All-inclusive 6-person Manatee Swim Tour With Free Photos

Excellent tour for our group of six. Captain Mac and Meagan were phenomenally communicative, friendly, fun, considerate, and professional. They provided everything needed, and gave great local recommendations too. Highly recommend!

We had an awesome time with Meg and Mac. They went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience and saw as many Manatees as possible in off-season. Their respect for and knowledge of these majestic creatures should be applauded. We would highly recommend Sea Cow Safaris to all.

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! My husband Tom and I had the absolute pleasure of sailing with Captain Tyler and our wonderful Guide Faith. We had an amazing time swimming with the Manatees in their own environment and then boating in areas where we were fortunate enough to see dolphins, more manatees and lots of birds/wildlife. Tyler and Faith are knowledgeable, personable and fun! They shared a lot of information about the area as we were first time visitors. I highly recommend this tour!

Matt and Meagan are great tour guides! My granddaughter and I were on a quest to snorkel with Manatee, we only found one and was a great experience! both were very knowledgeable about manatee and crystal river area and 3 sisters spring which we also snorkeled in. Book your tour! they are great!

Capt Bill and Capt Tyler were amazing! Very nice and knowledgeable about the area. We found a manatee fairly quickly and stayed in the water for what seemed like a good amount of time. They took us to another area to just get out and enjoy the water. On our way back, they provided lunch recommendations too! Our daughter was a little nervous about getting in the water and Tyler was excellent at making her more comfortable. Maddie says you’re the goat Tyler! 😄 Would definitely recommend them for a manatee swim-knowledgeable, respectful of the environment and the animals, and a lot of fun!

10/10 would recommend booking Seacow Safaris. We went with our young children and literally had the best time. It was off season, which meant manatees were sparse, but Megan and Mac did everything to make sure we got to enjoy our experience while still maintaining the utmost respect for the environment and animals. They were very kind to our children, fun, knowledgeable, did not rush us, and provided great pictures. I cannot say enough good things about them! If you're trying to decide which company to book with, this is the one!

We had an amazing time from the minute we stepped on the boat till the very end. Tyler and Faith were the best. Within 10 minutes we were in the water swimming with Big Bertha Boudreaux! He/she was an amazing host as well by taking us on a feeding frenzy through some pristine clear waters. My encounter was all that I could have imagined. Being able to swim side by side to this magical animal is a check off of my bucket list and more of a memory that will last a lifetime. Thank yall Seacow Safaris for an awesome time! Kelly and Chris

This was definitely a bucket list opportunity for us. We went on the 10 AM trip. The scallop season had just started here so the parking the marina was pretty difficult so just make sure to allow yourself time to find a space especially this time of year, our guides, Tyler andFaith were excellent unfortunately this time of year there are only somewhere between 10 and 20 manatees in the spring as permanent residence so they did have a difficult finding manatees for us to see however, we did get to an experience and up close encounter with a adult and a baby manatee it made our kids day if I had any other recommendations, it would just be to do this tour during the winter time where manatees are more plentiful in area.

Seacow Safaris is a wonderful tour boat, highly recommended. Faith and Trever were wonderful guides. We had an amazing 45 minute experience with a manatee almost immediately. After swimming with the the sweetest, hungriest manatee ever we learned a lot more about the area and the ecological preservation efforts. Beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze and good company. Always a win, even in the off season. We learned a lot and enjoyed every minute of the entire experience.

The crews are excellent. We had 3 boats and all the crew were amazing. Soo much fun. Everyone was amazed with the manatees and getting to see them. We had kids from 6 to adults as old as 75 and we all had a blast. Travis was our captain and filled us in with all we needed to know about the river and about the manatees. Learned soo much and wished we just had more time because it seems to go so fast. Can’t say enough about the guides on all the boats with us. We swam some danced and sang and others just enjoyed the beautiful scenery and all the wildlife. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for a swim with the manatees excursion. Well worth the money and memories you can never forget. A big thanks to ALL the crews. Hope to return and do it again.

