Manatee Viewing by Boat

Not everyone wants to get wet. The manatee viewing tour keeps you on a covered, insulated boat and brings the manatees to you.

In winter, manatees gather in the spring-fed water of Homosassa because it holds a steady 72°F. They rise to the surface every few minutes to breathe, which means a seat on the rail of a quiet boat is often the best view on the river — and you stay dry while you take it in.

What you will see

• Manatees surfacing in the clear spring water, close enough to count the scars on their backs
• Schools of mullet and jack crevalle moving through the eelgrass
• Snook and juvenile tarpon holding in the warm water
• Turtles, herons and egrets along the banks

Built for everyone aboard

Our tour boats are wheelchair accessible, and the dock has handicap parking at both the front and the back of the building. The boat is covered and insulated, so a cool January morning is comfortable rather than cold. Children are welcome and life jackets come in every size.

If you would like to get in the water as well, the swim with manatees tour runs the same springs with wetsuits, masks and snorkels included.