Can you swim with manatees in Orlando?

Visit beautiful Homosassa State Wildlife Park, and take an exhilarating airboat ride. Head to the picturesque Crystal River – home to the endangered “gentle giant of the sea,” the Florida manatee – where you can choose to snorkel or swim. Have a chance to interact with these beautiful creatures if you’re lucky.

Where in Florida can you swim with manatees?

Crystal River area
There’s only one place in North America where you legally swim with manatees, and that’s in the Crystal River area— located about 90 minutes north of Tampa, on the west coast of Florida. The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round.

How much is it to swim with manatees in Florida?

How much do manatee tours cost? Our public manatee tours start at $59.95 and go up to $65 for peak manatee season (November-April). Private manatee tours are $449 for a boat that holds up to six people, larger private manatee tours can be arranged for an additional $75 per person.

Are there manatees in Orlando?

During cold snaps, manatees migrate to huddle up in the warmer waters of the Central Florida Springs. That’s why the winter season in Orlando is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of Florida manatees at Blue Spring State Park.

Is it illegal to swim with manatees in Florida?

Their population has hit just over 6,300 animals in Florida, an increase of only 1,267 since 1991. So it is illegal to swim with manatees in their habitat anywhere in the United States except in Citrus County.

Where can I see manatees in Orlando?

Best Places to View Manatees Near Orlando

• Blue Spring State Park—Orange City. Located north of Orlando, this state park is one of the largest winter safe havens for manatees in the state and a designated manatee refuge.
• Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park​—Homosassa.
• Hunter Springs Park—Crystal River.

Are the manatees still at Blue Springs park?

With the warming weather, most of the manatees are currently not in the springs as they have ventured out to feed. We are now playing previously recorded highlights videos. You can also scroll down the page to see past manatee videos from the web cams.