River Wild Kayaking: Manatee Tour Review
I was hosted by River Wild Kayaking for a guided manatee tour in February 2024, but this post is my honest review of my experience.
River Wild Kayaking manatee tour is a seasonal guided kayaking experience in Tarpon Springs, Florida! Manatee season runs from November 15th through March 31st every year. River Wild Kayaking provides a guided kayak tour to Tarpon Springs Bayou to spot manatee as you float right alongside them! This is one of the most unique ways to see manatee in Central Florida and ensures you observe the endangered species in a safe and respectful way!
River Wild Kayaking Manatee Tours Basic Information
- Tour Company: River Wild Kayaking
- Address: 1060 N Pinellas Ave. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
- Tour Hours: Daily starting at 9 AM
- Parking: Free parking is available
- Cost: $62 per person; tandem or single kayaks are available
- Children 15 years and under and adults 55 years and older receive a $8 discount
How long are the tours?
The guided manatee tours are 2.5 hours in duration and you will paddle between 3 to 3.5 miles! The trip is out and back from the kayak launch. You will have time to rest mid-way through the tour in the Spring Bayou while you observe the manatee. The tours are offered at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM daily from November through February. This kayak tour route is different than the year round Guided Eco Tour they offer.
Are manatee sightings guaranteed?
The most likely location you will see manatee is once you’ve reached the Tarpon Springs Bayou. Manatee are observed during this tour in their natural habitat. While manatee sightings can never be guaranteed (like anything found in nature), they are very likely! We had the opportunity to see several manatee on our tour.
One important thing to keep in mind is the bayou water is not clear like the Florida springs. The manatee will be swimming around and you can watch them come to the surface, but they are a little harder to spot. We spent a lot of time just hanging out at the bayou (not paddling) and the manatee would swim by.
A benefit of booking a guided tour, is your tour guide paddles the same route multiple times a day. Our tour guide, Julie, was extremely knowledgeable and could even identify several of the different manatee. Your guide will do his or her very best (within their control) to ensure you have an enjoyable experience and get to see as many manatee as possible.
What other wildlife will I see?
This is going to vary by day, but I am willing to bet you will see other wildlife during your kayaking tour. The most exciting wildlife we saw (other than manatee) were dolphins! We also saw various birds including osprey, pelican, and turkey vultures. This is not an extensive list of all the wildlife you might see, but is just an example of our experience!
What to bring with you?
You don’t need a lot, but there are a few essentials I always like to have with me when I go kayaking. I typically pack everything in a dry bag to keep my belongings safe. This is also a good place to keep your car keys. Below are the basic items I make sure to have with me.
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Waterproof case for phone
- Cash for a tip for your guide
I recommend wearing water proof clothes. During the winter months it can be cold (which is great for manatee sightings), so I did wear a bathing suit but also had shorts and a long sleeve sun shirt on to stay warm.
My River Wild Kayaking Manatee Tour Experience
We hit the Anclote River on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon! The first section of the paddle is along the historic sponge docks in Tarpon Springs. Learn the rich history of the Greek settlers and how they leveraged the sponges to make a living.
Continue paddling through the river and taking in the beautiful nature as you go. Your guide will point out any wildlife as you paddle and provide additional history about Tarpon Springs. In addition to the wildlife, our guide pointed out interesting boats. We saw a few note worthy boats during our tour including one that is thought to be cursed, one that is the longest running sponge boat, and finally the longest running sponge tour which has been running for over 100 years! The beginning of the paddle felt very relaxed.
As you continue to paddle you eventually reach your main destination which is the Spring Bayou! Once you are here you get to relax in your kayak and start looking for manatee. We spent at least 30 minutes watching the manatee swim around in the water and chatting with our guide. One of the biggest highlights was getting to see a mom and baby manatee!
To get back to the kayak launch you will paddle the same route you took to get there. On the way back we still stopped for any wildlife sightings, but otherwise we were on a mission to get back to the launch. The current was against us and the paddle on the way back was a work out! But don’t be discouraged by this, it definitely do-able even if you don’t kayak very often. Once we returned to the launch we thanked our guide and headed home!
Helpful tips when booking a manatee tour with River Wild Kayaking
- Book your tour in advance: Tour groups are kept to 10 to 13 people to ensure everyone can stay with the group and hear your guide. I recommend booking your tour online ahead of time, especially if you have a specific date or time in mind.
- Book your tour when the weather is cooler: As the Gulf water cools down, the manatee are more likely to seek refugee in warmer water such as the bayou. This is why the tours are only offered during the winter months.
- Fill out your waiver ahead of time: Once you book a tour you will receive an e-mail with an online waiver. Save time the day of your tour by having everyone complete it ahead of time.
- Use the restroom ahead of time: There are no restrooms at the kayak launch. If you need to go ahead of time the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is around the corner with public restrooms available for use.
- Arrive early: It is recommended to arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of your tour time. This will help ensure your tour takes off on time!
- Bring cash: Be sure to let your tour guide know you had a great time by providing a tip! You also have the option to leave a tip ahead of time online when making your reservation.
What other type of kayaking tours does River Wild Kayaking provide?
River Wild Kayaking currently offers 4 different guided kayaking tours. The first, is the year round Guided Eco Tours. I went on a Guided Eco Tour with River Wild Kayaking in August 2023 which I really enjoyed! These are offered daily. It is a 2 hour tour and the cost is $49 per person with a $5 discount for children and seniors.
The second type of tour is a sunset tour. This is very similar to the Eco Tour, but it is the last tour of the day which allows you to enjoy the beautiful sunset from the water. This tour is offered daily, year round but the tour time will differ throughout the year based on sunset. The tour is 2 hours and costs $49 per person with a $5 discount available for children and seniors.
The last tour is a haunted kayak tour which is another seasonal tour! These are offered in the fall, but I haven’t had a chance to do this tour yet. This is a 1 hour tour and the cost is $32 per person with a $5 discount for children and seniors. This is the perfect activity to add to your spooky season as your guide will tell you ghost stories and you will learn about the haunted history of the Anclote River!
Ready to go on a Manatee Tour with River Wild Kayaking?
I hope my honest review of my experience with the River Wild Kayaking manatee tour helped you make a decision if this is the right tour for you. If you have any questions, comment below. Also, if you decide to go, please report back and let me know if you enjoyed your experience.
The information above was accurate at the time of publishing to the best of the author’s knowledge. If you are planning to book a guided eco tour, I recommend verifying the most current information with the River Wild Kayaking website.
