Crystal River
The manatee swims ranked: small-group tours with in-water guides and photographers, heated-boat winter runs and semi-private formats that keep the springs calm. This is the only place in the US where swimming with wild manatees is legal, and the rules that keep it so are the tour.
Experience swimming with manatees in Crystal River with small groups, expert guides, and professional photos—perfect for nature lovers seeking authentic wildlife encounters.
Most Popular“Can be crowded with other snorkelers, kayaks and paddle boards. Patience helps. Guide and captain were great.”
Experience swimming with Florida's gentle manatees in Crystal River with expert guides, photos, and all gear included for a memorable wildlife adventure.
“James was amazing 😻 Wade was so great Very professional and personable Felt really safe in the water 💦 first time for me James is Extraordinary His restaurant recommendations were perfect”
Experience swimming with manatees in Crystal River, FL, with expert guides and in-water photography. A memorable, authentic wildlife adventure worth planning ahead for.
“You have to experience this once in your life!! It’s amazing!! The guides and captain are very friendly knowledgeable and amazing also!!”
Experience a 3-hour small group swim with manatees in Crystal River, complete with photos, wetsuits, and expert guides—an authentic Florida adventure.
“Hands down one of the BEST activities we've ever done!! It was a balmy 32° out but that didnt stop us, SO GLAD we went. Our Captain (Walter) and lovely assistant (Christina) were such a joy and made the trip memorable. 10000000000% Recommend 🤗”
Experience swimming with manatees in Crystal River on a small-group tour with expert guides, all equipment included, for an authentic wildlife encounter.
“My husband and I had a great time this past weekend on the manatee snorkel tour! Our tour guide, Crystal, and Captain Mike were incredible. The gulf was warm when we went, so there weren't too many manatees, but Crystal was determined to find one…”
Experience an intimate, guided snorkel with Florida's famous manatees in Crystal River. All gear & snacks included in this small-group, heated boat tour.
“This tour was perfect for seeing the animals up-close. They took us to areas that are filled with Manatees at this time of year. The boat ride was slow and gentle. The tour guide and captain (Nat and Garrett) were really personable/friendly, and they knew…”
Experience close encounters with Florida's wild manatees in Crystal River on this small-group snorkeling tour, complete with free photos and expert guides.
“Amazing adventure!!!!!! Captain and guide were so knowledgeable and manatees were the coolest!! Highly recommend!!!!0”
Experience swimming with friendly manatees in Crystal River’s springs. This 3-hour tour ($59) offers expert guides, wildlife viewing, and photos.
“Everything was great. Our guide James and captain Chris did a great job, we saw manatees😀, everything was perfect.”
Discover the magic of Florida's manatees with this private snorkel tour in Crystal River, led by expert guides. Perfect for wildlife lovers seeking an authentic experience.
“The captain and mate (Micheal and Dani) were great we loved them, I would have rated this 5 stars if maybe we were warned ahead of time that we were going to be in very murky water and not really see much of the manatees.…”
Experience swimming with resident manatees in Crystal River on a small-group, guided tour that includes all gear, photos, and scenic boat rides for an authentic adventure.
“Excellent tour guide providing interesting details added to the trip (Zachary)! Or Captain Jason was excellent. You can tell they love these animals and it shows. Very well run organization, good price, super cute shop and very helpful overall.”
Experience swimming with wild manatees in Crystal River on a small-group tour with expert guides, underwater photography, and respectful wildlife viewing.
“The best experience we’ve ever done! Sam, Ed and Kim were amazing and we had the chance to spend time with beautiful manatees and a baby one! Would recommend them to everyone don’t hesitate just book with these guys!”
Experience up-close encounters with Florida's gentle manatees on a 3-hour snorkeling tour in Crystal River, led by expert guides focused on wildlife welfare.
“Sarah and the Captain was really helpful. They know how to take care if the manitees and how to guide us properly. Will do this again”
Experience swimming with gentle manatees in Florida's Crystal River on a small-group, eco-conscious tour that balances fun, safety, and conservation.
“Great activity, the staff was great and we got to see 3 manatees. We were really close to them, it was amazing! They were also very careful and concerned with manatees safety!”
Experience close encounters with gentle manatees in Crystal River on a private, guided snorkel tour that includes photos, wetsuits, and expert guides.
“The boat crew was friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was warm, which was great after getting out of the 70 degree water (though we were warm enough in the provided wetsuits). We enjoyed seeing a lot of manatees that often swam right under us. I…”
Experience gentle Florida manatees in Crystal River on a snorkel tour with expert guides, all equipment provided. A peaceful, educational adventure for all ages.
“Overall it was a wonderful experience. There were too many people at the site but that’s just the nature of that type of excursion.”
The only place in America you can legally swim with manatees.