Clear Kayak Manatee Ecotour: Crystal River Wildlife

816 Ratings

Crystal River

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Experience the beauty of Crystal River on a guided eco-tour in clear kayaks. Spot dolphins, manatees, turtles, and more wildlife while exploring over 70 freshwater springs.

Duration: 2 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Hunter Springs Park - Prepare for an unforgettable adventure with Paddles Outdoor Rentals! Hop into our amazing all-clear kayaks with one of our friendly, highly knowledgeable local guides who are familiar with every part of Crystal River. Paddle through the crystal-clear waters, discover fascinating facts about our unique ecosystem, and watch out…

What's Included

Clear Kayak adventure
Paddle included
Life vest provided

What's Not Included

Optional Picture Package $37.99
Gratuity For Tour Guides
Parking Fee
Admission fees

Additional Information

Embark on a guided eco-tour of Crystal River in completely transparent kayaks! During this adventure, participants will have the chance to admire the stunning natural surroundings and wildlife, including over 70 freshwater springs. There is the possibility of spotting dolphins, pelicans, tarpon, turtles, otters, various bird species, and the cherished…

Location

1 SW 1st Pl

Southwest 1st Place

Our building is located on the right side of Pete's Pier Marina at 1 SW 1st Place, Crystal River FL 34429. There is a $10.00 Parking Fee to be paid upon arrival to the parking attendant. Must arrive 30 minutes early to complete the check-in process.

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings

4.6

(816 Ratings)

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Tia_l

Jan 14, 2026

A great experience that... - A great experience that we totally enjoyed and are in awe of what FL has to offer. The manatees were amazing and the guide Kyle helped us understand the habitat and facts about the manatees.

Review provided by Viator

Tanya_c

Jan 14, 2026

A Must Do - Very fun. Even on a cloudy day the tour guide made sure we all saw some manatees. Great sites and information along the tour.

Review provided by Viator

Karen_b

Jan 9, 2026

Great time kayaking looking for manatees. DO IT! - Our guide RJ was FANTASTIC. Ask for him. He’s knowledgeable, funny, thoughtful and relaxed. He made our adventure. We saw SO MANY Manatees because of his thoughtful, relaxed approach. We never felt rushed, and he included everyone in the group. He’s great at his job. Thank you RJ for making Sheila’s birthday a great one. Kayaking on Crystal River and looking for Manatees is something everyone should do if they’re able to. Until next time…..

Review provided by Viator

Bobdx5309ps

Jan 8, 2026

Awesome experience! - The whole family had a great time! Kyle was our tour guide and was very knowledgeable, professional, and fun! We toured large areas of the river and saw quite a few manatees. It was really an awesome experience!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Justin_m

Jan 5, 2026

Highlight of our trip! - Getting on and off the kayaks was very easy thanks to how well everything was set up. Our tour guide was fantastic. She shared so much interesting information about the area and the wildlife, answered every question, and kept the group engaged the entire time until we spotted the first of many manatees. She was just as excited as we were, and it was obvious she truly loves what she does. Her enthusiasm made the experience even better, and we had an amazing time from start to finish. Highly recommend this tour.

Review provided by Viator

Blake_o

Jan 4, 2026

Great day with Kyle! He... - Great day with Kyle! He did a fantastic job teaching us about the local wildlife and finding opportunities to be close with the manatees. We had an amazing time and would book again in a heartbeat.

Review provided by Viator

Janest1828ej

Jan 16, 2026

bring polarised glasses if you want to see manatees under water - Overall great experience. Some things to know: 1) definitely show up 30 minutes ahead, as you will need to pay for parking via app, sign in, fill out and sign waivers, watch a video, use the restroom. They start right on time. 2) no food or drinks other than water on kayak, 3) must remove shoes on kayak, 4) your butt will get wet. Bring change of clothes 5) we did not have polarised glasses and we could not see anything under water.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Iliana_d

Jan 5, 2026

Loved Kyle with a smile - First off let me say that I loved our tour guide Kyle (@Kylewithasmile on IG), he had a great personality, went at a comfortable pace and did his best to locate Manatees. However, there were a few things that would not allow me to rate the tour as 5 stars. First there is not adequate parking for all the tours going on, leaving us scrambling in the back streets looking for parking. I wish we would have known because we would have just Ubered there. Second, the text I received the day before had a link that would not open. The link contained a video and waiver which I had to fill out prior to the tour, making the 30-minute prior window not enough time. I was told I only had two minutes to use the bathroom, which was two buildings away and had a line. Third, the tour itself. I was under the impression that we would be Kayaking in the springs not in the surrounding canals. While there were Manatees there, the experience was very different from what I had witnessed those at Three Sisters Springs have the day before. I expected to see dozens of Manatees, groups of Manatees in crystal clear water. That was not my experience. Instead, the group saw maybe 5 Manatees throughout the tour and the water conditions made them barely visible. All and all I really enjoyed the tour and still think it is a 4 star experience. I just want to give an objective review from a non-emotional place to provide viewers with a realistic expectation. I understand that amount of tourist, time of day, water conditions etc., all play a factor in where the tours can go, while still respecting the natural order of things, so I was not disappointed, but the experience did not align with the expectations, so it is important to keep expectations grounded.

Review provided by Viator

Vacation729192

Jan 6, 2026

was exercising - thought we would be kayaking in the Crystal river but instead we stayed in the brackish water where you can barely see. Plus your so low in the kayaks and the sides are so high it's hard to paddle and not very comfortable. The staff was great through check in as well as the guide. Everyone was friendly and courteous.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Theresa_p

Jan 5, 2026

Expensive - Very expensive for what you get. We did see manatees because of the time of year. However, there were multiple boats giving tours, snorkeling, kayaks, and jet skis. You did not travel far to see the manatees.

Review provided by Viator

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