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Small Group VIP Manatee Pontoon Tour in Crystal River

Small Group VIP Manatee Pontoon Tour in Crystal River

Overview

We will let you in on a secret! You can get the high-end experience, with an affordable price tag! Our new heated (during winter), luxury pontoon aims to amp up the manatee sighting and deliver a more personal event! Observe the endangered West Indian Manatee in Crystal River’s idyllic Kings Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Your US Coast Guard licensed captains and guides will take you into the 600 acre spring fed refuge waters for viewing and snorkeling with these slow moving wild giants. All equipment, fees, snacks and beverages are included.

City: Crystal River

Mon 18 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $101.38

Make a reservation

Mon 18 Nov

Starting at $101.38

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional guide

Use of equipment (mask, snorkel gear and wet suit)

Introductory/instructional video offered in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish

Beverages (bottled water, coffee, hot chocolate, tea and adult)

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Adult pricing applies to all travelers
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wetsuits are available in sizes from toddlers (2 years old and up) to adults up to 5X
It is advised that you have your swimsuit on underneath your clothes for a quicker check-in
Please bring a towel and a plastic bag to hold your belongings
Children Under 3 years old are not allowed on this tour. Please call for other options.
Post COVID-19 Policy- We are mindful to thoroughly clean water vehicles between visitors.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands

What To Expect

River Ventures

Embark on your journey with a Coast Guard Certified Master Captain who will be your in water chaperon, educator and photographer. Your tour will run four hours from start to finish and everything you will need is included for one price. You will begin at our full-service tour facility, where you will be educated about the animals in a classroom type setting and receive tips for your snorkel tour to make the most of your day. You will be taught the in’s and out’s of ‘passive interaction’ as this ensures that the animals enjoy the experience as much as we do! You will then be suited up and transported to the dock, where a Coast Guard certified covered pontoon will be waiting for you. This rich estuary will amaze…..birds, fish and wildlife abound! Submerge yourself in the manatee’s world! Finish your adventure by viewing your Captain’s photos back at our facility and be sure to visit our one-of-a-kind gift shop! Our well-informed staff will direct to other local attractions, restaurants and answer of your questions before you are on your way.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (565)

Danny W

Oct 2019

4 of us visited Florida from the UK and we had booked our manatee experience before leaving the country. When we arrived at River Ventures for our early morning start on the 28th October 2019 all the staff were warm and welcoming and everything was in place for us. Mike and JJ took the 4 of us out on our VIP trip. Mike and JJ were perfect hosts and were extremely knowledgeable about not only the Manatees but the area and all the other wildlife within it. We spent so much time in the water and they found the manatees so quickly. We were given snacks, soft drinks, hot drinks and alcoholic drinks. Cannot speak highly enough of all the guys at River Ventures. In a trip of man made theme parks and as much food as we could eat, this trip trumped the lot! This was the highlight of our stay in Florida. Book with River Ventures. You won’t be disappointed! Hope to see you guys again one day!!

Ilovefoodandhotels

Oct 2019

We had a great morning doing this experience. As with all wild animal experiences you can never guarantee you'll see them, so we were so chuffed when we saw a mother and calf before we left the dock. In total we got to swim with about 6 manatees which was absolutely awesome. Our guide Megan and Captain Emerson were both great, knowledgeable but relaxed. It was well worth the early start and long journey to do this experience. I would have liked a completely private tour as the family with us were always quicker and got prime views before I could even get there. As such all the photos were of them rather than us. But I still think the photos are a really good value $30 for a USB of everything! I think it would be useful if people were banned from taking their own photos, one of the others had a go pro and not only did his go pro feature in nearly every photo Megan took, he scared a Manatee off on two occasions, despite being asked by Megan not to move so frantically. That being said, I still cannot fault the experience and can't thank River Ventures enough for giving us this once in a lifetime opportunity!

James T

Oct 2019

We had a amazing four hour your with Tom and Jose. Even though it was in the off season we still got to see more than enough manatees. The water was cool but with the wet suits and hot chocolate we were great. This week we did Disney and Universal but neither compare to how awesome this was. We will definitely be back.