Small Group Manatee Discovery Kayak Tour near Orlando
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Orlando, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
The calm waters of Blue Springs State Park are home to hundreds of manatees through winter: This small-group kayaking tour feels like your own invitation into their world. Paddle your way through waters fed by a crystal clear natural spring and learn all about the area from your tour guide. Kayaks, paddles, and lifejackets are included for your convenience.
- See hundreds of manatees in the winter months
- Paddle the state park safely with a kayaking guide
- Also look out for alligators, turtles, and other wildlife
- Receive personalized attention on a small-group kayaking tour
What's Included
- Professional guide
- High-quality and stable sit-on-top kayak, paddle & lifejacket
- SnacksBottled water and a snack
- Gratuities for your guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2398 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763, USA
Please follow the signs directing you to Blue Spring State Park. DO NOT enter the park, instead continue onto the dirt road for approximately 1 mile until you reach the boat ramp. This is where the guide will meet you.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Blue Spring State Park Campground
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Blue Spring State Park
1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Please arrive 30 minutes prior to tour departure.
- It is recommended you wear quick dry clothes and water/river shoes/flip-flops
- Bring sun protection (sunhat, sunglasses, sun screen), a camera, and a towel to dry off afterwards.
- There is no restroom at the meeting location. The last public restroom is at Valentine Park (1511 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763) about a mile before you arrive the meeting location. We recommend you stop there before your tour.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 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
Matt_C
This was our first time kayaking and it was such a great experience. Our guide TJ was very knowledgeable and took his time to help us get started and share facts about the wildlife and the area. 10 out of 10. We would definitely do this again. TJ made the whole adventure worth while.
Reviews
4.9
based on 273 reviews
Rhett_L, Mar 2026
We had a great time. Saw many birds, fish, small alligators and some manatees, but the manatees mostly stayed under water. Getting wildlife to cooperate is not easy, so you get what you get. But we did see them. Kayaked for two hours, covered much water. Well worth the investment.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Rhett — we’re so glad you had a great time on the water and appreciated the wildlife experience, and we love your perspective on letting nature lead the way!
JASON_D, Mar 2026
Very relaxing, interactive experience. Up close to several manatees in a calm and informative setting. Memorable outing with friendly and knowledgeable guides.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Jason — we’re so glad you had a relaxing, memorable experience and enjoyed those up-close manatee encounters with our guides!
Chris_R, Mar 2026
We had an incredible time spotting all the birds, fish, and the magnificent manatees. Our guide, Jeff, was brimming with extensive knowledge about all the creatures we encountered. I highly recommend this experience; we’re already planning our next visit.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Chris — we’re so glad you had an incredible wildlife-filled experience with Jeff and we look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit!
Christine_L, Mar 2026
We were right in the middle of a group of manatees playing. I didn’t know they did that! It was much better than just walking the path in Blue Springs Park - you only see they sleeping in the sanctuary. Our guide, Jimi, was very well informed on all the other wild life we saw along the way. It was a wonderful experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Christine — we’re so glad you had such a wonderful, up-close experience with the playful manatees and enjoyed Jimi’s knowledge along the way!
Amelia_K, Mar 2026
My son and I went on this trip together, and honestly, it started as me trying to find something—anything—a 17-year-old might actually agree to do. As you can imagine, nothing sounded fun and nothing was “cool,” so I finally said, “I’m booking this one trip, and you just have to come with me.” That was the deal—and I’m so glad I made it.
What followed was an incredible adventure. At one point, a manatee swam right up to our kayak, lifted its snout out of the water, and blew air. My son burst out giggling like a little kid—it was such a sweet moment. The manatees were everywhere, so friendly, just gliding all around us and even swimming underneath our boat.
And to make it even better, we spotted his favorite—an alligator—right out in the middle of the water.
The kayaking itself was so smooth and easy, truly something anyone can do. We were provided with a snack and water, which was a nice touch. Our guide, Astrid, was absolutely amazing. She knew everything—about the park, the manatees, and every bird we saw along the way. She really made the whole experience.
The trip was perfectly paced—not too difficult, never a dull moment, and constantly engaging and informative. Being in a small group made it even more special, and everyone was so fun to be around.
