Silver Springs Manatee Kayak Tour

It was an unforgettable experience! Even though I was the only person signed up, Aaron went ahead with the tour. We met right at the launch site, and after a briefing on how to behave while out on the water, we set off immediately. Aaron skillfully managed to get us really close to the manatees. The animals did the rest themselves: taking curious looks, rubbing against the kayak, and resting their flippers on the boat. We also spotted alligators several times, and we got very close to one near the spring area. Aaron’s wit and interesting stories turned the whole thing into a fantastic, exciting tour. Many thanks, Aaron, I can highly recommend your tour!

Superb day! Aaron is knowledgable, friendly and makes the trip! The wildlife is a bonus!

Gliding across calm water, this kayak tour felt both peaceful and adventurous. Our guide was knowledgeable, pointing out wildlife and hidden inlets we would have missed on our own. The pace was perfect for beginners, with plenty of breaks to take photos and soak in the scenery. Equipment was clean and easy to use, and safety instructions were clear. A light breeze kept things comfortable, while sunlight sparkled on the surface. It was a refreshing way to connect with nature and unwind. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a relaxing outdoor experience with just enough excitement to keep it memorable truly.

No manatees around here! Spring is pretty, short glass bottom boat ride

Aaron was excellent guide and we enjoyed being on the water with him saw manatees alligaters turtles and birds

A great trip with a helpful patient and kind guide. He kept the trip fun and educational. I would book with him again!!!

Easy morning with Aaron- a great guide. Not only was he knowledgeable about the wildlife (of which there was plenty) but he takes and shares great photos. A great time on the water.

My niece and I had the pleasure of taking the Manatee Kayak Tour with AWA Kayak Tours. Our tour guide, Aaron, was informative and had a fun personality. He texted us great directions on how to locate him in the park and quickly responded with any questions I had prior to arrival. I believe Aaron travels to different locations in the Orlando area for dolphin tours as well. I strongly recommend him. Thanks for a great tour Aaron!

We had such an incredible experience with AWA kayak tours! Aaron was an awesome guide with a great sense of humour. He was extremely knowledgeable regarding local history and the wildlife. I wasn't expecting such abundant wildlife or the opportunity to get so close to so many species. Of course, the manatees were the stars of the show but we saw multiple alligators, several species of turtles and large numbers of birds. All in all, a fantastic few hours in the water and a day our group won't soon forget. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone contemplating a trip to Silver Springs State Park. Jeff, Laura, Cherie and Tim

this was such a peaceful and beautiful experience. my sister and i were on a tour early in the morning in december, we were the only ones in the spring at that time. it was magnificent - the tour guide was so nice and we learned much about the wildlife and the place from him. he gave clear instructions and we felt safe the entire time. totally recommend this tour!

It was a great experience. Our tour guide Aaron started communicating with us as soon as we reserved our kayak tour. He provided instructions on where to park and when to arrive. He has a great sense of humor. The 1.5 hours tour was worth every penny. We saw manatees, gators, turtles, and various types of birds. Highly recommend this experience.

just a great time. was truly amazing got to see them up close right under my boat. Was a wonderful time spending with family on the water

Our family of 6 absolutely loved the kayak tour at Silver Springs with Aaron of AWA Kayak. We saw several manatees, including a one month old baby manatee! There were also lots of birds, turtles and a few alligators. Aaron was a great guide! He was very knowledgeable and he made our adventure fun. I highly recommend going with AWA. The kayaks they provide are much better quality than the ones the park provides. And having a guide like Aaron who knows the Springs and understands the animals is very helpful.

What an amazing day! Forget the parks and Mickey Mouse—go visit the manatees. Aaron and his partner were super friendly, full of knowledge, and great company. I can’t recommend this experience enough. Thanks again!

We had the best time kayaking with the manatees, gators and other wildlife! We were made to feel really comfortable even before our visit! From the moment we booked our tour, Aaron and his Lovely partner were so attentive and helpful. When we arrived we were given the clear and easy to follow instructions as first time Kayakers. Aaron was really informative about the wildlife around us and made sure we saw as much of the wildlife as we possibly could. I couldn’t recommend this experience enough. Thank you again! We had the time of our lives!!!

