.
If you book with our recommended airline, the flight is scheduled to leave Bimini on Saturday at 10.00 am. Due to being through immigration and customs at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport by 11.00 am.
Our recommended charter airline can only guarantee flights to Bimini on Monday morning. So to arrive Bimini before that, you would need to arrange your own transportation with another carrier.
You can either find somewhere else to stay for the weekend or it’s possible to stay at WildQuest for the Saturday and Sunday before the retreat. The Sunday night is included in the price – and for the Saturday night, the cost is $170 a night/per room, depending on availability. Contact our reservations office if you would like to do this and they will let you know all the updated details.
Just a reminder: All costs of transfers from the airport to the retreat center and back are included in the price only if you book with our recommended airline and only if you travel with the group – to Bimini on Monday and return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. If you choose to fly at different times you are responsible for these transit costs. These are around $12 each way from the retreat lodge to the airport in Bimini.
Our recommended charter airline can only guarantee flights from Bimini on Saturday morning. So to depart Bimini after that, you would need to arrange your own transportation with another carrier.
You can either find somewhere else to stay for the weekend or it’s possible to stay at WildQuest for $170 a night/per room, depending on availability. Contact our reservations office if you would like to do this and they will let you know all the updated details.
Just a reminder: All costs of transfers from the airport to the retreat center and back are included in the price only if you book with our recommended airline, and only if you travel with the group – to Bimini on Monday and return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. If you choose to fly at different times you are responsible for these transit costs. These are around $12 each way from the retreat lodge to the airport in Bimini.
Our recommended airline has flights on Mondays and Saturdays. If you want to come at different times, it is fine to find your own way to the island and back with a different carrier. Please arrive at the WildQuest Retreat Centre around 10.00 am on Monday morning. Contact the reservations office to discuss up to date information regarding this.
Just a reminder: All costs of transfers from the airport to the retreat center and back are included in the price only if you book with our recommended airline, and only if you travel with the group – to Bimini on Monday and return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. If you choose to fly at different times you are responsible for these transit costs. These are around $12 each way from the retreat lodge to the airport in Bimini.
Our recommended airline can only guarantee flights to Bimini on Monday morning, and to Florida on Saturday morning. Any other flights would need to be arranged on your own with another carrier. There may be a $50 change fee.
There is a weight limit for your luggage on our recommended airline. Each person is allowed a total of 40 pounds/ 18 kg for all your bags, including carry on luggage. If your luggage is over this amount, there is a possibility it may have to come on a different flight. There will be a charge of $1.00 per pound for each additional pound over the allowed 40lbs. Soft sided bags are necessary as the luggage storage space on the small planes is limited and not square! No single item or bag may exceed 62 linear inches (length plus width plus height). No hard sided suitcases will be permitted that are larger than an airline carry on
Yes.
Yes, everyone needs a valid passport.
Most people are given a visa upon entry into the Bahamas, including citizens from the US, Canada, European Union Countries and Switzerland. Do double check with your travel agent if you are concerned.
Over the past 20 years of operation here on Bimini there have been various ferry services that have come and gone. Crossing the gulf stream is not so far (50 miles) but the seas can get very high and crossing in a boat can be very uncomfortable. Currently this service is provided by Balearia Caribbean.
You can get to the main terminals at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport/Miami International Airport by Taxi or Uber.
At the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina hotel the cost for parking is $44.00 per night for self park or $50.00 per night for valet, exclusive of taxes. Subject to change. You can follow the shuttle on Monday morning to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport where you can park your car for free.
This is possible for Saturday and Sunday before the retreat and also after the retreat for $170 a night, per room, depending on availability. Please check with our Reservation office.
• Barbara Weech has some cottages.
• The Dolphin House – also on Facebook
• Katt’s Kottage features 2 bedroom places, one first floor and one second floor as well as a 1 bedroom cottage.
There are a couple of bigger marinas “downtown”
• The Big Game Club
• Bimini Blue Water Marina
Most of our participants come here alone and make plenty of new friends.