Wonderful experience! Captain Bill and Captain Tyler are really good genuine people. They were very accommodating and their specific knowledge and care of the river, manatee and springs made the experience better than I originally expected. The water was so clear and clean. We were on the boat for 2-3 min before they somehow spotted a manatee. I will only use Seacow safaris in the future

Capt. Bill and Capt. Tyler … were absolutely amazing. From the start (parking in the lot) everyone at the pier was welcoming and helpful directing us to the boat. On the boat for the safari they knew where to look and were so communicative and informative. Our little one did a report on Manatees and they were so engaging with her fun facts. We were a party of 6 with 2 kids and they directed and coached the kids up perfectly so that they had the best possible experience. I can not recommend Seacow more. The photos, the info, the outcome. 10/10 will come back again. Thank you Capt. Bill & Tyler. (Also rev. On Google.)

We booked a 7am trip so the chances of us seeing manatees would be better. And we were rewarded! We saw several manatees including a young one. Very nice to be swimming with these creatures! Friendly knowledgeble guides!

Mac and Magan were awesome! Great tour and great company-we had a blast on this tour. I highly recommend Seacow Safaris if you want to swim with the manateees.

Magnus and Magen were the best guides. They were passionate in their work and got us to the best spots first. Magen took amazing photos to remember this amazing day.

Tyler and Faith were fantastic guides. We had an amazing trip!! I highly recommend. We got some great manatee encounters and even saw a baby!

What a great experience! Mac and Megan were amazing! It was so much nicer being on a private tour without so many other people and the cost was not much more than a group tour. If you add in the free photos, the price is about the same and well worth every penny. Mac kept us away from the crowds and made sure we saw as many manatees as possible. Honestly, with it being 4/29 -so late in the season- I didn't have high expectations, but we saw 5-6 manatees, with several being very close to us while we were in the water. We even saw a mom and baby. Mac and Megan were so patient with our kids, especially our 7 year old. He got cold and tired easily and wanted to go back to the boat. Mac kept him entertained and by the end, they were best buds. I would definitely recommend Seacow Safaris. It's clear that Mac and Megan are passionate about the manatees and care a great deal about the marine ecosystem and marine wildlife. It was well worth every penny, just an amazing experience.

We had a great time with Mac and Faith. They were super knowledgeable and interactive throughout the experience. We got to see two sea cows that were super friendly. Highly recommend booking this tour!

I cannot tell you how lucky we feel to have found these guys for our Manatee Tour. Mac and Magan and the manatees were just magic! The smaller boat allowed it to be just our family of four and such a comfortable, laid back, immersive experience. Magan was amazing with myself and my two boys in the water. Her calming energy allowed us to feel less intimidated getting up close and comfortable with those majestic creatures. Mac, clearly knew the areas well and was so respectful of the animals but also the other people in the community down there! They included free pictures from our trip, which were soooo amazing and incredibly special to have as this has been a bucket list item for me for a long time! Cannot recommend them enough!

I cannot tell you how lucky we feel to have found these guys for our Manatee Tour. Mac and Magan and the manatees were just magic! The smaller boat allowed it to be just our family of four and such a comfortable, laid back, immersive experience. Magan was amazing with myself and my two boys in the water. Her calming energy allowed us to feel less intimidated getting up close and comfortable with those majestic creatures. Mac, clearly knew the areas well and was so respectful of the animals but also the other people in the community down there! They included free pictures from our trip, which were soooo amazing and incredibly special to have as this has been a bucket list item for me for a long time! Cannot recommend them enough!

I highly recommend booking with Captain Mac. Captain Mac and Megan were truly the best and really care about creating an unforgettable experience. The value is fantastic. Thank you Captain Mac!!

I had an amazing tour today with Mac and Faith! It was truly an unforgettable experience. I saw several manatees and spent about two hours in the water observing them up close. Faith showed me all the best spots in the water and filmed the whole experience the entire time, which made it even more special. A huge thank you to both of you . You made this tour absolutely incredible. I can highly recommend this trip to anyone visiting the area!

