Small Group VIP (Heated in Winter) Manatee Snorkel Tour
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
We will let you in on a secret! You can get the high-end experience, with an affordable price tag! Our new heated (during winter), luxury pontoon aims to amp up the manatee sighting and deliver a more personal event! Observe the endangered West Indian Manatee in Crystal River’s idyllic Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Your US Coast Guard licensed captains and guides will take you into the 600 acre spring fed refuge waters for viewing and snorkeling with these slow moving wild giants. All equipment, fees, snacks and beverages are included.
Inclusions
What's included
- Professional guide
- Use of equipment (mask, snorkel gear and wet suit)
- Introductory/instructional video offered in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish
- Beverages (bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea and adult)
What's not
- Gratuities
- Food and beverages (unless otherwise specified)
- Photo DVD (available to purchase)
- Towel and swimsuit
Itinerary
Embark on your journey with a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain who will be your in water chaperon, educator and photographer. Your tour will run four hours from start to finish and everything you will need is included for one price. You will begin at our full-service tour facility, where you will be educated about the animals in a classroom type setting and receive tips for your snorkel tour to make the most of your day. You will be taught the in’s and out’s of ‘passive interaction’ as this ensures that the animals enjoy the experience as much as we do! You will then be suited up and transported to the dock, where a Coast Guard certified covered pontoon will be waiting for you. This rich estuary will amaze…..birds, fish and wildlife abound! Submerge yourself in the manatee’s world! Finish your adventure by viewing your Captain’s photos back at our facility and be sure to visit our one-of-a-kind gift shop! Our well-informed staff will direct to other local attractions, restaurants and answer of your questions before you are on your way.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 51,052
- 412
- 35
- 21
- 13
Ratings come from 1,073 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5The best in Crystal River
I've been visiting Crystal River and the "Manatee Festival" for over 5 years. There is only one time I did not use River Ventures, and I regretted it. River Ventures has the best captains, boats and guides. They always direct us to the best manatee viewing and take incredible pictures for us to enjoy later. My favorite part is the heated boat and beverages post-swim. This company is the crown jewel of manatee tours.
5Don't Miss This Experience
This was one of the highlights of my life! I got to check off a bucket list item. Our guide was phenomenal. He made sure we had a top notch experience. He heated boat was great. Do the VIP tour!
5Up close and personal
Love these animals! Got to see them up close and personal!
5Ask for Gary and Lacy
Gary and Lacy gave us a fantastic tour! Got to see multiple manatees in the summer time
5Great day for the whole family!
Great experience for the whole family! We knew that the timing of our trip wasn’t ideal for seeing hundreds of manatees but Piper and Lacy were excellent at still finding manatees for us to swim with. They were patient and understanding with my little boys too! We were lucky enough to also see a dolphin! Great day! The photo package was also very reasonably priced and included photos and videos that we will cherish forever!
5Amazing
It was simply amazing! The team took a lot of time for us and really made the experience special. The animals are treated with great respect, and at the same time, you can get very close to them without disturbing them. The team handled everything really well and made sure the animals were always treated with care. We were absolutely delighted with the experience and would do it again anytime. We highly recommend it!
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please arrive at River Ventures 15 minutes prior to your tour departure.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 6 travellers
- Operated by
- River Ventures
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Adult pricing applies to all travelers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Wetsuits are available in sizes from toddlers (2 years old and up) to adults up to 5X
- It is advised that you have your swimsuit on underneath your clothes for a quicker check-in
- Please bring a towel and a plastic bag to hold your belongings
- Children Under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour. Please call for other options.
How it compares in Crystal River
- Its from-price is 41% above the median of the 127 experiences we list in Crystal River.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 8 of 127.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Crystal River
Crystal River is a small town on Florida's Nature Coast, famous for clear spring-fed waters where manatees gather in winter.
Crystal River lies on Florida's Gulf coast north of Tampa, where many springs feed Kings Bay with clear water that stays at a steady 22 degrees Celsius all year. As winter cold chills the Gulf, West Indian manatees crowd into the warm water, and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge protects them. Three Sisters Springs, a cluster of crystal-clear pools, is a manatee refuge in the cold months.
Top-ranked sights in Crystal River: Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