Seeing manatees up close like that—right next to the boat, swimming beneath us—was just unforgettable. It was such a wonderful experience from start to finish.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Amelia — it truly means so much to hear this, and I’m so glad you and your son shared such a special, unforgettable moment together out on the water!
Emily_S, Mar 2026
Jeff was
Friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. It was a great experience. Group size was perfect.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Emily — we’re so glad you had a great experience with Jeff and enjoyed the perfect small-group atmosphere!
Nicole_w, Mar 2026
The tour guy Jeff was so informative about the manatees and wild life. He ensure that you'll see manatees in different part of the lake.
I highly recommend this day trip.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Nicole — we’re so glad you had an amazing experience with Jeff and enjoyed learning about the wildlife, and we truly appreciate the recommendation!
Carole_L, Mar 2026
It was a great experience. Awesome for people interested in birding as well. The guide was knowledgeable and engaging.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Carole — we’re so glad you had a great experience and enjoyed the birding along with your guide’s engaging and knowledgeable tour!
Flora_S, Mar 2026
We booked this excursion in March and there were very few manatee. I believe most had left the area. The water is very dark so the ones there were hard to see. We did see several alligators and other wildlife. The kids enjoyed that. The guide was knowledgeable and good with our group but the main attraction for us - the manatee - were hard to see. Maybe we will try again at another time and a location with clearer water.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback, Flora — we’re glad your group enjoyed the wildlife and your guide, and while Blue Spring is one of the best places in Florida to see manatees year-round, sightings and visibility can vary since they are wild animals; during manatee season the clear spring run becomes a protected refuge (closed to paddling), so where and how we observe them changes with conditions, but that’s part of what makes each tour unique, and we’d love to have you back for a different experience.
Matt_C, Mar 2026
This was our first time kayaking and it was such a great experience. Our guide TJ was very knowledgeable and took his time to help us get started and share facts about the wildlife and the area. 10 out of 10. We would definitely do this again. TJ made the whole adventure worth while.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Matt — we’re so glad your first kayaking adventure was such a great one with TJ, and we’d love to have you paddle with us again!
Maureen_S, Mar 2026
Good pace of kayaking. Remember to sunblock! Fabulous time with our guide. Would recommend February if want to see more manatee
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Maureen—we’re so glad you had a fabulous time on the water and appreciate the great tip about February for seeing more manatees! 🛶😊
Brian_J, Mar 2026
Jeff our guide was easy going, helpful and knowledgeable. Group size was perfect. This space requires 100 characters.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks Brian—we’re glad you enjoyed the tour with Jeff and that the small group made for a great experience! 🛶😊
Brian_L, Mar 2026
Fun time on the water. Our guide Jeff took us to see the manatees and also saw some gators. Jeff was very knowledgeable about the area. He was a great guide. Great bicep workout!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Brian—we’re glad you had a great time spotting manatees and gators with Jeff, and got a bit of a bicep workout along the way! 💪🛶
Schuyler_A, Mar 2026
This was a great experience for anyone who wants to experience nature and get a little exercise in. Depending on what month you go it’s not a given that you will see manatees more than just a quick glimpse of their nose as they come up for air. But our tour guide, Sue, was incredibly knowledge and made the trip.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Schuyler — we’re so glad you enjoyed the experience with Sue and appreciated her knowledge while getting to enjoy nature out on the water!
Katherine_K, Mar 2026
100% do it again! TJ was a wonderful host. Very knowledgeable, and provided us with a wonderful tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Katherine — we’re so glad you had a wonderful tour with TJ and look forward to paddling with you again next year!
Samantha_K, Mar 2026
This experience was one of the best. I had my heart set on this Manatee Mission and it did not disappoint. There was so many manatees and so much action! Our guide was super chill and awesome! Highly recommended already to many of my colleagues!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Samantha — we’re so thrilled your Manatee Mission was a success and that you enjoyed all the action on the water, and we truly appreciate you spreading the word!
Deborah_C, Feb 2026
Guide, Jeff, was prepared for our small group, and the 2 hours was enough time to see all types of birds, manatees, and plenty of alligators.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Deborah — we’re so glad you had a great wildlife-filled experience with Jeff and enjoyed seeing so much in just two hours!
