Manatee Paddle truly went above and beyond to make our experience positive, exciting, and educational. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine smiles, warmth, and encouragement. I was personally a bit nervous since I hadn't paddle boarded much before, but every step of the way we felt supported and truly cared for. Hearing about the family's passion for protecting the ecosystem and the manatees, along with all the helpful tips they shared to optimize our experience, was absolutely incredible. When we got to the dock, we were guided so kindly - Mike even held our shoes in his truck for us! When he noticed me struggling a bit, he took the time to give me multiple tips on how to better move in the water and maneuver the board, which made such a difference. We saw so many manatees, including mama and baby pairs, which was unforgettable. When we returned to the dock and shared how excited we were, Mike went above and beyond once again by recommending another nearby location we could walk to where we ended up seeing even more manatees up close and personal. I would 10/10 recommend Manatee Paddle to anyone looking for an incredible manatee experience. I am so grateful to Mike and his family for making our day so special. THANK YOU!! read more

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If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Paddle boarding with this crew in Crystal River was hands down one of the best experiences I've had in Florida, and it's because of the people behind the business--Aidan, Mike, and Mandy. From the moment we showed up, they made us feel like family. Aidan was the first one to greet us, and right away you could tell how passionate he is about the river, the wildlife, and making sure every single guest feels confident before heading out on the boards. He has this calm, encouraging way about him that instantly puts you at ease--even if you've never stepped foot on a paddleboard before. He gave us tips, shared fun facts about the area, and somehow managed to keep the whole group laughing the entire time. Mike is the backbone of the operation--the guy making sure all the boards, paddles, and gear are in perfect condition, the one double-checking that everything runs smoothly so you don't have to worry about a thing. It's obvious how much pride he takes in the business, because everything is organized, well-maintained, and set up to give you the best possible experience. He's also just genuinely fun to chat with before and after you head out--one of those people who makes you feel like an old friend after five minutes. And then there's Mandy, who is truly the heart of the operation. She's warm, welcoming, and on top of everything. From making the booking process super smooth to making sure we had everything we needed for the day, she's the reason the whole experience felt so seamless. She checked in with us multiple times, gave us great local recommendations for after our paddle, and just made the whole day feel special. What really stood out to me was how much this team cares--not just about giving people a fun day on the water, but about the environment, the river, and the wildlife that call it home. They take time to educate guests about respecting the ecosystem, and you leave not only having had an amazing adventure, but also feeling like you've learned something important. I've been on plenty of tours and excursions, but very few have left me with such a lasting impression. These guys aren't just running a business--they're building memories for people, and they clearly love doing it. If you're anywhere near Crystal River, don't waste your time looking at other paddle board companies. This is the one. Between Aidan's energy, Mike's behind-the-scenes dedication, and Mandy's incredible hospitality, you won't find a better team anywhere. Do yourself a favor and book with them--you'll thank me later. read more

I had a fun and relaxing time paddleboarding in Crystal River. I found Manatee Paddle online and rented a paddleboard for 3 hours for ~$45. When I showed up at the shop, they gave me a map and marked the spots where I'll see manatees. He even gave me a snorkel mask to use for free, if I chose to swim. The boat/paddleboard drop-off is about a 5 minute walk from the store. There is also paid parking right by it, but I chose to park at the free public parking spot. One of the employees met me there with the board, paddle, life vest, snorkel mask. The gear were in great condition. I easily made my way to the Three Sisters area and saw a couple manatees. They were just chilling in the water. It was so exciting to see these beautiful creatures! I can just sit there all day watching them. I also went for a little swim into Three Sisters Springs. The water was really clear. They provide a rope for you to tie up the paddle board. I highly recommend renting from Manatee Paddle. Nice guy manning the front desk and great customer service. read more

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Saturday afternoon family adventure couldn't gave gone better. Everyone at Manatee was great to work with. The man on the phone was informative and did not get annoyed with my questions. The woman at the register was friendly and knowledgeable. The guys putting us in and out of the water were friendly and helpful. Great business. We will use again when we are in town. read more

Manatee Paddle - Kayak POV - Paddleboarding Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Great time with the family, saw lots of manatees in late March. Easy launch, not a lot of motorized traffic

Brought my two young girls (5&7) and it was a lot of fun. It was a bit of work but got to see lots of manatees, fish and underwater spring. Staff and captain were amazing and greeted us with coffee and hot chocolate in the morning. Our kiddos had to come back to boat about 15 mins early as they were tired but captain had more water and hot chocolate and we were able to view more manatee from the boat. read more

They know what their doing there! Good quality paddle boards and snorkels to make for a fun day around the Bay. We saw so many manatees!

