Manatee Snorkeling at Crystal River

You’ve come all the way to Florida, so it makes sense to actually see as much of it as possible. No other tour provides such a wide-ranging, in-depth experience as Real Florida Adventures’ carefully crafted Orlando manatee snorkeling in Crystal River.

This action-packed Real Florida Manatee Adventure day starts with inclusive breakfast and a full overview of what’s in store as we head out to the beautiful Crystal River area on the Gulf Coast, 80 miles northwest of Orlando. This is the manatee capital of the world and the only place in America where it is legal to swim with manatees.

Meet Crystal River’s Manatees & Other Wildlife

Crystal River, Florida, is also home to stunning natural springs and lots of wildlife, and you’ll get to meet an essential part of it as we gear up for the signature manatee snorkeling tour under the supervision of a Coast Guard–certified captain *. You will learn all about the unique West Indian manatee – and then get a chance to see some of them up close and personal in the crystal-clear waters of the aptly named Crystal River! While we see manatees almost every time, these are wild animals and we can’t guarantee with 100% accuracy where they will be.

Then we head off to 210-acre Homosassa Springs State Park, a genuine hidden gem of Florida nature, where there is plentiful local wildlife to see and hear about, including the endangered Florida panther, black bears, red wolves, bobcats, and alligators, as well as a profusion of birdlife – most notably whooping cranes and flamingos.

Visit Nature’s Fish Bowl

Also here are the unique sights at Nature’s Fish Bowl, an underwater observatory built over the mouth of the main spring where a huge number of fish hang out. The park also has its own manatee rehabilitation program, offering another exciting glimpse of these rare sea mammals. Lunch is also included here.

Airboat Ride on the Withlacoochee River

Finally, the day will conclude with an exciting airboat ride on the Withlacoochee River, another natural haven where you can see more wildlife in its natural habitat and enjoy the thrill of skimming the water at up to 45mph in these exhilarating, flat-bottomed crafts.

NB: Any person wishing to do the manatee swim must hire a wetsuit prior to boat departure. Snorkel equipment is provided free. This is also a wild setting, so we can’t guarantee exactly when and where the manatees will be.