This is the way to experience manatees! We had 8 hours in the water and started before all the other tours overcrowded the popular manatee watching spots.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- 1 tandem kayak, 2 paddles, 2 life vests, and a map of the area
Excludes
- $7.50 Per Person Kayak/Paddleboard Launch Fee
- Pay $10 to at the park at the Marina for the entire day.
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Our building is located on the right side of Pete's Pier Marina at 1 SW 1st Place, Crystal River FL 34429. There is a $10.00 Parking Fee to be paid upon arrival to the parking attendant. Must arrive 30 minutes prior to reservation start time to complete check-in process.
Return
- Our building is located on the right side of Pete's Pier Marina at 1 SW 1st Place, Crystal River FL 34429. There is a $10.00 Parking Fee to be paid upon arrival to the parking attendant. Must arrive 30 minutes prior to reservation start time to complete check-in process.
Itinerary
THREE SISTERS SPRINGS IS CLOSED TO ALL WATERCRAFT FROM NOVEMBER 15Th THROUGH MARCH 31ST EACH YEAR AND MOST DAYS YOU CAN NOT SWIM INSIDE EITHER!
This is only for ages 3 and up. We require you arrive 30 minutes prior to your start time to watch a video from the FWC and sign waivers. There is a Pete's Pier Marina launch fee per vessel rented. This will be collected at our shop before departure and you will receive a wristband to wear while on the water.
IF YOU PLAN ON SWIMMING DURING MANATEE SEASON (NOVEMBER 15 - MARCH 31), WE REQUIRE RENTING OUR SWIM PACKAGE IF YOU PLAN ON GETTING IN THE WATER. THIS IS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT MANATEES AND IS NOT DUE TO THE COLD WATER. OUR SWIM PACKAGE COST PER PERSON AND INCLUDES A WETSUIT, MASK, SNORKEL, DIVE FLAG, ANCHOR, AND NOODLE.
There is a $10 parking fee at Pete's Pier Marina.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Karl and Abbi were awesome! So friendly and so helpful. They made everything super easy as a last minute booking and helped make our children’s time on the water one they won’t soon forget.
We had a great time kayaking at Crystal River. We arrived late for our 4-hour rental but were lucky to get additional hours thanks to the staff. We didn't see a lot of manatee's but were fortunate to find one swimming right besides us when we were leaving to return. Overall a fun experience!
Due to a change of plans we needed a last minute booking. We found PADDLES late in the evening. Booked an all day kayak excursion for the next day. BINGO! The day was saved! Incredibly friendly staff. Took care of every detail. All we had to do was show up (and pay). Was easy as falling off a log (but we didn't). Had a fantastic day on the water among the Manatees.
Excellent put in and take out experience. Accommodated us even though we had the wrong date. We saw many manatees.
Everyone was very informative about the area and let us know about crystal river area. Easy check in and the guys at the boat dock were super nice.
Amazing Kayaking Experience! Easy check-in process. The staff requires all participants to review two information videos before the rental. The drive is a short 2 minutes from that location to the actual loading dock area. The Tandem kayak was so sturdy and comfortable. The back rests were delightful! We saw many manatees during our kayaking experience-even though it was "off season" for them. We enjoyed Three Sisters Springs-the water was so clear and cold! We continued down different kayaking paths and enjoyed the beautiful nature around us. Make sure you ask about "The Waterfront Social" which is a nice stop during kayaking. They have a full drink and food menu-the staff were very friendly! Overall, great experience!
Had an enjoyable experience with Paddles Outdoor company. They were very friendly and helpful. Smiling faces I would book with this company again. Three Sisters Springs is very pretty and unique. This is a very nice way to spend the day, relaxing and being able to see beautiful scenery
Excellent experience! Staff was very friendly and helpful in picking out the package we needed. Right down to restaurant recommendations on the water.
It was so beautiful and the springs were amazing. I have to say the seats in the kayak were so comfortable- both my husband and I were impressed! The staff was so friendly and helpful!
Quite the adventure! We were launched in a stormy, windy sea of thunder and lightening. We were not alone. Motor Boats , kayaks, and snorkel divers all hoping for a manatee sighting. More developed than I had anticipated. Less natural. But! It was fun, it was cheap, exhilarating, whoo hoo! No regrets.
