Small Group Vip (Heated In Winter) Manatee Snorkel Tour

Such an AMAZING experience!!! Absolutely do not hesitate to book. They have a fun store, all of the staff was phenomenal. Extra shout out to our captain and guide. We will definitely be back for another experience.

What a fantastic experience from the moment we arrived. Friendly helpful staff, relaxed atmosphere. Once we boarded the boat our captain Mike and guide Gary were amazing. We were lucky enough to just float right next to a mother and calf in clear shallow water for an out if this world close up encounter! I’m not a confident swimmer and they both helped reassure me and make sure I was ok with everything. If I could give a six star rating for both of them I would. Just amazing!

What a fun experience swimming with the manatees! Our guide, Maleah, and Captain Ang were fantastic. Both were great at spotting the manatees, and Maleah was so knowledgeable and informative throughout the adventure. We saw several manatees and came away with some wonderful photos and memories. A fun, educational experience. The whole team was fantastic. It was a great way to spend the afternoon. Highly recommend River Ventures!

I've been visiting Crystal River and the "Manatee Festival" for over 5 years. There is only one time I did not use River Ventures, and I regretted it. River Ventures has the best captains, boats and guides. They always direct us to the best manatee viewing and take incredible pictures for us to enjoy later. My favorite part is the heated boat and beverages post-swim. This company is the crown jewel of manatee tours.

This was one of the highlights of my life! I got to check off a bucket list item. Our guide was phenomenal. He made sure we had a top notch experience. He heated boat was great. Do the VIP tour!

Love these animals! Got to see them up close and personal!

Gary and Lacy gave us a fantastic tour! Got to see multiple manatees in the summer time

Great experience for the whole family! We knew that the timing of our trip wasn’t ideal for seeing hundreds of manatees but Piper and Lacy were excellent at still finding manatees for us to swim with. They were patient and understanding with my little boys too! We were lucky enough to also see a dolphin! Great day! The photo package was also very reasonably priced and included photos and videos that we will cherish forever!

It was simply amazing! The team took a lot of time for us and really made the experience special. The animals are treated with great respect, and at the same time, you can get very close to them without disturbing them. The team handled everything really well and made sure the animals were always treated with care. We were absolutely delighted with the experience and would do it again anytime. We highly recommend it!

We had a great time with Captain JJ and our tour guide, Nat. The day ran smoothly and we were able to spot some manatees in August, swim in a spring, and take a cruise around the bay during our time. Captain JJ and Nat made us feel welcome and were very knowledgeable about the area and manatee habits and habitat. Overall, we had a great time and booking the small group boat was well worth it.

Awesome experience! I highly recommend doing this tour. The private tour may seem pricey at first, but it is well worth the money.

River Ventures Small Group VIP Manatee Swim Tour — A Truly Unforgettable Experience Booking directly with Vickie Hall was the perfect start to our adventure. She was absolutely amazing — patient, kind, and incredibly helpful as she answered every question and guided me toward the package that would give my son the best possible experience. We were paired with Captain Mike and Guide Crystal, and they were phenomenal. Both were professional, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable about the area. Because we love nature, we asked a ton of questions about the marine life and land animals around the bay, and they were happy to share their expertise. Thanks to their understanding of the bay and its wildlife, we were swimming with manatees in no time. Crystal was especially wonderful in the water. She explained clearly how to safely observe and swim with the manatees, making sure we respected their space while still enjoying every moment. She also captured countless videos and photos — memories we’ll treasure forever. This experience exceeded every expectation. We will definitely be booking with River Ventures again.

This was the best experience ever! From James who drove the bus and called us to confirm our reservation the day before, Nat who was our tour guide and Captain Emerson who drove the boat. EVERYONE was so friendly and knowledgeable not just about the Manatees but the other wildlife we saw while touring on the boat. We all had amazing conversations and got to see not just Manatees but small alligators and a wide variety of birds and fish! We highly recommend booking your tour here and asking for James, Nat and Emerson (but everyone is friendly as well). They made my birthday so incredible and we will definitely be back!

