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Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando

star-4.531 Reviews
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Kissimmee, United States
Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando
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Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando
Manatee photos taken by underwater cameras
Manatee swimming in the river springs
Manatees live naturally on the Crystal River
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From $98.99

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Number of travelers
1 Adult2 Adults3 Adults4 Adults5 Adults6 Adults7 Adults8 Adults9 Adults10 Adults0 Children1 Child2 Children3 Children4 Children5 Children6 Children7 Children8 Children9 Children10 Children0 Infants1 Infant2 Infants3 Infants4 Infants5 Infants6 Infants7 Infants8 Infants9 Infants10 Infants
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
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Safety measures
icon10 hours  (approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English

Overview

Spend a day with central Florida’s manatees on this guided cruise and wildlife park adventure. Begin with a boat ride on the Crystal River, home of the manatee. Swim and snorkel with these gentle giants, then enjoy the afternoon at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. This is one of the best places in the state to watch manatees, as well as other animals, like bears, panthers and alligators in their natural environment. An Orlando-area hotel pickup and drop-off included.
  • See Florida wildlife in their natural environment
  • Take a cruise along the Crystal River, home of the manatee
  • Visit Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
  • Watch manatees, bears, panthers and alligators
  • Pickup from select Orlando locations
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From $98.99

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Driver/guide
Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
Use of snorkel equipment, mask, snorkel and fins.
River cruise to look for the manatees
Admission into Homosassa State Park
Gratuities
Wetsuits must be hired - Mandatory $15 fee
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7:00 AM
This activity will end right where it started.
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • A small amount of walking is involved at your leisure through the State Park
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Gray Line of Orlando
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando?
A:The policies on sanitization are:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando?
A:The policy on staff health & safety is:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
See all safety measures taken by Crystal River Manatee Swim or Boat Ride from Orlando.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "Such a special expertise not to be missed if your in Orlando." See review

Reviews

4.5
star-4.5
31 Reviews
5 stars
24
4 stars
2
3 stars
1
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1 star
4