We rented from Elijah at Manatee Paddle, he was so awesome to work with. Price was very reasonable and Elijah's recommendations were great highly recommended using this shop for your paddle rental!!! read more

Went there yesterday to paddle board with my spouse. The front desk lady was very nice and owner as well. No appointment (got lucky) and ended renting a paddle board for a busy day. I was not cognizant of the time and decided to book 4 hours and paid what was due and they lent us an extra life jacket (no cost) bc we forgot ours. A couple of minutes later the owner came out and asked if my credit card was ran and he realized that I would be in the water for about 3.5 hours which he could've not said anything about but would've been cheaper. The difference in money was an immaterial amount and what led me to write this post. It was his actions and coming back to me to tell me about the discrepancy. He lent me the life jacket and in turn kept the original amount paid. I believe in ethical business practices and this small business owner just earned him a repeat customer and word-of-mouth advertising. Thank you!! read more

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What an amazing experience! If you're looking for a unique water activity this is definitely for you! With so many companies in the area offering different options to explore Crystal River and 3 sisters it becomes a little overwhelming to choose one to go with...but with good prices and excellent customer service, this place makes the choice super easy! From the time of booking all the way to execution everything was just so simple. I made an online paddle board reservation for 3 people about a week and a half before my arrival. As first time paddle boarders we were offered a FREE paddle boarding lesson upon arrival. They also offer the same option for kayakers. The shop was easy to find and is maybe a 2 min drive down the road to where the kayaks enter the water. The gentleman at the counter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area and the activity itself. He also made sure to explain everything on the map and warn us of the weather conditions (12 mph winds that day). Although he explained additional techniques to feat the wind we asked if we could switch to kayaks instead of paddle boards. They accommodated our request with no issues at all. The business is family owned and it shows in the kindest of ways. They are also very honest about not overselling the possibility that you can see manatees, otters and other wild life while out on the water. Fortunately for us we were able to spot three manatees! It will really help you to watch a quick YouTube video on how to spot them in the water because they could have easily slid under the radar (and our kayaks lol) had we not known what to look for. read more

Manatee Paddle - Part of the scenic route - Paddleboarding Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

I won't lie. Our paddleboarding adventure was a bust. The weather did not cooperate! 15 min into a 4 hour paddle excursion, the heavens opened, with stinging rain and a lightning show! We managed to get back to the launch, hoping for a partial refund, expecting that we would cover at least the manpower required to hike the boards and kayak out to the launch for us. What an awesome surprise to be offered a full refund! This place was awesome! Booking was super easy, checking in was quick and painless, and the owner and his sons were so helpful! We will definitely be rebooking before the end of the summer! read more

Manatee Paddle - Paddleboarding Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

We were greeted warmly upon our entrance into the store. The reservation went seamlessly and I was very happy with the service and product provided. read more

Original review 2018. Loved our paddle trip today. Manatee Paddle set us up for a 3hr tour. They are super chill and will take care of your crew. Their place is easily accessed, not far from where you put in at Crystal River. The equipments rented worked great. The staff is very friendly and will answer all your questions. We would definitely use them again. Went again in 2019. Still great equipment and service! read more

We had a wonderful paddle to Three Sisters 11/9/2021to celebrate my mother's 84th birthday. Great guide! We saw more than 50 manatees including babies. Pictures taken by the guide were better than we could have gotten of our experience. It was a treat that the owner gave my mother a hat as a birthday present. Two hour paddle accommodated my nephew's first time experience. I will see you next time for a longer excursion! If you are reading this, don't pass the experience up! read more

Manatee Paddle - Paddleboarding Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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I originally called with a few questions and the front desk was kind and offered great answers. We went ahead and booked because it was the best price around . When we arrived the front desk told us all we needed to know, again super kind. We parked in the kings bay parking (only 5$) and it's right where you launch. The gear was In great condition! I recommend getting at least 1 snorkel and mask, it's cool to look under the water. We choose to do 3 hours and it was a perfect amount of time to go to 3 sisters and out to a further spring. We were able to see 4 manatees on this trip! Overall a great company! read more

Manatee Paddle - Outside of 3 sisters - Paddleboarding Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

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Easy process setting up reservation and helpful information on where to paddle. Although we didn't see any Manatees it was still a good fun way to get to three sisters Spring and swim read more

Knowledgeable, professional, and personable family-run business! Located in walking distance from launch and they set up you up for success--with a prevideo of proper manatee protocol, recommendations of where to paddle, and literally setting you up in the water and educating you on proper use of the rentals. There were a lot of businesses to choose from, but my choice to go with Manatee Paddle was based on previous reviews and they did not let us down! Highly recommended for anyone's first time or for additional visits down the road! P.S. They got brand new kayaks that we got to test out and they were amazing! Super comfortable and easily able to navigate/control in the water! read more

Amazing and always kind and loving staff. Always recommending my snow birds for the season.