Awesome experience. We went in the guys checking us in were great. Our captain Emerson(Amazon) and our guide Nat were awesome. Went above and beyond. Really knowledgeable and took us to great spots to see manatee and to see the natural springs. 10/10 would recommend. We will be coming back in the winter.

Amazing experience. Captain Mike guided us through the waters nicely pointing out nearby sights while guide crystal spotted us a manatee right away and swam with us to get the absolute best views

Captain Mike and guide Crystal were fantastic. 10/10 recommend.

Used Claude to recommend the best company. River Ventures was chosen. Wade and Shawn were our outstanding captain and guide. Exceptional experience. Swam Near Mommie and Baby, several other lone Manatees, and watched safely from boat a pod of males chasing a female for mating. Very comfortable boat, great conversations, hot chocolate and snacks. Even alcohol drinks but declined since still morning. Very clean shop and equipment. Great recommendation for coffee shop since we arrived so early. Actually accommodated us by leaving a bit early and we were the only clients - ended up being a private tour. Highlight was when one Manatee gently brushed against me while swimmming towards me (felt like a very large dog brushing against your leg) . These creatures are much larger than they appear from the shore but beautiful and so gentle. Appreciate River Ventures efforts to protect and safeguard these wonders.

We can’t say enough about Piper and captain Lacey. Lacey was knowledgeable and brought us right to the spot and stood watch the entire time, making sure to point out any and all manatees. Piper was INCREDIBLE. She was fun and truly loves the animals and is clearly committed to their protection. We had an amazing time and received pictures we will treasure for the rest of our life.

Crystal the guide and Capt. Mike were both awesome. Highly recommend!

My family and I had such a great time on our tour. We knew we were at the end of manatee season, but our guide, Sheila and our boat captain, Wade were so amazing! Honestly, all of the employees were great. We were able to spend our time with a mom and her baby, we got a peek into the craziness of mating season 😂, and we saw lots of other wildlife too. Really cool experience. We would definitely recommend River Ventures Tours to family and friends.

So much fun! Captain Garrett and our guide Piper were amazing! Piper is a manatee whisperer. Capt Garrett navigated us to great spots. They both had so many other fun facts and taught us about other Florida wildlife and fish. Very fun tour! We will be back and requesting them as our guides next time too!

Booked towards the end of the season so wasn't sure how successful we would be. Our hosts Captain Ryan and our Guide Piper spotted us a Mom and Calf Manatee to spend a good hour and a half floating with today. A bonus Otter and Dolphin Sighting. Highly recommended. A absolutely great experience. Definitely recommend River Ventures and ask for Ryan and Piper.

We had the best time our guide Anna was amazing and our captain Garrett was the best. He took us right to them! They are very good about protecting the manatees and not letting anyone get in the way! It was the best day ever!

Absolutely amazing!!! This was a bucket list item and did not disappoint! Piper “the manatee whisperer “ is incredible and so so much energy and love for these amazing creatures. Cpt. Laci was wonderful too! They made a great team and made our 34th Anniversary unforgettable. Thank you both so much!

I went to swim with manatees here twice. My first trip I had the pleasure to have Captain Bryan and Sheila. Both were extremely nice and Bryan had many manatee facts to share. Sheila noticed me struggling to swim around the manatees so she pulled me around which helped a lot. We were able to see a mama and baby as well. My next swim I had Katie and Captain Emerson. Once again, both very nice and very informed; Katie was very energetic even at 7 a.m. We were able to go to the 3 Sister Springs which were beautiful. If you want a lot of manatees, the best time is in the morning. manatees is a MUST in Crystal River, and River Ventures is the best place to do so.

Our tour with Piper and Mo was an unforgettable experience. They both obviously have alot of experience and knowledge about manatees and we leaned so much from them. Would most definitely recommend!