Yes, you do need travel insurance. Do check out our travel insurance page.
We usually post the schedule for the following year around the middle of September.
No, our retreats are week long, from Sunday to Saturday.
No, this is not possible. This is a week long retreat experience.
This is fine. We have many floatation devices. Our crew members have a lot of experience with people who are aquatically challenged.
Of course, the more practice you can do in a local pool BEFORE coming to WildQuest — from floating with your face in the water, holding your breath… or floating face down with snorkel and mask on… to practising swimming — the less time you will need to become familiar with those things in Bimini, and the sooner you can direct your focus towards the dolphins while in the water.
We have been doing this since 1995 and there seems to be no best time! Or, all the time is best! There is no pattern in the dolphin behavior around Bimini as far as we can see.
We have on average in the past years seen the dolphins 4 days out of 5 per week.
This is impossible to answer! Every day is different. We can be with the dolphins just a few minutes, or it could last all day.
The groups are usually around 20 people.
We do not reach out to touch the dolphins. This is a matter of respect. Sometimes the dolphins touch us but this is a rare occurrence.
No, everything is optional! You can choose what you would like to do!
All retreats offer the same amount of time on the boat looking for dolphins, and every week is run by the resident WildQuest crew. For most retreats the WildQuest crew is joined by a world class facilitator, adding their own brand of extraordinary talent to the potent healing mix. Do check the Schedule to see the different flavours for each week.
This means that the group is not open to the public.
Retreats hosted by some guest facilitators do differ in price.
No, we do not offer any student discounts.
We do not have an intern program at the moment.
Children 12 and over are welcome on most of the weeks. Children 2-11 years old are welcome any Sacred Journey week from June to September.
For children aged 2-11 there is a discount of $400 and aged 12-17 there is a discount of $200, during our June to September Sacred Journey retreats.
Yes, we have free wifi at the retreat center. Although we do encourage our participants to go offline during their retreat with us.
Yes, you can.
The coverage depends on your provider. You would have to contact your provider and ask if they have a contract with Bahamas Telecommunication Company – BTC – which provides service for Bimini, Bahamas.
Please contact the US office on 1-561- 964-9466. Office hours 11am – 5pm EST Monday-Friday. Outside office hours please call the WildQuest Retreat Lodge in The Bahamas – 1-242-347- 2374. We are on EST.
The supplement for a single room is $530 for the week. This includes a single room at the hotel in Fort Lauderdale on the Sunday night, as well as a single room at the retreat center from Monday to Friday. We have a limited number of rooms and these are given on a first come first served basis.
All rooms have a private bathroom.
We have a few rooms with ocean view given on a first come first served basis. The supplement for these is $260 per room per week.
The cost of an extra night at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is $235 per room.
We can arrange this. When you book online you can request extra nights at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina hotel before and /or after your retreat with us, by checking the extra night box.
Yes, we have hairdryers in every room.
We do not provide shampoo and conditioner. We do provide very good shower gel and also hand soap.
The retreat price is based on double occupancy. We have many people come as singles and we pair people up as roommates. We have more women than men that come on our retreats so single women will be paired with another woman. This works very well and many long-term friendships are made.
We have ear plugs!
The electricity is the same as the US – 110 volts. Same plugs as in the US.
Yes, we can accommodate all of these diets. When you book online you can enter your special dietary requirements. If you do have any special favorites, bring some along!
We can also cater for several allergies. However if you have an airborne allergies we are not able to meet this.
Do read the food page where you can also see some photos and videos.
We do have a blender, and you would have to check with the chef about using it!
The cook is usually busy in the kitchen. It would depend on what your needs are. If you need something very special then do connect with us to make sure it will be possible.
Bimini city water is good for washing and showering etc. For drinking and cooking we have our own Reverse Osmosis filtration system which produces clean and healthy water.
