3 Hour Small Group All Inclusive Manatee Swim with free Photo pkg
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Crystal River, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the unique thrills that come with getting up close and personal with Crystal River's manatees. This small-group tour offers an educational, exciting, and eco-friendly adventure run by locals dedicated to protecting wildlife. Step away from everyday life into these protected Florida waters to create lasting memories, immortalized in your included photo and video package.
- Don’t worry about packing kit, everything you need is provided for ease
- Discover manatees in their natural habitat: An experience most Florida visitors miss
- Bottled water provided for your refreshment
- Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of a small-group tour
What's Included
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- wetsuits
- Bottled water
- defog
- photo and video package.
- Gratuities
- Parking (Pete's pier charges a 10 dollar parking fee)
- towels
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 SW 1st Pl, Crystal River, FL 34429, USA
When you arrive at Pete's Pier Marina, we'll meet you at the gift shop located in the parking lot of the pier. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. We'll also be contacting you the day before your departure with meeting instructions. We can't wait for your awesome manatee tour!
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- No professional cameras or photographers with out prior consent from operator.
- Not recommended for travelers who are not comfortable at least floating in the water
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Cynthia_J
We loved this manatee tour! Our guides were fun and we learned a lot about the native fauna in the local springs. They did a great job of finding the coolest manatee named Triangle. What a good sweet boy! He kept us entertained. I highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,924 reviews
Laurie_S, Jun 2026
Peter was our captain, and Josh our guide. Both were so knowledgeable about the Manatee and gave us a great history of this area. Peter led us to Three Sisters Springs, and Josh guided us in the water to four Manatee- a pregnant mother, a baby, another female and a frisky male. The water was so clear in the springs- just incredible! Also, I had never snorkeled before- I am 65 and a little scared of water , not a proficient swimmer-Josh and Peter were very patient in teaching me, and I cannot wait to snorkle again! My photos will show our fantastic time!
Tiffany_B, Jun 2026
Jessica and Pete were amazing tour guides. We found manatees twice. Jessica is so sweet and she guides you right to where you need to be to get the best experience. The manatee came up for air a foot in front of our faces. Thank you for a memory that will truly last a lifetime!
Jason_E, May 2026
Incredible experience and the guides were friendly and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this tour.
LeAnna_F, May 2026
Josh and Derrick were amazing!! Despite it being end of May and very hot out they worked hard to find us a couple of manatees and a baby! They made the whole afternoon entertaining! They are a local company and we will use them again!!!
James_V, May 2026
Excellent guides. Stephanie was knowledgeable and answered all our questions. We same so close to three manatees. After that we got to cruise around the bay and saw alligators and osprey nests.
Alice_G, May 2026
It was an awesome experience. We had really good time hanging out with many manatees. My husband got a little hug which is very rate from one of them!! Our guides took care of us very well too. We are not good swimmers so had to rely on Derrick. I hope I got his name right. I recommend this small group tour. We will be back for sure and use their service again!
Marcia_I, May 2026
We had Pete and Cornell as our captain and guide. They were very knowledgeable and safety conscious. We learned a lot about the manatees and will always use Go Local because it’s keeps the benefits in the community. We had the most wonderful day and made unforgettable memories. Thank you Pete and Cornell!
Marcia and Joanne
Teresa_T, May 2026
The experience was well explained. We were told in detail what to expect and how we should Interact with the manatee we encounter. Our guide and captain Pete embraced all the guests on board even one we had with us that had never been on a boat!!! Cornell was our water guide and photographer. We were in the water within minutes and snorkeling with the manatee. The experience was unmatched for me as far as the interaction. We than were taken to sister springs, a beautiful spring oasis 💜. We were able to snorkel in the beautiful CLEAR springs. Of course our trusted guide and photographer was right with us every float of the way. Back aboard the boat 2 manatee ( momma and baby)were seen and again we were given the opportunity to get back in the water. I chose to go and of course my trusted guide came along. This was a experience that I will continue to give me wonderful memories!! Also age is not a obstacle go enjoy yourself and let Pete and Cornell bring you on a adventure you won't forget 😉
Sherry_D, Apr 2026
Captain John and Derek were amazing! Our group was only 4 people, including us, and they did a fantastic job of not only finding manatees, but working with us to make us feel comfortable, and explaining everything to us before we even got in the water with the manatee. Snorkeling alongside the manatee was a bucket list item for me, and it was unbelievable.! I can’t wait to see the pictures that Derek took!! I would highly recommend Go Local to anyone as a tour guide. They are the last private, local born and raised manatee tour group out there, and their knowledge of the area shows it. You won’t regret choosing them!
