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St. Johns River Cruise: Best Manatee Spot in Florida
4.8
202 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.
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,…
- 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, gentle manatees, vibrant aquatic plants, enchanting cypress forests, and occasionally, awe-inspiring alligators. This is situated within Blue Spring State Park, and an entrance fee is required.
What's Included
- Tour Guide
- On-board restrooms
- Tour Guide
- On-board restrooms
What's Not Included
- Blue Spring State Park Entrance fee : $6 per vehicle (limit 2-8 people per vehicle)
- 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.
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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(202 Ratings)
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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
Todd_s
Jun 29, 2025
Great time! - We went on the 10 o'clock cruise. According to our guide, you will see the most wildlife at the early cruise. You probably won't see manatee in the summer, but well worth it. Rebecca was our guide and see was great.
Review provided by Viator
Jj_orlando_fl
Jun 15, 2025
Highly recommended boat tour on the St Johns river - We took the 10 AM 2-hour boat tour with a group of friends and we were thoroughly delighted. Starting from Blue Springs State Park in Deland, FL, we wound our way upriver and into some backwaters for an excellent guided your of the flora and fauna -- everything from Great Blue herons, Lesser Igrets, and Barred Owl to turtles, alligators, and Texas Star flowers on the riverbanks. We even got a close-up peek at an alligator's nest, with Mom alligator lurking in the water nearby to protect it. Our guide/commentator was a wealth of knowledge and kept up a running commentary as we went along, with a good dose of humor too. Snacks and beverages available onboard (cash only!), plus a bathroom/head/john/Captain's nest/loo/toilet for those that might need it. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving52102954387
Jun 15, 2025
hooray for rebecca - the guide rebecca is amazing! her love of the river and of the wildlife show in her every word as she narrates. she takes special care to ensure all see everything there is to see, even repositioning the boat. thank you for a wonderful educational excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rolk2022
Jun 14, 2025
Excellent Captain and History of the Area - Have been on several St. John's river cruises out of Ocala. This was the first time from Blue Springs and the best so far. The Captain disclosed more history and info for the area in this trip than on previously cruises. I would highly recommend using this informative and fun for a great river cruise
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joanbk446rc
Jun 10, 2025
Good trip for families or adults - It was great. I took 2 grandsons and we all enjoyed it. Captain Lee was informative and entertaining. Because of having 9 and 11 yearold boys, I would choose the 1 hour tour. They lost interest after an hour, but I throughly enjoyed it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marissa_t
May 25, 2025
So much fun - Relaxing and refreshing i would love to go back there someday again and bring my friends.the crew are so nice .
Review provided by Viator
Mose_h
May 23, 2025
Great tour - Very good experience. Knowledgeable guide and thorough explanations about wildlife and history of the St John’s River.
Boat well maintained and trip well done 👍
Review provided by Viator
Pandora_n
May 23, 2025
Had a great captain,... - Had a great captain, sorry I forgot her name, she was very knowledgeable of the birds and wildlife which made it interesting. Also history of the area and it's people and culture made it like you went back in time, with a little imagination.
Great experience for my husband and I
Review provided by Viator
Faith_h
Jun 9, 2025
My experience. It was... - My experience. It was supposed to be to a 2 hour tour
It took them to long to count how many people were on the boat they did have someone sneak on
Then we started out then there was a problem with the chips a guy took a bag and didn’t pay and was fighting with the Captain so we had to dock to get him off so we started out again
Then he asked if anyone had lunch reservations
Someone said yes so forget about the majority on the boat we came back it turned out to be a hour tour
They should have a sign on the Items sold
We were there on time we got up at 6:30 in the morning to travel from Sumter County to be there on time they waited for the late comers
There should be better management for it
Review provided by Viator
