Imagine kayaking Silver Springs with manatees swimming in crystal clear water and monkeys swinging through the trees beside you. Manatee Tours are daily starting at 7:00AM. Read the "ABOUT US" page to discover the "Manatee Magic" Serving the Tampa Bay, Orlando, Ocala, and Gainesville ar In waters that cold, manatees can experience cold stress and even hypothermia. Learn about wild manatee and snorkel with them in their natural environment. 4th Street Crystal River Florida 34429, Toll free 1-888-732-2692 Local 1-352-795-1333. Otherwise, we needlessly disappoint someone else who would have liked your space(s) on the tour and / or we pay a Captain that we did not need. The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round. This is the most popular place in the state for swimming with manatees. Crystal River offers the best location to see and interact with the Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, also known as gentle giants. We will not refund short-notice cancellations. As hundreds of manatees flock to the warm water springs, it's also the most crowded time in … Manatee interaction with humans is closely monitored and managed, so Crystal River is the place to go for having an in-water experience with manatees. CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — When the air temperature falls, the great manatee migration to warmer water begins. A manatee cannot survive in water colder than 68 degrees, which makes the springs of the Nature Coast an ideal retreat at 72 degrees year-round. Our captains are USCG licensed, and excursions are in offshore cruiser, comfortable pontoon boat or large multi-passenger tour boat. Take part in one of the best adventures you can experience at King's Bay in Crystal River, Florida. Crystal River is a famous destination in Florida. Call today for a Manatee Tour or Manatee Tours for groups. All material © 2001-2020 by VISIT FLORIDA®, all rights reserved. The park's 800-foot boardwalk runs through a majestic cypress forest overlooking one of Florida’s breathtaking first-magnitude springs. We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. During the winter months more than 400 manatees migrate here to escape the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and each year some of them stay in the bay through the summer months. Duration: 3 Hours (approx.) The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round. Florida’s Crystal River, with its warm springs, is one of the best-known spots for viewing and snorkeling with manatees. Manatee interaction with humans is closely monitored and managed, so Crystal River is the place to go for having an in-water experience with manatees. Underwater video of your experience is also available by reservation and produced on DVD. These migrating and resident manatees make Crystal River the perfect spot for you to get up close and personal with these gentle giants. Choose from several different Manatee tours, swimming with Manatees, snorkeling with Manatees, taking pictures of Manatees or an underwater movie of you. A fun treasure hunt you can do with friends and family. Have loads of fun on your Manatee Tour in the spring feed waters that the Manatees love. If Manatee Tour and Dive needs to  cancel due to weather, you will also receive a rain check, with has no expiration date. Crystal River is home to the world’s largest population of endangered manatee during the winter season, and even a … Our captains are USCG licensed, and excursions are in offshore cruiser, comfortable pontoon boat or large multi-passenger tour boat. When the water temperature drops in the Gulf of Mexico, manatees move to the warmer waters of the Crystal River, followed closely by nature-loving tourists and other visitors. The West Indian manatees are very large aquatic mammals, weighing in around 1,000 pounds and measuring about 10 feet in length. Nearly 70 of the big sea cows were … Get to swim and snorkel with the gentle and magnificent manatees of these spring fed waters. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of people reserve spots on a tour and then not show up. Enjoy the Fresh Air and the Sun Drops of Florida - Add a Vacation Package and spend some time with us on the nature coast. Enjoy the unique privilege that is exclusively ours here in Citrus County Florida by swimming with the manatees in the spring-fed King’s Bay Wildlife Refuge! Why so many manatees? He made sure that everybody was comfortable and that every one of us had a great experience - which wasn't easy with our group! We offer modern, individual rooms close to all of Crystal River's attractions. If swimming or snorkeling is your favorite way to enjoy the 72 degree flowing springs, Crystal River Manatee Tour & Dive also offers a variety of trips for the beginner to the most seasoned swimmer. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Crystal River is the only region in Florida where you can legally be in the water with manatees, and as such, the local council and tour operators have an ongoing responsibility to make sure that tourism does not have a negative effect on the behaviour and well-being of the visiting manatee population. Scalloping in Crystal River is Great this Season! Adult $50, Child 7 and under $40, Senior or Military discount $45, Scalloping Charters Hours 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EST. Swimming with Crystal River manatees is one of the most exciting interactive live nature tour experiences in the State of Florida. Did you know that Crystal River in Citrus County is the only place in Florida where you can swim with manatees? Silver Glen Springs. Call to reserve a Manatee Tour today Toll free 866-337-7424. