Great set up & communication from the team. The tour included videos and photos. I would recommend this tour for anyone looking for a stress free way to enjoy this experience read more

Go Local Manatee Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

(I'd give 10 stars if I could!) Highlights: *FREE pictures and videos! *Smaller boat & group = more personal and attentive experience *If you're from out of town, these are the knowledgeable locals we all hope to find on our travels *AMAZING experience! Truly delightful *chef's kiss* This experience was the absolute highlight of my trip to Florida! The captains did an amazing job -- they were so knowledgeable, friendly and playful. I learned so much about the wildlife and felt like they genuinely went out of their way to make sure I had an unforgettable time in the water. The smaller boat and smaller group size made the whole experience feel personal, lots of attention to detail. If you're thinking about swimming with the manatees, there's really no choice -- you have to go with Go Local. Thank you all so much for making my birthday trip incredible. I'll definitely be doing this again! read more

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We had the best time today on our manatee swim. Captain Misty is very knowledgeable and tons of fun. Derrick did an excellent job of getting us all up close and personal with the manatees as well as keeping our group all together. We will definitely come back! read more

Go Local Manatee Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

We had an AMAZING time with Go Local Manatee Tours! Josh and Judge were our guides--both lifelong locals who truly care about the manatees and preserving their habitat. Their passion for the area and wildlife really came through in every part of the tour. Josh shared tons of interesting info about manatees' behavior, diet, and the ecosystem, and it was so engaging. We were lucky enough to see a mama and baby manatee--and even saw the baby feeding! Such a special moment we'll never forget. They also took lots of great pictures for us, which was such a thoughtful touch. If you're looking for an educational and respectful wildlife tour, this is it. 100% recommend! read more

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Top Notch Experience! We knew a trip to Crystal River to see the manatees was in order, but originally planned to just kayaking -- so glad we bailed on that plan and decided to swim instead!! After seeing an ad and reviews we booked a Go Local Manatee Tour, the driving factor (aside from being able to be in the water with these gentle giants) was the small group size per outing, which they cap at 6 people, and photos were included. **Disclaimer, when I saw every review was a 5-star I paused slightly because "no tour could possibly be perfect" I was wrong! THIS TOUR IS 5-STARS!!** Once booked the communication from Go Local was great, arriving at Pete's Pier for the boat was very easy and before we knew it we were on the boat meeting our tour team -- Captain Walter and Swim Guide Lindsey! I cannot say enough good things about this team, they were super friendly and knowledgeable of both the manatees and the river/waterways. The team provided each person with a wetsuit and snorkel gear and a swim noodle. After a quick tutorial with Do's and Don'ts we were on our way! We saw about 4 or 5 manatees during our outing and it was mind blowing to realize how big these creatures actually are when you're next to them but also so magical! I highly recommend this tour and team!! Special shout out to Walter & Lindsey -- you both were amazing, thank you!! We will be back!! :) Additionally, it's nice to know in aside from getting an amazing experience with this company, you're supporting a truly local business (as all their staff are natives to Crystal River) read more