We enjoyed swimming in Three Sisters. My advice is to watch the videos at home and sign the forms at home so you don't have to wait at the shop. Get there as early as you can. The parking at the launch park is limited. The later you get there the further away you will park. Oh, and drive to the park yourself. Go straight to Three Sisters first as it will get really crowded quickly. Then follow the route on the map provided to the other springs.
The staff at paddles were amazing from the ladies in the office to the gentleman at the dock explaining where to go an what to expect we felt very well taken care of. Then upon returning our snorkel gear to the ladies in the office we asked for recommendations for great place to have a beverage an lunch the recommended coop brewery which was amazing the here at paddles went above an beyond to make our experience trouble free an memorable! Will be back next time highly recommend this rental !!
Nice way to get some sun & exercise. No instructions really given, like the proper way to paddle nor were we told to use the little guides on the handle for extra ease in control. Plus the office is about a mile from the launch site and a drop off ride/pick up wasn't offered so either walk it or pay $5 parking fee at dock.
I just wanted to express how much we enjoyed our day kayaking Crystal River. Even though the springs were closed to protect the manatees this time of year, we got to see at least 8 of them. Big shout out to all the staff at Paddles Outdoor Adventures! From beginning to end, they were so friendly and helpful. They are also very pet friendly, which was a big plus for us. I wanted to also thank them for canceling our reservation when we discovered our car had been stolen from our driveway the night before we were suppose to go kayaking. I called them and without hesitation, they refunded us. We booked the following weekend and had a great day enjoying the river!
The price was the cheapest we saw in Crystal river so we booked this and everyone was nice and helpful. The kayak was big. The manatees were everywhere on the lake you just have to be a bit patient.
Great experience! Jess was so helpful getting us ready for our day trip and providing lots of information. The shop has really cute souvenirs and last minute items you may have forgotten. I will be booking again for sure! The water was a little cloudy the day we went but we saw at least 20 manatees. The wet suits and snorkels were really nice too - I’m always weird about renting that stuff but it was super clean.
The staff was super accommodating and nice, they upgraded our kayak for us without charge, and answered our all of our questions before booking. Decently priced for all day rentals. Their website is very easy to navigate as well. We would definitely use them again!
Booked the night before on easy to use website. Check in was easy and loved watching the care they take with the environment by requesting you watch the video first. Staff at kayak launch were friendly and helpful and gave clear instructions since this was our first time. It's a beautiful place and we will be back
The staff is really polite and helps with everything. The place is also beautiful. Recommend for family trips.
Friendly staff and awesome service. Would absolutely recommend! Loved exploring with kayaks- great insight of the local area!
Last minute availability! In and out in a flash! Pristine kayaks and wetsuits! Highly recommend POR for your rental needs! Thanks POR for a great experience!
We rented a tandem kayak online to see manatees and we’re extremely impressed with the service we reviewed from the staff. Their store front is adorable and efficient. You can tell the animals safety as well as your own is important to them. We dealt with Jessica in the store who encouraged me to buy the swim package, and I was not disappointed. The wetsuit kept me warm as well as the goggles were a much needed addition so I could see the manatees under water as they swam past me!!! Even though it was a cold day, I was so grateful I purchased the additional package! Dre helped us at the dock, he was quick to get our kayak for us and was very nice and helpful when it came to getting us in and out of our kayak! I have rented kayaks before here in Florida and have never experienced such a professional, fun and caring crew as I met yesterday! We will be back again! Thank you all so much for the memorable experience! Danielle & Marcus
Really great business and people. lots of great tips for our day. Can't wait to have another trip out with them.
We wanted to rent a kayak for the day to explore Crystal River in search of Manatees. Jessica made this process real easy. Upon arrival at the shop it didn't take long to complete our rental and watch a safety video. The launch site was a short drive down the road and our kayak was waiting for us. We had fun exploring the river and Three Sisters Springs. We ran into Jessica a few times out on the watch and she was very helpful directing us in the right direction to find Manatees. We found a few Manatees and had a great time. I would highly recommend Paddles Outdoor Rentals.
It was fun cardio session. If you want to kayak into the three sisters spring, the time to go is 4/1 to 11/15, after that, you would have to dock your kayak outside then swim in. The springs were beautiful, the water was so clear, but unfortunately we didn’t see any manatees. The kayak renters were very kind and helpful. 100% recommend this place!
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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