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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
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
Options
3 hour small group all inclusive manatee swim with free photo package !
Duration: 3 hours
Photo and video packages
Reviews
1,881 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Surpassed our expectations!!!
Amanda B,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Tommy 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!
Great Experience
I1818POgeorget,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great time! Cornell and Aiden were really knowledgeable and helpful.
Staff was very helpful...
William M,Apr 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. We got to swim with the manatees and saw other wildlife.Enjoyable experience!
Best experience swimming with manatee
Jodi B,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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.
This is the tour to book!...
Lily D,Apr 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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.
Wonderful small tour
Taylor J,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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.
Magical swim with manatees. 🤿
Trip426727,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went out after 2 days of rain and high winds and too late in the season to see manatees in the springs. The water was murky, but it was still magical to swim with manatees. Tommy and Lacy were great!
Amazing, and locally owned!
Sarah R,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We 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!
Bucket list experience!
E7369WGcarolines,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing experience with Aiden and Stef whose knowledge, love and compassion for their local area made the experience even more meaningful. We thoroughly enjoyed and recommend without hesitation. Thank you
A day to remrm
557lynng,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Stefanie and Aiden were our tour guides and were very professional and fun! We had the best time and saw 3 manatees right away. They took us to the beautiful springs and saw many fish at the bottom. Great experience with lots of photos!
From US$85.00
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Operated by Go Local Manatee Tours