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Swim with Manatees Tour (Nov 15 – Mar 31)

Quick Details

Single Kayak Single Rider Up To 250 Pounds
$89
$79
Tandem Kayak Two Riders Up To 425 Pounds
$179
$159
Paddleboard Single Rider Up To 250 Pounds
$89
$79

Kayak AND Swim with Manatees in Crystal River, Florida!

THE #1 TOUR IN CRYSTAL RIVER DURING MANATEE SEASON! Our unique kayak AND swim tour is one of a kind in Crystal River.  This ALL-INCLUSIVE guided ecotour leaves you with a lifetime of incredible memories.  Our passionate guides will teach you about the area and give you lots of manatee knowledge while searching for our beloved friends.  Swimming with manatees is a bucket list item for many travelers, and we provide the BEST eco-friendly experience possible. This is a 2.5-hour kayak and swim adventure that operates from November 15th through March 31st each year.  Our exclusive tour includes a kayak/paddleboard, mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and one of our incredible guides.

Towards the end of manatee season (the month of March) it gets more difficult to spot manatees on warmer days/weeks due to manatees heading back out to the Gulf of Mexico to survive.  Our guides make every effort possible to find the manatees but it is a natural environment and there is no guarantee that every tour will get the opportunity to swim with them, or possibly even spot a manatee during the month of March.

During your tour, you may have the opportunity to view and swim with wild manatees and other wildlife in their natural habitat. There are several species of birds and fish that you may encounter on your journey as well as dolphins, tarpon, turtles, and an occasional otter.

This tour operates twice daily and has limited availability, so book today and don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Important Information

We require that you arrive 30 minutes prior to your reservation/tour start time. There is a short video (required by FWC) and waivers to sign before departing.

Your time on the water starts at your booking time. As such, if you arrive at your reservation time you will miss your tour. Tours leave at the scheduled reservation time.

Children must be at least 3 years of age to participate. No pets are allowed on any of our tours. Per Crystal River City ordinance, there is a $5.00 per vessel launch fee that is charged at checkout. You will be given a bracelet that is necessary to launch at our local park.

Meet Our Amazing Local Guides!

Our guides know the local waters like the back of their hands and will show you all of the best places here on Kings Bay and our local springs!

Izzy Water Princess

Meet our tour guide, Izzy. Born and raised in Washington State, Izzy moved to Florida for all the wonderful weather and wildlife it has to offer. On her days off she explores other springs around Florida. She loves riding her bike and being on the water in general!

Josh R. Mr Sunshine

When Josh is not out paddleboarding around King’s Bay, he’s working his butt off at our shop! Josh runs our clear kayak tours and is an up and coming entrepreneur in Crystal River.   Josh and Jessica are brother and sister and have a friendly competition of who can give the best customer service and get the most 5 star reviews. Reserve your tour today and experience what THOUSANDS of other guests think about our amazing guides!

Brody Manatee Specialist

Meet one of our newest local tour guides, Brody! Born and raised in Dunnellon Florida, Brody loves the medical field and is currently following his passion at EMT school. He also enjoys frequenting the gym on his down time.  He is a people pleaser and looks forward to meeting new guests every day!

Kiontae Mr. Smooth

Kiontae is one of our newest guides and has been with Paddles Outdoor Rentals for over a year now.  He excels in customer service and our guests truly love being around him.  Being born and raised in Crystal River has really given him a great knowledge of our waterways, which he loves sharing with his tours.  His amazing personality and attention to detail makes him one of the best in the business!  Book your tour today 🙂