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    Go Local Manatee Tours

    5.0 (29 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Sandi H.

    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!

    Jacqui F.

    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)

    Kathryn J.

    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!

    Manatee surfacing for breath.
    David W.

    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.

    Getting ready to swim with manatees!
    Andrea W.

    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!

    Porter H.

    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

    Triangle decided to try to come up and kiss me!
    Kim S.

    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!!

    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!

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    2 years ago

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

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    Review Highlights - Go Local Manatee Tours

    Once we were all done, Peter had hot chocolate ready for us which helped after being in the cooler spring waters.

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    Crystal River Boat Tours - Captain Wayne is ready to take you on an adventure in Crystal River

    Crystal River Boat Tours

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Friendly staff. The boat captain was knowledgeable. Loved that he plucked plastic bags out of the…read morewater. It was a beautiful, relaxing trip. Saw many manatees!

    Oh Lordy, where do I start? I was raised in the area and…read moremoved away 40 years ago. My bff and I were on a road trip tour of my favorite places. Crystal River was always one of my favorite places to play in the water. So during our "drive by" selected to do Captain Wayne's 2 hour manatee tour. I knew it was a shot in the dark because,well June, they are rare in the rivers this time of year. My BFF was hoping to see dolphins (also rare in the rivers I know). When we boarded first thing he asked was what we wanted out of this journey, we told him our hopes. We set sail in his wonderful pontoon boat completely shaded in the hot Florida sun. He told stories and provided information and answered all our silly questions with such importance we felt valued for our interests and not silly for asking such question. We happened upon ( I'm sure he did the searching but we never saw) our first pod of manatees coming up and diving so wonderful we were thrilled. After a little bit we came up on yet another pod of manatees. The respect and distance he gave them while insuring our amazing views was the marks of a caring and mindful captain. We were heading back in and time was short. But then Captain Wayne's spotted some dolphins getting ready to feed. He explained the process and what we could expect and it was AMAZING! Watching them circle the school of fish and watching them catch in midair was just a once in a lifetime experience. We stayed and watched the whole thing, running our time over by almost 30 minutes. He never rushed or even noticed that I could see. I have seen many places touristy (cattle feeds I call them) rushing in and never connecting. I can promise you this is not that. If you have time and are in Crystal River - Take this cruise with Captain Wayne, I believe you will not regret this decision! Captain Wayne's, if you're reading this - thank you thank you thank you for everything, you made it so special. A day we will not forget.

    Photos
    Crystal River Boat Tours - Let's get out there and enjoy the scenery!

    Let's get out there and enjoy the scenery!

    Crystal River Boat Tours - Shrimp trawler at daybreak on Kings Bay in Crystal River

    Shrimp trawler at daybreak on Kings Bay in Crystal River

    Crystal River Boat Tours

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    Go Local Manatee Tours - boattours - Updated May 2026

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