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
Mobile ticketing: Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 3 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Instant confirmation
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

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

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

Meeting point

Meet us at River Ventures Tour Center.

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Important information

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 214 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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It was an amazing trip. We were so near to the manatees and also got really nice pictures and videos. One of our guides Crystal took them and we are very happy that we booked this tour. Even if it was very cold that morning, it was one of the best things we ever did!

March 11, 2020

Very cool tour! We saw many manatees and could tw. even touch. The tour guides were very nice and dedicated. The weather was very cold for us (more animals to see!), So we had to spend the whole time in the water - warming up on the boat was not possible, so bring warm clothes! There was hot chocolate which helped warm up. At the beginning we were all alone at a warm spring with the manatees, but unfortunately some tourists came afterwards. However, we still had enough space and space to see the animals well. Note: showering after the tour is only possible outside with river water. The only downside: the photos that you could buy after the tour were very overpriced! $ 33! So take an underwater camera with you! Too bad, otherwise it would be a great price-performance ratio.

December 19, 2019

It was a breathtaking tour. The guides were very nice and repeatedly pointed out the rules of conduct to be followed when dealing with the manatees. The first animals were already visible when entering the water and we encountered countless manatees during the tour. Many animals can be seen, especially in winter. Tip: take a towel and change items with you on the boat as it is quite cold after getting out of the water.

December 14, 2019

Crystal River, Florida: 3-Hour Swim with Manatees

Crystal River, Florida: 3-Hour Swim with Manatees

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