Orlando Manatee Encounters

Overview

Journey to Blue Spring State Park, winter home to one of Florida’s largest populations of Manatee. Witness hundreds of these "sea cows" relaxing in the spring alone. Observe these creatures from a safe distance in your kayak as your Florida Master Naturalist introduces you to the flora and fauna that make up this wild area. This is a great trip for the entire family!

City: Daytona Beach

Tue 22 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $80.00

Make a reservation

Tue 22 Apr

Starting at $80.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Local guide

Bottled water

Professional guide

Landing and facility fees

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
There is no minimum age however all participants must know how to swim
It is recommended that you bring a swimsuit, towel, waterproof camera and wear clothes that can get wet and possibly dirty
To ensure a proper size kayak is available, please provide your individual heights and weights at the time of booking
There is no restroom at the meeting location. There is a public restroom at Valentine Park (1511 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763) about a mile before you arrive the meeting location that we recommend you use before your tour.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (329)

O9863IQcourtneyp

Nov 2024

I urge you to find another company to guide you. We filled out our waivers and had an uber drop myself and my 3 friends off where the directions said. We got there a little earlier than we were supposed to. We waited and waited and no one showed up, so we called Greg to see what was going on and it was then he informed us that he had cancelled on us yet he DID NOT LET US KNOW. He swore he sent notices of canceling yet we received none, not even a phone call to follow up. He left us stranded a mile away from anyone or anywhere. So we walked up to the state park where the park ranger informed us they have been HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS company ABANDONING people out there and canceling without notice. A family the weekend before had also been stranded according to the park ranger. It was handled very unprofessionally by Greg who couldn't even follow up with an actual confirmation of the cancelation. We are from out of state and like the ranger said this company has an obligation to not be stranding people out there like he did and yet there we were. I would suggest finding any other company but this one to use. From the sounds of it they are getting very close to not being able to operate out of the area due to their failure to properly operate their company or communicating with the parks and guests. 0 OUT OF 10

Response from Host

Nov 2024

There are many reasons a tour must be canceled, most are out of our control. This year alone we have had forest fires, massive flooding, and multiple hurricanes. As soon as we know a tour must be canceled we text and email all participants using the contact information given to us at the time of booking. If you booked through a third party, we contact them and it is that third party's responsability to contact you. (they do not give us your contact info) If you use a different cell phone on vacationthan the one you used to book, you won't receive the notice. We have been safely operating out of French Landing since 1995 and have guided thousands of tours since then. No one has ever been abandoned or left behind. We have had no negative interactions with any park staff or guests.

Spain_Rocks

Jul 2024

We saw so many manatees on our tour! It was super enjoyable and our guide was well informed, super pleasant and fun. Make sure to wear a hat and sunscreen. It’s super hot - and the sun is unrelenting. I wore lightweight hiking pants and large brimmed hat. Glad I did! Took my 16 year old son - and it was a nice break from city of Orlando.

Jody_S

Jul 2024

What a disappointment Viator is. When a call was made to verify our reservation I told them I had covid. They said not to worry and I wouldn't be charged. After I felt better I randomly checked my debit card and...yes...they (Viator) debited my account for the whole amount. Their site specifically states there is no charge if reservations are cancelled. I have made several calls to the main office and was told I would have a refund. After a week there was no refund so After many calls and explanations by me they refused to reimburse me. Furthermore they did not have permission to use my card...especially since I never gave it to them. Anyone out there have any suggestions?