Swim and snorkel with amazing manatees at a stunning wildlife refuge in Crystal River. Explore the natural springs aboard a covered pontoon boat and get up close to the friendly sea cows.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 3 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Instructor: English
Small group: Limited to 10 participants

Highlights

Snorkel with manatees in a 600-acre wildlife refuge
Benefit from the services of a captain and instructor certified by the Coast Guard
Explore the natural springs aboard a covered pontoon boat

Full description

Get back to nature and discover the home of the world’s largest population of endangered manatees in the winter on an adventure to Three Sisters Springs. Get the chance to interact with the curious, gentle giants in their natural habitat. Learn all about the animals in a classroom-type setting and get tips for your snorkel tour to make the most of your day. Hear about "passive interaction" that ensures that the animals enjoy the experience just as much as you do! Then, journey to the estuary with a Coast Guard captain aboard a covered pontoon boat. Marvel at the wildlife around you, and get up close to the sea cows as they move slowly through the water. Head back to base camp to visit the one-of-a-kind gift shop and purchase unique souvenirs. Get tips on what to do in the Kings Bay area, along with directions from the well-informed staff to other local attractions and restaurants.

Includes

Mask
Snorkel
Wetsuit
Bottled water
Parking

Bathing suit
Towel
Gratuities
Picture package

Not suitable for

Children under 3 years

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Meeting point

Meet us at River Ventures Tour Center.

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Important information

Not allowed

Unaccompanied minors

Know before you go

Children must be at least 3 years old to take part on group tours. Younger babies are allowed on a private tour
Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Very young children must be calm and quiet in order to not scare the animals
Children should be comfortable in the water and parents should stay close at all times for their safety
Wetsuits are available in all sizes and there are snorkel vests and flotation noodles if kids need assistance staying at the surface without swimming
It is important to have realistic expectations for a wild animal encounter. In the cooler weather the animals migrate to the area and congregate in the warm springs. When the weather warms they can move about. These are wild animals and their migration cannot be controlled. Early mornings are the best time to find the animals and the best chance of seeing them is near the springs. Cold weather means many manatees, and warmer weather means fewer manatees

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 272 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Transportation
4.9/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Safety
4.9/5

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Hands down the best experience! The guides were professional, very friendly with a good sense of humor, well educated but did not bore you! They made sure each member of the group got to experience the manatees but in a way that was respectful to the wildlife. We also got very lucky and had a pair of dolphins swim close by the boat!

April 25, 2022

This was a great experience. The group was not over crowded, the instructors was very knowledgeable and helpful. The only thing is I thought it would be a lot more manatees and it was very windy. So take a sweater, the over all Experience was well worth it. The kids and I had a blast

April 24, 2022

It was an incredible experience! The guides were very respectful of the wildlife and the manatees are absolutely beautiful! We were originally going to come later in the day later in the manatee season. However, the agency very thoughtfully called us to recommend changing our time in order to have a better chance of seeing the manatees. Their recommendation payed off, and we were face to face with several beautiful animals! We had an incredible experience with the guides and will definitely be coming back for more manatees!!!

March 1, 2022

Crystal River, Florida: 3-Hour Swim with Manatees

Crystal River, Florida: 3-Hour Swim with Manatees

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