Where is the best place to see manatees in Florida right now?

One of the best, and most popular places to see manatees in Florida is in Crystal River, Florida. This area is just an hour or so north of the Tampa area along the Gulf Coast. It offers easy access and plenty of opportunities for close encounters with manatees.



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Crystal River is the #1 place to see manatees in Florida! It is known for its many natural springs.

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When planning your trip, consider visiting the springs in the early morning and during the middle of the week. Local springs will be less crowded on weekdays and the manatees are most active and playful in the mornings.

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Manatees tend to be most active earliest in the morning, so our later tours generally encounter more feeding or resting manatees that may not be quite as interested in us.

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Crystal River Florida is the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with these amazing and gentle creatures right in their own natural habitat.

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Crystal River is the only place in Florida where you can swim with manatees. Find out how to meet a manatee and get to know these awe-inspiring creatures better.

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Crystal River is the best place in the whole world to view the manatee in their natural habitat! World renowned Three Sisters Springs is right here in our backyard and plays home to hundreds of manatees in the winter. We welcome our thousands of visitors each year from around the world.

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Crystal River is the only place in Florida where you can swim with manatees. Find out how to meet a manatee and get to know these awe-inspiring creatures better.

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Tour operators do a great job keeping down egregious behavior, but it takes super quiet guests for the manatees to feel safe enough to initiate interaction. (more on that later). That being said, if the only time you have available is a holiday, then it's still absolutely worth going.

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Tours average around $70 per person including the use of a wetsuit, snorkel. mask and a floating device. The West Indian manatee is an imperiled species and is protected by the laws of the state of Florida and US Fish and Wildlife.

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