Reviews by Viator travelers

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Showing 1-10 of 31 reviews
star-5
Great experience!
Guin_S
, Jun 2022
Great trip! We went at the end of May and we’re able to swim with a couple of manatees! Thank you! 😀
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star-4
Great manatee swim
Rebecca_W
, May 2022
I really enjoyed our tour. We were picked up promptly from our hotel on idrive, the team were friendly and informative and then we were taken to the location to do the swim. We paid extra for a wet suit and were given a safety briefing. The captain (think his name was Glen) who took us out was great, he was really informative about all of Floridas wildlife (especially manatees and gators!) and helped us find manatees to swim with. I was a bit concerned that we wouldn’t see any manatees as we went in May and I know they tend to be in the river in winter time but it was really stress free and easy. The wildlife park was cute, there wasn’t too much to see but it was a nice relaxing walk around. We didn’t get any food included on the tour but there was food available to buy at the second location. All in all I would recommend this tour and I would do it again!
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Amazing Manatee Adventure
Jerri_U
, Apr 2022
What an amazing we experience!!! We were fortunate enough to swim with a mama & baby manatee!!! Captain's Tom & Geri were extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife & shared valuable info about the habitat. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ADVENTURE!!
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star-5
Excellent
Alexander_M
, Mar 2022
Great driver named Ishmael. Great experience swimming with manatees and cool animal park! I would do this trip again in a heartbeat.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Great tour and experience but the devil is in the details.
Ramya_S
, Feb 2022
The trip itself was fantastic! Well organized, the driver and tour guides were great. Only issue was with how the tour pickup was organized. The website states pickup from area hotel (but there are only a few and they will not pick you up from your hotel). Additionally there is no room for baggage storage. We were switching hotels the day of the tour and this added to significant confusion the night before. I would encourage everyone to call greyline the tour operator and confirm things well in advance.
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star-5
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!
Edward_F
, Feb 2022
Went on February 5th, 2022. Paul from Gray Line Orlando and all the staff at American Pro Diving Center in Crystal River were excellent and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great trip. There were no problems at all with pickup or transportation from the Orlando resort area. Once on the boat, it took just 5 minutes to see a mother and her calf. The dive captain dropped in to make sure it was good and we all soon followed into the water. Soon enough, there were 7-8 manatees all around us! We were able to spend upwards of an hour in the water with the manatees. Homosassa Springs State Park was also a great addition to the trip. We chose this tour because getting to Crystal River on your own without a car can be challenging, so I would highly recommend this tour. A+'s all around!
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2 travelers found this review helpful
star-5
Put on your bucket list!
Darlene_M
, Oct 2021
Swimming with the manatees was great. Our boat crew, John, Neil and Jerry were perfect. The nature preserve was interesting and relaxing. Ismael was a wonderful driver and guide. He was friendly, professional and had many fun facts about the area. Breakfast was bagged but plentiful. Lunch was at Sara's cafe it was soooo yummy and our service was good. I recommend the fish basket. Some of the best fish I have ever had.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Memorable
Alysha_S
, Jun 2021
We had so much fun!! Our driver Paul, was super friendly and kind. Our tour guides were “Tom and Jerry” and they did a fantastic job at finding us manatees to swim with! The lunch was spectacular as well! Because of covid they could not provide breakfast but instead, upgraded us to free gear to use!
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Do not miss!
Erin_O
, May 2021
They were all so amazing. All staff were all so nice. Floating over the manatee was an experience like none other. The wet suit is a must in the cold, clear water. So shallow, yet you have to float over with a pool noodle so that you do not stir up the shallow floor underneath. Even if you don't go in, they can be seen with the 2-5 foot depths of the river. If you put your face in, can hear them munching on the sea grass. Very gentile, graceful, peaceful creatures. A shame that they are on the endangered list. An Iconic Florida experience. Highly recommended!
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Best memorable trip
Lizz_F
, Apr 2021
Most wonderful trip and best memories that we will cherish for forever ! Once in a lifetime opportunity that we now have pictures to last a lifetime!
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Swim with Manatees in there natural habitat
TravelCruiser2019
, Oct 2019
This is a wonderful tour where you get very close to these gentle creatures in their habitat. No snorkeling or dive experience required. You get a noodle to keep you afloat and they swim right up to you. Such a special expertise not to be missed if your in Orlando.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-4
Great day
Roving14682260080
, Mar 2019
This was a pleasant day for sure. It was towards the end of the season for the manatees (went in early March) so it took us a while to find them but eventually we were able to swim with 4 of them. The nature park in the afternoon was decent as well. Our guide was excellent, unfortunately I've forgotten his name but he was great all day.
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3 travelers found this review helpful
star-1
I would choose a different operator...
Deepa P
, Dec 2016
I would choose a different operator if not for the diving shop they took us to. American Pro Diving's Phil Eledge was our instructor on the meet the manatee swim. He was patient, courteous and I definitely recommend his place for diving adventures. The Gray line bus tour was a disappointment to say the least..its supposed to be a 10-12 hour day trip that includes breakfast, lunch. But 2 people in my group including myself didnt get breakfast- reason was that they ran out of supplies!! No apology nothing! The driver was quiet and grumpy all along the way. We spent 2 hours for the swim with manatee 1.5 hours in water, half hour to change into swimwear and watch the instruction videos etc , 2 hours or so in the State park. Thats it. Rest was all commute and picking/dropping people. I don't think they behaved courteously with international travelers on top of that! I went on another trip with Dolphin tours and they were definitely better than this ! I won't be back to this group !
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2 travelers found this review helpful
star-5
Our guide was informative and really...
Kathryn_J
, Oct 2016
Our guide was informative and really wanted us to have a good experience. Despite it not being manatee season, we were able to find a few manatees including a mom and her calf.
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star-5
Magico
Paulo_M
, Dec 2021
El nadar junto a un manati.. una experiencia única.. con todo el cuidado de no molestar al animal... Recomendable para niños
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