Experience manatees in Crystal River and Homosassa – “Manatee Capital of the World”
While most fall vacations involve leaf-peeping and holiday festivals, Crystal River and Homosassa, Florida, offer one of the most pleasantly surprising fall pastimes in Florida: swimming with manatees during Manatee Season (Nov. 15, 2024 – March 31, 2025). As water temperatures drop in the Gulf of Mexico, hundreds of West Indian Manatees make their way to the warmer spring waters in and around Crystal River, also known as “The Manatee Capital of the World.” This annual influx makes it easy to experience manatees in their natural environment, observe them at Three Sisters Springs and Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and catch a glimpse while kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding throughout Kings Bay or the Homosassa River.
A unique Florida tradition, Manatee Season brings excited visitors from far and wide. Those still making fall plans can take advantage of local lodging packages, offering a chance to save and swim with manatees. The newly renovated PaddleTail Waterfront Lodge is offering a Stay N Swim Package, including one-night accommodations and a manatee swim tour; and a Stay N Play Package, including two-night accommodations, a manatee swim tour, and a half day kayak and sunset cruise.
Home to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, the only refuge in the United States specifically created to protect critical habitats for the manatee, Crystal River is one of North America’s premier destinations to swim with manatees. On a guided eco tour, visitors can enjoy an up-close encounter while the city’s certified local guides ensure that this beloved, threatened species is treated with the utmost respect, using responsible passive observation techniques approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All local operators are encouraged to follow the standards and guidelines set for operating manatee tours to ensure a safe and happy experience for visitors and manatees alike. There are also “Manatee Manners” that each visitor is encouraged to learn about and incorporate when on a manatee swim tour.
Between November and March, seven manatee sanctuaries within the refuge are off limits to human activity, giving manatees protected “safe zones.” Refuge managers also have the authority to expand sanctuary areas when manatee activity is high due to cold waters in the Gulf, which can ebb and flow daily. Swimmers and paddlers are not permitted to cross into these protected areas but can still observe from a distance or from various boardwalks.
Located about 75 minutes north of Tampa and 90 minutes west of Orlando, Crystal River and Homosassa’s pristine, spring fed waters are the perfect place to experience Manatees in their natural habitat – a true bucket list wildlife encounter. To learn more about visiting Crystal River or Homosassa during Manatee Season, visit DiscoverCrystalRiverFL.com/
###
About Crystal River, Florida
Renowned as the Manatee Capital of the World, Crystal River, Florida, is one of North America’s premier destinations for swimming with manatees. On a guided eco tour, you can enjoy an up-close encounter with these gentle giants. The city’s certified local guides ensure that this beloved, threatened species is treated with the utmost respect, using responsible passive observation techniques approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Located on Central Florida’s Gulf Coast, Crystal River and the surrounding cities of Old Homosassa, Inverness and Floral City are an authentic showcase of outdoor adventure and scenic beauty. Within tens of thousands of acres of protected state parks, forests and wildlife refuges, visitors can explore miles of bicycling, walking, birding, horseback riding and hiking trails to unlock a wild and wonderful world of natural, recreational and archaeological treasures. Pristine swimmable springs and a shimmering network of rivers, lakes, marshlands and mangroves make Crystal River perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, boating, fishing, scalloping and floating. Feeding the fun is a creative collection of restaurants, pubs, bistros and bars serving up freshly caught seafood and other seasonal favorites all year long. Begin your adventure at DiscoverCrystalRiverFL.com or call (800) 587-6667.
Media Contact:
Britney Guertin
Hayworth Public Relations
(386) 677-7000 x 4
Britney@hayworthpr.com
Images HERE