Are there always manatees in Crystal River?

The manatee season at Crystal River NWR begins in mid-November and ends in late March. This is when the manatee sanctuaries go into effect. During the winter months, manatees come to the springs of Crystal River NWR to conserve the energy necessary to survive the cold Gulf waters.



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Which months are best for seeing manatees? The peak season for observing manatees is November through April, and the local manatee population swells to its largest size between December and February. You can spot manatees in our waterways all year round, but the population is much smaller during the summer months.

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The best time to visit Crystal River is November through to mid-February. But whether the manatees are there, and in any sort of numbers, is entirely temperature related.

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Top ways to experience Crystal River and nearby attractions. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 95% of travelers recommend this experience.

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The Crystal River, Florida manatees are free and you have the opportunity to swim and snorkel with them within the protected Three Sisters Spring. There are areas that are roped off to give them space, but when snorkeling along the open areas within the spring it is very common for the manatees to swim right past you!

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Crystal River is the only place in Florida where it's legal to swim with manatees in their natural habitat. Located in Citrus County, the area gets busy and draws crowds because of the high number of manatees found in Kings Bay.

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