Mexico Banned Dolphin Shows—Can You Still Swim With Dolphins in Mexico?

In late July 2025, Mexican legislators passed a nationwide law that effectively bans dolphin performances and other dolphin-related activities across the country.

While efforts to ban dolphin shows, research, and non-conservation-related activities have been circulating for years, protests intensified following a dolphin death in the Riviera Maya.

In May 2025, Hotel Barceló’s dolphinarium was permanently closed after a performing dolphin named Mincho died due to poor animal welfare practices. The incident shed light on the exploitative nature of dolphin acrobatic shows and swim-with-the-dolphin programs, which have been popular in Mexico’s Caribbean region for decades.

Mexico’s move to ban all dolphin-related activities that are not related directly to conservation makes it the third Latin American country, after Chile and Costa Rica, to enact a similar ban.

What does it mean for tourists heading to Mexico—are you still able to swim with dolphins when you visit the country?

A closer look at the new ruling on dolphin performances in Mexico

Recent legislation prevents the use of dolphins as part of entertainment, therapy, and research. In short, any activity that involves dolphins living in captivity is now banned. Similarly, dolphins cannot be bred in captivity.

Dolphins that are currently held in dolphinariums and entertainment facilities must be cared for based on stringent animal welfare standards until their natural deaths. These animal welfare guidelines prohibit things like acrobatics shows, meaning working dolphins are now retired nationwide. They must be relocated to seaside sanctuaries within the next year and a half.

That accounts for between 300 and 350 captive dolphins across Mexico.

Can you still swim with dolphins?

As per the new legislation in Mexico, you can’t book a dolphin show or a swim-with-the-dolphins experience in Mexico. At least, not in theory.

Just because the law was passed, that doesn’t mean that it will be enforced. The good news is that the law passed unanimously and has garnered widespread support and visibility, meaning authorities are likely motivated to enforce the ruling. However, at the time of writing this article, dolphin shows and swim-with-the-dolphin experiences are still available in places like Cozumel.

It’s possible that companies need time to find seaside sanctuaries for their dolphins and then find a way to relocate them before shutting down operations. It’s also possible that companies will find a way to work around the new ruling.

So, technically, you can still swim with dolphins and attend shows in some parts of Mexico—but should you?

Some, including Elisabeth Ashe from the Mexico News Daily article linked above, have visited dolphin shows and felt strongly that the dolphins were being cared for. They had a positive experience and felt that the staff offered a high level of care and engagement with the dolphins.

Aside from positive experiences at dolphin shows, another argument supporting dolphin captivity centers is that they provide therapeutic services to adults and children with special needs. That type of therapy can be life-changing for some individuals, especially if they have the chance to come back for multiple interactions.

However, I’d like to point out that, while animal-assisted therapy seems like a clear win for everyone involved, there’s a big difference between domesticated animals that are trained to work with individuals with special needs and wild animals that are bred in captivity.

How to swim with dolphins in Mexico

You can still visit active dolphin performance centers in the Riviera Maya, as most haven’t closed shop. If you don’t see an issue with the establishment, then go for it.

Personally, I think the most ethical way to swim with dolphins in Mexico is in the wild. You can find tours that take you out to sea where dolphin pods are plentiful, from Puerto Vallarta to La Paz.

I still think there are some ethics questions around these types of experiences—as in, are you disturbing marine animals on their home turf while they’re already dealing with other challenges? And do guides for these types of experiences take on extra measures to ensure they don’t bother marine life?

Before you book any type of experience with dolphins in Mexico, I highly suggest digging into reviews, looking for the company’s environmental impact stance, and checking out any other eco-friendly initiatives they’re part of.

8 Things to Do in Cody, Wyoming this Winter: Ice Festivals, Holiday Fairs, & More

Winter-ready mountain towns aren’t always the most affordable.

Unless you know where to look, of course. Along with places like North Conway, New Hampshire, and Montrose, Colorado, Cody, Wyoming, is one of the country’s most budget-friendly destinations for winter-lovers.

While Cody isn’t cheap by any stretch, it’s one of those locations that I find myself recommending again and again.

First, it’s got an all-American history that just about any traveler would enjoy learning about. (The name Cody comes from Buffalo Bill Cody, who was one of the town’s founders—and that’s just one little factoid.) Second, it’s got rough-and-ready adventures that you can take on at your own pace, whether you’re staying at a dude ranch or a luxury hotel.

Lastly, and most importantly, Cody, Wyoming, is one of the US’s most stunning winter destinations. Its proximity to Yellowstone National Park probably paints a pretty solid picture: The views are breathtaking, and the natural wonders are unspoiled.

As an added perk, the town also comes alive when the weather cools. If you’ll be stopping through Cody this winter, make sure to join the festivities.