Aaron met us at Blue Springs for our kayak tour. Beautiful scenery! Aaron was a great tour guide, very friendly and knowledgeable. Saw manatees, alligators, turtles and lots of beautiful birds. Thank you we had the best time.

We did the 5 mile self guided tour down and had the free shuttle back to the top. Perfect! Only took at about 2.5 hours. Keep an eye for the Manatees!

An absolutely fabulous trip, our guide was amazing and it was so peaceful and beautiful. Sadly we didn’t see any manatees , but real nature is unpredictable and there were so many other animals to see. Would 100% recommend- a great way to reset from the chaos of the parks.

This was a wonderful experience! This kayak trip was not taxing, so we had an enjoyable leisurely 2 hour loop on this part of the river. Aaron, our guide, was exceptional! He was knowledgeable, personable, funny, and knew where to look for the wildlife we hoped to see. We saw monkeys, alligators, fish, birds though no manatees that day. Aaron knew the history of the park well, and made our visit a complete success! Would definitely go on this tour again and would highly recommend it.

Aaron the guide is very helpful and friendly, saw manatees at blue springs after Aaron suggested we swap from silver springs. I highly recommend the experience

Blue springs tour lead by AWA tour guide Aaron was fantastic! We had a group of 6 novice kayakers from ages 13-50 and a delightful time had by all. Aaron was timely, prepares, knowable, very entertaining and clearly concerned about or experience being enjoyable and worth while. I would recommend Aaron from a AWA and do plan to book a future tour at Silver Springs when we return, to continue to taking in the beauty the Florida has to offer.

we had a 3 hour rain delay. our guide was so patient and waited around. i’m so thankful we decided to wait it out. the views were beautiful. aaron was very knowledgeable and had lots our humor!!! 10/10

We had a wonderful time on this tour! I would recommend it highly! We saw a manatee, river otters, monkeys, birds, and alligators! It was great!

Aaron was an awesome tour guide. He took time to teach us as 3 of us were beginners in kayaking. He kept us informed especially in the do’s and dont’s, and what not to bring during the kayaking. He was very knowledgeable. We stayed for a while to wait for Manatees, saw a lot of gators and guess what? A gator that ate its prey. What a scene!!! The spring is phenomenal: a lot of big fishes that we just see on TV, a lot of different birds and a prehistoric snapping turtle. The nature cooperated and the weather was perfect. We liked that Aaron had a person limit in his booking that it made it more focus and personalized. We will do it again with him!!

Aaron was great very informative took me to see everything he could we seen alligators, multiple fish species, a plethora of birds and even a couple of playful otters. I had a blast! Aaron’s humor was an extra bonus!

Here's why this one is the best: Guide uses legitimate hydrodynamic kayaks, instead of the cheap, clunky, scuffed, clear bottom ones that are 100 lbs and impossible to maneuver or see through. It is far easier to navigate and see wildlife on his kayaks. This guide knows all the routes, corners, and hidden spots that contain wildlife, and he knows all the things about them. He knows the local wildlife protection employees and rangers, who trust him, so he is allowed to take guests far closer to protected wildlife (like Manatees) than you can going on your own or with other companies.

Beautiful kayaking experience! The water was so clear you could see turtles and fish underwater, and the water was a beautiful turquoise where the springs entered. We did not see manatees or monkeys but saw many alligators, turtles, birds, and fish. Aaron was a terrific guide who was very generous in assisting other paddle boarders we met along the way with technique and directions. He also provided us with some great digital photos of the trip.

Had a wonderful kayak tour with Aaron today. He was great! Made the ride fun and he spotted lots of wildlife for us. A friend and I were very lucky to have him all to ourselves which made it even more special. We also got to see two manatees (even though it is not prime season for them), so I was thrilled. Aaron also took lots of great pictures of our trip which he sent to us the same day. Very much recommend him!!

This tour was really great. Aaron the host was superb, very knowledgeable and funny which made it all the better. Didn’t see any manatees which was disappointing but it was out of their season. Saw gators, turtles and all sorts of birds. I would certainly recommend and if ww were closer we’d of booked another.

