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Observe how a species is saved from extinction
The Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico receives visitors interested in the conservation efforts on behalf of manatees.
The tour includes an orientation in our research and rehabilitation laboratories and a firsthand view of the work of the Center to help safeguard this species from extinction. The tours are in the style of a behind-the-scenes tour guided by our educators.
Types of visits
At this moment, the only type of tours available are :
- General Tour
Come visit us and learn about manatee and marine life conservation. The tour is offered for small groups of up to 10 people and has a duration of one hour. Tour schedules are:- 9:00 am
- 10:30 am
- 1:30 pm
- 3:30 pm
This experience requires a donation, per person, of $16 (3-14 yrs) and $19 (15 yrs and up).
- Caretaker for a Day Tour
This unique experience is offered in small groups of less than
6 people, and have a duration of 2 and a half. It is an interactive experience in which participants help prepare the daily food and assist us in offering it to our patients, in addition
to other of our daily rehabilitation and animal care chores.
The available time schedule for the experience are:- 8:30 am
- 1:30 pm
This experience requires a donation of $98 per person.
Donation
Prior to the visit to the Center, most visitors commonly hold a fundraiser of materials or supplies to support the work of manatee conservation, particularly for those manatees in rehabilitation. A list of the Center’s needs to be considered can be seen at this link. This donation of materials or supplies can be carried out in addition to the visit donation indicated above.
General consideration for the visit
For each visit, the following points should be considered:
- All guests must arrive at the facilities of the Center at least 15 minutes before the reserved time block.
- Groups, including adults and children, must not exceed 6 people per block.
- Reservations should be made in advance. Participation will be confirmed via email.
- The donation for the tour is made at the time of booking. Accepted methods of payment are: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Visa Debit, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
- Group reservations that need to pay by check must be booked by phone at (787) 400-2782.
- In case of cancelations, these should be notified two days in advance.
- Most parts of the tour are outside, where air temperature and humidity are high. At times, guests may be exposed to direct sunlight for a number of minutes. We recommend guests wear comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes, wear sunblock, and a hat. Remember to be well-hydrated with water and come well-fed with breakfast or lunch to avoid medical complications.
- Guests with medical conditions or susceptible to hypoglycemia, heat exhaustion, or fainting should inform the tour guide prior to the beginning of the tour.
Gifts and memorabilia
At the end of the visit, the Center has gifts and memorabilia available that not only help finance the work of the Center but also show the visitor’s environmental stewardship and commitment. The manatee memorabilia include necklaces, charms, and books. These can be obtained through a contribution between $1 and $20, depending on the item.
Reservations
Visits to the Center are by reservation only. You can book by clicking the following button (when asked for your phone number, add +1 before the area code).
How do I get to the Manatee Conservation Center?
The Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center is located in the Bayamón Campus of the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. You can access a map of how to get to the Center at this link.
Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
Recinto de Bayamón
500 Carretera Dr. John Will Harris
Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00957-6257
18°21’02”N, 66°10’54”W
Unifying message
As you complete your visit to the Center and the manatees, we hope you can live the message in this famous quote:
In the end, we will conserve only what we love
We will love only what we understand
And we will understand only what we are taught
—Baba Dioum, 1968
