Manatee Viewing Cruise: Explore Kings Bay Wildlife Refuge

Embark on a Manatee Viewing Cruise in Crystal River, FL to explore the Kings Bay Wildlife Refuge. Spot wild manatees, birds, turtles, and dolphins on this unforgettable journey!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Explorida - Manatee Swim Tours - Not recommended for children under three years old unless a private tour is arranged.

For safety compliance with the Coast Guard, please provide advance notice for any service animals.

What's Included
  • Bottled Water
  • USCG Licensed Captain
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

This tour offers an ideal opportunity to stay dry while observing the wild manatees at the Kings Bay Wildlife Refuge. Step aboard our US Coast Guard certified vessel and join a Master Captain for an unforgettable journey through the waters of Kings Bay refuge. This tour promises to be one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime!
During this…

Location
Explorida - Manatee Swim Tours
North Citrus Avenue
Explorida Adventure Center - 545 North Citrus Ave, Crystal River FL 34428 We kindly ask guests to arrive at least twenty minutes prior to the start of your scheduled tour time. We will be leaving our location five minutes before your scheduled tour time.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1236 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
H7577sipaulac
Aug 16, 2026
Best experience ever Captain G Q is awesome - Captain GQ was awesome an the young lady helped me so much with my grandkids and made sure they got to see the manatees and they were safe I highly recommend them
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ruby_t
Jul 8, 2026
Relaxing and serene - The manatee cruise was amazing! I went on this cruise with my fiancée. The captain was very friendly and informative about the trip. During the cruise, we saw three manatees as the captain mentioned that during the winter, there are hundreds of them. We did see dolphins as we headed back so that was cool.
Review provided by Viator
Joseant546
Jul 7, 2026
Crystal River beach expedition. - A real Florida experience. Not touristy at all. Invigorating exchange with nature. A must to do when in Florida.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeannine_c
Jul 3, 2026
Chris was an excellent... - Chris was an excellent captain. We obviously not there for peak season for manatees but he did everything possible to make sure we saw what ones were in the bay. He was very knowledgeable and showed us the other wildlife. Communication was very good before the excursion started.
Review provided by Viator
Tampahockey4
Jun 30, 2026
It was great.... - Great friendly and professional group. They were able to find manatee's at during a difficult time of year. It was easy parking, and short trips on the boat. The crew, captain, and shop personnel were great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anna_s
Jun 17, 2026
Great tour-fun - We had a great experience. We saw plenty of manatees. It turned out to be a great day! Got some great pictures
Review provided by Viator
G9290lsdan
Jun 15, 2026
Great Experience - Excellent tour. Gavin, our tour guide was great, very informative & personable. Saw a manatee & dolphin up close. Everyone involved was friendly & helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevin_g
Jun 12, 2026
Relaxing cruise! - This cruise was very scenic in the beautiful Crystal River. We only saw 4 manatees, however, we were able to watch them in their natural environment for over an hour. The captain was very knowledgeable and friendly! We enjoyed the relaxing cruise and saw many beautiful sights!
Review provided by Viator
Pam_u
Jun 4, 2026
Cruise around Crystal River. - This is a gentle cruise around the river showing lots of wildlife. We saw manatees, birds, alligators and a dolphin. If you get Captain Gavin even better. Local man with lots of knowledge. No bad view from him other side of the boat. You can sit or stand.
Review provided by Viator
Vfine2021
May 28, 2026
Fun, informative pontoon cruise on the river - My family and I really enjoyed the pontoon river cruise with Explorida. Our captain, Chris was knowledgeable and knew where to go to find wildlife on the river. He found a manatee mom and baby in a cove, and we enjoyed watching them. We also saw lots of biirds, we especially enjoyed the cormorant and anhinga moms and babies. If we get back to the Crystal River area, we will definitely do the viewing tour again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $51
up to 12 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).