Yes we have plenty of shade on our boat. Do check out the page about our catamaran DolphinQuest.
Our catamaran DolphinQuest is very stable in the water. We have ginger pills and ginger juice which help to calm the stomach. It is also possible to bring some travel sickness pills with you such as Dramamine.
The boat is a 41 foot Lagoon catamaran. Do check out the page about DolphinQuest.
We comply with all boating safety regulations and therefore have the appropriate number of lifejackets on board for any emergency.
Yes, it is great that you bring your own beach/boat towel. If it is not possible we do have some to lend to you for the week.
We provide small bags for everybody to take on the boat for your personal items. Of course if you have other gear to take on the boat we do have a dry salon where you can keep larger items if needed.
Yes, you are welcomed to bring your own snorkel gear.
We do have good equipment for rent. The cost is $10 for just fins, or $30 for the whole set of fins, mask and snorkel.
If you have never used snorkel gear before, you may wish to visit a local department store’s sporting good’s section and buy a cheap mask/snorkel to practice with (in a local pool, or maybe your bathtub) — before coming to Bimini. The more familiar you are with snorkel gear before arriving at WildQuest, the more ready you will be to focus on the dolphins and other sea life in the ocean.
We do not have equipment for scuba diving. We free dive with mask and snorkel. There is a local company that run scuba trips on the island – Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center.
The Dolphin Grounds that we usually travel looking for and playing with the dolphins is around 30/40 feet (10-12 meter) deep.
Of course it is good to protect yourself from the sun by using a good sunscreen. On top of this it is good to wear protective clothing like a rash guard or long sleeve T-shirt.
Sharks live in the ocean like dolphins. They are not very interested in people, so a sighting is a rare and beautiful occurrence. If you have concerns we will talk about it when you are here on the island.
Sometimes at certain times of the year there are some jelly fish but they are not the dangerous type. The sting resembles the touch of a stinging nettle and disappears after a few minutes.
Do check out our weather page.
In the tropics, hurricanes are possible. Since 1995 we have had to cancel only nine programs due to the possibility of a hurricane. It is very unlikely, but a hurricane can happen, so it is essential that you have travel/ cancellation insurance that covers for this eventuality. Check our travel insurance page!
Our wet season starts in mid to late May and runs through September or October. Rain usually happens in localized short showers, often in the late afternoon or evening, which pass quickly.
Not often. There can be rain squalls but they do not usually last very long.
It is HOT! You only need a few light clothes and sandals. Bring a towel for the boat/beach, hat, T- shirts, shorts, maybe a long sleeve t-shirt to cover from the sun, sunscreen (non-oily), sarongs, light rain jacket, a journal, special food requirements, vitamins and insect repellant. You do not need boat shoes – we are barefoot on the boat. We also supply refillable water bottles for you on the boat, as well as a small ”boat bag” for you to put your things in.
If you are coming in April/May or October/November, bring a sweater, maybe sweat pants and you may need a rash guard or small wetsuit if you are sensitive to the temperatures at that time of year. We provide hair dryers.
Do check out the weather page where it tells you the temperature of the water and air at different times of the year. Sometimes if people are sensitive to these temperatures then they bring a small shorty wetsuit in April or October. We do not have wetsuits available for rental on the island.
We can have mosquitos, but on the north island where our retreat center is there are very few. If it is totally still and no wind there can be some mosquitos but usually there is a small breeze which keeps them away.
If you have a certain brand that you prefer then do bring it. We usually have some general brands.
Yes, underwater GoPro cameras are fine as long as they are held close to the body. We ask that you do not use go pro “sticks” as they can feel intrusive towards the dolphins and swimming among other guests.
We do have a photographer who takes pictures both over and underwater during the week – available for purchase at the end of the week. We do this so that you are free to have the experience heart to heart – and not through a camera lens.
It is fine for you to bring your drone – and we do not allow drones to be brought onto the boat. It is fine for you to use on the island as long as they do not disturb others who are enjoying!
