See Crystal River - Mantee & Wildlife Viewing Cruise
Description
Embark on a captivating narrated wildlife boat tour that promises adventure, education, and unforgettable viewing of King's Bay wildlife. As you step aboard, you'll be greeted by our expert captain and knowledgeable naturalist guide, who will serve as your hosts for the duration of the 1.5-hour excursion. One of the highlights of the tour is the opportunity to encounter the beloved Florida manatees in their natural habitat. These fascinating creatures can be encountered year round in Crystal River. You'll have the chance to observe these magnificent mammals up close, learning about their behaviors, habitat, and the conservation efforts aimed at protecting them. Our expert guide will point out an array of bird species that call this area home, from majestic bald eagles to elegant herons. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, nature lover, photographer or simply seeking a memorable outdoor adventure, our wildlife boat tours promise an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is a manatee sanctuary nestled in the heart of Florida's Nature Coast. Spanning over 80 acres, this refuge is a haven for an array of wildlife, offering visitors a captivating glimpse into the region's natural wonders. One of the refuge's most enchanting features is its resident population of West Indian manatees. These gentle giants, often referred to as "sea cows," seek refuge in the warm spring waters of Crystal River during the winter months, making it one of the premier destinations for manatee viewing in the United States. A resident herd of 40-60 manatees make the refige home year round. Beyond the manatees, the refuge is home to a diverse array of bird species, including herons, egrets, ospreys, and bald eagles. Birdwatchers will delight in the opportunity to spot these majestic creatures as they soar overhead or wade through the shallows in search of food. Join us on a boat safari into this amazing preserve and see for yourself.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants are considered passengers by the USCG and require a ticket.
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility problems.
Reviews(515)
It was an amazing experience, we saw 4 manatees, even got to see a mamma and her baby! Captain John was extremely knowledgeable and funny too. Manatees are beautiful creatures, a must see. Be sure to book with Captain John, you won’t be disappointed. Cathy Macfarlan
A trip to remember! Never felt a dull moment with John. He was a combination of good humor, knowledge about the surroundings and kept you engaged. Highly recommend this trip and I promise you will feel enriched and fulfilled at the end of it.
John our guide was very knowledgeable and super friendly. He wanted ti be certain everyone had the best opportunity to view the manatees. He was encouraging about moving about the boat to get the best view possible.
My husband and I had such an amazing tour with our Captain John. He was knowledgeable funny and you could tell overall good guy. This ended up being a private tour as we were the only 2 that went. We saw several manatees! Overall great trip.
It was a really nice tour, we saw a manatee and also alligators on the tour. John our guide was very friendly and knows a lot about the environment.
July isn't a good time of year to see manatees, but John did find 3. A mother and calf and one other. The boat tour was enjoyable and seeing the birds and learning about the area was good.
When I booked this, for some reason, I thought it was a dolphin tour. I brought my 14 year old niece to see dolphins. When I explained my obvious mistake to the Captain, he started texting his fellow Captain friends to see if any of them had seen dolphins. We didn't see any, but I appreciated his efforts. It was a nice, relaxing tour nonetheless and my niece was excited that she got to see turtles.
The boat tour was a great way to spend the afternoon. Captain John was wonderful. Full of information and fun stories.
John was a great captain. He was informative and funny. The other guests were considerate and friendly. We would probably book again in the winter time when there are more manatees.
It was just the two of us and the captain. the boat was clean and high performing. We saw two to three manatees. The trip around the whole body of water was great. Our captain was awesome. The tour took 1.5 hours exactly. There was a lot of other boat traffic, but our Captain handled it like a champ. I highly recommend to anyone that wants to go out on the water and see the environment/animals.