Our VIP tour with River Adventures on March 12 was a highlight of our trip. Piper and Garrett were exceptional—warm, attentive, and fantastic with our kids (ages 8 and 10). What truly set this experience apart was their care for our daughter, who had a knee injury and was in an immobilizer. They went above and beyond to ensure she could still fully participate in swimming with the manatees, which meant everything to us. They were patient and encouraging while our kids learned to snorkel (and pushed through the cold!), and the heated boat plus hot cocoa afterward were thoughtful touches that didn’t go unnoticed. Piper and Garrett also shared great insight on protecting the manatees and gave excellent local recommendations like The Freezer and Air Boat Tours. If you’re on the fence—book the VIP tour. It’s absolutely worth it.

Aiden (guide) and Garrett (captain) were excellent to lead this tour. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humor! Aiden knew a lot about the manatees and was able to answer my questions about them and fish surrounding them. The hot cocoa and heater aboard the vessel was great and much needed after getting out of the water. Everyone at the retail/waiting area was friendly and helpful, too. The changing areas were clean and we loved the selection of souvenirs and tshirts at the gift shop area. As an added bonus, the “shop dogs” Molly and Macho were so cute; just sweet and perfect doggos!

Couldn’t recommend this tour enough! Captain and guide were amazing and accommodating. Great at spotting the natural wildlife and making sure everyone was included. We saw so many manatees and other fish and wildlife throughout our cruise. Great for families or anyone wanting a unique adventure!

We had a great trip with Captain Moe and Shawn. They got us on a manatee even though conditions weren’t the best. They are very fun and knowledgeable.

Great for everyone. I use a cane and they were ADA compliant and made me feel very safe and welcome. Ramps and a wheelchair lift for the bus if needed, and no steps to board the boat. If you have limited mobility they will work with you to be sure you are comfortable have safe access. We are Floridians and have been to King's Bay several times before but we learned a lot from this trip. My husband did the swim and was awed by how big and close the manatee were. The guide Adrian was very friendly and did a great job. I stayed onboard to take pictures and birdwatch. Captain Mike even recommended a nearby wonderful place for Cajun seafood dinner! We would go again and take friends!

Guide Steven and Capt Garrett were fantastic. Funny, friendly, and very knowledgeable. They even steered us to a phenomenal dinner spot. We'll be back.

I did the 0700 (sunrise) VIP manatee swim with River Ventures, and it was absolutely incredible. Captain Garrett and our guide Steven were fantastic. Both were professional, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about protecting the manatees while still making sure we had an unforgettable experience. Steven was excellent in the water — calm, patient, and great at helping us observe the manatees respectfully without disturbing them. Even with some rainy weather, we were lucky enough to see four manatees, and one even swam right up to check us out. At one point a manatee did a slow barrel roll at the surface as it swam by — it almost looked like it waved at us! Being that close to such a gentle and curious animal in its natural habitat was surreal. The whole operation was very well organized — great gear, smooth process, and the sunrise timing made the water quiet and peaceful before the day really got going. If you’re thinking about swimming with manatees in Crystal River, River Ventures is absolutely the company to go with. And if you get Captain Garrett and Steven, you’re in great hands. Highly recommend this experience.

Best experience ever! 100% recommend. Captain Laci and Guide Natalie are the best. They found the manatees, guided us to see them, took phenomenal pictures, reassured us, protected the animals and were very knowledgeable and we had a blast. Would definitely go again.

What an awesome and incredible experience! The boat ride is beautiful. We were with Gary and Wade, who were not only knowledgeable, but their enthusiasm for this program shines through. Our experience had us in 2 spots. At the first, the water wasn't as clear but we were able to float alongside a momma and her calf-- too stinking cute! At the next stop, the water was crystal clear and we were able to float around a male whom decided a nap was in order and promptly planted his muzzle on the bottom and did exactly that. When a couple of sheepshead came along to groom him, he readjusted and gave us all his belly like a giant puppy! They have toenails!! We really appreciated being able to partake in it! Cheers :)

Shana was our girl who referred us and she was spot on! King was our guide and Wade was our captain and they gave us the best time we will come back!!!

