T
Great Tour!
Great tour! Got to see many manatees. Tour guide was very knowledgeable.
Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise
+6 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Price from
- $51 / person
- Location
- Crystal River, United States
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 1,236 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Explorida
- Meeting point
- Explorida Adventure Center - 545 North Citrus Ave, Crystal River FL 34428We kindly ask guests to arrive at least twenty minutes prior to the start of your scheduled tour time. We will be leaving our location five minutes before your scheduled tour time.
Description
This tour is the perfect way to stay dry and view the wild manatees of the Kings Bay Wildlife Refuge. Hop aboard our US Coast Guard certified vessel where you will join your Master Captain to embark on a journey into the Kings Bay refuge waters. On this tour, you and the group will join us for one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime! During this trip we will search for our world famous wild manatees that give Crystal River the title of "The Manatee Capital of the World." There is also a chance to see many other species of birds, turtles, and even a dolphin every now and then so be on the lookout for the impressive variety of wildlife that calls the refuge "home". What to Bring Polarized Sunglasses Important Information We will be meeting at the address below, and please arrive twenty minuets prior to your scheduled tour time. Explorida Adventure Center 545 North Citrus Ave Crystal River, FL 34428
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 12 times a day, 7:00 AM–3:45 PM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 11
- Adult (ages 18–64)
- $51
- Senior (ages 65+)
- $51
- Youth (ages 8–17)
- $51
- Child (ages 3–7)
- $51
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 237 of the next 330 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Not suitable for children under the age of three unless booked on a private tour. To ensure safety compliance with the Coast Guard we require advanced notice for any service animals.
What's included
Included
Bottled Water
USCG Licensed Captain
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
1,236 reviews
How it compares in Crystal River
- No. 7 by number of reviews among 126 tours in Crystal River
- Starting price $51 is 32% below the typical $75 for tours of similar length in Crystal River
Excurgo comparison of 126 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You will meet at our gift shop, where your tour driver will shuttle you to the Marina
- Children Under The Age Of 3 Are Only Permitted On Private Tours
- This is a wildlife encounter, and due to the unpredictability of Mother Nature, conditions vary daily. If you have any questions, feel free to call
- In order to maintain operational efficiency, we require a minimum of three guests per boat to operate. Guests may purchase additional tickets if the capacity is not met, which will be reimbursed if another group joins.
- Trip Advisor is a third party booking system designed to reserve tours with Explorida Adventure Center. Visit our website for more information and to connect with Explorida directly.
- This activity is not accessible for guests with mobility limitations
- To ensure safety compliance with the Coast Guard we require advanced notice for service animals
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise take?
Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise cost?
Prices start at $51 per person for this Crystal River experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 12 departures a day between 7:00 AM and 3:45 PM.
How much does Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise cost for children?
Children aged 3–7 pay from $51, adults from $51.
Does Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise sell out?
It can: 237 of the next 330 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Explorida Adventure Center - 545 North Citrus Ave, Crystal River FL 34428. We kindly ask guests to arrive at least twenty minutes prior to the start of your scheduled tour time. We will be leaving our location five minutes before your scheduled tour time. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children Under The Age Of 3 Are Only Permitted On Private Tours
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
This activity is not accessible for guests with mobility limitations
Reviews(1,236)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
G
Above and Beyond!
Captain Rhonda was professional, knowledgeable and engaging. The cruise was very enjoyable and in addition to multiple manatees, we saw exotic birds and even a dolphin!
M
Great tour, great guides.
Fabulous experience. It didn’t take long to encounter the manatees and we had some luck swimming to the local springs aswell. Kudos to our guide Topher. He had wonderful knowledge of the manatees biology and their behaviors and he was sharp enough to see some of our group trying to go a little bit beyond manatee behavior and called it out. Big thanks to our Captain G.Q for pointing out some impressive local wildlife and good stories. Worth every minute.
G
Amazing place to stay
This was just what we were looking for. Somewhere quiet, secluded, out in the middle of nowhere spot. This was the perfect find.
U
Man at ease
Really enjoyed the experience, and the cost of the 1.5 hours trip! (Great value) GQ the Captain for the day was very informative and made the day very enjoyable! And we managed to see four Manatees. Maybe GQ can loan out his superman vision! All the staff at the centre really stood out, and made us really appreciate the experience.
J
SUPER COOL EXPERIENCE
This was one of the coolest things we have ever done! We swam with a very large manatee and scalloped. It was go fun! We are a group of 60 year YOUNG women and enjoyed every minute. Topher was our guide and Walter was our captain. Both were very patient and accommodating to us all. The company Explorida was top notch!
L
Exceptional
That if you are looking to learn about manatees this is a very educational place to go. The people hear can tell you anything you want to know.⁷l
L
Fun family excursions with lots of nature
Our family went on this tour and it was a really nice day on the water. We saw a manatee but the highlight of the trip was a few dolphin that really gave us a show. Our guide was great and had a fun personality. We went out during the slower part of the season so our group was the only ones on the boat.
H
Best experience ever Captain G Q is awesome
Captain GQ was awesome an the young lady helped me so much with my grandkids and made sure they got to see the manatees and they were safe I highly recommend them
R
Relaxing and serene
The manatee cruise was amazing! I went on this cruise with my fiancée. The captain was very friendly and informative about the trip. During the cruise, we saw three manatees as the captain mentioned that during the winter, there are hundreds of them. We did see dolphins as we headed back so that was cool.
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise | 1h 30min | 4.9 (1,236) | $51 | |
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from$51
4.9(1,236) Free cancellation