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
wetsuits
Bottled water
photo and video package.
defog
Use of Snorkelling equipment
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
1,842 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic. Highly recommend!!
Jennifer F,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Can’t say enough positive things. Josh and Derick (Go Local) treated us like family and provided a wonderful experience. They went above beyond. We swam with manatees, saw a clear water spring and learned lots of interesting things about the area and about their experiences growing up. We also saw alligators (to be clear- not anywhere near where we were swimming) when Josh and Derrick took us around the area on the boat. The hot chocolate was wonderful and having all of the pictures included made it extra special because we could just enjoy the experience while Derick took all of the pictures.
5/5
R2198VHnataliej,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience! Great for kids too!
Great experience to see manatees
Xiyan Z,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a great experience! Communication was clear on parking, what to bring, and what to expect. We were with Josh and Cornell, and they were both great! Helped us learn about the manatees and the importance of conservation in the area. We saw the lovely manatees and got lots of great pics.
So cool!!
Maps23459324805,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A really great experience! We were a little late in season, but still got to swim with 3 manatees. We learned December and January they have the most manatees. Captain Josh was very knowledgeable and an excellent guide. Very good equipment. The pictures were not as good as I had hoped for. We also went to one of the springs which was absolutely Beautiful! I highly recommend this adventure.
A great adventure!
Mary Beth D,Mar 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Josh and Derick were very friendly and shared their love and knowledge for the manatees! Go local! Highly recommend!
Manatee tour - one of a kind experience!
Bella1949,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Go Local was a fantastic company run by hometown guys. They knew the area, they were quick to find manatee and get us up close. The group size (just 6 of us) was perfect - anything bigger would be crowded and overwhelming. There were other tour groups that had 12 people, which was too many. Derrick and Peter were friendly, knowledgeable and really seem to care about the manatee. Wetsuits, snorkels/mask, pool noodle provided. Hot chocolate was also provided which was great after we got back on the boat! AND, Derrick took photos the whole time and sent us the album at the end of the day. Great experience for all of us, even my 76 year old dad. Highly recommend!
Manatee Experience - totally worth it!
Angela B,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00GoLocal was a fantastic company run by hometown guys. They knew the area, they were quick to find manatee and get us up close. The group size (just 6 of us) was perfect - anything bigger would be crowded and overwhelming. There were other tour groups that had 12 people, which was too many. Derrick and Peter were friendly, knowledgeable and really seem to care about the manatee. Great experience for all of us, even my 76 year old dad. Highly recommend!
Manatees
Gloria H,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an awesome small group tour with a locally owned company. Went to a great area to swim with the manatees.
Best experience
Tommy M,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an awesome experience. They book small groups so we were able to see so many manatees and not be overcrowded. Stef and Josh were so knowledgeable and really cared about giving us a great experience. Stef took tons of pictures for us. We will definitely be using them any time we do this again!
We loved the chubby mermaids!!!!!
Joan K,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We were fitted with wet suits and swam with the manatees. When we were done they had hot chocolate for us to warm up and a private changing area to get out of our wetsuits and bathing suits. The 2 guides were friendly and knowledgeable and encouraging. Can’t recommend this more highly!!!!
From US$90.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Go Local Manatee Tours