Below, I’m highlighting some of the best things to do in Cody, Wyoming, this winter. (I’ve got a few late autumn picks, as well!) Events are listed in chronological order.

Best things to do in Cody, Wyoming this winter: top events in town

Holiday Craft Fair

November 22 at the corner of 13^th & Beck Avenue

Each year, the local Crisis Intervention Services crew throws a holiday craft gathering. Locals are welcome to join to sell their wares, but all goods must be homemade. That means visitors like you can explore over 50 unique vendors that showcase artisanal crafts from the Cody area.

Lion’s Club Turkey Day

November 22 at the Bob Moore Memorial Park in downtown Cody

Turkey Day is a celebration that comes right on the heels of Thanksgiving—but it looks a little different in Cody. This annual event is a fundraiser for the local Cody Lions Club, a group that provides seeing and hearing needs of locals. There are kids’ games, shooting games, and even a truck raffle. Just check out the details to see how you can join.

Festival of Trees: Merry Mingle Tree Lighting & Bingo

November 28 at 707 Sheridan Ave from 6-8 pm

If you’re in the area on November 28^th, don’t miss out on this free event. It’s a short tree lighting and bingo event that comes with a cash bar. A simple way to package in some added holiday cheer to your Cody adventure.

Cody Cowboy Christmas Stroll and Lighted Parade

November 29 on Sheridan Avenue at 6 pm

The main drag of Sheridan Avenue shuts down for this Christmas stroll—and it’s a decidedly Cody take on Christmas. You can expect a scavenger hunt, food trucks, burn barrels that will keep you warm, and plenty of cowboy themes and treats. Most importantly, Santa will also be in attendance, making this a perfect addition for families visiting Yellowstone or Cody in late November.

Annual Nutcracker Production by Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre

December 13-14 at 1225 10^th Street

Tickets range from $23-33 for this professional show at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium. Expect to see some of the best performers from the local area, along with Arizona ballet legend Randy Pacheco. The show will run over two days. Purchase your tickets ahead of time.

Wyoming Ice Festival

January 1-4 in the South Fork Valley

What’s an ice festival? It’s a public event that features ice climbing clinics and lessons by day and unique presentations by night. Whether you’re just hearing about ice climbing for the first time or have some experience under your belt, there’s a course that’s perfect for you. But even if you’re not interested in ice climbing, you can also just hang out and enjoy the vibes.

This year is the second Wyoming Ice Festival, which was a hit during its first run. The January 2026 event will include food vendors and trucks, Snake River Brewing beer on tap, and evening events hosted by the Cody Cattle Company.

Ice Fishing Derby

January 30-February 1 at the Sunshine Reservoirs in Meeteetse

Similar to the ice festival, the ice fishing derby takes you straight into the heart of Wyoming winters—in local fashion, of course. The 2026 derby will be the 19^th consecutive event, which regularly draws ice fishing buffs from around the country. The weekend includes ice fishing events (competitive), along with a great community that’s passionate about ice fishing.

Events are designed to see which fisher can capture the largest, longest, and other record-winning fish. There’s also a solid $10k in prize pool money that is shared with competitors, which adds to the thrill.

Buffalo Bill Birthday Ball

February 21 at 1240 Beck Avenue

Dubbed a ‘rip-snorting cowboy extravaganza’, Buffalo Bill’s annual birthday celebration is one for the books. It’s an adults-only party that serves up prime rib between gun raffles and silent auctions. Expect dancing, gambling, drinking, eating, and general merriment that Buffalo Bill would recognize from his heyday.

Similar to other Cody events, the majority of proceeds go to local organizations, from Meals on Wheels to pregnancy resource centers. That should clue you in to the homegrown nature of this event, which draws in locals as well as visitors and makes it one of the best (and coolest) ways to soak up Cody culture.

Here’s How to Use Explore Fall’s Fall Foliage Map for the US

Did you know that there are maps that cover fall foliage displays across the US? And that they’re updated with real-time data?

Welcome to the magic of Explore Fall’s Fall Foliage Map. It’s a new project that launched in 2024 and relies on daily updates to ensure that its fall foliage map is more accurate than others. To do so, the team relies on an in-house AI model that it helped build using deep learning methods.

Yes, AI is now being used to predict things like fall foliage displays based on metrics like daylight, temperature, and training programs to identify leaf colors. The model also relies on real-time remote fall foliage observations from around the country to maintain its accuracy.

If you’re into that type of thing (ie, how machine learning is predicting autumn leaf-dropping), then dig in. Just know that the current model is around 80% accurate within a three-day period. For now, I’m covering how the tool works and how you can use it to improve your fall foliage hunting this season.

Inside the Fall Foliage Map

The Fall Foliage Map has two settings you can choose from: Color Report or Peak Timing.

