St. Johns River Cruise: Best Manatee Spot in Florida

Embark on a St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park, the ultimate destination for manatee sightings in Florida. Discover the rich history and diverse wildlife of the St. Johns River with our expert crew.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Blue Spring State Park - The St. John Boat Tour is located within the spring park.
  • Saint Johns - As the journey through this untamed wilderness unfolds, it’s essential to remember that wildlife sightings can differ daily, adding an exciting element to each trip. Expect to see a fascinating variety of wildlife, including majestic wading birds,…
What's Included
  • Tour Guide
  • On-board restrooms
What's Not Included
  • Blue Spring State Park Entrance fee : $6 per vehicle (limit 2-8 people per vehicle)
Additional Information

Blue Spring has been acclaimed as the top location in Florida for manatee sightings. Experience the revered St. Johns River Nature Cruise, departing daily from the Blue Spring State Park harbors, a favorite among Central Florida tourists. Dive into the vast historical richness and the plentiful wildlife that the St. Johns River boasts, under the guidance of our well-informed and approachable team.

Location
2100 W French Ave
West French Avenue
Passengers arrive 1.5 hours before departure (Highly recommend) Once inside the park, report to the BOAT DOCK for check-in, 10 Mins before departure LOCATED at the lower parking lot.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(204 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
John_r
Sep 19, 2025
You have to do it !! - Beautiful area, relaxing and informative. The boat pilot knew her stuff. She was full of history. She had a wonderful personality.
Review provided by Viator
Robert
Aug 30, 2025
Great day learned alot - Nice informative cruise, capt.Bob sure knew his stuff, we will be back with family and friends, also will recommend. However, no need to be there an hour and a half before departure
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joebandit
Jul 20, 2025
River cruise with wheel chair - worked out perfectly - This adventure was shared by my disabled wife in a wheel chair, our son, his wife and our 1 yr old grandson. The crew was able to handle the wheel chair with a lift right to boat level. We saw all sorts of birds, several alligators and maybe some evidence of a manatee. It seems summer is when the Manatees head elsewhere for a time. The cruise was worth it and we were treated like family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Victoria_o
Jul 18, 2025
The cruise was great! Saw... - The cruise was great! Saw so much wildlife and many alligators! Rebecca was so funny and very knowledgeable!! It was a very entertaining experience!!
Review provided by Viator
Tracy
Jul 14, 2025
Excellent experience - Twice! - Excellent tour - especially in the winter months. We've done two tour - one hour & two hours. Guides were awesome each time explaining the area & helping us see as much as we could. Will do this tour again in the future whenever we have friends visiting. Reasonable prices & a beautiful park to explore.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emily
Jul 13, 2025
10/10 would recommend! - I had a wonderful time on the river cruise! We saw so much wildlife—quite a few alligators, lots of cool birds (including an owl!), and even some turtles soaking up the sun. It was peaceful, scenic, and full of little surprises along the way. Rebecca was both hilarious and incredibly knowledgeable, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. She kept us entertained while also sharing fascinating facts about the area and its wildlife. Shoutout to Randy, who was so helpful and attentive—he’s the one who spotted the owl for us! If you're looking for a relaxing, fun, and nature-filled outing, I’d absolutely recommend this cruise. It’s a great way to spend a couple hours soaking in the beauty of Florida’s waterways.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_k
Jul 11, 2025
Life in the St. John’s River - That leader is really excellent and knows every kind of bird and can pick out a baby alligator in the green weeds.
Review provided by Viator
Kim_h
Jul 5, 2025
Wildlife tour - The boat was clean and left the dock on time. The Captain and guide, Rebecca, was very experienced and well informed. We had a very relaxed morning watching wildlife along the river. Definitely recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Sightseer513893
Aug 18, 2025
No manatees...lots of information - The guide was very interesting. Only saw birds and one gator...so kids were pretty bored. No manatees...maybe time of year. I enjoyed the boat ride.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Abrahamchiesa
Jul 28, 2025
Guide was great, but boat... - Guide was great, but boat was so slow, because we were in a manatee zone. It was so hot. If you do it, do it in the spring or fall.
Review provided by Viator
From $38
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).