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The Real Florida Adventure & Swim with Manatees

You’ve come all the way to Florida, so it makes sense to actually see as much of it as possible and no other tour provides such a wide-ranging experience as the carefully crafted Real Florida Adventure! The undoubted highlight is the chance to swim with majestic manatees in the beautiful crystal river - the only place in America where it is legal to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Your action-packed day starts with a full overview of what’s in store as you travel west from Orlando to the picturesque Crystal River area on Florida's Gulf Coast.

This natural paradise is the Manatee Capital of the World and the only place in the USA where it is possible to swim with these majestic marine creatures. The Crystal River area is also home to stunning natural springs and lots of other unique wildlife, all of which can be enjoyed on a leisurely narrated boat ride along the Crystal River through manatee country. If you are lucky, you will get to see manatees in their natural environment - you are encouraged to swim and snorkel with these beautiful creatures under the supervision of a Coast Guard Certified Captain. Or you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy the natural surroundings.

After the manatee boat ride, the Real Florida Adventure continues to the 210-acre Homosassa Springs State Park, a genuine hidden gem of Florida nature. Here there is an abundance of native wildlife to see and learn about, including the endangered Florida panther, black bears, red wolves, bobcats and alligators plus a profusion of birdlife, notably whooping cranes and flamingos.

Homosassa Springs State Park is also home to the unique sight of Nature’s Fish Bowl, an underwater observatory built over the mouth of the main spring, where huge numbers of fish congregate, plus the Park has its own manatee rehabilitation program to provide another exciting glimpse of these rare sea mammals.

Enjoy a packed lunch at Homosassa Springs State Park before heading off for your final Floridian experience - an exciting airboat ride on the Withlacoochee River. Another natural haven on Florida's Gulf Coast, here you can see even more wildlife in its natural habitat as you experience the thrill of skimming the water at up to 45mph in these exhilarating, flat-bottomed watercraft.

Operates:

Mondays and Wednesdays, year-round.

Pick-up Time & Schedule:

  • Margaritaville Resort at 7:15am - Banquet and Event Entrance, 8000 Fins Up Circle, Kissimmee FL 34747
  • Golden Corral Restaurant LBV at 8.00am - 8707 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821
  • Orlando Star Flyer at Icon Park at 8am - 8265 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

Duration:

Around 12 hours in total.

Experience Includes

  • SPECIAL OFFER: Adult 2023 tickets receive a Free $20 Food and Drinks Voucher for Brother Jimmy’s BBQ Restaurant on International Drive
  • Full Day Excursion to the Crystal River area on Florida's Gulf Coast
  • Chance to swim and snorkel with majestic Manatees in their natural environment
  • Complimentary Mask and Snorkel
  • Leisurely boat tour of Kings Bay and Crystal River
  • Admission into Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - home to the endangered Florida panther, black bears, red wolves, bobcats and alligators
  • Thrilling airboat ride on the Withlacoochee River
  • Roundtrip transportation from International Drive, Disney and Kissimmee areas of Orlando in a modern air-conditioned minibus or coach
  • Packed lunch
  • Services of a professional, certified and licensed tour guide

Experience Excludes

  • Mandatory $10 wetsuit rental fee for any swimmers
  • Gratuities
  • Drinks

Terms & Conditions

  • 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 they can 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 but can be rented on the day for $12.00 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 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.
  • Special offer - Please note the $20 food and drinks voucher to Brother Jimmy’s BBQ restaurant can be redeemed to a maximum of 2 vouchers ($40 value) per table, per visit.
  • Cancellation Policy: Free cancellations for bookings cancelled with the operator up to 72 hours before your chosen activity date. No refunds are given for cancellations made within 72 hours.