Chassahowitzka River Clear Kayak Springs & Manatee Tours
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
You’ve probably never heard of it, but once you paddle The Chaz, you’ll never forget it! Tucked away on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Chassahowitzka River is a spring-fed paradise bursting with wildlife, winding creeks, and hidden gems like The Crack and Seven Sisters Springs. It’s quiet, wild, and totally different from anything you’ve seen in Florida.
We offer two seasonal clear kayak tours here:
Manatee Season Tours (Nov 15–Mar 31): focused on spotting these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Summer Springs Tours (Apr 1–Nov 14): all about spring-hopping, wildlife, and swimming in stunning freshwater springs.
You’ll paddle through crystal-clear water in a 100% clear kayak with a local guide, spotting fish, birds, turtles - and maybe even a manatee or dolphin. Come see why The Chaz is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets!
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not recommended for beginner kayakers
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Your adventure begins at Seven Sisters Campground, tucked along a quiet canal just off the main Chassahowitzka River. From there, we’ll paddle to the famous Seven Sisters Springs, where clear water flows over ancient limestone formations. You’ll see natural underwater tunnels connecting the springs—perfect for a little swim or just soaking in the view. Next, we’ll head downstream to Baird Creek, a winding waterway only accessible by small paddle crafts. Surrounded by overhanging trees and untouched wilderness, it feels like stepping into a real-life jungle—many guests say it’s like paddling through a scene from Jurassic Park. This tour offers a mix of stunning spring views, hidden corners of “Old Florida,” and plenty of chances to spot wildlife along the way. Whether you're paddling, swimming, or just floating and taking it all in, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
What‘s Included
We will provide everything you need to paddle!
Tandem kayak, life jacket, paddles
Bottled water
Parking Fees
Towels, bathing suits, water shoes, sun glasses, etc.
Options
Chassahowitzka River Clear Kayak Springs & Manatee Tours
Reviews
276 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic manatees, memories and beauty!
Lynda H,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friends and I had a ball. Crosby was a fantastic guide. He offered much information on the area covering hot springs, caves and manatees. The scenery was breathtaking and we were fortunate to be able to sit and watch many manatees. He also took many photos which were wonderful. Highly recommend! This will have to be an Annual trip for us!
A “Cool” day with the manatees!
899kathyn,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a cool day but we had a great time. Our guide was fantastic and we saw manatees up close as well as great bird life. Crosby was our guide and he was attentive to everyone in the group!
Awesome day on the water with the manatees.
Quest15352089678,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome experience! Crosby was quite knowledgeable about manatees and knew exactly where they would be. He was accommodating to whatever we wanted to do. Plenty of time for pictures.
A memorable and one-of-a-kind experience
d0nauw,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We had a wonderful experience overall. The fee was slightly higher due to manatee season; however, the tour was calm, memorable, and well worth it. The clear kayak made the experience incredibly immersive—you truly feel like part of nature, especially while paddling through the springs where the water is remarkably clear. We greatly appreciated our tour guide, Cat. She was very knowledgeable about the area and thoughtfully planned an excellent route. She warned us about the tides, guided us through the springs, and taught us how to listen for and observe wildlife respectfully. We joined the 9:00 a.m. tour, which turned out to be the best time to spot manatees due to reduced sun glare on the water. We would recommend bringing a pair of polarized sunglasses to easier viewing. Although there were not large crowds—likely because the weather had been unusually warm the day before—we were fortunate to see several manatees resting, including a mother and her calf. In addition, we saw an incredible variety of bird species, many of which I had never seen in person before. It felt like a childhood dream come true, as if the animals had stepped right out of an encyclopedia. There was an option to swim in the springs, but we chose not to this time since we were driving long distances later that day. That said, I would absolutely love to return. Nature has so much to offer, and experiences like this remind us of the importance of respecting and protecting the environment.
Wow!
kambram2023,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabulous! Very knowledgeable guide and tour was amazing. Saw manatees, otter, alligator, birds, fish, crabs, beautiful waters (including springs) and foliage. A must-do if you are in the area!
Great experience! Loved it!
nancyrI1379ZR,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved this tour!! felt like I saw Florida naturally!! Dmitry was great and so knowledgeable about the wildlife in area (birds, fish, and yes manatees, Likes it better the Crystal River because less hectic with boats and other kayakers. can’t say enough ! It was great and so was Dmitry and Lacey!
Springs and manatees
W7150WSmollyw,,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience! Great amount of time to explore both the seven sisters spring and the crack spring. Beautiful environment. Cat was our guide and she was amazing! We were about to swim in the springs and also see manatees in the main river.
At last! A Manatee or 3!
laudigs,,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Yassiel was perfectly honest with us from the beginning and said he wasn’t sure that we would see manatees as we were just out of season. But, we saw it all! We saw 3 manatees and all the birds. The only thing we didn’t see was a gator. Saw otters, storks, osprey and ALL of the usual birds. He went at our pace and was thoughtful in keeping us around the manatees and taking tons of pics for us. Amazing job!!
Beautiful serenity
sambZ7958TR,,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went kayaking for the first time in the clear kayaks with Crosby, it was beautiful & wonderful. From the fresh springs (that we could get out & swim in or dive through, to the various spring life (mom manatee & babies), to eagles & other varieties of birds, to tons of fish & with many varieties, to turtles and the list goes on. Crosby was a great guide, with lots of knowledge of the wild life & area. I highly recommend him & this tour
Wildlife Delight!
larabA7716HD,,Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We are SO GLAD we chose this particular tour on The Chaz! Dmitry was a wonderful guide. He is super knowledgeable & enthusiastic about local wildlife. Dmitry was friendly and relaxed while also being on top of safety; attentive to each person in our party. [Thanks for being so patient & kind with 70y/o mom ;)] We were incredibly fortunate to see an alligator, a water snake, really cool birds like Wood Stork and many kinds of herons/egrets. We received a precious end-of-tour surprise when Dmitry’s sharp eyes spotted a small solo manatee (out of season)! This tour exceeded our expectations. We went on a Wednesday afternoon in early October; got back into some really beautiful quiet channels with hardly any other humans around. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
From US$85.00
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