Small Group VIP (Heated in Winter) Manatee Snorkel Tour

Gary and Lacy gave us a fantastic tour! Got to see multiple manatees in the summer time

Great experience for the whole family! We knew that the timing of our trip wasn’t ideal for seeing hundreds of manatees but Piper and Lacy were excellent at still finding manatees for us to swim with. They were patient and understanding with my little boys too! We were lucky enough to also see a dolphin! Great day! The photo package was also very reasonably priced and included photos and videos that we will cherish forever!

It was simply amazing! The team took a lot of time for us and really made the experience special. The animals are treated with great respect, and at the same time, you can get very close to them without disturbing them. The team handled everything really well and made sure the animals were always treated with care. We were absolutely delighted with the experience and would do it again anytime. We highly recommend it!

We had a great time with Captain JJ and our tour guide, Nat. The day ran smoothly and we were able to spot some manatees in August, swim in a spring, and take a cruise around the bay during our time. Captain JJ and Nat made us feel welcome and were very knowledgeable about the area and manatee habits and habitat. Overall, we had a great time and booking the small group boat was well worth it.

Awesome experience! I highly recommend doing this tour. The private tour may seem pricey at first, but it is well worth the money.

River Ventures Small Group VIP Manatee Swim Tour — A Truly Unforgettable Experience Booking directly with Vickie Hall was the perfect start to our adventure. She was absolutely amazing — patient, kind, and incredibly helpful as she answered every question and guided me toward the package that would give my son the best possible experience. We were paired with Captain Mike and Guide Crystal, and they were phenomenal. Both were professional, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable about the area. Because we love nature, we asked a ton of questions about the marine life and land animals around the bay, and they were happy to share their expertise. Thanks to their understanding of the bay and its wildlife, we were swimming with manatees in no time. Crystal was especially wonderful in the water. She explained clearly how to safely observe and swim with the manatees, making sure we respected their space while still enjoying every moment. She also captured countless videos and photos — memories we’ll treasure forever. This experience exceeded every expectation. We will definitely be booking with River Ventures again.

This was the best experience ever! From James who drove the bus and called us to confirm our reservation the day before, Nat who was our tour guide and Captain Emerson who drove the boat. EVERYONE was so friendly and knowledgeable not just about the Manatees but the other wildlife we saw while touring on the boat. We all had amazing conversations and got to see not just Manatees but small alligators and a wide variety of birds and fish! We highly recommend booking your tour here and asking for James, Nat and Emerson (but everyone is friendly as well). They made my birthday so incredible and we will definitely be back!

Awesome experience. We went in the guys checking us in were great. Our captain Emerson(Amazon) and our guide Nat were awesome. Went above and beyond. Really knowledgeable and took us to great spots to see manatee and to see the natural springs. 10/10 would recommend. We will be coming back in the winter.

Amazing experience. Captain Mike guided us through the waters nicely pointing out nearby sights while guide crystal spotted us a manatee right away and swam with us to get the absolute best views

Captain Mike and guide Crystal were fantastic. 10/10 recommend.