The Fall Foliage Map color report setting uses six different labels to describe the quality and vibrancy of the leaf display: little to no color, low color, moderate color, high color, peak color, and past peak color. Just click on the map that you see on the homepage and start zooming in for a more detailed geographic breakdown.

The Fall Foliage Map peak timing setting lets you see which time of year it’s best to plan for fall displays around the country. For example, leaf-peeping in Maine is best done in early to mid-October. In South Carolina, you’re better off planning a trip for early to late November, depending on where you’re going.

The great minds and AI model at Explore Fall also recommend solidifying plans for leaf-peeping trips around two weeks out. That lets you plan around poor weather that could change the quality and vibrancy of the autumn displays.

What else can you find?

If you’re an autumn-lover, I highly suggest digging into the website’s blog. They have interesting articles—including one that explores something called a stress outlook. Apparently, poor weather impacts trees, and that stress can cause them to drop leaves later or sooner. They also have a global fall foliage that explores similar displays around the world.

Battery Packs on Planes: Here’s What You Can & Can’t Bring Onboard with You

Here’s my latest airport fear: I mix up the rules about bringing battery packs on the plane, and then my red light wand starts smoking mid-flight, leading to an emergency landing.

Does it sound like I’m being dramatic? That’s a fair point—I am dramatic. But maybe not this time around.

Forbes recently reported on a major landing due to an issue with a lithium battery, and it’s far from the first to occur in 2025. (It’s actually been an issue since 2017.)

The flight discussed in the article linked above was heading from Philadelphia to Phoenix and had to make an emergency landing due to a fire caused by a lithium battery in a passenger’s overhead bag.

Apparently, it’s become enough of an issue that the FAA even has a Lithium Battery Incident Tracker.

So, I think it’s time we talked about lithium batteries and other battery packs on planes. Which ones can you bring? Which ones might cause issues? And which battery packs on planes are banned outright?

Battery packs on planes: the basics

The main concern when it comes to bringing battery packs on planes is the lithium-ion batteries that power them.

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and highly efficient, energetically dense batteries that have become widely used over the last decade. They’re used in smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even hybrid vehicles.

But there’s one catch: when lithium-ion batteries heat up, they release flammable gases that can potentially catch fire and are hard to put out.

Worse, lithium-ion batteries are prone to an issue called thermal runaway on planes, which creates a high-heat chain reaction that can lead to smoke and even fires.

What causes thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries on planes? Unfortunately, simple problems ranging from damage to manufacturing defects to overcharging can contribute to thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.

So, how can you make sure you’re following the right protocol when it comes to battery packs on planes—especially considering how ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries are?

A closer look at FAA & TSA rules regarding battery packs on planes

I’ve got some good news: according to the FAA, flight attendants and cabin crews are specially trained to spot smoke and fire from lithium-ion batteries. Given this has been an issue since 2017, that’s no surprise. Additionally, TSA agents are taught to look for lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage.

The TSA has also made it a requirement that passengers pack ALL lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on. The FAA has also laid out other rules that you might want to pay attention to:

All battery packs must be in a carry-on—and, ideally, should be within reach
Battery packs on planes should not exceed 100 Wh (or watt hours) per battery
Battery packs and devices must be fully powered off
Battery terminals (where you plug things in) must not be in contact with other metals
Damaged or recalled battery packs should not be packed at all
Use the FAA’s Lithium Battery Watt Hours Calculator to learn about your device’s Wh (watt hours)

Aside from battery packs, what are the main offenders?

As outlined above, lithium-ion batteries are in just about every portable electronic device used today. The FAA and TSA are mainly concerned with battery packs on planes, as these are prone to thermal runaway that can cause smoke and fires.

Aside from portable chargers and battery packs, other concerns include e-cigarettes and vape pens, smartphones, laptops, and even certain medical devices. However, according to FAA reports on lithium battery incidents on planes over the last two decades, portable chargers (aka battery packs) were responsible for almost 40% of all incidents.

So, what does that mean for you? How can you prevent the chances of a lithium-ion battery issue?

Keep all battery packs and other lithium-powered devices within reach on the plane
Invest in quality devices to avoid damage and malfunctioning
Double-check that you aren’t packing any lithium-powered devices in your checked luggage

The World Tour of Oopsies: Chapter 16—The Riots

[The World Tour of Oopsies is an ongoing series of travel stories about my first decade of travel. During these adventures and misadventures, I had to unlearn many things I thought I knew about life. Welcome to my miseducation.]

Catch up on my World Tour of Oopsies travel stories:

Part I / Bengaluru

My semester studying in Bengaluru, India, was the most chaotic of my life. It was difficult to study and apply myself while dealing with the most intense culture shock I’ve experienced in my life.

