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Manatee Kayak Tour: Explore Kings Bay and Springs
4.9
32 Ratings
Crystal River
Join our 3-hour guided kayak adventure in Crystal River. Paddle through Kings Bay, learn about manatees, and explore stunning springs. Book now!
Join our 3-hour guided kayak adventure in Crystal River. Paddle through Kings Bay, learn about manatees, and explore stunning springs. Book now!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 704 NW 6th St - Our paddle guides are well versed with all of the ins and outs of the “Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge” They will guide you throughout the bay pointing out wildlife and narrating as you go along to look for the wild manatees of Kings Bay. Although manatees are the star of the show, there are many other species of wildlife you…
- 704 NW 6th St - Our paddle guides are well versed with all of the ins and outs of the “Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge” They will guide you throughout the bay pointing out wildlife and narrating as you go along to look for the wild manatees of Kings Bay. Although manatees are the star of the show, there are many other species of wildlife you could see on your paddle. You will be able to explore inlets and springs and many of the “nooks and crannies” of the Bay area. Don’t be surprised if you come across river otters frolicking near shore, or if a flock of birds floats right by you. You’ll also get a chance to see some beautiful tarpon or other fish (no fishing is allowed, however).
All you need to bring is a dry bag to put anything in that you do not wish to get wet and dry shirt/pants, just in case. We sell dry bags and under-water cell phone bags if you do not have them. Layered clothes also are a great idea, as the air will warm up throughout the day.
What's Included
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Life jacket
- Whistle
- Professional guide
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Life jacket
- Whistle
- Professional guide
What's Not Included
- Bottled water
- Bottled water
Additional Information
We provide professional guides to teach you everything you need to know about manatees and our surrounding area, in order to give you the best experience while protecting our natural habitats and our Manatees! Our guides are trained in all thing manatees. We provide the best equipment on the water. Located on the water so no need for travel time or…
We provide professional guides to teach you everything you need to know about manatees and our surrounding area, in order to give you the best experience while protecting our natural habitats and our Manatees! Our guides are trained in all thing manatees. We provide the best equipment on the water. Located on the water so no need for travel time or transportation. We depart from our private docks. Leaving from our private docks we are only .5 Miles away from Three Sisters and our other beautiful springs. We will spend 2-3 hours paddling the beautiful Kings Bay, Crystal River.
Location
704 NW 6th St
Northwest 6th Street
You will find us located in the blue house behind Paddletail Waterfront Lodge. Your guide will meet you at check in.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(32 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
H9879pkjeanc
May 2, 2025
Guided Kayak Tour - My sister and I went on the 3 hour kayaking tour with Captain Glen as our guide. Our experience with the process to reserve was easy and the staff was very accommodating.
The tour itself was amazing! Captain Glen tailored our paddle to our interests of nature(manatees and birds) and the history of the area. His knowledge of the area is exceptional and this made our experience so fantastic. He pointed out all the springs in the area and our favorite was 3 Sister Spring, which was Crystal clear.
We loved the tour and would highly recommend this company and our guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sara_r
Apr 15, 2025
Too late for manatees but still a great time - Guide was very understanding of my lack of experience in a kayak. I never felt hurried.
Overall the experience was very good. It is a beautiful location, especially the three sisters spot, spectacular.
I just wish I applied more sunscreen. Will definitely have to do again since I only spotted the tail of a manatee. Overall my husband and I had a great time.
Review provided by Viator
Scott_m
Apr 4, 2025
Brilliant! - We booked our trip last minute and although it was a long drive from Orlando early in the morning it was soo worth it! The lady in the reception was very welcoming and our guide Zoe was fabulous! She was so laidback but also very informative and made our trip exciting! There was only our family of 3 on the trip and it was like our own private tour! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it and it was also excellent value for money! We are on holiday from England and it has been a highlight of our trip, was also really nice to see some ‘real’ Florida!
Review provided by Viator
Alannah_g
Mar 30, 2025
Great for the price.... - Great for the price. Becca tried her best to find one of the few manatees left this late in the season. When we were lucky enough to come across one she let us stay until we were all able to see it. The price of the tour is cheaper than a rental so I would recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Tdubs2019
Mar 27, 2025
Great! - Molly was a great guide, took us to several locations to see manatees, as well as some birds and turtles. She was very knowledgeable.
The only drawback was that the trip was a little long for us, 3 hours of a lot of paddling in the wind. It was also spring break and a sunny warm day, so it was of a zoo at Three Sisters and Hunter Spring.
Next time, we'd pick a tour that included swimming.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fearless39660945894
Mar 27, 2025
Beautiful - This is definitely an arm and back workout. Molly was great and showed us all the springs. The weather was perfect and we were able to see some manatees.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cindyrv2832yp
Mar 26, 2025
Manatee Heaven! - AMAZING!!!
We booked through TripAdvisor (could have booked through their website.) but everything was a wonderful experience.
We booked the day before during the tail end of manatee season for an AM kayak tour. Best decision ever.
The later the day runs the more people do the tours and it gets PACKED. Weekdays are better than weekends. But our tour guide (young lady I didn't catch her name) was wonderful. She's a local to Crystal river. Told us all the ins and outs of Crystal river. How they were affected by hurricane helene. How they are rebuilding and recovering. It was so refreshing and we saw so many manatees. We took our time and enjoyed every ounce of this tour. We scouted so many different wildlife. Would absolutely do this again but in the November-February season as that's when the manatees retreat to the springs!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffhz7727we
Mar 23, 2025
Great Experience - Molly was a fantastic guide, I would highly recommend her! We were grateful for many reasons, first, Molly became our personal guide as no one else joined us. Secondly, we saw many creatures from Manatees, birds including Bald Eagle, turtles, and fish. Third, most of the Manatees swam out into the gulf, but due to cold rainy weather the previous day, many came back to the springs!
It was a great experience and I highly recommend booking this company for a guided tour. As we learned, there are many rules that you MUST abide by for the protection of the creatures. It is better to have someone as the guide to provide the insurance of following the rules. Have fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Culture60765968520
Mar 21, 2025
A unique opportunity to see manatees up close in their natural habitat! - My daughter was visiting Florida from Asheville, NC and I wanted to do something special with her. She enjoys the outdoors and has kayaked before, while I had not. I was somewhat apprehensive about going kayaking for the first time, especially at the age of 62. Although I am relatively fit, paddling against the wind can be quite a workout, so it's important to be prepared for that if you're older or have limited upper body strength.
We were part of a small group of five, led by our tour guide, Molly, who prioritized safety. Having lived along the canal, she was also very knowledgeable about the river and its history. We spotted many manatees, turtles, and beautiful birds throughout our journey. At one point, a rescue team arrived to help an injured manatee calf, using a net to remove it from the river.
Our tour began at noon and ended at 3:00 PM. Although it was early March, the Florida sun was quite warm, so I recommend wearing sunscreen, a hat, and moisture-wicking clothes, as you will get a bit wet from the splash of the paddles. I recommend this experience to anyone considering a unique opportunity to see manatees up close in their natural habitat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bernicec519
Mar 14, 2025
Fun afternoon of kayaking - It was a great tour. It wasn't too strenuous, the kayak was comfortable and the weather was perfect. Molly was an excellent tour guide. She was knowledgeable on the area and where to find the wildlife. Was very patient with me taking pictures. We had a cow and calf manatee go right beside us which was really great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