Great service. Expert knowledge! Easy to access the launch area

Amazing experience! Not only was the location and scenery beautiful, the staff was extremely welcoming and helpful. We were given a map of the waterway and a quick tutorial on paddle boarding (since it wasn't our first time). We will definitely be back as well as recommend to anyone coming to the area." read more

It was our first time paddle boarding at Crystal River, and we were lucky to use Manatee Paddle. Great location in the historical part of the town, amazing staff and really nice paddle boards. Despite the fact that we arrived after 1pm in a group of eight people, they had enough paddle boards for all of us and also provided excellent service. Definitely will use Manatee paddle again! read more

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Great group to work with! Beautiful to see the Three Sisters Springs. The water in the springs was quite cold but refreshing in July. Didn't see any manatees but it was even though it was crowded (by our standards). read more

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This was my third time using Manatee Paddle. Just like the first two times, I was beyond satisfied! We arrived just as they opened Sunday afternoon. The staff is pleasant, friendly, & very knowledgeable. We were checked in quickly, given a rundown of the area and map. We met them down by the launch site--which was quite busy. Again we were given pertinent information regarding the area, the springs, and possibility of seeing manatees. After securing our belongings, we were off! Within our 3 hours, we saw several manatees and had lots of laughs. They were actually at the shore when we got back so no need to call. I will definitely use Manatee Paddle again the next time I'm in the area. read more

We made a quick decision to rent SUP yesterday to see Three Sisters and hopefully manatees. We couldn't have been happier with the service provided. New boards, quick delivery to the drop in point and great information about the river. We saw 6-8 manatees in different areas of the river and had a nice swim in the Springs. Highly recommend Manatee Paddle. read more

Great customer service and very friendly staff!! I love my new paddle board and can't wait to use it!

If you are looking for a paddle excursion with the best, most friendly service and fantastic kayaks, look no further than Manatee Paddle. Fast, friendly service, comfortable boats... what more could you ask for? This is where I take my family when they come in town to visit. read more

This company was so responsive to our "late in the day" request and completely welcomed us to get there and they would have kayaks ready for us. The young man at the desk, Elijah, warmly greeted us, asked us if we had had a chance to watch the required video of the Florida Fish and wildlife, offered us a place to change, gave us advice on what we should wear, and had the video ready for us. He got us out as quickly as possible, getting us in the kayaks, having provided us with a map and drawing us the path we should go to try to see the manatees. We were doing all of this on the fly because the opportunity presented itself and he was so accommodating and polite. We were the last ones to finish and he cheerfully collected the kayaks and then went back to the office to let us go back in and change. When I asked him for recommendations for where to go for gas and a good restaurant he gave us both. The restaurant, Crackers, was right on the water and had delicious food and wonderful service and was the perfect way to end our adventure! This company was definitely the way to go in order for us Virginians to have a true Florida experience! read more

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This was my first time paddle boarding and the staff at Manatee Paddle were really great. They took time to explain everything. They also deliver the boards to the water and pick them back up which is nice. Very affordable and fun. Will go again. read more

My grand daughters and I rented paddle boards and a kayak today. The staff at Manatee Paddle were very nice to work with and made our experience one we will never forget. We paddled our way over to Three Sisters Spring and spent time swimming and enjoying the beautiful cool water of the spring. Thanks Manatee Paddle for helping me make a great memory with my girls. read more

Super nice people. Had a blast renting our kayak. Very knowledgeable family business. Showed us a map of the area and told us the best places to go. Even where to go if we wanted to see gators! Will definitely be back and highly recommend to anyone in the area. Thanks guys!! read more

Manatee Paddle - Paddleboarding Near Me - Crystal River, Florida

Great service! Had a super nice team with great assistance. Made the experience that much greater. Definitely recommend.