If you grew up in the US and have visited India, you understand; it’s a lush, colorful, and busy place that can feel like a fever dream, for good or worse.

Living smack in the center of Bengaluru (in Rajajinagar, specifically), a bustling city that’s now home to 14 million, was challenging enough. Toss in cultural milieu, and every day was its own mind-blowing experience.

Along the way, my classmates and I (around 15 of us total) made friends. These friends took us into the fold, showing us where to find great dancing and inviting us to their private go-kart tracks. At the time, it felt like everyone wanted to be our friend, and Indians are incredibly warm and hospitable to friends and family.

Cut to me and a few classmates deciding to see Swedish House Mafia in Mumbai. Swedish House Mafia was one of the first electronic groups to gain global fame during the late 2000s, pushing house music to the forefront. And they were going on their last world tour, with a stop in Mumbai.

We couldn’t miss it. And one of our friends, Nikhil, graciously offered an apartment in Mumbai where we could crash to catch the show. We packed our bags, booked an overnight bus, and scrambled to make the show.

Part II / Mumbai

Those three days we spent in Mumbai are incredibly memorable for a few reasons. First, I went on a slum tour, which had to be one of my lowest travel points.

As part of our coursework in Bengaluru, we visited a few slums while working alongside an organization that educates women in various artisanal crafts to provide them with work and financial autonomy.

So, I should have known better. But a taxi pulled up, offered us a slum tour, and I took it with a few friends. I highly recommend avoiding this type of tour if you’re ever offered; it turns poverty into a museum or, worse, entertainment. (Usually, you’d end up in a slum as a traveler if you’re a volunteer and have resources to share with locals.)

During our time in Mumbai, we also visited the Gateway of India and the famous Leopold Café from Shantaram. The Gateway of India was infinitely more memorable.

Most tourists in India are domestic, and it seemed like a crowd of over fifty people gathered when they saw me and my Western classmates. We were quickly surrounded and photographed en masse. We were even posed with certain groups.

Determined to be chill, we let the photoshoot run its course, which probably lasted around thirty minutes. Sometimes, I wonder where those photos are and how many people ended up sharing pictures that included me standing there with a confused smile on my face.

The last thing I remember about Mumbai before the riots started was finally applying my language studies from school. My partner and I took sleeper buses between Bengaluru and Mumbai, which I correctly identified from the bus stop.

The bus company was raja, Hindi for king and written like राज in Hindi script. That’s one of my proudest moments from this World Tour of Oopsies.

Part III / The mayor

Cut to the day of the concert. My friends and I had been enjoying some time off school in Mumbai while staying at our friend’s apartment. It was a massive, two-story place inside a large building with maybe 15 floors.

We were getting ready for the big night when news arrived: riots were starting in the streets of Mumbai.

From what I remember, earlier sentiments from the Azad Maiden riots had rekindled. To make a long and complex story short, riots from mid-August of that year had created ongoing tensions between the city’s Muslim and Hindu populations, which were still flaring up during our visit in November.

In short order, we heard news of a high-profile death, which was followed by violent riots. Then, our friend who owned the apartment called—he advised us not to leave under any circumstances.

And that’s how I spent 48 hours in a high-rise Indian apartment in Mumbai without seeing Swedish House Mafia. We stayed there for a few days, then packed up and headed back to school in Bengaluru.

TL; DR: You won’t get a refund from Swedish House Mafia if their show is canceled due to riots. Also, don’t do the slum tours.

Airport Cyberattacks Hit Europe on Sept. 20—What Do We Know?

On September 21, multiple airport hubs across Europe went down as a cyberattack grounded flights and disrupted operations.

Airports from Berlin to Dublin faced challenges as disruptions spread. Only flights at London’s Heathrow International Airport were canceled due to the attack, but the effects were immediate and widespread across the continent, disrupting travel between some airports throughout the weekend.

Many flights were delayed due to the cyberattack targeting various boarding and check-in software for multiple airlines. The main target of the malicious software was check-in automations. The actual software is a common hack called ransomware, which can only be reversed once criminals are paid in Bitcoin.

Since the attacks, which included previous incidents on Friday, September 19, agencies across Europe have narrowed down suspects. One article from The Guardian reports that a man from West Sussex has been taken into custody by UK authorities.

A closer look at Collins Aerospace

The cyberattack focused on Collins Aerospace software, a US company that provides services for various air travel groups in Europe, including check-in automations via their Muse product.

On Monday, Collins Aerospace asked its partners in Europe to cancel 140 of 276 outbound flights, as reported by the BBC. However, the company is referring to the attack as a ‘cyber incident’, and has taken painstaking steps to manually rebuild and relaunch systems, which can’t be done remotely.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the National Crime Agency has been on the hunt for suspects. On Tuesday evening, a suspect was arrested in West Sussex but has since been released on conditional bail.