Wildlife Boat Tour: Discover King's Bay

Join our guided wildlife boat tour in Crystal River for a thrilling encounter with Florida manatees and diverse bird species. Perfect for nature lovers and photographers.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is a manatee sanctuary nestled in the heart of Florida’s Nature Coast. Spanning over 80 acres, this refuge is a haven for an array of wildlife, offering visitors a captivating glimpse into the region’s natural wonders.
    One of the refuge’s most enchanting features is…
What's Included
  • Covered tour boats for shade
  • USCG inspected tour boats
  • 1.5-hour narrated boat tour
  • USCG licensed captain and guide
What's Not Included
  • Sunglasses - Polarized lenses are best for seeing into the water.
  • Binoculars are available for rental - Adult $12 / Child $6
  • Parking fees
Additional Information

Embark on a captivating guided wildlife boat tour that promises adventure, education, and unforgettable viewing of King’s Bay.
As you step aboard, you’ll be greeted by our expert captain and knowledgeable naturalist guide, who will serve as your hosts for the duration of the 1.5-hour excursion.
One of the highlights of the tour is the opportunity to…

Location
Pete's Pier Marina
Southwest 1st Place
Pete's Pier Marina. Please check in for your tour at the "See Crystal River" office located in Unit C of the big blue building in the center of the parking lot. You will find our office at the rear of the building on the first floor, look for the signs. If you have any trouble, just give us a call.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(178 Ratings)
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1 star
Donna
Jul 26, 2025
Great manatee viewing! - Our boat captain, Colt, was very nice, friendly, knowledgeable, and patient. He took great care to see that our group got many great views of the manatees. The bay was beautiful! This was a very fun experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cherylmy5879ai
Jul 17, 2025
Out of season win with Manatees - Although we went really out of season we saw quite a few manatees! Even mommies with babies! It was such a fun trip and Cole was knowledgeable and told us a few things that we really didn’t know. Grand kids had a blast! The rain we started with cleared up and we had awesome weather the rest of the time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ashleyhb1054wb
Jul 10, 2025
Fun, informative, and Manatees - My wife and I took a family trip to Florida for our anniversary, she was disappointed to find out it was the wrong season for manatees but after reading MANY other reviews I felt this was our best bet, and we were not wrong. Our captain Alyssa(spelling) was amazing, personable, in love with what she does, and up front that she would do her best, but couldn't promise a manatee. However barely 5 minutes in she found us a tagged manatee which was part of a trio. She was informative about the cove, ecosystem, the rehab process for the manatees(and why crystal river is a good location year round), local history, and was confident as a captain. We were able to watch the amiable and cooperative attitude with other captions that kept the mood fun and relaxed, saw a variety of wildlife, learned a lot, and had a fun and relaxing morning. I definitely agree with other reviews try to get in on the first tour of the day especially in the summer:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jane_k
Jul 2, 2025
Relaxing trip - The team from check in to the excursions are very welcoming and knowledgeable answering any questions. Really enjoyed our boat trip. Got to see the manatees and even a gator Lovely river system.
Review provided by Viator
Shana_w
Jun 29, 2025
Early Morning Boat Wildlife Excursion - We went first thing in the morning and it was the most peaceful boat ride. Our Capt Colt was informative and candid.
Review provided by Viator
David_s
Jun 29, 2025
A Good time seeing they call then Chubby Mermaids - We got to see some Manatees and will definitely be going back in the winter months when there will be many more to see.
Review provided by Viator
L2051vaemmar
Jun 18, 2025
Brilliant trip, great guide, fabulous wildlife and most importantly: Manatees! - We were determined to see Manatees up close and without getting wet! This trip fit the bill and we booked it easily. Directions were great and we got there in plenty of time. Our tour guide was Alicia, and she was very knowledgeable, personable and friendly. Her manatee spotting skills are excellent and we saw plenty of these amazing creatures up close without interfering with them. She was excellent in her handling of the boat, the guests and the wildlife. We saw manatees aplenty, lots of local birds including an Osprey nest with two huge chicks on the verge of fledging the nest, we saw the parent birds too close by encouraging the chicks to leave the nest. We saw turtles sunbathing, and thoroughly enjoyed our trip in and around the bay. We got some amazing photos, and more importantly some incredible memories to take home with us. I would recommend this tour with no hesitation to anyone looking for a gentle way to see the Manatees of Crystal River.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellenpv5716lt
Jun 16, 2025
Morning tour - I recommend taking the morning tour. We did 8:30am and saw six manatees even though it’s the off season. The scenery and other wildlife around Kings Bay was wonderful to see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bill_m
Jul 17, 2025
Rainin - It was not raining at 3:30 when we were to leave. But the skies were very dark and looming. We opted to cancel our seats. Do not know if the boat went out or not.
Review provided by Viator
Deeann_b
Jun 26, 2025
Poor Experience - We booked our experience in advance. The day prior they cancelled our trip and offered rebooking that did not work for our family. This is the second year with my grandson they cancelled for overbooking blaming their computer system not accurate.
Review provided by Viator
From $35
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).