Thomas_B, Apr 2026
The personal in GoLocal in Crystal River is fantastic! The manatees trip was great but even better with the crew from GoLocal.
Absolutely the best recommendation!!
Linda_D, Apr 2026
It's the only small local tour company left in Kings Bay. They were amazing!! Very knowledgeable about everything. They were fun and very good with the area and the animals around us. They gave me excellent tips with the wetsuit (I'm claustrophobic) and on how to snorkel and float around the manatees. I had never done any of this before. Getting in the water I was scared and starting to panic. They talked me through it all and helped me get settled in the water and be calm. After swimming with the manatees for an hour, everyone else had gotten out and I didn't want to get out of the water and leave the manatees!! On top of all this, there was a wonderful photographer in the water with us the whole time, taking great pictures and leading us to the manatees as they swam around the small area. Also, the pictures were all included in the very reasonable price.
Sheila_B, Apr 2026
Had a wonderful time with Tommy and Derek!! The captain and guide were very knowledgeable and friendly. 10 star experience! Thank you for a great time! Always book local!
Aaron_E, Apr 2026
Our tour guides were amazing ( Captain Josh and guide Steph were wonderful). From the moment they met us a the pier it was very relaxed. They explained the plan, helped us get the right wet suits and we went out! We saw a Manatee shortly after take off and she was stunning ( Marnarch was her name due to scars on her back that resembled wings) the entire trip was amazing and having our small group alone with the Manatee was amazing. I did alot of research and am so happy we went with this tour. They even captured some breathtaking photos which you can see the true beauty of this Manatee! I would highly recommend and hope to do again in the future!
Vladyslav_S, Apr 2026
We had an amazing trip with Captain Josh and photographer Carmel. Just five minutes after setting sail, we encountered a manatee and had a wonderful time observing this animal. We also visited a crystal-clear spring where we swam and took photos. It was an incredible adventure!
Sarah_E, Apr 2026
Pete and Stephanie were just amazing!! We swam up close with several manatees. Locally owned business. Expert level experience. We learned about the ecosystem and the history of the manatee population steering away from near extinction.
These people were the best!
Amanda_B, Apr 2026
Tommy and Stef were great guides and got us anime time with the manatees. You can tell they both really care about the manatees and all of the wildlife in the area. We even got to see a mom and baby together and hung out with them for over an hour! A truly amazing and perfect small group experience!
William_M, Apr 2026
Staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. We got to swim with the manatees and saw other wildlife.Enjoyable experience!
Jodi_B, Apr 2026
This was an amazing experience. Tommy & Stephanie were amazing guides. Both were very knowledgeable and helpful. We got up close and personal swimming with a Manatee while respecting the rules. The Manatees are beautiful and graceful and just accept you bear them without any concern. We also got to swim in the home spring which was crystal clear. Stephanie took tons of photos that I can not wait to see as soon as I get the link. Definitely recommend. Would give it 10 stars if I could. This was the highlight of my trip. Love that they are locals and what happens at the river truly matters to them. They aren't like the other companies that are ran and owned by investors with no connection to the river, springs or Manatee other than the money. Tommy and Stephanie truly care and want you to experience the majesty and awe of the Manatee and the local area while preserving it. Definitely book with this company.