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My mother and I made arrangements a long time ago for a manatee tour last weekend with Go Local Manatee Tours. I had a weird gift card from a friend that led to us booking through Go Local- the only thing I had looked for was a tour that included photos, because I had a feeling I would be distracted when I got in the water. The morning of our tour we got a text confirming that we were going and checking what wetsuit size we'd like. When we arrived for our Friday 10am tour we learned that we were the only ones on the tour with Captain Wally and Lindsay the manatee whisperer. Already a great start! The boat was very comfortable with a cover to help with the variety of temperatures and weather that can happen. There were nice padded seats and we learned later a "changing room" in the back, which was very welcome so we could dry off and change into our warm clothes! The tour began and the boat set off. Walter and Lindsay talked about where to go from a variety of locations. They obviously knew the area well and were looking for a place with good visibility and low crowds. After seeing the tours with over 20 people, we agreed with them! The more people present, the more likely it is that the water gets stirred up and you can't see. So we were glad for our small group size (Go Local caps at 6 guests) and that our guides were trying to avoid big groups. Walter and Lindsay helped us get our wetsuits straightened out. They prepped our masks with anti-fog and got us pool noodles and helped us get all our gear and ourselves into the water smoothly. Our first stop led us to four manatees sleeping around a small spring. Wow! Lindsay filled us with information while making sure we followed the rules and respected the manatees. We marveled at the size of these gentle giants. We moved when a larger group showed up and went to a slightly murkier area filled with manatees! We had a baby swim up and try to nibble on our pool noodles. Lindsay continued to educate us and she clearly knows the manatees well- she was like a manatee magnet! After a couple hours we headed back into the boat. Wally made us hot chocolate because it was in the 60s and raining. The changing room was great, and soon we were heading back dry and warm with the rain cover and a space heater. We returned within 3 hours. I can't overstate how nice and funny Walter and Lindsay were. They both know so much about the area and the environment, and they really took care of us. The highlight was seeing all of the photos and videos Lindsay took- there were over 100 with over 10 photos! She not only took great photos of us but also took photos and videos that captured the feeling and sights of the day. They are a great treasure that we have already shared many times with friends and family. We don't live near Florida, so this will likely be a once in a lifetime trip for us. But I'm very glad we chose a tour company that focused on customer service, small group sizes, respecting the manatees, and environmental education. We had a really fantastic time! read more

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Peter and Derick were the absolute best. REQUEST THEM!!!! They were so kind, funny, and knowledge. I asked so many random questions and they knew everything. Knew the area and navigated around all the other boats. I took a 6 person small tour boat ride. They did their own thing and operated the best to get us to see manatees. I will ABSOLUTELY come back and only request them. Best time- freezing temp outside 30* or summer. read more

Great trip today, will definitely use them again when visitors want manatee time :) They found us LOTS of manatees and were super helpful with getting suited up. We learned so much about these beautiful creatures and the time flew by. Very relaxing yet exciting trip. read more

We decided to go to Crystal River this morning for a manatee tour and were lucky to discover Go Local. Our tour was 6 people and included photos and video as part of the tour price. Our pilot was Peter and our guide was Lindsey. At the time of this writing, Go Local Manatee Tours is the only locally owned and operated manatee tour in Crystal River. After taking us to a few usual spots, we stopped in a spot with constant manatee traffic. We were in the water for over two hours (we were ready to get back on the boat) and took video of more than 20 manatees. After we got back on the boat, Peter and Lindsey served hot chocolate, coffee, and hot tea so we could warm up in the cool air. The boat is fully enclosed and has a changing room in the back. Everything except swimsuits are supplied. We enjoyed our tour so much we booked the next one for another 3 hours. I highly recommend Go Local Manatee Tours. read more

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Josh and Derick did a wonderful job of guiding our tour. Since this tour company is local they know all the best spots and can speak from a local perspective on best practices for creating a safe and magical environment while swimming with the manatees. I highly recommend this tour. The small boat size led to a personalized experience. This was an adventure I will always hold dear. read more

The day was great. The company staff, boat captain and swim guide were informative, helpful, entertaining and very personable. The day was perfect and we saw quite a few animals. One swan right under me so close it gave me a bump. It was the most thrilling part of the day. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this group for a few hours. read more

We had a great experience w/Pete and Lindsay on Christmas morning. We saw SO many manatees and just had the best time with our family of 6. Could not have asked for anything more: quick to the boat, great wetsuits, interesting info provided on manatees, easy entry to the water and BAM, immediate manatees. Very few other groups around made the morning even better. It was chilly so we lasted just over an hour in the water. Amazing and would definitely use Go Local again. Thank you! read more

