Plan your visit
Get the full picture on what to expect.
Got more questions? Call and ask the captain: 352-257-8687.
The tour
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. You float on the surface with a noodle. The swim is easy, you'll never be rushed, and staying on the boat is always fine. Face it: after a certain age, nobody gets out of a pool float with dignity, so everyone gets a noodle.
What does "shared boat" mean?
Some folks call it semi-private. Google it and you get a shared hospital room. Yikes! We call it a shared boat: never more than six guests. If you want the boat to yourselves, book private.
How old do kids need to be?
Ages 2 and up recommended. Kids love it, and we carry toddler wetsuits. If you're bringing an infant, private is the easy choice.
Where do the tours leave from?
All tours depart from our private docks at Monkey Island Riverside Resort, 5297 S Cherokee Way, Homosassa, a few miles south of Crystal River.
What should I bring?
Your swimsuit under your clothes, a towel and dry clothes, sunscreen and sunglasses, and a sweatshirt in the cooler months. We provide the wetsuit, mask, snorkel and noodle.
Are towels provided?
Not on the shared tour, so bring your own. Towels and sunscreen are included on the 6-hour private tour.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are welcome on private charters.
We have more than six people. Can we go together?
Yes. We put you on two boats that travel to the same area, so you swim together. Call 352-257-8687 to set it up.
The water and the manatees
Is the water always crystal clear?
No, and anyone who tells you it is has only shown you their best day. These are natural Florida rivers and springs. Clarity changes with the season, the tide, the weather, and what the manatees are doing.
When do the most manatees show up?
In the cooler months, mid-October to late April, after a stretch of cold nights. That's when manatees gather in the warm springs, which stay about 72 degrees all year. When it's cold, the 10 to 15 manatees in a spring can become 75 to 150, and all those manatees stir up the bottom. Warm water, yes. Crystal clear, not always.
Do I have to go at sunrise?
No. "Get up early to see the manatees" is a line from the late 1980s, when there were only a handful of manatees. Today they roam all day, and every tour time is a good one.
Isn't there a manatee season?
The big migration runs mid-October to late April, and you'll see more manatees then. But we have resident manatees all year, including mothers with calves, so we swim with manatees every day.
Why does the water get dark?
Natural tannins from the surrounding wetlands give the river its tea color, and grazing manatees stir up the bottom. It's natural, living water. It's just not a swimming pool.
Will I still see manatees?
Usually, yes. Curious manatees often come within a few feet, and a 10-foot manatee is hard to miss. Your captain chooses the best manatee water each day.
Is it legal to swim with manatees in Homosassa?
Yes. The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge has its own permit system for tours inside the refuge. The Homosassa River, where we operate, is outside the refuge, and passive encounters there are legal under the same federal and state protections that apply everywhere manatees live.
Booking
What if we don't see any manatees?
The No Sighting Promise covers you. Our captains find manatees on 90% of trips. If yours is one of the few, you get a return voucher that never expires: free with trip protection, or $15 per person without.
What happens if it rains?
Our tours run on protected inland rivers, so a passing shower usually doesn't stop us. Lightning, high wind and poor visibility are different. If we cancel for weather, you can reschedule or take a credit with no extra fees.
Can my tour time change?
Your captain may move your start time by up to 1 hour, based on where the manatees were the day before. You'll hear from us in advance, and your tour length doesn't change.
Does everyone on the boat need a reservation?
Yes. Every person aboard needs a reservation, swimmer or not.
Book your manatee tour
Every tour is a small boat with six guests or fewer. Choose a tour to see dates and times.
Private
$450 per boat, up to 6
Groups up to 24 on 4 boats
Departs 7, 10 and 1
Private, more water time
$585 per boat, up to 6
Groups up to 24 on 4 boats
Departs 8 AM and 1 PM
Private, lunch included
$999 per boat, up to 6
Groups up to 24 on 4 boats
Departs 8 AM
Not sure which one? Compare the tours
More than six in your group? Call 352-257-8687