My friends surprised me with a trip to Crystal River to swim with manatees. This has been a bucket list experience that I've always wanted to do. My 40th birthday was the perfect excuse to plan a trip! My friend planned the trip so I didn't book directly with Captain Mac, but she told her that he was so nice and helpful! When we arrived at the marina, we were greeted by Captain Mac and his guide Magan. They were both so lovely and I knew it was going to be a great trip even before we set sail. Both Mac and Magan were extremely knowledgeable about the springs and manatees. They made us feel comfortable using the goggles and snorkels before we got started. It was just the group of 6 of us so we had very personalized attention. Magan was such an amazing guide and took the time to make sure each one of us got as close as we wanted to while still respecting the manatees. Magan was also taking lots of pictures for us. My friend who booked the trip made sure that was included in the price of admission. Since it was my birthday and my lifelong dream to swim with the manatees, Magan took extra time with me to make sure I got an up close and personal experience. At the end of our time, Magan said she was so glad she could be included in my core memory and Mac said to call him if we are ever back in Crystal River! This trip was absolutely amazing and I will 100% be back to Crystal River. I even told all my coworkers about it upon returning to Tallahassee and many of them said they would be interested in coming down and booking with Seacow Safaris. Everything we needed was provided for us including a hot cup of hot chocolate when coming out of the chilly water! If you are like me and always wanted to swim with the manatees, do yourself a favor and book with Seacow Safaris! You will not be disappointed!

This was such an amazing experience! We saw manatees within minutes after departure and immediately went into the water. Our group was small, which was a definite advantage. Captain Marc then took us to a few other spots where we saw more manatees. All in all, I think we were in the water for about two hours. Hot chocolate and some treats were waiting for us when we got back to the pontoon boat. Hope to do this again when I'm back in town!

This is actually a semi-private, very small group tour. Our captain, Mack, and our guide, Megan were absolutely phenomenal. We saw many manatees up close and personal. It was an absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. Everything was provided including wetsuits and snorkel gear, a snack, hot chocolate, and photos from the trip. Would do this again in a heartbeat. It was the highlight of our trip to Florida.

What an amazing experience. Last minute we booked even though friends told us we would not see manatees. Max delivered. Nature is nature but we did see many manatees including babies. Also alligators and many birds including an Egret momma and her babies. We also went to shell Island. This island is comprised of scallop and oyster shells. It's a very beautiful sail. Max and Meghan were very well versed on the area. Max pointed out a lot of information both on conservation and wildlife. He is very personable. And funny. He has thought of everything . The photo gift at the end is very endearing. We will sail in the future with him and his company. Don't hesitate to choose Seacow Safari's.

This was an absolutely fun and stress free bucket list check off. Gram, gramp, dad and child, so we ranged from 74 to 10 and everyone had a wonderful experience. Mac lead the crew backed up by Jessica and both were personable and made sure the 10-year-old was encouraged and supported at every turn. We saw and swam with seven manatees and two sets of moms and calves. Mac made a special detour so we could see some other things as well. It was a beautiful day and it made a great memory. The photos are a great keepsake!

We had such an amazing experience on this tour. The guides and captain were awesome! We saw manatees and were educated on the entire experience. Would definitely book again.

This was definitely an awesome experience. Mac and Megan were really friendly and making sure all our needs were covered. We saw cute manatee just within our family group and beautiful river spring and got wonderful pics. We highly recommend this, all was perfect 👌

This was an awesome experience with the best guides . My grandkids had a blast very good with the young kids

So fun. Captain Mac was a trip, full of energy. Conservation is a priority to him and his crew. Will come back.

Captain Mac runs a great trip! He’s very laid-back and down to earth and keeps it real. We were able to find manatees pretty quickly and spent great amount of time in the water with them. We were not overrun or overcrowded by other companies… And pretty much had the water to ourselves. Mac is fun,answers all of our questions and I would highly recommend this tour to any families… In fact, we had a young Kiddo with us and our guide Jessica was so patient and made sure that he had the best experience possible without being scared. Run don’t walk to book your trip now.

Great experience with amazing guides. Captain Mack and Jessica really care about their customers experience. The smaller group setting is perfect for a more personalized adventure. Highly recommend.

This is wonderful, personally tailored manatee tour. Our boat captain and guide were friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. We saw many manatee and received fabulous photos. Highly recommend 🤩

GREAT experience with Mack and Jessica. Jessica did a wonderful job with the kids. These animals are incredible. The size of these creatures is a bit intimidating at first but just trust the guide and within a minute or two you’ll feel perfectly comfortable and might even get lucky enough to get nudged a bit. We will recommend Seacow Safaris to anyone interested in this adventure. Smaller company that actually cares what kind of experience you have. 10 stars!

