St. Johns River Cruise: Best Manatee Spot in Florida

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,…
What's Included
  • Tour Guide
  • 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
(158 Ratings)
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Beachgal2011
Feb 8, 2025
Excellent experience! - This was a great experience. We took the 2 hour cruise and Captain Bob was very informative, entertaining, and engaging. I can’t say enough about our experience. We saw so many things along the river, blue heron, egrets, a very large turkey, alligators, and turtles. We didn’t get to see any manatee on the river , but there were a few in the spring area. . If you go be sure to take binoculars. This was well worth the money!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X8407qtkh
Feb 6, 2025
Boat tour - Boat captain and tour guide was phenomenal! Saw gators and many bird species. Only saw a couple manatees, just our luck it was a warm day and the manatees all moved out of the spring run!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Felicia_s
Feb 6, 2025
Great! - Great tour! We saw tons of alligators and manatees! The park is beautiful and clean! The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Mary
Feb 5, 2025
Great cruise for everyone - The captain was very knowledgeable and funny. He told us some history and stories about the wildlife. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hour cruise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maryjo_s
Feb 4, 2025
Great value and best cruises ever - The river cruise is an excellent eco-cruise And such a great value. It is a wonderful way to learn about the birds and animals in the St. John’s river habitat. The tour guide is extremely knowledgeable and fun. I highly recommend this for visitors and residents alike.
Review provided by Viator
Robertaa_a
Feb 3, 2025
Great Trip down the River - Saw a vast array of wildlife, the captain was a great wealth of knowledge and Charm. Plenty of opportunities for photography as well.
Review provided by Viator
Brett_c
Feb 2, 2025
St Johns River tour at Blue Springs - A great and fun time. Very informative. The tour guide provided time to stop and look at wildlife and identified the different birds. Told us about the vegetation and the history of the area. We also were able to see a lot of alligators
Review provided by Viator
Cindybb7195wd
Jan 31, 2025
Awesome tour! - We saw a lot of manatees. Tour boat captain was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the flora and fauna. She also shared several past stories about the manatee and area. B
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebourne
Jan 31, 2025
Inland entertainment - Nice experience to see the wildlife in Blue Springs and along the St John’s River with Rebecca and Zach as our guides. Lots of manatees and birds. Be sure to also walk along the boardwalk to see the water creatures in the clear blue water
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joe_h
Feb 7, 2025
Lots of Wildlife - No Manatees - This was a very pleasant and relaxing tour on the St John's River. The captain/narrator was terrific pointing out wildlife along the way and telling stories. We saw alligators from 12" long to probably 8-10ft and many species of birds. It was a bit disappointing that we saw only one manatee very briefly. Otherwise, I would highly recommend the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
March 2025
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