St. Johns River Nature Cruise at Blue Spring State Park: Best Spot for Manatee Sighting in Florida
4.8
62 Ratings
Orange City
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:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Saint Johns - As we traverse this untamed wilderness, it’s important to note that sightings vary from day to day, adding an element of excitement to each voyage. Prepare to encounter a captivating array of wildlife, including majestic wading birds, gentle manatees, vibrant aquatic plant life, enchanting cypress forests, and the occasional glimpse of awe-inspiring alligators
What's Included
- 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
(62 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Carolyn_r
Mar 16, 2024
Great trip ! - We didn't see manatees, but we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our captain was very knowledgeable. Weather was beautiful !
Review provided by Viator
Courtneyh72
Mar 16, 2024
Great time! - The trip was great, educational and relaxing! Capt Ron was fantastic! We saw alligators, turtles and many different birds. Sadly no manatees but still a great time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rick1832
Mar 16, 2024
Cruise on St John river - Very nice cruise on the St John river with an informative captain. The pace of the riverboat was nice and easy making it perfect to spot wildlife. Captain Ron was very knowledgeable about all the wildlife on the river.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grammycofl
Mar 16, 2024
What an incredible learning experience about the spring and its flora and fauna. Saw the biggest alligator hanging out!! - What an incredible learning experience about the spring and its flora and fauna. Saw the biggest alligator hanging out
Review provided by Tripadvisor
782colleeng
Mar 16, 2024
Great experience - It was a nice day and the captain was good about stopping to see the wildlife and knowledgeable about the wildlife. He also came around and spoke with us personally
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vivian_g
Mar 15, 2024
Blue Springs adventure - The guide was very knowledgeable about the plants and animals and entertaining. Good rapport with visitors. Lots of fun
Review provided by Viator
Sandra_m
Mar 15, 2024
Great trip! Extremely knowledgeable guide! - Loved listening to the guide who pointed out various birds including my favorite, the Blue Heron! We saw many alligators, one was huge!
Review provided by Viator
Michaelwk5758sp
Mar 13, 2024
St James River Tour ! - First of all Blue Speings State Park is too notch & clean. The camping sites are great, we wmbarked on. 2 hr Riverboat exploration with the Captain & crew being well advised on the History of the area and locations on rhe River to enjoy.
We recommend this for all ages!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_c
Mar 16, 2024
Had a great time. - The knowledge of the captain. she was great. Told us a lot of information, and if we had questions, she would answer them to the best of her knowledge.
Review provided by Viator
Johngf918ae
Mar 17, 2024
Go in the winter to see manatee - Pretty views. We went to hopefully see the manatee but they were gone. I would say for this particular tour, one hour would have been good. Two hours is much too long. The spring was amazing. Beautiful clear water and lots of fish. Great park with lots of picnic areas, a beautiful boardwalk along the spring and canoes for rent. A day trip to the park to swim in the spring in the summer would be worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
