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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

Sat 21 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $101.38

Make a reservation

Sat 21 Sep

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)

Travelmom021

Feb 2018

I booked a VIP Pontoon Manatee Tour with River Ventures online. I called and asked a couple questions as I was deciding what to book. They were very friendly and helpful. I picked the VIP trip because you have a total of 6 people besides the tour guide and Captain but less people in water I felt we would have a better experience. Our Captain was John Stark, and our guide was Jamie. They were both very helpful and knowledgeable. Jamie made sure everyone was comfortable in the water and helped us navigate the river to get the best experience with the manatees. Captain Stark stayed on board and would let us know from which direction the manatees were coming from so we could get in place. They are gentle giants! So graceful. They would swim right underneath you, swim right up towards you so close that you could look in their eye. Very memorable experience I will always remember. Great family trip. We all enjoyed the day! 4 hour trip. The water temp is 72 the wet suits keep you warm and the pontoon can be closed in with a heater if anyone is chilled after they get out of the water. Warm coffee/tea or hot chocolate and snacks provided. Awesome trip!

Msstephiep

Feb 2018

We went on our manatee tour Feb 4, 2018 and it was an absolutely amazing experience. We are a family of 5, two adults and 3 kids and took a semi private crystal river tour on the heated houseboat. The heated houseboat was worth it! Kids had a much more enjoyable time sitting indoors in between swims. We had Captain John T and Heidi and I cannot say enough wonderful things about them! They were amazing. Captain John knew right where to find manatees and Heidi had us in the water in minutes to maximize our time with these animals. My son has special needs and Heidi worked with him so he too could have a great experience. We learned so much from them and really could see the respect they both had for the animals and the area in which they live. Thank you Captain John T and Heidi! The photos Heidi took were great and available after the tour for a very reasonable price. We recommend the very first tour of the day if you want to avoid crowds. Highly recommend River Ventures and Captain John T and Heidi.

Patricia K

Jan 2018

We just did this tour this weekend. Let me tell you we had such a wonderful time. I just loved Rivers Ventures. We plan on making this a annual family trip and I can tell you they will always be our guides.. Our Captain was Mariah and our guide was Emerson. They were just awesome. WE had the best experience with the Manatees. My daughter as soon as she got in the water she was getting kissed by a curious manatee. We did alot of belly rubbing and just watching them sleep and we saw a baby nursing. I have so much respect for the people at Rivers Venture you can tell how much they love and care about these amazing animals. They gave us so much knowledge and made our trip so pleasurable. The boat we went out on was just beyond nice. We were so impressed with the whole experience. We will be back in a year next January.