Chassahowitzka River Clear Kayak Springs & Manatee Tours
Description
The Chassahowitzka River — locals call it "The Chaz" — is what you get when you drive past all the crowded springs and keep going. It's near Homosassa in Citrus County, less than 2 hours from Orlando and Tampa — close enough for a weekend escape, far enough to feel like you've discovered wild Florida! Each tour is guided by a passionate & knowledgeable guide, operated in small groups, and use 100% clear tandem kayaks. 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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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 towards 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.
Paddle through secluded springs with enough time to swim in iconic locations like Seven Sisters Springs. Water levels determine access to The Crack — when the tide is right, we'll take you there. When it's not, we'll show you equally beautiful hidden spots and springs around the Chaz that most people never find. Either way, you're swimming in pristine Old Florida water!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(299)
Nice river tour! Fun and entertaining guide, Crosby.
Crosby was a great kayak tour guide on the Chaz. He knew the best places to see that were not as crowded on a holiday weekend. We saw turtles and river otters! He shared interesting facts about the area. We will definitely ask for him again!
Guided tour with Kenny. We were the only guests. We had a great time. Kenny was fun & could answer our constant questions. Easy paddle with a stop at seven sisters to swim through the linked holes. Highly recommend
Kenny our guide was so full of information and funny stories as he ushered us in n this unfamiliar terrain and waterway. Great trip
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, we greatly appreciate it! We're so glad to hear you had a wonderful experience with Kenny and we will be sure to pass the love on to him. We hope to see you at the Chaz again soon!!
Val and Kenny were great guides. Nice time on the river.
Thank you for the 5-stars and kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed your time with Val and Kenny and got to enjoy the beautiful Chaz River with us. We hope to see you again soon!!
We had a great time Yas and Tom were fun and knowledgeable on all the surrounding, we had a big group of friends and we all enjoyed ourselves very much!! Thank you.
Thank you for the awesome review Theresa! We're so pleased you had a great experience and enjoyed your time with our incredible guides. We hope to welcome you all back to the Chaz again soon!!
Awesome to have a guide who is knowledgeable, fun and environmentally minded on my first paddle on the Chaz. Cat was wonderful!!!
Thank you for the great review and for shouting out Cat's hard work! We're so glad you enjoyed your tour with us and got to share our love for the Chaz. We hope to paddle with you again in the future!!
Cat was such a great guide! She took us to several cool locations, paddled at whatever pace the group needed, and made the day fun.
Thank you for such a kind review, we'll be sure to pass the love onto Cat! We're so glad you had such a peaceful and fun adventure with us and we hope to welcome you back to the Chaz soon!!
Had a great time with Kenny. Awesome day, would highly recommend. Saw a manatee and swam in the spring.
Thank you for the 5-stars and great review! We're so pleased that you had a wonderful experience with Kenny and even got to see a manatee outside of manatee season! Thanks again and we hope to welcome you back sometime soon!!
We had a great trip with Kenny (Kenneth). He was very knowledgeable of the area. I appreciated that he let my daughter borrow some goggles so she could swim through the caves. We loved Seven Sisters. Great relaxing trip through a beautiful area.
Thank you for the kind review and for shouting out Kenny's hard work! We're so glad you had a great time with him and got to enjoy the beauty of the Chaz. We hope to see you again soon!!
