Rawson (pop. 22,355) is Chubut’s low-profile capital, and in truth there’s little to see in this nondescript bureaucratic outpost. Its suburb of Playa Unión, though, is an ecotourism destination for the glossy black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins that dart around and under launches that motor through the waters fronting its long sandy beach.

The Interactive Aquarium (La Isla Shopping Village, Blvd. Kukulcán Km. 12.5, tel. 998/883-0411, www.interactivedolphins.com, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, US$10) has a disappointingly small display of fish and other sea creatures, but its raison d’être are the interactive dolphin and shark exhibits.

Dolphin Discovery (end of Carr. Sac Bajo, tel. 998/849-4748, toll-free Mex. tel. 800/713-8862, www.dolphindiscovery.com, US$69–169) offers various dolphin interaction programs on Isla Mujeres’s calm western shore.

Programs vary in price according to the amount and type of direct interaction; the Royal Swim (US$129 pp, 60 minutes) is the most interactive, with two dolphins per group of 10 people doing a “dorsal tow,” “foot push,” and “kiss,” plus some free swim time.

With swimming pens set up in the ocean, Delphinus Riviera Maya (Hwy. 307 Km. 282, toll-free Mex. tel. 800/335-3461, toll-free U.S./Canada tel. 888/526-2230, www.delphinus.com.mx, US$159–499), between Playa del Carmen and Paamul, is about as good as it gets for performing dolphins. For visitors, it’s one of the most rewarding dolphin interaction programs in the region.

Just five kilometers (three miles) south of Playa del Carmen, Xcaret (Hwy. 307 Km. 282, tel. 998/883-0470, www.xcaret.com.mx, 8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

One of the most pristine areas of Peru’s northern Amazon is the Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria, an immense wedge of flooded rainforest between the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers. At just over two million hectares, it is still Peru’s largest nature reserve. Its vast network of lakes, lagoons, swamps, and wetlands harbors many endangered animals, with big chances for spotting wildlife rivaling that in Parque Nacional Manu, though there are no lodges in the reserve.

Operated by Amazonia Expeditions, Tahuayo Lodge (10305 Riverburn Dr., Tampa, FL 33647, tel. 800/262-9669, www.perujungle.com, eight days/seven nights US$1,295) is 145 kilometers south from Iquitos on the Río Tahuayo, near the Área de Conservación Regional Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo, where it has been operating since 1981, started by U.S. naturalist, Paul Beaver, author of the autobiographical book, Diary of an Amazon Jungle Guide.

The Yucatán Peninsula is an excellent family destination, with sights and activities that are fun for kids as well as parents. The Caribbean coast has terrific beaches, easy snorkeling, and numerous family-friendly eco-parks. Inland, the Maya ruins are fascinating to visitors of all ages, as are outings like bird-watching and swimming in cenotes. The region also has excellent lodging, eating, and transportation options, making it suitable for family trips of every size and budget. And the people of the Yucatán Peninsula, as everywhere in Mexico, are open and welcoming to children and families.