G
You want manatees! You’ve got them!
What a great day. Nice boat. Very friendly captain and first mate. Saw manatees in first 5 minutes. Beware, water is very murky in the river. Captain navigated until we found more clear water. Huge manatees.
VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour
+2 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $425 / person
- Location
- Crystal River, United States
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 9 reviews
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Seacow Safaris
- Meeting point
- We will be at the floating dock at Pete's Pier marina. Our captain of the day will reach out by cell phone or email.
Description
Engage with the gentle giants of Crystal River on this private manatee swim tour. Limited to just six participants, this intimate experience allows for personalized interaction with Florida's beloved manatees in their natural habitat. Led by a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain and an experienced in-water guide, enjoy ample opportunities to snorkel and learn about these peaceful creatures while capturing memories through included photos and videos. Available year-round, with peak season from November to March, this tour is for private parties looking for a personalized experience. We will swim with manatees in their natural habitat with your private party. This tour includes snorkel gear, wetsuits, water, hot chocolate and tea during winter, and a photography package.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM
- Next available
- Sun, Oct 4
- Group price
- $425 per group of up to 6
Out at sunset: the 4:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:59 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 3.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Three Sisters Springs
If the tide allows it, our company can visit Three Sister Springs and the wildlife refuge. We will either drive by on the boat or go into the water following the in-water guide.
What's included
Included
Private transportation
Hot Chocolate and Hot tea
Bottled water
We include mask and snorkel.
Wetsuit
Not included
Pete's Pier charges $10 for parking at the lot.
Traveller Ratings
5.0
9 reviews
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a very relaxed snorkeling experience. For the most part, all trips will be at most doggie paddling. We do encourage our guests to use their best judgement if they have physical limitations.
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 VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour take?
VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour cost?
Prices start at $425 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 VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM.
Can I cancel VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour 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 We will be at the floating dock at Pete's Pier marina. Our captain of the day will reach out by cell phone or email. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 6 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 9 verified reviews; it is run by Seacow Safaris.
Reviews(9)
N
Fun with the manatee
Captain Mac and Megan were super respectful of the wildlife and shared lots about manatee and the area. We had a lot of fun and saw a ton of manatee.
M
Fabulous manatee adventure!
Wonderful adventure- the captain and guide were knowledgeable and accommodating. We saw many manatees and snorkeled in 2 locations. It was a fabulous tour. Highly recommend.
R
Wonderful experience!
We had an amazing tour with Mac! We got to spend an amazing time swimming with a manatee and saw many. Definitely a bucket list experience! We would recommend Seacow Safaris to anyone wanting to get up close to the manatees.
J
Fabulous. My guides were great, especially for the kids.
And it is a great experience for adults and children. Beautiful surroundings be sure to go in the a.m. so you see lots of manatee..
J
Snorkeling with the manatees
Super friendly and knowledgeable, they made sure we had a fun time
D
Such a cool experience with Seacow Safari
We stumbled upon Seacow Safari on Groupon. We had looked at other companies in the area and it seemed like they really nickel and dimed you on fees and add ons. We loved that photos were included and Sea cow Safaris covers some of the fees themselves. We had such a personal experience since they keep their boat sizes small. Mac and his guide, Jess, were super caring and made sure we had the best experience possible. Swimming with manatees is such a cool experience and I’m sure you’d have a great time no matter which company you book with, but if you want the best experience possible I would recommend booking with Seacow Safari.
6
Private Afternoon Manatee Tour
Our third or fourth trip with Mac, and as usual, we had a blast. Went on a private 4:00 pm Manatee tour. Perfect time of day, as most of the crowd was coming in as we were going out. Saw lots of manatees. Got up close to a mom and baby. Experience of a lifetime. Got to see a beautiful sunset as we were coming back in. We'll be back for some scalloping this summer with Mac!
J
We went snorkeling to see...
We went snorkeling to see the manatees today and had an amazing experience. Morgan and Sarah were professional, patient, and very attentive throughout the trip. Everything felt safe and enjoyable. Highly recommend!
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| VIP Private Manatee Swim Tour | 3 hours | 5.0 (9) | $425 | |
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from$425
5.0(9) Free cancellation