Manatee Paddle is 5 stars we wish we could give them more stars!!!!!!!!! Very knowledgeable, on time, and gave great advice about how our day might play out time wise, so we purchased the right amount of time for us. But if needed they were flexible with a phone call. Most amazing activity everyone loved it! Paddle boarding was a brand new thing for us all. We were an active family but not as much with Covid. Our family of 3 generations went together Grandma, Grandpa, (mid 70's), mom (mid 40's), and kids (10 yr old son and 16 yr old daughter) and our dog who is 3 yrs old and 65lbs. (our dog had a life preserver vest so he could swim longer without worry or him getting tired when we were swimming. (We had purchased the dogs vest before we came.) Manatee had life preserver for adults and my kids. My son wore one but we all had one but left them on the board.The balance for us all was not hard the beginner boards are very steady and wide. We also watched you tube video's on do's and don't for paddle boarding a day before which complemented all their instructions and allowed you to ask educated next step questions. There is also a little little beach front swimming area (no dogs allowed in this area), bathrooms, and small parking lot ($5 for 12 hrs) Manatee paddle does all types of rentals. Enjoy the best kept secret with added benefit of a core and arm workout. Plus crystal clear water to view nature, take a dip to swim in the refreshing water and get back on your board and paddle some where new! We did see Manetee's a mom and her baby! They were so amazing to watch! Our trip was in late July. Boards have bungee cords to hold your own bag or snorkel gear (bags get a little wet so a dry bag or don't worry about getting it wet) Manetee Paddle had dry bags and water proof phone holders. Their prices were great the same as amazon or just online. Take at least a bottle of water and a snack per board the kids needed it. My daughter got a water proof phone holder before we came but we could have gotten it there. It's a must for your phone to keep it dry and safe. It was nice to take pictures of the experience. We are going to do this again and are sharing the experience! Thanks Manetee Paddle being on the water made the world feel Covid free and like normal life again. It was an emotional, spiritual, physical experience we all need to balance us back to our best selves! Hope you go enjoy, expect joy and happiness! read more

As usual, my guy and I were looking for new adventures around town during his bimonthly visit here in Crystal River. Stand up paddling was something we both had never ever done and it looked a heck of a lot easier than surfing. Manatee Paddle was one of the first businesses that came up during our Google search, their website professional and user friendly-- prices were reasonable too. We spent a little over $50 for two hours for two beginner stand up paddles. We were helped by two knowledgeable young guys who gave us a map and a quick demo w the boards and paddles. The guys delivered the boards to Hunters Spring and launched us there. After mumbling two Hail Marys and a few requests to Buddha, we were stand up paddling around King's Bay and headed towards Three Sisters Springs. Took a quick refreshing dip there and headed back to where we started. No manatee sightings, unfortunately. Very relaxing, wonderful experience with neither of us falling off once! We would definitely go SUP again and choose Manatee Paddle. read more

Wow, what an awesome experience! The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable about the area and generally went above and beyond to ensure that we had an awesome time. We met them at the docking station so we didn't have to strap the kayaks to the car and they were very patient with us, and even communicated with us well we out in the bay! 10 stars! read more

Awesome experience. Friendly staff. We rented two SUPs for a couple of hours. They brought the boards to the water for us and we were off. It was just the right duration. Saw lots of manatees, birds, turtles and lots o fish. Well worth it. read more

I made a reservation online, and was promptly confirmed for our date for a Manatee Paddle Tour. I like the fact that they have beginner and regular boards. When we checked in, the lady was very accommodating after we decided not to opt for the tour and just paddle ourselves. No need to haul the boards in your car, as you just drive to Hunter Springs Park to the launch area. Friendly staff, boards & life jackets were in good condition. read more

Manatee Paddle was a great experience. I went with three other friends and we rented paddle boards and kayaks. I had never paddle boarded before, so they helped me by giving me some quick instructions. Since we were not familiar with the area, they helped give us solid recommendations for places to see manatees and go swimming. We ended seeing multiple manatees, one of them was literally right off of the boat ramp! Very friendly and helpful people, would recommend to anyone wanting to rent kayaks/paddle boards and go out on their own to try to spot some manatees. read more

We rented a couple of Kayaks while visiting family in the area. This family owned shop was great to rent from- their equipment was in very good condition and the guys that helped us we're friendly and knowledgeable. We arranged everything in their shop and then we met them at the ramp by the beach where they had everything waiting for us ready to go. Thanks to Manatee Paddle for a fun Friday visiting Three Sister's Springs! read more

Great time! We are SUP lovers and this was a fun and relaxing place to ride. W ease at least a dozen manatee, went into three sisters springs, and just relaxed and let the currents and winds drift us. The staff were courteous and knowledgable and the launch location was clean and convenient. Thanks guys!!! read more

My family of 5, (2 daughters and a son) went paddling over the weekend with Manatee Paddle (our guide was Elijah) and loved it. We are a mix of atheltic to not so balanced and it was great for all of us. Elijah really worked with my son during the snorkel which made him very happy. Fun for all. It is not manatee season during the summer so we did not expect to see them, fun all the same. read more