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters. Come out with us to catch your scallops on a day cruise. The springs flow at a constant 72 degrees, making the waters attractive to all sorts of swimmers in the winter. Crystal River’s Kings Bay has over 70 springs feeding out more than 600 million gallons (2.25B Litres) of water a day. Crystal River and Homosassa Springs Florida. Amber and I embark on an adventure in the murky and crystal clear waters of Crystal Springs, Florida. Come and see nature as intended, privately. Do you want to swim with manatees or take a manatee tour? Crystal River Manatee Snorkeling Tour with a Professional Guide. All we ask is that you return the kayaks to us by 4pm. Only your group and the captain and guide. We at Captain Mike’s “Swimming With The Manatees” provides guided manatee … Crystal River is where you’re legally permitted to swim with manatees in their natural habitat. Florida Manatee Tours. This tour on a covered pontoon boat allows you to see it all up close. We are the place to go. As the sun shines, rainbows play across the bottom of the crystal-clear spring … With five natural springs, Lake Crystal and a lush wetland, this 57-acre oasis is known for its unspoiled and undeveloped spring habitat, making it a prime manatee viewing spot. Book ahead, arrive, and enter the water. Crystal River Florida manatee tours. During winter months, these gentle giants take advantage of the warm springs in Kings Bay to survive the colder ocean waters. You can embark on a swim tour through the river, but only after being briefed on all of the do’s and don’ts of interacting with the animals. Crystal River is home to the Florida manatee, an endangered species and marine animal of Florida that weighs 1,000 pounds and grows up to 10 feet long on average. We rent and sell standard and beginner boards. View our privacy policy. Three Sisters Springs Center 123 NW HWY 19 Crystal River, FL 34428. The content for this web site has been provided both by professional travel writers and by individual consumers. If you need to cancel, and it is more than 7 days after the booking date, you will receive a rain check, which has no expiration date. Swimming with manatees in Crystal River is a wild animal experience like no other, and you can only do so here in Citrus County, Florida. Unlike other areas of Florida, the Federal Government allows for "passive observation" in the water between manatees and people in Kings Bay. They were placed on the endangered species list in 1966 and have since been under close watch in order to ensure the survival of the species. We pre-charge all credit card reservations for the cost of the tour. River Ventures: manatee swim & snorkel tour, paddle tour, kayak rentals, airboat tour, scalloping tour, eco boat tour. Paddleboard (SUP) or kayak with manatees on Kings Bay in Crystal River, FL at beautiful Three Sisters Springs. Manatees hang around in groups, so it is not uncommon to see hundreds of manatees swimming together in this region, especially in the blue springs of Crystal River. The peak Florida manatee season is November to March (the winter months in Florida). Enjoy a Manatee Tour or swimming with the Manatees in Crystal River Florida today. 357 Reviews. Our captains’ knowledge, experience and enthusiasm is so infectious that our clients return several times each year and year after year, bringing other family members and friends to meet the endangered West Indian Manatee! Manatees are gentle and easy to swim or snorkel with. Great numbers of these gentle giants seek the warm-water springs, rivers and other waterways for sanctuary from the colder Gulf of Mexico waters. Fed by the Floridan aquifer, Crystal River springs are the natural choice for manatees to seek warm water shelter when temperatures in Florida waters fall below 65 degrees (18 C). In short, Florida is the only place in the world where the manatees will gather together in such large numbers. Crystal Springs and Crystal River. Springs are the natural sheltering choice for manatees since the springs have a constant temperature of 72 to 74 degrees (22-23C). This is when the manatee sanctuaries go in effect. Swim With Manatees in Crystal River, FL All manatee tours are approximately 4 hours long. A manatee cannot survive in water colder than 68 degrees, which makes the springs of the Nature Coast an ideal retreat at 72 degrees year-round. We will embark on a scenic river tour, to an area of fresh-water springs, where you will swim with manatees. Very Large Scallops and Big Numbers! The agency shared a video of the gathering, showing the manatees hanging out while occasionally coming up for air. Nearly 70 of the big sea cows were found together Tuesday morning at the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Three Sister Springs. Swimming With Giants – the Manatee of Crystal River (River Ventures, Crystal River, FL) “ Join us on The Nature Coast for adventures that range from ‘Mild to Wild’! Maybe you just want to take