Top Crystal River Outdoor Activities

Get up close to Florida’s manatees on this small-group snorkeling adventure. With an expert guide leading the way, swim alongside these gentle giants in Kings Bay. All tours include a full 5mm wetsuit (for extra warmth), mask, snorkel, towel service, heated changing facilities, and hot showers. Photos and video of your excursion are available for purchase.

Explore Kings Bay in a relaxing way on a scenic cruise. Sail around the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and look for local wildlife as your captain shares the history of the area. Manatees, dolphins, otters, and turtles are often spotted in the area. The boat is fully covered for protection from sun and rain.

Spend time swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking in crystal-clear waters on this guided eco-tour from Crystal River. Head to Three Sisters Springs for your adventure and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife like dolphins, manatees, turtles, and otters that live in these freshwater springs. Listen to commentary from your guide about the surrounding ecosystem while you’re out on the water.

Experience the underwater world of Crystal River with a clear kayak on this small-group excursion. Clear kayaks give you the ability to see everything that’s happening beneath you while you paddle through the waters. Join a small group to explore the waterways of Crystal River and search for local wildlife like manatees, dolphins, and turtles.

Swim with manatees on this nature-focused Crystal River tour. Appreciate these majestic animals in their natural habitat, under the watchful eye of an in-the-water guide who strives to ensure safe and respectful interactions between human and manatee at all times. Tours include snorkeling gear at no additional cost, and professional underwater photos are available for purchase after the tour.

Get to know central Florida’s endangered manatees on this boat tour. Swim and snorkel with these gentle giants at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, located in King’s Bay in the town of Crystal River — well known as the home of the manatee. Photos above and below the water will be taken throughout the tour and can be purchased afterward, if desired. Use of a mask, snorkel gear and wet suit, plus fees and beverages are included.

Snorkel with manatees in the Crystal River on a wildlife tour that gets you close to the West Indian Manatees that flock to the Crystal River's many freshwater springs. Learn about the remarkable manatees and the ecosystem they depend on, then slip into the water to see the manatees as they swim and feed. Wetsuits and all snorkeling equipment are included in this Crystal River manatee tour, with warm drinks served on board the boat.

One of the densest populations of West Indian manatees can be found in Crystal River, Florida. Swim alongside the gentle creatures on a trip into the river, with a wetsuit and snorkel mask included. Your guide, who navigates to the best spotting locations, accompanies you into the water in addition to taking souvenir photos available for purchase. To ensure your comfort, dry towels, hot drinks, and showers are provided.

At Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll find a truly unique experience: swimming with manatees. It’s the only spot in the world where you can hang with the gentle giants in their natural habitat, though you’ll want a guide to make sure you—and the manatees—have the best experience possible. With this tour, you’ll hop aboard a certified vessel with your in-water guide, snorkeling through the “Manatee Capital of the World.”

Hop into a completely clear kayak on the Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs where you’ll be seeing manatees, turtles, otters, and more on this guided tour. If you’re over 3 years old, you can join this expedition. There are 70 freshwater springs here, and we’ll explore the best one, the Three Sisters Spring. Enjoy all the beauty of this clear, colorful water and its wildlife.

Get up close to Florida’s gentle manatees on this 2-hour tour on Crystal River! Perfect for kids and adults, this educational program offers a presentation on the West Indian manatee and the rare chance to swim with these docile sea creatures. Enjoy some unforgettable moments with your friends, family and some irresistible marine mammals.

Explore the winding waterways of Crystal River with a single kayak rental. Your pre-booked rental is available for half a day and gives you the freedom to explore the area as you wish. Spend your time relaxing on the water and searching for local wildlife such as manatees, dolphins, and even otters.

Swim with the manatees on a half-day pontoon boat tour of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, a marine refuge designed to protect the threatened Florida manatee. Learn about the fascinating marine mammals on a tour designed for spotting manatees without disturbing them or disrupting their habitat, and explore a scenic Florida ecosystem. This small-group experience is limited to six people for personalized service, and all equipment, entrance fees, water and hot drinks, and snacks are included.

Snorkel with manatees in the Crystal River with this guided, approximately 3-hour tour. Everything is taken care of for you, including a wetsuit, snorkeling gear, and a boat with maximum 6 spots for guests. Find the manatees, then jump overboard and observe these creatures in their native habitat.

Go Local Manatee Tours creates unforgettable, up-close and personal manatee encounters in Crystal River, Florida. Our daily 6 passenger semi-private tours are designed to be small and eco-friendly, leaving only our foot prints behind to help protect our locals (aka manatees). By keeping our tour group small, we can do our part in minimizing the impact of visitors, while also providing you with a comfortable and relaxing experience with manatees and your crew. We feel that we can be environmentally conscious while still delivering an exciting and educational experience. At Go Local Manatee Tours, keeping the wildlife wild is important to us! We believe in responsible tourism that respects the ecosystem and avoids putting stress on the manatees and their environment. We feel that we can provide you the best experience that Crystal River has to offer, while still being environmentally conscious.

Explore the Crystal River by single kayak. Each Crescent kayak is designed to hold up to 300lbs. You’ll have a half hour safety video before you depart, and you’ll have a life jacket included. You’ll be given a map so you’ll know where to go. All skill levels are welcome. Keep your eyes open for dolphins, manatees, otters, and native birds.

This is a great way to see the sights and everything going on below you in the water from the BEST perspective. Our water bikes are human-powered and is the best eco-friendly way to get around the area to see everything Crystal River has to offer. You can see manatees swim directly underneath your bike, which is an incredible view to experience. The water bikes easily hold up to 300 pounds and have adjustable seats for all different heights of riders.

The Chaz is surrounded by protected land, guaranteeing a truly natural, unspoiled Florida experience. Share the water with manatees, dolphins, alligators, river otters, and countless species of fish, and keep your eyes peeled for any of the unique species of birds above.

Discover the waterways of Crystal River by tandem kayak with this pre-booked rental. Grab a partner and explore the area for a few hours with a provided map. Enjoy a relaxing ride through the waterways and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife such as manatees, dolphins, birds, and even otters.

Crystal River is home to birds, manatees, dolphins, otters, and fish. Instead of admiring its beauty from the land, get out on the water for close encounters with wildlife and a fun-filled adventure for two. Rent a tandem kayak that seats two people with two paddles and a map. Once in the kayak, set off on your own self-guided adventure to explore this picturesque area at your own pace.

From King’s Bay Park, you will meet at Crystal River and get into your clear kayak to go on a guided ecotour looking at the manatee who live in these beautiful waters. You’ll also get to look for turtles, dolphins, all sorts of birds, and fish. This is a small group experience (9 max), so you won’t be too intrusive. Explore this area with over 70 freshwater springs, including Three Sister Spring.

Crystal River is home to one of the densest manatee populations in the country. With the trained eye of your guide, visit the best spotting locations to swim with the gentle giants of King’s Bay. The private tour ensures the full attention of your guide, as well as closer interaction with the manatees. For your comfort and convenience, wetsuits, hot drinks, and towel service are included.

There are plenty of places in Florida to snorkel, but this Rainbow River Snorkeling or Diving Experience sets itself apart from others like it because it's led by a US Coast Guard–certified captain. Get up to 200 feet (61 meters) of visibility in the river's clear water, and see a variety of wildlife such as fish, turtles, and otters—both while in the water and from your boat ride, too.

Get a closer look at the gentle Florida manatee as you embark on an educational snorkel tour in Crystal River. Join a small group and don your gear for an underwater adventure with the sea cows. Observe the manatees from a safe distance in the water, or, if you prefer not to get wet, stay on board to see them from the boat.