Aaron was amazing. He was very knowledgable about the area, and knew where to go to see manatees and other wildlife. He made our 2hr kayak experience exactly what we were hoping for. Would recommend Aaron for this tour 100 percent.

Aaron is a great guide and awesome photographer. We saw a lot of things with him that we wouldn't have seen on our own. He takes great photos along the way so you can just focus on enjoying the trip and not have to worry about taking pictures the whole time. We were very pleased with the communication from start to finish and the pacing and quality of the tour.

We had an amazing experience with Aaron as our tour guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. We saw monkeys, alligators, turtles, manatees, fish and a cotton mouth snake snake. The photos were an added bonus!

We had an amazing experience on our tour. We saw monkeys, manatees, alligators, turtles, fish and a cotton mouth snake. Our guide made our tour even better and the pictures were an added bonus!

Small group, great guide and beautiful scenery. Can’t beat that! Would definitely do this again at our next visit.

Great experience with the family. Aaron knew where the spots were to see the wildlife. Kids were tired afterwards, which is good for the parents. We did singles, but also a tandem.

Enjoyable wildlife adventure with my grand daughter. Aaron did a great job, highly recommended for all ages.

It was an absolute wonderful time. We were able to see manatees, turtles, money, loads of birds and alligators the scenery was spectacular

Aaron was incredibly knowledgeable and great fun. He helped us access kayaks, described the area, wildlife (very good), and his many years experience guiding. It really could not have been better. A beautiful and peaceful kayak ride don the springs. Best. Activity so far.

Great tour with Aaron ..we saw manatees , turtles , alligators, birds and monkeys . Will definitely do again with our family and friends when they visit .

Fantastic experience, Aaron was an excellent very entertaining and knowledgeable guide. We saw alligators, manatees and turtles as well as lots of birds. Kayaking was a very relaxing experience, water was crystal clear and would thoroughly recommend this as a must do experience.

This was an amazing experience. Aaron was an excellent guide and we felt very safe and relaxed even though we'd never been kayaking before. Water was crystal clear and allowed us to view many manatees, turtles and alligators. Well worth the money. Aaron kept us entertained with his humour and knowledge. A trip not to be missed.

Went on this trip with my family and I cannot emphasize enough how worth the drive from Daytona it was. Aaron was friendly — remembering all our names — and knowledgeable about the area and the animals therein, took phenomenal photos of us and the wildlife, and was able to point out hidden secrets we would never have noticed. The whole excursion felt like a conversation with someone truly passionate and excited to share this beautiful space with us.

Aaron knows the area and where to find the wildlife hidden around the park. We saw monkeys, crocs, birds a manatee and turtles. You won’t be disappointed.

It was a wonderful tour! Aaron was very professional and showed us many manatees and turtles. Despite the cold weather, he still managed to find an alligator for us. Throughout the tour, Aaron shared lots of interesting information with us and took a lot of pictures and videos for us. Highly recommend the Silver Spring tour led by Aaron.

Great experience! Easy paddle, but saw lots of wildlife! Excellent guide! Would be a good family adventure.

Amazing, breathtaking and our Tour guide was great lots of info very knowledgeable and funny… awakayaktour Aaron was an amazing tour guide and Mari was so sweet, thank you for a great experience!!!

Our family had an absolutely amazing day paddling at Silver Springs with AWA Kayak Tours and Aaron as our guide. He was very knowledgeable and made sure we were able to see plenty of manatee, alligators, turtles, birds, and fish. I highly recommend AWA Kayak Tours and Aaron to everyone that wants to truly get out and experience the real Florida.

What an amazing kayaking trip! Beautiful shaded clear spring with so many turtles, birds and manatees. Aaron did an excellent job guiding our trip. So relaxing. Can’t wait to go again😊

Our guide was exceptional, motivated, helpful and terrific sense of humour. We enjoyed the kayak tour, blessed to see manatees, gators, fish and various birdlife. Beautiful surroundings I highly recommend the experience!