Manatee Tours: Crystal River's Local Experience

Experience unforgettable, eco-friendly manatee encounters in Crystal River, Florida with Go Local Manatee Tours. Join our small, responsible tour groups for a relaxing and educational experience.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 1 SW 1st Pl - Join our 3-hour semi-private swim with the manatees tour, where we host a maximum of 6 guests to ensure a personal and informative adventure. Departing from Pete’s Pier Marina in the heart of Kings Bay, guests will explore the 600-acre bay where manatees reside. Once located, guests can snorkel alongside these gentle creatures,…
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Wetsuits
  • Defog
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Photo and video package
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Parking (Pete’s pier charges a 10 dollar parking fee)
  • towels
Additional Information

Go Local Manatee Tours provides unforgettable, intimate manatee experiences in Crystal River, Florida. Their daily semi-private tours, accommodating up to six passengers, focus on responsible tourism to minimize the impact on manatees and their habitats. As the sole tour company in Crystal River owned and operated by locals, they offer unmatched…

Location
1 SW 1st Pl
Southwest 1st Place
When you arrive at Pete's Pier Marina, we'll meet you at the gift shop located in the parking lot of the pier. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. We'll also be contacting you the day before your departure with meeting instructions. We can't wait for your awesome manatee tour!
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(1893 Ratings)
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Aaron_e
Apr 20, 2026
Our tour guides were... - Our tour guides were amazing ( Captain Josh and guide Steph were wonderful). From the moment they met us a the pier it was very relaxed. They explained the plan, helped us get the right wet suits and we went out! We saw a Manatee shortly after take off and she was stunning ( Marnarch was her name due to scars on her back that resembled wings) the entire trip was amazing and having our small group alone with the Manatee was amazing. I did alot of research and am so happy we went with this tour. They even captured some breathtaking photos which you can see the true beauty of this Manatee! I would highly recommend and hope to do again in the future!
Review provided by Viator
Onair30575454979
Mar 29, 2026
Great Crew to See Manatees with - We booked this tour to celebrate our friend"s 50th birthday. There were 5 of us, so it was a personal tour. Josh and Dereck were the great crew. They were fun, kept us smiling and laughing. They made sure we saw all the manatees spotted that day, took us to different locations, made sure that the manatees were comfortable and not overcrowded by us. Josh and Dereck are good people. They were welcoming to us, protective of the manatees, they greeted other boats' crews, cheered on local kids standing up in their sup board for the first time. It was great. Go local to support people and manatees of Crystal River.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beth_m
Feb 23, 2026
A Once in a Lifetime Experience - A once in a lifetime experience. You will get up close and personal with the manatees. The guides with Go Native educated us on manatee behavior, what we needed to do and expect. I especially enjoyed the small group and friendly atmosphere. The photos were amazing and so many to choose from.
Review provided by Viator
W4122egangelag
Feb 15, 2026
Snorkeling with Manatees- A bucket list experience! - Great trip snorkeling with manatees with Walt and Stephanie. I did my research and found this local business from the great reviews and small group size. It truly makes a difference when you take a tour with people who live in and care about their community. Take the earliest tour available, like we did, to get in the water before all the other boats appear and kick up the sand and limit visibility. Be sure to verify the number of people allowed on any manatee tour that you are considering. We only had 6 people on our tour. It was perfect. We saw tour boats with 20+ people on the crowded boat. Bonus on our tour was that we got free pictures and video with our tour. No extra cost like the other tours businesses charge. Hot chocolate, hot tea and hot coffee made the ride back comfortable. Don’t forget to bring money to tip because these people work hard to make sure you see manatees and have a good time. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Russ1886
Feb 14, 2026
GREAT MANATEE EXPERIENCE with a small group !! PHOTO PACKAGE included! LOCALLY owned!! - GREAT EXPERIENCE with a LOCALLY owned company!! Josh ( Captain) and Derek ( Swim assistant/ photographer) were awesome! Very knowledgeable and protective of the manatees in a good way. We were able to approach the manatees but respectful for their space. It was a great experience as well as an education and to learn about these gentle creatures and their environment. The photo package was a true bonus! Other companies can have 20+ people per tour versus Go Local Manatee Tours with 6 people. A much more intimate tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christinap229
Feb 13, 2026
Swimming with Manatee - I can not recommend these guys highly enough! They went above and beyond to give me the most magical experience possible. I travelled solo and was made to feel so comfortable and safe and the experience far exceeded my expectations. They took me to quiet spots where we were the only people there for quite a while and their knowledge is second to none. I did 2 tours with them and honestly wish I could’ve done more because it was an experience I’ll never forget. And the photos and videos (which they include in the price of the tour unlike other companies) were absolutely stunning. 10/10 all around, I could not have asked for anything more
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M1144zzjessicad
Feb 10, 2026
3 Hour Private Manatee Tour - Absolutely amazing experience! Peter and Cornell went above and beyond to make sure we had the ultimate manatee experience! They even made sure our fur baby had a great time! We will definitely be back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sheilaoc
Jan 2, 2026
Do this tour!!!!! Absolutely incredible!!!! - Krystini and Walter were amazing!!!!!! Literally a top 5 moment of my life and I have traveled all over the world! Do not hesitate to book this tour! Highly recommend the 7am one!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pacurn25
Nov 13, 2025
Magical Manatee Moments -NOT TO BE MISSED! - I cannot recommend this small-group manatee swim highly enough! We went on a very chilly morning (49 degrees)and it ended up being the most unforgettable part of our entire trip. The cold weather brought even more manatees into the springs, and our small group size made the whole experience feel peaceful, intimate, and respectful of the animals. Walter and Josh were incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about protecting these gentle giants. They made sure everyone was comfortable in the wetsuits and took time to teach us how to float calmly so the manatees would come right up to us— and they did! My brother had one sweetheart manatee blow into his ear ( the most luck he has had with a female in a long time) We had more than an hour of close, slow, magical encounters that were truly once-in-a-lifetime. I think that our guides were just as amazed as we were! Walt commandeered the boat like an expert, following us at a perfect distance to ensure safety, and he prepared hot chocolate and a heated area for when we got out into the chilly air. Josh documented our experience with a go-pro and facilitated our interactions with the manatees by gently guiding us. He is obviously well loved and known by these gentle giants, and one manatee literally was hugging him with her fins, and nibbling at his wetsuit. Despite the cool air temperatures, the water was warm and clear, and the smaller group meant we weren’t crowded or rushed. We had plenty of time to watch the manatees glide, feed, and even interact with us with total trust. If you’re considering this tour, do it— especially if it’s a cold day. The manatees gather in the warmer springs, and the experience is beyond anything I expected. Absolutely phenomenal from start to finish!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Teri_u
Feb 20, 2026
Small group 3 hour manatee trip -crowded and cut short - Saw lots of manatees. Water was very murky. About-6 other boats came into the small cove- very crowded. It stated 3 hr trip. Whole thing was less than 2 hours. Could have done a little boat ride after to take some time up. Paid more money thinking it would be more time spent with manatees and less people. Other companies charged less for same thing I think
Review provided by Viator
From $85
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).