Welcome to the Manatee Capital of the state of Florida. Between the 7 rivers that make up the waterways in our county, we estimate between 1,200 and 1,800 Manatees throughout the year making up over 25% of the Manatee population that live throughout Florida. Viewing Manatees from above the water in a kayak is an unforgettable experience. Book your tour now to view Manatees resting, feeding and swimming around in their natural habitat.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 4.
We will be paddling on the Chassahowitzka River in the Wildlife Refuge.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 128 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Manatee Kayak Encounter lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $65 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.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM.
Children aged 0–12 pay from $50, adults from $65.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is At the very end of county road 480 there is a boat ramp and a kayak launch. You will see your tour guide next to the kayak launch with the kayaks waiting for you. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 6 travellers can book together.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 25 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Along the Banks Kayak Tours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
This is our second kayak tour with Drake and it was even better than the first! He is such a knowledgeable guy, and shares so much interesting information and stories. We were a group of 5 ladies of a “certain age” (read over 60!) and he was so accommodating to our needs. His tour is not a canned presentation, which is exactly what we wanted!
This was an incredible boat trip! Drake was the best guide you could ask for. He is a local and knows all the spots to hit to see wildlife. We saw manatees, alligators, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, and more. Drake was so accommodating and called me the day before to make sure our outing was designed so that the kids would have an amazing time. Book with Drake- you will not regret it!
Drake was such a great guide! We saw lots of Eagles and other birds as well as snook and other fish in the water. Made is a but further down the river and saw the habitat transition to more brackish water which was really cool! The Chassahowitska River was so special as it hasn’t been dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers and so not as touched by development, so rare for Florida! We started at 8 am which I highly recommend because the River was much busier when we were returning. Drake had lots of great information about the river and its ecosystems. I am excited to return to this area and hopefully go on another guided experience with this company.
it was canceled night before, so waiting on my refund .,, had to scramble next morning to find replacement , so the kids could still go
Mr. Banks was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. Didn't see any manatee. They have already started migrating south. But the kayak trip was so peaceful and pretty. There are plenty of birds to watch. The mosquitoes and no-see-ums are out, so wear bug spray.
This tour with Drake was absolutely wonderful. He took my daughter and I out into the river yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed our time out there and with Drake. He is very knowledgeable about the local springs and wildlife and seems to truly enjoy sharing that with you. He is also a really nice guy that makes an effort to get to know you, which enhanced our experience. We already told him we'd see him again. 100% we will have him show us around other springs when we are in the area.
thank you very much! I appreciate the review and im glad you had a great experience. let me know when you are in town again.
Booked on Tue night paid and then arrived Wednesday and no one was there. I waited 30 min and left. Called and number disconnected and no one answered my email - they are out of business I think
Hello! we are not out of business and are sorry we couldn't facilitate your booking. It doesn't seem likely that you booked on Tuesday night because we have an 16 hour minimum before booking our tours. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience let us know. A refund was issued before your tour on Wednesday.
This is a beautiful river to kayak and there was an abundance of wildlife to see. Manatees, alligators, otters, and all kinds of birds were seen. Drake was a wonderful guide with lots of knowledge about the area.
Thank you very much for the positive review!! I am glad you had a great time.
Melissa was a great guide we had a fantastic moment kayaking ! Not the best spot for Manatee at the time we went but still managed to spot one ! Highly recommend !
We would recommend Manatee Kayak Encounter if you want a unique experience seeing Manatees and other animals in their natural environment
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manatee Kayak Encounter | 3 hours | 4.7 (25) | $65 | |
 Crystal River Clear Kayak Tour: Three Sisters Springs & Manatees | 2 hours | 4.8 (2,150) | $99 | View |
 Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour of Crystal River | 2 hours | 4.6 (820) | $79 | View |
 Clear Kayak Three Sisters Springs & Manatee Tour Of Crystal River | 2 hours | 4.6 (261) | $75 | View |
 Crystal River: Three Sisters Manatee Clear Kayak Tour Free Photos | 2 hours | 4.8 (226) | $79 | View |
 Clear Kayak Tour and Optional Swim with Manatees in Crystal River | 2h 30min | 5.0 (42) | $75 | View |
 Crystal River Sunset Glow Clear Kayak Manatee Tour Free Photos | 2h 30min | 4.9 (29) | $75 | View |