Manatee Kayak Encounter

This is our second kayak tour with Drake and it was even better than the first! He is such a knowledgeable guy, and shares so much interesting information and stories. We were a group of 5 ladies of a “certain age” (read over 60!) and he was so accommodating to our needs. His tour is not a canned presentation, which is exactly what we wanted!

This was an incredible boat trip! Drake was the best guide you could ask for. He is a local and knows all the spots to hit to see wildlife. We saw manatees, alligators, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, and more. Drake was so accommodating and called me the day before to make sure our outing was designed so that the kids would have an amazing time. Book with Drake- you will not regret it!

Drake was such a great guide! We saw lots of Eagles and other birds as well as snook and other fish in the water. Made is a but further down the river and saw the habitat transition to more brackish water which was really cool! The Chassahowitska River was so special as it hasn’t been dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers and so not as touched by development, so rare for Florida! We started at 8 am which I highly recommend because the River was much busier when we were returning. Drake had lots of great information about the river and its ecosystems. I am excited to return to this area and hopefully go on another guided experience with this company.

it was canceled night before, so waiting on my refund .,, had to scramble next morning to find replacement , so the kids could still go

Mr. Banks was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. Didn't see any manatee. They have already started migrating south. But the kayak trip was so peaceful and pretty. There are plenty of birds to watch. The mosquitoes and no-see-ums are out, so wear bug spray.

This tour with Drake was absolutely wonderful. He took my daughter and I out into the river yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed our time out there and with Drake. He is very knowledgeable about the local springs and wildlife and seems to truly enjoy sharing that with you. He is also a really nice guy that makes an effort to get to know you, which enhanced our experience. We already told him we'd see him again. 100% we will have him show us around other springs when we are in the area.

Booked on Tue night paid and then arrived Wednesday and no one was there. I waited 30 min and left. Called and number disconnected and no one answered my email - they are out of business I think

This is a beautiful river to kayak and there was an abundance of wildlife to see. Manatees, alligators, otters, and all kinds of birds were seen. Drake was a wonderful guide with lots of knowledge about the area.

Melissa was a great guide we had a fantastic moment kayaking ! Not the best spot for Manatee at the time we went but still managed to spot one ! Highly recommend !

We would recommend Manatee Kayak Encounter if you want a unique experience seeing Manatees and other animals in their natural environment

Had a great time exploring the Chassahowitzka with our guide Drake. He was super friendly and knowledgeable, and the tour itself explored such a beautiful and unique area. Highly recommended would definitely go again!

Diverse river experience. Kayaked over natural springs; through narrows lined with grasses and even walked in shallow water on beach sand. Saw lots of birds and river otters. Drake was friendly and knowledgeable about everything we passed.

We missed our flight and arrived two days later, so we had to reschedule our tour to Dec. 31, which was Saturday. Drake was very flexible, accommodated our change and guided us the private tour. We had a wonderful time exploring the Homosassa river and saw many animals like manatees, otter, vulture, osprey and mullet fish. Highly recommend the kayak tour with Along the Banks tour company.

Highly recommend the "Chaz" river kayak tour with Along the Banks tour company. Drake was our knowledgeable and pleasant guide and he provided excellent service from beginning to end. He is super friendly and makes it so easy to get in and out of the kayaks to keep clients feet from getting muddy. The kayaks were fun and had the most comfortable chairs of any we have been in. No back aches! We booked the Chaz river tour and were treated to a mother and baby manatee as soon as we launched the kayaks. We paddled up river to Seven Sisters Springs and down river to the "crack" spring. This river is beautiful teaming with wildlife. The side stream heading toward the Crack spring is a highly scenic lush jungle with palms and clear water. This is the best kayak eco tour we have taken and we intend to return next year and book another river kayak tour with Drake at Along the Banks. Call Drake if you are unsure of which tour you want to take. He will help you with the tour options.

We loved learning about the Manatees and alligators! It was so exciting to see all these animals in their natural habitat. Our tour guide was very descriptive about these majestic sea creatures and how they adapt to their lifestyle!!! If you love nature and are curious about Florida's wildlife then go to Along the bank and kayak tours with Drake!!! Adrianna-5th grade

Our trip with drake was even better than advertised! It was a ton of fun and he is so knowledgeable. We couldn’t recommend this experience more!!

Drake was amazing and made sure that I saw a manatee! We also saw lots of other animals, I had a great time. I would highly recommend him as a guide!

Drake was awesome! He was very knowledgeable about the entire ecosystem. We got lucky and were able to see multiple manatees and it was such an amazing experience. I can’t wait to visit again!

Needing a getaway from the stress of our jobs and the hectic environment of the world we booked a night kayak with Along the Banks and Drake. Not only did our group achieve the escape we craved but the experience exceeded our expectations. Drake is an amazing guide, personable and his love for the river and area comes thru. He also knows how to balance narration with quiet to let nature be the star. Paddling along the clear water of the Chassawhitzka was just breathtaking as the shadows became longer and the sounds of the wild came alive with the night closing in. Its a different perspective most never see to appreciate. We reached our sunset spot and hung out to watch the gradual fading of the light and lovely colors. On the journey back the stars steal the show as they dotted the sky becoming brighter as total darkness descended. With no light pollution they were breathtaking. An even bigger treat fireflies!! A wonderful light show to compliment to stars…. Drake had a few surprises I wont spoil, but when you go out with him ask about the creature that rose from the river to give us all a fun thrill! Drake most of all. 😂 I highly urge you to go on this tour. As long time kayakers this was something new and really beautiful. Perfect antidote to our over lit, over stessed, over busy lives! We will do another tour with him soon!

If you want someone who is knowledgeable, safety conscious, thorough, and just all around enjoyable, then Drake is the guide you want. We had an amazing time…saw Manatee, Alligators, baby gators, numerous fish and birds and Drake knew them all - plus their usual hangout areas. We definitely didn’t want some commercialized, canned tour, and we were not disappointed with our choice. This was the highlight of our week long trip. We will most definitely be back!

Manatee's within 3 minutes of hitting the water! This business took away the cookie cutter commercial processing you see with so many tours and kept it all about nature and the experience! Our guide was knowledgable and experienced on every aspect of the tour and knew the waterways extremely well. Personable and professional throughout! Highly recommended if you want a more direct, less commercialized encounter with nature while visiting the Tampa Bay area.

The tour was really amazing with Drake. He knows all the birds and fishes and he can tell you so many things about the area. We saw a lot of beautiful corners and of course manatees :) we jumped also into the water in an area which looked like a lagoon. Thanks for that amazing day Drake.

Great customer service and great tour. We could meet manatee and We would love to come back sometime again

We booked this trip by chance and it turned out to be the highlight of a visit to the Crystal River area. Crystal River is nice but rather developed. We were surprised to find a near wilderness experience on a nearby river. Lots of manatees! (In December)