pictures of Manatees. Kings Bay Drive Crystal River, FL 34429 352-563-2088. There's only one place in North America where you legally swim with manatees, and that's in the Crystal River area— located about 90 minutes north of Tampa, on the west coast of Florida. We rent and sell standard and beginner boards. When we arrive at the springs, you are encouraged to swim in the water for an up-close experience with the manatees. As one of the few places in the world where you can still swim with the manatee, Crystal River is the proud home to one of the biggest festivals celebrating our favorite floating friends! They often surface for air every 30 seconds while active and every 20 minutes while sleeping. The springs that feed Kings Bay are where the pictures of the manatees in crystal clear water come from. This is consistent with airline, car rental agency and hotel policies. This is the most popular place in the state for swimming with manatees. We will embark on a scenic river tour, to an area of fresh-water springs, where you will swim with manatees. How to Swim With Manatees in Crystal River. Cruise on one of our air boats, harvest scallops in the Gulf of Mexico or enjoy a privilege that is exclusively ours: to snorkel with manatees! The refuge is comprised of springs and filled with unique wildlife. Peggy. 104 NE 1st Ave, Crystal River, FL 34429 352-795-4216. Save the Manatee Club has a historic partnership with Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, dating to 1989 when the Club’s Adopt-A-Manatee program began, and is grateful to the park for this partnership and the wonderful care they give to the manatees. The most well-known spring in the bay is Three Sisters Springs, and is a constant 72 degrees. The Retreat at Crystal Manatee is a small, family-owned hotel located in the heart of Crystal River. Snorkel and Scalloping Hunt . King’s Bay is fed by 28 natural springs, which maintain a constant temperature of 72 °F (22 °C) — a temperature that the Manatees love. Enjoy a Unique Experience by Swimming with Manatees in Crystal River. Silver Springs State Park in Florida is one of the largest artesian springs ever discovered and the only place in America you can see manatees and wild monkeys on the same trip. Join us for a 100% clear kayak tour through the active waterways of Crystal River! Visitors enjoy camping, hiking, swimming and canoeing, while keeping an eye out for the West Indian manatees that frequent this park. Our Captains are well experienced and knowledgeable in the Manatee’s activities and how they interact with humans. In waters that cold, manatees can experience cold stress and even hypothermia. We need the same commitment from you that you will arrive and be on time. You can choose from several different Manatee Tours in Crystal River. If you want to do it yourself, we rent kayaks, and canoes. Please contact us to send a comment or to report a problem. Crystal River Manatee Tour & Dive is here for your enjoyment! They are docile, slow-moving swimmers that eat 10-15 percent of their body weight daily in aquatic plants. Family Adventure Charters specializes in Crystal River Florida manatee tours, boating and fishing charters for individuals, families and small or large groups of people. Enjoy the unique privilege that is exclusively ours here in Citrus County Florida by swimming with the manatees in the spring-fed King’s Bay Wildlife Refuge! Learning the manatee encounter rules and tips ensures that you have the best, and most rewarding experience possible while being a guest in their home. Read more. People have enjoyed the cool waters of Manatee Springs for more than 10,000 years, from early Paleo Indians to modern park visitors. Visitors can see hundreds of manatees enjoying the constant 72-degree spring water in the colder winter months. If this sounds like a movie, you might be onto something. Land Access to Three Sisters Springs will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans' Day and on Thanksgiving Day, Nov.26th. In short, Florida is the only place in the world where the manatees will gather together in such large numbers. Take a 3 hour private tour to see the manatee the best way possible. Find out how to meet a manatee and get to know these awe-inspiring creatures better. Manatee Adventure Tours are available every day of … Please give a big thank you to Captain Jessie from "Jessie's Girls" from the Villages. In 1983, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was established to specifically protect the Florida manatees that consider this area their home. Hours 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EST. … Our manatee encounter and snorkel tour is world famous for a reason; there is nothing else like it! 2 hour manatee swim tour It was a super fun adventure and we'll be sure to recommend your company to others. Crystal River Florida Manatee Tours. During the winter months more than 400 manatees migrate here to escape the cold waters of the Gulf … Crystal River Manatee Swim in Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge 712 Reviews Get in the water with Florida's endangered manatees on this snorkeling tour to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, with several time options to suit your schedule. Crystal River Manatee Tour & Dive is looking forward to hearing from you. Hundreds of manatees make Crystal River their home during the colder months, and a few stick around all year to enjoy the refreshing water from Three Sisters Springs.Our 3 different tour options each give a unique perspective on this incredibly popular location. Located along Central Florida’s " Nature Coast," Crystal River is one of the few places where you can swim with manatees. Have a personal tour with less people. During the colder winter months manatees congregate around these springs in order to regulate body temperature. It's the perfect time as the number of these adorable marine mammals can reach 700-800 in the Crystal River region. