Banana River EcoTour: Dolphins and Manatees

Embark on a delightful two-hour journey through the stunning Banana River. Witness dolphins and manatees thriving in their natural environment on an EcoTour. Discover the wonders of The Indian River Lagoon and uncover the unique features of this remarkable area. Private tours can be arranged upon request.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Cocoa Beach - Embark on a delightful two-hour boat tour through the Banana River, where you can observe manatees, dolphins, and a variety of other wildlife.
  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge - Enjoy a scenic cruise through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, witnessing diverse wildlife in their natural surroundings.
What's Included
    • US Coast Guard approved life jackets
Location
2550 N Banana River Dr
North Banana River Drive
Tours depart from Kelly Park. This is a county park with free public parking and public restrooms. Please be sure and park in the parking lot DIRECTLY across the street from the BP Gas Station. Feel free to relax on a picnic table under the pavilion and your captain will meet you there.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(170 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Z9107zesagarp
Aug 7, 2026
An absolute! Exceptional, knowledgeable crew. - Our guided tour was a truly fantastic experience. The captain is incredibly knowledgeable and knows the local rivers and lakes inside and out, right down to the depths of the water. He shared a wealth of information about the surrounding wildlife, including the local birds and animals and about the Launch of near by Sattellites. which made the trip deeply engaging and exciting. His assistant, Scott, was equally wonderful. he was highly engaging and proactive in finding and demonstrating the bioluminescence for us. The crew's passion and expertise made this an unforgettable night. Thank You
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Metodog711
Jul 13, 2026
Wonderful, personalized ride with CJ through the beautiful Indian River Lagoon - What a memorable experience. CJ was fantastic. First I called him to best understand the tour. He was patient and friendly. The boat itself is small and personalized. It's not a giant boat -- you are right there close to the water. They also had a cooler for drinks. Also the boat is heavily shaded, which made for a comfortable and delightful tour. He provided us with interesting information throughout the tour, as well as gave us a cheat sheet to see which animals we'd be encountering. He went out of his way to find the ones we really wanted to see. The animals we saw included -- but not limited to -- manatees, dolphins, ospreys, and pelicans. We saw many more. It was really memorable. If you are into nature it's a great experience, rather than going to the manatee park and hoping to see something. He knows where the animals are located and will find them for you, as well as give you insight into their behavior. I highly recommend this tour, especially if you are the least bit into animals or nature. Memorable. We lucked out as it was only the three of us, so it was a fantastic price for what was a personalized tour. Book it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness13952347852
Jul 4, 2026
Fun And Educational Tour - This was a lovely tour of these waters with a well-informed, charismatic, and knowledgeable captain. We saw lots of local wildlife, including manatees, dolphins, and alligators. We also saw in the distance all of the space program buildings. Our captain was able to provide lots of facts about the wildlife, local area, and the space programs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K6335isjanicep
Jun 29, 2026
ECO Tour with Captain CJ - Awesome time with Captain CJ who with his knowledge of the ecosystem and estuary kept our attention! Our family was entertained and CJ made sure we saw dolphins, alligators and manatee. His local stories will make for enjoyable conversations. WONDERFUL TOUR!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C6045kfdorothyr
Apr 23, 2026
Wonderful experience - We enjoyed it very much. The captain was very knowledgeable, pleasant and fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I713zonancyh
Apr 16, 2026
Highly recommend - Super fun!! Even as a long time Floridian, we enjoyed the trip and all the fun information shared! Saw dolphins, manatees and plenty of birds!! Already booked a second trip to bring another family member!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mokesmom
Mar 24, 2026
Another wonderful trip - Yearly trip from uk with Capt Cj . As always he was entertaining and informative with a unique sense of humour . He remembered us from last year which was nice to hear . We saw birds ( including osprey ) dolphins, manatee and a huge alligator. Weather was perfect and we could see for miles . We’ll be back again September for a bioluminescence experience . Thanks again Captain CJ .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Judy
Mar 18, 2026
Great tour! - We had a great time on the tour. CJ and Phillip were awesome tour guides and very knowledgeable. We saw a lot of dolphins and manatees. I would definitely take this tour again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon_j
Sep 5, 2025
Great water tour with a very knowledgeable boat captain. - Fabulous water tour with a very friendly, informative boat captain. He took us around to all the spots he knows will produce sightings of dolphins and manatees, and our tour was no exception. Saw lots of water birds, dolphins, manatees. Highly recommend this tour as it’s a little smaller and more intimate. Well worth it.
Review provided by Viator
Vacation36119351682
Aug 20, 2025
Fascinating Tour! - Wonderful and informative tour. We were in Florida for just a few hours during a cruise. The ship was offering way over priced excursions on river boat tours, so I decided to book direct. Took a five minute uber ride from the port to the meeting spot for the tour. We were a family of five, and had our own personal tour. It was a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $65
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).