Awesome local business with one on one attention, great Captain, away from the big crowds, lots of knowledge! free photos, hot chocolate, great gear included. Promptly took reservations, happy last minute decision! What a fabulous day out in Kings Bay in the town of Crystal River, have been wanting to do this for 15 years, so glad I found Pete and his business! All around a top notch experience that I highly recommend! read more

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I called Go Local Manatee a few hours before while on a layover in Atlanta on my way to Tampa. Peter was very accommodating and made it work for my tight schedule. I'm come to Tampa monthly for work, and I decided to do something fun this time but with a very narrow window to show up. Peter made it work. William the captain was great as well. Between the 2 of them, I'll hopefully be bringing back my wife and 2 kids. 10/10 read more

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Despite the fact the water was murky (they informed us beforehand, so no surprise) we had a fantastic time. I was floating on the surface, looking down when a giant manatee swam the length of my body mere inches away. I held my breath thinking my body would skim the surface of the manatee if I exhaled! Pete and team were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun! Couldn't have ask for a better experience. I highly recommend! read more

Went on boat tour March 21st. We had a wonderful time. Pete was a great captain. Derrick made sure we had a space to view the manatees without getting crowded out by visitors from other boats. Helped with our wetsuits and masks until everything was fit and in place. Hot chocolate after was just what was needed to warm up. They really care and do what is needed to protect the manatees too!! read more

I cannot say enough about the crew of this boat! Captain Pete new exactly where to go and tried to get us in the clearest possible water. Lindsey was AMAZING in the water taking pictures and wrangling my 5 year old since I forgot I had a kid when I got in the water! They are both very knowledgeable and you can tell they absolutely love the manatees and their job! We even had to anchor out to wait an UGLY storm out and it was STILL the best day ever! If we come back during winter-I will definitely be booking with these guys again! It was the swim of a lifetime!! read more

Go Local Manatee Tours - Triangle decided to try to come up and kiss me! - Boat Tours Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Reserved a 3-hour manatee experience through Viator and the day before my reserved time I received a personal text from Peter of Go Local Manatee Tours. He was very honest about the change in water conditions that could negatively impact my experience with the manatees. Really appreciate his honesty and his concern about me having a great experience over the money they could make. read more

I just got off the phone with Peter at Go Local. He took the time to give me some great info about the manatee tour and beyond. After speaking with Peter, I'm even more excited for my visit to this area. I love the that this company is run by a local from Crystal River, who knows about this special place. Thank you, Peter! read more

Captain Peter was the absolute the very best and his first mate. Derek was awesome. Highly recommend this company absolutely wonderful boat captain and first mate. 6 STAR By far I highly recommend this company For all your Manatee needs ALAN read more

HOLY. COW. (Or should I say, Holy Sea Cow?) This tour with Pete and Lindsey was the absolute experience of a lifetime. We went for our 10 year anniversary and it was the perfect way to celebrate our love for the natural world and love for each other. I chose Go Local for a few reasons... first, they have super small group sizes-- max eight people. (More on that later!) Second, the way Pete operates his trips is ethical for the Crystal River ecosystem, which is super important for us. Finally, I chose this company because they're the one of the only locally owned and operated outfit! Pete and Lindsey are both Crystal River natives and have a wealth of information on the area, plus that means we're able to give back to the local economy and not a random CEO in Colorado.... And I am SO GLAD we chose them! Booking on the Go Local website was a breeze and I got personalized text confirmation from Pete as well as the email. It was easy to find the location and parking was plentiful and only $5 at the Pier. The tour had everything we needed from snorkels and wetsuits to bottled water and pool noodles. We were on the 1:00 tour in early June, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were the only people on the whole tour! A private manatee tour?? you can't get better than that. After a warm welcome from Lindsey, Captain Peter drove us through the water and we saw plenty of wildlife -- fish, crabs, and even a small gator! We quickly had our first Manatee encounter and it took my breath away. Before you take a tour, you'll learn the importance of "passive observation" and how to make the manatees feel safe, and it definitely paid off. The little fella was comfortable enough to come super close to us and it was such an incredible thing to see him munching the grass and hearing Lindsey point out all the cool behaviors. After that, it just kept getting better! We saw tiny babies, a massive mammoth of manatee, and even a nursing calf and his mother. Most of the manatees were super chill and a few even seemed to want to engage with us! However there were one or two who gave signs they weren't into it, and our guides immediately respected that and we went another way. I'm really glad they care about the welfare of the animals and not trying to chase them down to make a buck! . Another thing I really appreciated was that the tour took photos for us the whole time so we could totally be immersed in the moment. :) And the photos are included in the package! I can't wait to see how they turned out. One of the greatest unexpected bonuses of this tour was getting to see a few natural underwater springs. House Springs especially was straight out of a movie, and my inner child rejoiced at being able to play mermaid in a crystal clear lagoon. I absolutely adored hearing all the local lore, cool facts, ecology knowledge, and fabulous eatery recommendations. I could go on, forever and ever, about how much fun we had. It's difficult to overstate how magical everything felt.... It was a great experience, phenomenal company, and easily worth double what we paid for the trip. I will 1000000% be back again--I'd love to make this an annual trip. Thank you Peter and Lindsey for the trip of a lifetime! read more