Amazing! We had THE best experience! Our hosts Mack and Jess were upbeat, attentive and informative! Our family loved it!! If you’ve ever thought about a different experience other than amusement parks we highly recommend snorkeling with the manatees!

We booked this tour expecting a fun family experience. Instead, the guide told our 6-year-old there was an alligator in the water when there wasn’t one. Our child was terrified and in tears. Scaring young kids for cheap thrills is not entertainment — it’s irresponsible. A guide’s job is to make families feel safe while enjoying the experience, not to traumatize children. We would not recommend this for anyone with small kids. Extremely disappointed.

Absolutely Amazing! Highly recommend Seacow Safaris!!! We had an amazing time. Mac and Megan were great and so fun! Megan made sure our experience was memorable and got us right up... Date of experience: March 2026 All-inclusive 6-person Manatee Swim Tour with Free Photos 5.0 (62)

Capt Mac and our tour Guide Jessica were amazing. From the very first minute they met us they were engaging, professional, courteous and just really nice people. This is an independently operated business, it is not one of those large “cattle” cars that 12-16 people are on. For a very reasonable price you get first class attention. Jessica our tour guide is in the water with you, she guides you, tells you what is next, and gets you up right next to a Mannatee all while being respectful of nature and not interfering or interrupting the mamma and bay. Because of her we were able to observe up close and literally fade to face the eating habits and interaction between these two creatures. Because this trip limits the number of people on board to 6 total we were able to travel to Two different Mannatee sites, swim in the 3 sisters springs, go see a sleeping alligator and visit an osprey nest where the mamma was feeding her babies. Hands down this is one of the best guided trips I have ever taken. There were so many other boats that did not have a guide and the passengers were left to get in the water on their own and figure it out. The bonus is that our entire trip was captured on a go pro camera that Jessica operated the entire time both video tape and pictures. I would definitely recommend them to others and would choose them again the next time we are in town.

Fantastic, personal experience for our family. Knowledgeable, conscientious, friendly and accommodating. Mac and Jessica were awesome and took care with all the details. This would have been a great nature experience even if we’d not seen a manatee (but we are very glad we did). Highly recommend!

It was such a memorable experience. Captain Mac and Jessica’s love for the home they grew up in truly shines through, and what a fantastic way to share it. They made our family of three with the 11-year old completely at ease donning the wetsuits, putting up the hair, giving us tips on snorkeling, and what to expect prior to getting in (and later out of) the water so when we did get in—it was all about seeing and being near the manatees. Relaxing in the cool water paired with the excitement of being up, close, and personal with gentle giants was an unforgettable treat. I highly recommend Seacow Safaris for their dedication to the animals, their home, and sheer fun of an adventure for everyone.

Captain Mac and Megan care deeply about keeping the manatees safe and their environment. They gave us an unforgettable experience helping us to swim alongside these beautiful creatures.

Incredible experience at Seacow Safaris and HIGHLY recommend! Because of the extreme cold in Florida while we were there (end of January), ended up being the only 2 on our scheduled tour. Mac & Lauren gave us the full experience anyway and because of the wet suits and the covered boat, the colder temperatures were not even an issue. You can feel the passion that both of them have for the manatees and the job they do! Especially love that there are no hidden fees and they include the photo package in the cost of the tour. Lauren was incredible! Always in the water with us, making sure that every moment was captured. Absolute highlight of our trip!

What a wonderful day! The captain and guide went beyond to make us feel comfortable. Professional and friendly service. Will definitely do this tour again. Sp fun snorkeling and seeing manatee.

Mac & Jess were amazing! They were knowledgeable, helpful, and funny 😆. We had a blast and definitely recommend them to anyone who wants to see the manatees up close and personal.

Mac and Jess were amazing guides. We saw two males, two mommas with their baby sea cows. It was so awesome

We had a wonderful experience! Picked this because of the smaller group size and it ended up just being us. Having Megan in the water with us was to helpful. She is so kind. The whole experience was very relaxed and fun. Plus we were able to see a lot of manatees. Would definitely recommend!

Pick this one! It is a small and more personal than all the others we saw around us. We got to do as much or as little as we wanted and the guides were amazing and super accommodating. Highly recommend this one!

We had an amazing time with Capt. Mac and Jess. They treated us like VIP’s the entire trip.