Florida Adventure Tour - Swim with the Manatees, Wildlife Park, Airboat Ride & Lunch
- Free cancellations*
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- 61 reviews rated 5 stars
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Full details
Swim with majestic Manatees in their natural environment...
Experience the best of Florida’s natural beauty all in one extraordinary day! Dive into the magic of swimming with manatees at Crystal River, explore the wonders of rescued wildlife at Homosassa State Park, savour a delicious lunch in nature and feel the thrill of an airboat ride at Wild Bills Airboat Tours.
Our guide to Florida Adventure Tour - Swim with the Manatees, Wildlife Park, Airboat Ride & Lunch
You’ve come all the way to Florida, so it makes sense to get out of Orlando and see as much of it as possible. No other tour provides such a wide-ranging experience as this original Florida Adventure! The undoubted highlight is the chance to swim with majestic manatees in the beautiful Crystal River - a spring-fed oasis renowned as the Manatee Capital of the World and the only place in America where it is legal to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Travel comfortably from Orlando to Crystal River, guided by expert narrators who provide educational insights, ensuring a responsible and enriching interaction with the manatees. Begin your adventure with a leisurely narrated boat ride along the Crystal River through the manatee country. If you are lucky, you will get to see manatees in their natural environment - at this point, you are encouraged to swim and snorkel with these beautiful creatures under the supervision of a Coast Guard Certified Captain. Or you can choose to sit back, relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. This isn't just an encounter; it's a profound connection with nature's essence.
After your exhilarating swim, venture on to Homosassa Springs State Park, a genuine hidden gem of Florida nature. This 210-acre sanctuary is dedicated to the preservation of Florida's wildlife including the endangered Florida panther, black bears, red wolves, bobcats, alligators and manatees, plus a profusion of birdlife, notably whooping cranes and flamingos. Here, witness firsthand the remarkable conservation efforts and enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the serene beauty of nature.
Conclude your Florida adventure with a thrilling airboat ride at Wild Bills Airboat Tours, where you'll feel the rush of excitement as you speed through scenic waterways, catching glimpses of Florida's iconic alligators in their natural habitat.
Return to Orlando at around 4.00pm, carrying cherished memories of an authentic Florida adventure. Book with us and get ready for a day filled with exploration, education and excitement that you won't forget!
Operates:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, year-round.
Pick-up Time & Schedule
- 6.00am - Pacifica Ballroom at Universal Royal Pacific Resort. (only guests staying at Universal Resorts can choose this location). 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, FL 32819. Please wait outside the Pacifica Ballroom Lobby.
- 6.05am - Avanti Palms Resort. 6515 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. Please wait outside the lobby.
- 6.10am - ICON Park Orlando. 8375 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. Please wait at the base of the wheel, facing Universal Blvd.
- 6.20am - Golden Corral Buffet, Lake Buena Vista. 8707 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32821. Please wait outside of the restaurant.
- 6.35am - Disney Swan Resort. 1200 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. Please wait outside the lobby.
- 6.45am - Charley's Steak House. 2901 Parkway Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34747. Please wait outside of the restaurant.
Duration:
Around 10 hours in total.
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions for Florida Adventure Tour - Swim with the Manatees, Wildlife Park, Airboat Ride & Lunch
- Due to the natural conditions of this experience, an encounter with the Manatees cannot be guaranteed. However, the expert Coast Guard-certified boat captains will do everything possible to make this happen. There is a population of around 80 Manatees that live in the Crystal River year-round with numbers swelling to around 300 in the winter months.
- Wetsuits are not included in the tour price. These must be rented on the day for $15.00 and act as an excellent buoyancy aid. Any person wishing to do the manatee swim must hire a wetsuit prior to boat departure. The water temperature is around 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, the main purpose of wearing a wet suit is to aid buoyancy and minimise surface splashing which can scare manatees away.
- Water can vary from 4 feet to 24 feet deep. Pool noodles are provided for all guests but anybody wishing to go in the water should be able to at least float calmly.
- Please wear a swimsuit under clothes in the morning as it will make things easier upon arrival at the dive shop.
- Please bring towels and a change of clothes for after the dive time.
- All timings are approximate and subject to change.
- The Florida Adventure Tour runs from central location points in Orlando and you will need to make your own way to one of these departure points. Your nearest pick-up location will be confirmed locally upon tour reconfirmation. Please arrive at your meeting location at least 15 minutes prior to the departure time. Wait outside the meeting point as the guides will not go into lobbies or stores to look for guests.
- Gratuities are not included for the tour guides or drivers. Gratuities are not mandatory but are encouraged upon receipt of good service.
- If you use a wheelchair, please inform us when making your booking.
- We recommend guests bring breakfast with them on the tour vehicle to eat, as there is often not chance to stop en route to the river in the mornings.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
- Free cancellations for bookings cancelled up to your holiday departure date. No refunds are given for cancellations made post-departure.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for Florida Adventure Tour - Swim with the Manatees, Wildlife Park, Airboat Ride & Lunch
Florida Adventure Tour - Swim with the Manatees, Wildlife Park, Airboat Ride & Lunch Reviews
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GREAT day out. Breakfast on the bus, Visit to a zoo, swimming with manatees ( glorious!! ) airboat ride ( got soaked!! ) Lunch and breakfast were ok, but nothing hot. The lady on the tour bus was SOO good!
June Perez reviewed Florida Adventure Tour Swim with Manatees 24 Mar, 2020
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A good day out. We didn't manage to see any manatees, but the operators tried their best and the rest of the day was very enjoyable.
Trusted Customer reviewed Florida Adventure Tour Swim with Manatees 06 Mar, 2020
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A fantastic day out. The only slight issue we had was the poor changing facilities at Crystal River. Apart from that, I would highly recommend.
Caroline Dempsey reviewed Florida Adventure Tour Swim with Manatees 05 Nov, 2019
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Great to see the Manatees in there own environment. Very informative to hear how they are doing in the wild and that the population is slowly growing.
Trusted Customer reviewed Florida Adventure Tour Swim with Manatees 29 Sep, 2019
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The swim with manatees was out of this world .i had never heard about the manatees until one of my friend mentioned them , so when I booked to go to Florida we looked into it and saw this on your web page and the tour included airboat ride and a wild life park with breakfast and lunch excellant will use you again
Adrian Knaggs reviewed Florida Adventure Tour Swim with Manatees 30 Apr, 2019