Lily_D, Apr 2026
This is the tour to book! Company run totally by locals who really care about the manatees and will make sure you have a good time. We came during the off season and still had an amazing time. Small groups and photos included were clutch. Would absolutely come again.
Taylor_J, Apr 2026
This was a great small tour. We loved our local tour guides Stephanie and Aiden. They got us right in the water and immediately found about 4 manatees even though we were there in the off-season. They were great with my kids and helped them position so they could see the manatees. It definitely met my expectations for our April trip and I definitely plan to come back and do it again in the winter.
Sarah_R, Apr 2026
We had an AMAZING experience with Josh and Stephanie- book with Go Local! My husband, 7 year old son, & I took the 3 hour manatee tour on 4/11 knowing we were outside of the peak season but hoping we’d still see some
Manatees. Getting the wet suits and goggles on was quick and easy, then we were off. We had a nice small group at only 5 of us and were able to swim with several different manatees. Josh and Stephanie (along with the owner of Go Local) grew up in Crystal River and we could feel their passion for the area, conservation, and respectful wildlife viewing. After over 1.5 hours in the water with the manatees they took us to a crystal clear fresh water spring followed by a bonus gator sighting. Then the same evening we received a link to all the photos & videos Stephanie took in the water with the Go Pro which was an amazing bonus because we were able to be fully present in the moment and still have photo and video memories. There are many companies to choose from but Go Local is the only locally owned manatee tour company in the area, and we can’t recommend them enough!
Carol_M, Apr 2026
Josh and Stef were amazing. They made sure your experience was memorable and they made sure your every need was met. No one was left out!! I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM HANDS DOWN!! SMALL GROUPS IS WHAT YOU WANT FOR THIS TYPE OF ADVENTURE!!
Denice_B, Apr 2026
My daughters and I (7, 11, 43) had the most magical experiences of our lives! We will never forget it ❤️ Guide Derrick and Captain Aiden were so kind, down to earth, really local, and huge lovers of the gentle “tees”. I cannot give my experience enough stars. They know exactly what they are doing. Book with them. Don’t second guess it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jessica_G, Apr 2026
Seeing a manatee has been an experience on my bucket list that I have ALWAYS wanted to do. The experience was amazing and the guides, Stephanie and Ayden, made the experience even better. They were helpful and clear with instructions and very encouraging around the manatees. They led you exactly where you could get the best view and if you aren’t the best swimmer like me, Stephanie was so kind and patient. I will definitely do this again! The manatees were adorable and so care free around us! Such a cool and unforgettable day!
Christopher_B, Apr 2026
Josh and Cornell were awesome guides. Very welcoming and passionate about the Manatees. The locally owned company “Go Local” offers a great personal experience with the smaller size boat. I’m so glad we booked the private boat tour. Perfect for our family of five. It was really a beautiful time and my family loved it. I will highly recommend the experience to everyone I can.
Deborah_S, Apr 2026
More than just manatee sightings, the free swim in the springs was a perfect ending. Lacy and Tommy where friendly and accommodating .
Valerie_B, Apr 2026
I would absolutely recommend this tour. The guides made sure we were able to see the manatee and that we enjoyed ourselves. They obviously really care about the manatees.
Sara_H, Apr 2026
Misty and Derrick were amazing!! They knew exactly where to go and were so knowledgeable about the area. We loved that the company was locally run by people who
know the area. The best experience for the family!!
Heidi_H, Apr 2026
We enjoyed our time with captain Peter and Abby so much!! They were knowledgeable and so easy going. Having grown up in the area Pete is a wealth of knowledge in seeking out the manatees, and the ecosystem they depend on. It was only our family of 3 on the boat, so we didn't have to fight the crowds to enjoy spending lots of time swimming with these beautiful creatures. An experience we will all cherish forever.
gaysweaver0406, Apr 2026
Know your Florida laws pertaining to touching manatees. Be able to snorkel. Plan on paying $10.00 for parking.
From $85.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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3 Hour Small Group All Inclusive Manatee Swim with free Photo pkg
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