Get ready to pamper yourself at a local Manatee tour company. The tour guide was like a manatee whisperer, they knew exactly where to go and the manatee greeted her like an old friend. They serve hot chocolate and tea and had the cabin heated when we came in. Very friendly and knowledgeable! They even email you phoiof your snorkel experience. They truly thought of everything! read more

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I highly recommend GO Local Manatee Tours! Peter and Lindsey were fantastic! The manatees were beautiful! This was such a fun and unique experience! I love the photos! read more

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Our tour guides were amazing. Very knowledgeable. It was nice being in a small group so we didn't have a lot of people having over the manatees. Would definitely recommend them and will go back again in the winter. read more

Amazing tour! We went on two different tours. Both experiences were phenomenal! Thank you Josh, Lindsay, Walter and the rest of the crew at Go Local for an experience of a lifetime! read more

Had a great tour with Captain Peter and 1st Mate Lindsey even my grumpy teenager gave it two thumbs up. Lindsey was great in the water, helping my girlfriend overcome her initial hesitation with getting into the water. Water temps were much warmer than I was expecting, even for March. 77° water felt amazing. Love the fact they provide your photos for free, looking forward to seeing my photos uploaded later today! read more

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! The dudes running this place are amazing! They were so kind and patient with my young kids. We had so much fun! I totly recommend Go Local! read more

Best experience ever! Friendly guide & captain! They made my wish come true! I highly recommend Walter & Derek!!

This afternoon we did the 1:00pm manatee tour. Peter (the owner) and Nick were our tour guides and they did a fantastic job. They were personable, knowledgeable, patient with our inquisitive and chatty kids, and took us to some great spots to see manatee. Nick was helpful in the water guiding us to the manatees and taking photos of our experience. As a mom, it was SO nice to have photos of our excursion without me having to worry about taking them myself. Peter was invested in us seeing manatee and was actively directing us from the boat on where to swim and where to look. You can really tell he cared about our experience all the while caring for the ecosystem and overall wellbeing of the manatee. He runs his business with the utmost detail, answering my many questions prior to us booking. It was his level of professionalism and knowledge about the manatee and the springs along with all of the amazing reviews that swayed our decision to book with GoLocal. I'm so glad we did! This is the only locally owned and operated tour company and their knowledge of the area as well as their top-notch care of their customers really showed. Once we were all done, Peter had hot chocolate ready for us which helped after being in the cooler spring waters. Our boys (ages 8 & 10) raved about the experience and immediately asked to do another tour with GoLocal. When we return, we will absolutely book with GoLocal and highly recommend them to others who seek an amazing manatee swim experience. Thank you, Peter & Nick! read more