Alake_J, Feb 2026
Great experience, it was my husband and I first time. TJ our guide was wonderful and patient. He knew so much about the wildlife.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Alake — we’re so glad your first kayaking experience was such a great one with TJ and that you enjoyed learning about the wildlife!
Sol_V, Feb 2026
Our guide, TJ was a wealth of information not only about the manatees and their habits but also the makeup and wildlife of the river and lagoon. On top of all that, the manatees were super active today playing together and coming up close or under the kayaks. Again TJ guided us through the experiences. We also experienced watching several of the recently rescued manatees. This outing was so worth it and TJ has lots of patience and a great demeanor.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Sol — we ’re so glad you had such an action-packed and informative experience with TJ and enjoyed those incredible, up-close manatee moments!
Lisa_H, Feb 2026
This was fun and memorable. TJ was a great guide!
There is a 100 word minimum when leabinf a review. These are more words.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Lisa — we’re so glad you had a fun and memorable time with TJ and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review!
Dominic_T, Feb 2026
Easy, fun, good for kids. Great guide, simple to find, gentle work on the kayak. Highly recommend with the family!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Dominic — we’re so glad your family had an easy, fun, and kid-friendly adventure on the water, and we truly appreciate the recommendation!
Nancy_P, Feb 2026
Beautiful spot to kayak with the manatees! We saw a bunch playing together - so cool! Jimi was an excellent guide, pointing out the manatees, what to look for to find them and lots of other wildlife! He also was helpful with tips for getting to the kayak site on time due to park traffic. Would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Nancy — we’re so glad you had such a cool manatee encounter with Jimi and appreciated his wildlife tips and helpful guidance for getting there smoothly!
Chrissi_C, Feb 2026
Perfect for families seeking adventure and exercise. We saw sooo many manatees, birds and gators. Was so much fun!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Chrissi — we’re so glad your family had such a fun, adventure-filled time and got to see so many manatees and wildlife!
Christie_L, Feb 2026
We had a lovely time with our guide JimI out on the river learning about the Florida wildlife including birds, alligators and of course everything about manatees. He was extremely knowledgeable and kept the safety of the manatees in mind throughout the tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Christie — we’re so glad you enjoyed learning about the wildlife with Jimi and appreciated his knowledge and care for the manatees’ safety!
Kathleen_A, Feb 2026
Nothing short of spectacular! It was both incredibly fun and informative!
Jeff, our guide, was amazing!!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Kathleen — we’re so thrilled you had such a spectacular, fun, and informative experience with Jeff, and we truly appreciate the enthusiastic recommendation!
Paul_S, Feb 2026
Jimi was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and very helpful. He obviously cared about all the wildlife.
It was a nightmare driving to the location. There was a huge traffic jam by the state park, and the directions they gave were not clear that you have to drive to the end of the dirt road where the water is.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Paul — we’re so glad you enjoyed the tour with Jimi and appreciate your helpful feedback about the directions and traffic so we can continue improving the experience for future guests.
Kim_S, Feb 2026
Awesome loved the manatees!! Had a wonderful time kayaking saw turtles and alligators! The guide was great very informative!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Kim — we’re so glad you loved the manatees and had such a wonderful, wildlife-filled kayaking experience!
Kristen_G, Feb 2026
Chose this outing on a whim and so glad we did. Jeff was personable and knowledgeable and it was awesome to be on the water and see the manatee, alligators, turtles and birds up close and in their natural environment.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Kristen — we’re so glad your spontaneous choice turned into such a fun, wildlife-filled experience with Jeff on the water!
Paige_F, Feb 2026
We had a great time! Jeff was an awesome tour guide. We live locally and definitely want to come back. We had no idea we would see so many manatees. Thank you so much for a great day, Jeff!!!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Paige — we’re so glad you had a great day with Jeff and discovered just how many manatees can be seen, and we’d love to welcome you back anytime!
Gina_B, Feb 2026
Amazing tour! Jeff, our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. We saw lots of manatees, a variety of alligators and birds. Would highly recommend and book with him again for our family.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you, Gina — we’re so glad your family had a wonderful adventure with Jeff and enjoyed all the manatees, wildlife, and his knowledgeable guiding!
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