It’s was an amazing experience! King and the captain tried their best to make sure we were taken care of and had fun. It was great to be so closed to the manatees ( they were just by our sides! ) highly recommended!

The most magical experience! Our captain was Moe and our in water guide and the "Manatee Whisperer" was Piper! They took us to the best spot ever and it felt like we were swimming in a fish tank it was so clear. We spent over an hour in the water watching baby manatees nurse, manatees traveling in and out of the springs, manatees napping, manatees sunning. It was phenomenal. We must have had up close interactions with 50 different manatee. This was truly a dream come true and I highly recommend!!

This was my second time swimming with the manatees at River Ventures and I’m already planning my third visit! These guys really know what they are doing and helped us have the best VIP experience! Crystal and Emerson were fantastic! I highly recommend doing the VIP heated boat in February!

Crystal and Emerson were great! Their expertise put me at ease for my first-ever manatee swim! Crystal was an amazing guide once we were in the water and she ensured we all had opportunities to see multiple manatees. Emerson shared his extensive knowledge. I will happily go again and try and get both Crystal and Emerson for my tour.

This snorkeling with the manatees tour was the absolute highlight of our trip! What an incredible experience to be so close to those gentle giants. We were lucky enough to have a few swim right under us. And we saw many mommas and their babies. We even saw one baby nursing! Our Captain was Garrett and our guide was Anna. Top notch people!! Very pleasant, and knowledgeable about the area and the manatees (we even chatted with Garrett about dugongs). I highly recommend this tour, this business, and Garrett and Anna. One recommendation: take one of the earliest time slots. We took the second time slot (9:45 arrival time) and by the time we were getting onto the boat to head back it had gotten quite crowded. So our time slot was fine - not too crowded; next time we will take the earlier time for potentially even fewer people.

Definitely a bucket list check off.. such amazing creatures.. staff, Crystal and Captain Rob were beyond fantastic and accommodating, can’t thank them enough

Really great experimence with really nice people ! Rob and Crystal were so kind to us and let us see so many manatees ! We highly recommend this place ! 👍👍

I (69) shared the early time slot for Heated Boat VIP Manatee encounter with my daughter (41) and two grands (6 & 11) Highly recommend boat coats for apres swim for the kiddos. Getting on the water early, before the crowds, provided an up close, and clearer water glimpse at these amazing and docile creatures at Three Sisters Springs. Bryan & Gary were awesome captain and guide! Funny, entertaining, helpful, and very knowledgeable hosts! They're also dads of young children and clearly love their job!

What an amazing expiernce. My wife mom and I used this company to go see the manatees and I wish there were more than 5 stars I could give. Everyone was so friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. Our tour guide Nat and captian Melissa, turned what would of been a great expiernce and upgraded it in to just a perfect day for us. We saw some many manatees and the pictures they took looked like they were done by a professional photography company. I can't recommend this place enough. And if you go make sure to ask for Nat and Melissa, they will just upgrade your tour in the best way possible.

We had a great trip with Gary and Melissa. Wonderful early morning visit with the manatees. First class operation with excellent friendly and knowledgeable staff. Wonderful time. We will be back. Highly Recommend!

Captain mike and guide maleia were awesome! Had so much fun with them. Saw 2 different sets of mom and baby and a few singles.Definatly would gonagain

Jada wonderful time with Gary and Moe

Capt Chris and Guide Steven were amazing. Educated us on manatees and gave direction on the rules and how to safely observe the manatees without disturbing them or their habitats. Other groups we observed on our trip did not approach with the same care. Highly recommend!!!