3 Hour Small Group All Inclusive Manatee Swim with free Photo pkg
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Go Local Manatee Tours offers unforgettable, up-close, and personal manatee encounters in Crystal River, Florida. Our daily small 6-passenger semi-private tours prioritize responsible tourism and minimize the impact on the manatees and their environments. As the only tour company in Crystal River owned and operated by staff raised here locally, we bring an unparalleled depth of knowledge and passion for the area, ensuring our guests receive an authentic and enriching experience. Moreover, being owner-operated means we are personally invested in every tour, guaranteeing a high level of personalized service and education, ensuring to maintain an equal balance of tourism and protection to our hometown. Additionally, we are proud to be the only tour company that offers our guests complimentary photo packages, allowing them to cherish their memories without any extra cost. This unique combination of local expertise, personal dedication, and added value truly makes our tours one-of-a-kind.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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
What To Expect
On our 3-hour semi-private swim with the manatees tour, we take a maximum of 6 guests to ensure an intimate and educational experience. We depart from Pete’s Pier Marina in the heart of Kings Bay, where manatees can be found throughout the 600-acre bay. Once located, guests enter the water to snorkel alongside them while our experienced guides remain in the water the entire time, leading the group and capturing photos and short videos. All photos and small video clips from your trip are included at no additional cost. Please note: This is a true wildlife experience, and conditions are never guaranteed. Large winter aggregations are driven by strong cold fronts, when manatees gather near the springs where water is typically clearer. During warmer stretches (highs in the 70s for several days), manatees often feed on the grass flats where visibility may range from 1–6 feet. A resident population lives here year-round, so sightings are still possible outside peak winter conditions. Cold fronts, not the calendar, bring large numbers into the springs. Clear water photos online are not daily conditions. We provide an authentic, respectful wildlife experience based on nature.
Options
3 hour small group all inclusive manatee swim with free photo package !
Duration: 3 hours Photo and video packages
What‘s Included
Bottled water
wetsuits
defog
Use of Snorkelling equipment
photo and video package.
Gratuities
Parking (Pete's pier charges a 10 dollar parking fee)
towels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
1,940 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great day for viewing msnatees
Kris D,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time. 5 manatees went into the springs just ahead of us and we were otherwise by ourselves. The guides were great at finding them and taking us to swim with them. They even got many great photos of everything. 7:00 am is the time to go in the summer.
My family of four had a...
Alison E,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My family of four had a very fun experience with Misty and Derick. I would recommend this tour to any family looking to experience manatess and the three sisters springs.
Manatee magic!
Lauren W,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a great experience. They guys were great and super knowledgeable!
Amazing company..."do-again" for sure!
victoriabJ4854RU,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I'm so happy we went with Go Local Manatee Tours! Coming from out of state, you never know what to expect and hope you don't get ripped off...Go Local Manatee Tours exceeded our expectations! It was great to have local guides who not only know the area but who have a love and respect for the Manatees themselves. Both Pete and Stephanie were knowledgeable in not only knowing how/where to find the Manatees but they also gave our family more insight into these amazing animals. I would 100% book with them again! This is a fabulous family activity to give your kiddos a glimpse into the world of Manatees and you'll be in amazing hands with Go Local Manatee Tours!
Our family had so much...
Kenneth J,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our family had so much fun on this tour! Our guides were wonderful and knowledgeable! We highly recommend Go Local to anyone who wants to swim with the manatees!
THE SEARCH IS OVER FOR THE BEST MANATEE EXPERIENCE! 👏
linakY242BE,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I looked through all the options for “swimming with the manatees” and this one is it!!! We were with Peter and Jess. Our tour was just my family- which made it a very personalized experience unlike others (💯 worth it).. I have three kids- ages 5,8,10. Jess stepped in and taught them all how to snorkel, made everyone feel comfortable, and gave piggy back rides to those that wanted/needed one (pretty sure she would’ve gave me one too). Because of this- I was able to enjoy the experience myself as a mom without worrying about whether my kids were gonna be okay in the water. We saw multiple manatees in June- including a mom with a baby. I was sent multiple photos and videos, more than I could’ve even hoped for! I cannot thank you guys enough for this wonderful experience. It was by far the highlight of our trip!!! Don’t keep looking- JUST DO IT. GO LOCAL!!!
Manatee fun!!!
X839BZmichaell,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh was a great captain and full of information!!! Derek was a great guide and a lot of fun, kept everything up beat and enjoyable!!
Don’t look anywhere else; get this great team
Megan S,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing group of people, they were knowledgeable, professional, funny, and caring to our family and helping with the little kids. Absolute great guide and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They were safe and the equipment was in good condition. A strong recommendation for families and small groups. Not to mention they are all locals with amazing recommendations of the local area. I wish I could live on the boat it was so much fun.
Best manatee tour ever
R5797ZYjanett,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This has been on my bucket list forever today my dreams came true We met our guides and skipper Jessica, Tommy and shiver Right on time they were all so welcoming and friendly not to mention knowledgeable Can’t recommend them enough they are a local company with all local staff they are competing with big corporate companies but please go with this company They have local knowledge and a few tricks up their sleeves to do their very best to find manatee ( but obviously they are wild animals so nothing is guaranteed) Saying this the team worked so hard covering 6 different sightings and going over our tour time We were lucky and had an amazing interaction with a manatee Jessica also took so many photos which are included in the price If you ever get to crystal river you won’t be disappointed with this tour it’s worth each and every $$ Thank you so much you all made our day
This is the only manatee tour you should book!
nerual1234,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is the only manatee tour you should book! This is the only local tour owned by locals and ran by locals that grew up on these waterways. Capt. Joshua and Stephanie were AMAZING! They were so knowledgeable about the conservation aspect and put us right in front of the manatees. They told us that we were lucky to have had the experience of swimming with several manatees (including a brand new calf!) but we were the lucky ones because they made everything perfect! Thank you!
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Operated by Go Local Manatee Tours