Discover Your Guide to Seeing Manatees in Florida
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📍 Crystal River, FL
Rotund. Jolly. Playful. Cuddly. Lovable. Gentle. These are some of the words that I would use to describe the humble manatee. As one of my favorite sea creatures, manatees are loved by many because of their adorable appearance and friendly interactions with humans. This is the reason that so many people flock to Crystal River, Florida in the hopes of visiting, swimming with or just admiring the manatees every year.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I personally would choose to swim with manatees over swimming with dolphins any day of the year. Not that I have anything against dolphins, but have you seen the pouty whiskered lip of an adorable manatee? It doesn’t get much cuter than that.
While visiting these gentle giants is a safe and enjoyable way to spend your day, there is still an ample amount of information you should become aware of prior to your visit in order to protect yourself and your newly acquired manatee friends. Understanding manatee behavior, and how to safely enjoy their company are important things to consider and are therefore included down below to help you best enjoy your next visit to Crystal River.
Without further ado, please enjoy your free guide to seeing manatees at Crystal River, Florida.
One handsome manatee raises his nose to get a sip of air.
Know where to go
Viewing the manatees from land is best done at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge or at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, which is about a 15 minute drive south of Crystal River. Both preserves charge a small fee to enter which all goes back into taking care of the manatee habitat. Crystal River and Homosassa are both special because they are the only places in Florida where you can actually swim with these gentle giants.
Shown here is one of three stunning springs that makes up Three Sisters Springs.
Know when to go
Manatee season is from November 15th to March 31st. Like many humans, Manatees don’t enjoy the cold weather, and despite what their rounded bodies may suggest, sea cows don’t carry much blubber. As winter approaches, and the water within the Gulf of Mexico becomes colder, the residing manatees flock to the Florida springs because of their consistent temperature. In particular, Three Sisters Springs stays at 72 °F year round due to underwater vents and sand boils which make it an ideal warm water sanctuary for manatees during the winter season.
Manatees are also most congregated in the springs during high tide as they leave the springs to forage in the nearby river during low tides.
Two manatees swimming into the springs as the tide was coming in.
Decide on your experience
What exactly do you want your manatee experience to be like? Visiting the manatees can look like admiring them from atop a raised boardwalk, swimming with them, or paddling alongside them in a motorless vessel (i.e. kayaks or paddle boards). It is important to decide on this in advance, because there is no water access from the observation boardwalks, and vice versa. To access the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge boardwalk, park at the Three Sisters Springs Center, and take the free trolley ride over to the refuge. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park allows parking directly on their property.
Typically two of these trolleys operate on any day, transporting guests to the springs every 30 minutes.
In order to get water access to the springs in Crystal River, you will need to launch a vessel from either Hunter Springs Park or Kings Bay Park, both of which rent out a variety of paddle boards and kayaks. You will then have to paddle roughly 25 minutes to reach the mouth of Three Sisters Springs (map provided here). If you’re there during manatee season, it is not permitted to bring your kayak or paddle board into any of the springs, meaning you will then have to tie up your vessel, and swim into the spring to finish the trek.
It should be noted that water access to the Three Sisters Springs can close without warning to the public. This happens when the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico drops below 62 °F, making it incredibly important for manatees to be able to access their warm water haven without disturbance from tourists. Up to date information on these closures can be found here. Luckily. boardwalk access remains open during these times.
Here is a group of manatees hanging out at the base of the spring. As you can see, there are ropes keeping swimmers out from the most densely packed areas.
There is also an abundance of guided tour options around Crystal River and Homosassa, but since we didn’t opt for that experience, I can’t personally recommend any specific companies.
Know what to bring
If you plan to enter the water during manatee season, you will be required to wear a wetsuit, typically available to rent anywhere you can rent a kayak. Wetsuits keep you buoyant, meaning you will stay near the surface of the water and will be at low risk for accidentally kicking or colliding with the low swimming manatees. Snorkels, cameras, sunscreen, water, towels and snacks are also advisable to enhance your experience.
Keep in mind that manatee season occurs in the middle of winter, so you will likely be cold once you leave the water. Bringing a few extra towels, a dry box, and a layer of clothes that you can put on top of your bathing suit may help keep you comfortable during the boat ride back to dry land.
A group of manatees rest in the springs together. When they are sleeping like this, they only need to come up for air every 20 minutes!
Mind your manners
Manatees are an endangered species, and are protected by law against any behaviors that may harm them. Most companies that will rent you a kayak, or take you on a guided tour, should brief you on the proper way to interact with these unique creatures. But just in case, you should generally avoid any excessive noise or movements that may frighten these aquatic beauties. This includes yelling, shouting, splashing, and excessive kicking, or fast movements. Manatees are very friendly and curious, so they will often come right up to you without you having to try very hard. It is also acceptable to touch them gently on the stomach or back, but only with one hand at a time.
Some manatees appear to like their privacy, like this one who I spotted swimming alone.
Learn how to protect them
Three Sisters Springs and Homosassa Springs State Park are not only stunning, they are an example of the few remaining springs that serve as vital manatee habitats during the winter, many others having been lost to human alterations to the environment. Because of their friendly nature, these gentle giants also face high risks of being hit by moving boats, becoming caught in fishing gear, and suffering from human harassment. As recently as 2021, harmful algal blooms, promoted primarily from fertilizers which have contaminated the waterways off the Gulf of Mexico, have decreased light permeability to the point where seagrass can no longer receive the sunlight needed to properly grow. As one of the most important food sources for manatees, this loss has proven to be a calamity for the success of the species, some estimates stating that 10% of Florida’s manatees have died due to starvation within the past year.
It may be sobering to remember that the animal you have come to see is also at risk for extinction, but it is important to remember that you have the ability to make a difference in their long term survival. Keeping their waterways free of trash, and respecting all posted guidelines while interacting with the manatees is an excellent start. Specialists throughout Florida have begun an experimental feeding trial, supplementing their diets with lettuce, which requires a hefty amount of man hours and resources. While you should never attempt to feed a manatee yourself, you can help in these efforts by spreading the word about the threats to manatee populations, adopting a manatee, volunteering at Save the Manatee Club, or reporting manatee sightings along rivers and estuaries to help researchers track the progress of manatee population recovery.
I’m pretty sure this manatee was smiling for the camera!
Manatees are a unique creature that can provide Crystal River visitors with a one of a kind wildlife interaction. After being mesmerized by their grace and beauty, you will surely want to play a part in their population’s revival. To help show our support for the manatees, Discovery Detour has chosen to adopt a manatee. If you feel inspired to do the same, please share it with us in the comment section. We wish you a one-of-a-kind manatee encounter and hope that future generations have the same opportunity.
Thank you for joining us at Discovery Detour, where the destination is always unknown.
