River Ventures - Crystal River, Florida

Dmitry S.

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, River Ventures delivers an unforgettable experience swimming with manatees! From start to finish, their dedication to providing an extraordinary and educational journey is evident.

The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the manatees and their natural habitat. They take the time to ensure guests are well-informed about these gentle giants, the rules of engagement, and the importance of conservation. The pre-tour briefing was clear, and safety was a top priority throughout the excursion.

The equipment provided was top-notch, and the guides were patient and accommodating, ensuring everyone felt comfortable in the water, regardless of swimming skill level. The highlight, of course, was the chance to get up close with the manatees in their natural environment. It was magical to witness their curious and peaceful demeanor firsthand, an experience that leaves you in awe of nature’s beauty.

River Ventures also impresses with their attention to detail. From the well-organized check-in process to the snacks and drinks provided after the tour, they go above and beyond to make the experience seamless and enjoyable.

I highly recommend River Ventures for anyone visiting the area. It’s not just a tour – it’s an adventure that will leave you with memories to cherish forever and a deeper appreciation for wildlife conservation. Five stars all the way!

Stephanie H.

Incredible tour group! I have done many manatee swims in the past and River Ventures is hands down the best! What an incredible experience to float alongside these gentle giant floaty potatoes! After my first tour with River Ventures I fell in love with manatees and since have been back anytime I have the chance to travel to Crystal River or Homosassa! While each trip is unique since the manatees go wherever they please, the in water guides, boat captains, and front desk staff at River ventures are knowledgeable, friendly and clearly passionate about these beautiful marine animals. (Shout out to Natalie and Emerson!) They ensure each group has the best possible manatee experience. Definitely recommend, we will continue to come back! 💙🐟💙

Emily R.

My husband and I had the most amazing experience! Our guide Michael and Captain Jeoff gave great guidance and made us feel prepared for the excursion. We really appreciated how they prioritized being respectful of the manatees, which made a difference. We would highly recommend this company and would love to come back!

Frank L.

We had an incredible experience with our 11 & 9 year old kids. Our guides, Captain Joff and Captain Rachael were absolutely amazing. They explained everything so clearly and had us seeing manatees almost immediately, despite imperfect conditions. We will be back again for sure !

Bryson P.

We had an amazing experience this morning with James and Melissa. Having an experienced guide was a game changer for us. He was thoughtful about us but most importantly to the manatees and their environment. He even stopped and picked up trash in the water and carried it out of the water to the boat. John was also patient with us as we had to move our reservation due to a change in our travel plans. Thanks River Ventures for a great morning on the water.

Lorraine P.

James and Melissa were amazing and wonderful! They took extra care to make sure my daughter was good and comfortable in the water. She was the only kid in our group. We had a great time from start to finish and if you listen to them and do what they say, you will have a great experience. We got lucky enough to swim with a baby for over an hour!

Pamela K.

This was our fourth visit to Florida in the last five years to swim with the manatees with River Ventures. Our guide, Mike, and our Captain Kevin were both just wonderful. They took great care of us and we had an incredible time. We froze our butts off, but had a blast doing it. I can't recommend this tour company enough. We have never had a bad experience with them, and will continue to book with them in the future.

Dana D.

Wow! What can I say. Our tour was awesome. My two daughters and myself booked their tour online. We visited first of November. The water was cool. My one daughter said it was cold. The provided wetsuits helped. The water was murky due to previous storms. But our experience was still 5 stars. We were able to see many manatees eating and swimming. So big and as they say “gentle giants”. They swam so close we could reach out and touch them which we were advised against not to disrupt them. I was very impressed on the respect River ventures group had for the manatees and their environment which they live in. Many thanks to River ventures awesome group of employees. Special thanks to Captain Tanner and guide Mike. You both gave us a great tour and many memories.
Additionally since we drove so far for the tour we booked a room the night before at the Paddletail waterfront lodge. Great place to spend the night. Very clean, small deck, and hostess very nice and accommodating.
Would I book River Ventures tour again? Most certainly!