Orlando Manatee Encounters
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Journey to Blue Spring State Park, winter home to one of Florida’s largest populations of Manatee. Witness hundreds of these "sea cows" relaxing in the spring alone. Observe these creatures from a safe distance in your kayak as your Florida Master Naturalist introduces you to the flora and fauna that make up this wild area. This is a great trip for the entire family!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
There is no minimum age however all participants must know how to swim
It is recommended that you bring a swimsuit, towel, waterproof camera and wear clothes that can get wet and possibly dirty
To ensure a proper size kayak is available, please provide your individual heights and weights at the time of booking
There is no restroom at the meeting location. There is a public restroom at Valentine Park (1511 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763) about a mile before you arrive the meeting location that we recommend you use before your tour.
Must be comfortable sitting in a kayak for multiple hours
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
We will paddle into the park and up to the manatee refuge. The manatee leave the refuge in search of food and swim all around us and under us. We also take time to paddle to snake creek to watch manatee graze, birds fishing, and search out wildlife.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Professional guide
Landing and facility fees
Gratuities
Options
Manatee Encounter
private manatee tour (1-5pax)
Duration: 3 hours
Reviews
370 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful Adventure
Jamie C,,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing Experience. Our tour guide Ryan was super knowledgeable and friendly. We saw a ton of wildlife in addition to the manatees and even got to witness a manatee being released back into the wild. It was an incredible experience.
Great kayak tour!
vivianwP1412WL,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great morning kayaking tour this morning with Ryan! Saw lots of birds, gators & manatee. Ryan was very knowledgeable & easygoing.
Kayak Manatee tour
Daydream433669,,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went on an amazing kayak tour to see the Manatee. Our tour guide Ryan was the best. He had so much information about the wide life. My teenage kids said this was the best day of their vacation, and I agree with them. Getting to see the Manatee up close and personal was an experience none of us will ever forget.
A tour in Florida with it’s own brand of magic
Dlevin3028,,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommend this experience. It’s great to interact with the “real” Florida while we still have it to appreciate. Our tour guide Tia was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about many aspects of the natural theater of the St. John’s River. Had limited experience as a kayaker but you receive some good training and tips so it feels familiar quickly. The individual tour groups are well spaced so the aren’t too many kayaks and vessels in and amongst the manatees so everyone has the chance to admire them.
Sublime, core memory experience
louaym2026,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a sublime experience. The cold weather brought out dozens of manatees. Tia was very friendly and acommodating. We spotted many animals from nught herons to alligators and a bald eagle.
Highly recommended, great tour and tour guide.
Hstcou,,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went on a very cold day. Our tour guide (Tia) was excellent! She was out there bright and early, ran a fantastic tour, helped us spot lots of manatees and an alligator, and was great with the adults and kid on the trip. I was worried that the tour would cancel because of the cold, so I love that Tia was game to be out on the water with us. It was a really lovely way to see the manatees up close, and the location was great because you can easily do the kayak tour and then pop right into the state park to walk the boardwalk and see the manatees from a different perspective, on the boardwalk. Overall, highly recommend
Orlando Manatee Encounter
19charlottea,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A great experience kayaking in blue springs for the manatee encounter tour with Ryan. It was very organised and clear instructions provided prior to the encounter which were particularly helpful as we were travelling by taxi to get to the springs. Ryan our tour guide was super friendly and knowledgeable and as myself and my partner where the only customers booked onto the tour he let us guide what we would like to see pointing out all the other wildlife, birds and fauna in the area before heading to the springs to see the manatees. We were lucky to have a great experience with the manatees with Ryan capturing photos and videos of us in the kayak. This trip was more than we could have hoped for and we can’t recommend Ryan highly enough.
FIRST Manatee Encounter EVER Thanks to This Company
christinebD7188ZP,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Tia was SUPER friendly and knowledgeable! It felt like we were kayaking with one of our friends from back home in Maryland! She knew a lot about the local bird, plant and other wildlife and was even able to share a lot of her own personal experiences with us! Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to get out on the water and see the wildlife (especially the manatees)!!! The complimentary bottle of water and sticker is very thoughtful! DEFINITELY need to have t-shirts for purchase - would have bought one!
Unforgettable experience!
ingridmC9787MV,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a wonderful time on my kayaking with manatees adventure. Ryan was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable about the wildlife and so kind to everyone. He answered lots of questions, and made the trip fun for everyone - brand new kayakers and those who were more experienced on the water. We saw tons of manatees, several beautiful birds, and baby alligators. The communication was good from booking until the time of our trip. Due to weather my trip was shifted but there was no issue with rebooking, and I'm grateful I was able to go. I was a little nervous about getting Lyft from Orlando (I didn't rent a car) but I had no problem getting a ride to and from my adventure. This was the best part of my vacation, highly recommend!
Orlando Manatee
elhousseinin,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience, Dave is an excellent guide. It was a wonderful journey, we saw manatees, alligators and turtles.
From US$80.00
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Operated by Adventures in Florida