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. Crystal River 352-586-1170. The springs in Florida are a constant 72°F. These springs also constitute one of the most important natural warm-water refuges for the endangered Florida manatee. The Crystal River coastal waters are home to the largest population of manatees on the west coast of Florida. Manatee Tours to swim with the Manatees are available year round in Crystal River Florida. Manatees have no natural enemies and the biggest threats to their survival are interactions with watercraft and loss of habitat. Located north of Orlando in Orange City, this park is a designated manatee refuge where during winter months, from November to March, visitors can come and see the growing population of West Indian Manatees at the spring’s overlooks. And, we can help you arrange Rainbow River tours, deep sea, inshore, and bay fishing trips or experience an airboat ride. One of the most popular spots to see Florida’s famous manatee residents, Blue Springs State Park covers more than 2,600 acres. Swim With Manatees in Crystal River, FL All manatee tours are approximately 4 hours long. we will have them cleaned and ready to cook by the time we dock the boat. Although manatees are very curious by nature and often initiate interaction with humans, they are heavily protected by law. Back by popular demand in 2021! Crystal River is a famous destination in Florida. If you have reserved a tour for a group of 10 or more, we require a 3-week cancellation notice. Cancellation Policy We require 48 hours notification for parties of  if you wish to cancel a tour. The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins in mid-November and ends in late March. We await your visit for the “Experience Of A Lifetime”! Serving the Tampa Bay, Orlando, Ocala, and Gainesville ar Our brands are Bic, Yolo, Suplove, Imagine and more. Discover Crystal River Florida Get Ready for Uncharted Adventure >> Find Florida's soul in our warm Gulf water, spring-fed rivers, gentle manatees, great fishing and bountiful lakes. 2 Hour Manatee Swim tours prices: Adult $55 , Child 7 and under $45, Senior or Military discount $50, 1.5 Hour Sightseeing tour prices: Adult $40, Child 7 and under $30, Senior or Military discount $40, Return Customer Rates The largest winter refuge for West Indian manatees on the Gulf Coast, Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, Fla., is a natural inlet on the east side of Kings Bay. Cuddly manatee in the Homossassa River. King's Bay Park and Hunter Springs are within a five minute walk from our hotel, and guests can walk ten minutes to the world-famous Three Sisters Springs to see Florida's manatees. Swim with Manatee Tour - Endangered Encounter (3 hr) - Crystal River. Manatee Springs State Park proves boardwalks aren’t only for the beach. Learn more in our Cookie Notice and our Privacy Policy. A Guide to Seeing Manatees in Crystal River, FL Crystal River is the only place in Florida where you can swim with manatees. Save the Manatee Club has a historic partnership with Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, dating to 1989 when the Club’s Adopt-A-Manatee program began, and is grateful to the park for this partnership and the wonderful care they give to the manatees. It is also the filming location for the black and white Tarzan movies, Creature From the Black Lagoon and a … The opinions expressed in the getaway ideas, Floridians' Favorites and readers' comments do not necessarily represent those of VISIT FLORIDA. Welcome to the Florida Manatee Festival! The staff was super friendly, the property was truly welcoming of dogs (unlike so many others that claim to be and aren’t), and I would recommend this hotel for anyone looking to snorkel, swim or dive with manatees—or simply experience the natural oasis of Crystal River and its surrounding springs.. Paddling, Snorkeling or Diving with Manatees. During the rest of the year, there are some resident manatees in Crystal River. Welcome to Manatee Springs State Park. The staff was super friendly, the property was truly welcoming of dogs (unlike so many others that claim to be and aren’t), and I would recommend this hotel for anyone looking to snorkel, swim or dive with manatees—or simply experience the natural oasis of Crystal River and its surrounding springs.. Paddling, Snorkeling or Diving with Manatees. Welcome to the world of Crystal River Manatee Tour & Dive! Come get your limit on Scallop! Three Sisters Springs is a complex of three spring areas, with many vents and sand boils that help feed Kings Bay, the headwaters of the Crystal River. Enjoy a Manatee Tour or swimming with the Manatees in Crystal River Florida today. On this small-group manatee a …