Trip Ideas This Florida Town Is the Only Place on the Continent Where You Can Swim With Manatees And this $65 swim with manatees tour is one of the top-rated activities in the U.S. By Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Instagram Twitter Website Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who grew up in the California Bay Area and now lives in New York City (well, Hoboken, New Jersey). She's a solo travel advocate, dumpling addict, and reluctant runner — who managed to finish the NYC marathon three times. She's also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Romania and Poland. Rachel started her editorial career chasing celebrities as a magazine editor (Popstar associate editor, CosmoGirl entertainment editor, J-14 editor-in-chief, Us Weekly senior editor). Along the way, she also started chasing passport stamps and is now a freelance writer and editor contributing to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and The Washington Post, among others. She also edits standalone entertainment and travel magazines. Prior to this, she worked in television publicity at The WB Television Network, and also interned at Nickelodeon and "Dawson's Creek." * 25+ years of media experience in television, magazines, and digital brands * 20+ years of editorial experience as a journalist, writer, and editor * TaiwaneseAmerican.org's 100 Passionate People Pioneer * Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications Professional Gallery Wall of Fame * Received a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of California, Los Angeles * Received a master's degree in magazine, newspaper, and online journalism from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications * Completed writing courses through UCLA Extension, Media Bistro, Gotham Writers Workshop, Yale Writers' Workshop, and the Highlights Foundation * Founding executive board member of the alumni group Newhouse 44 and still serves as a member * 15+ years of experience as a judge for the Mirror Awards Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on May 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Crystal River, on the west coast of Florida, is the only place on the continent where swimming with manatees is permitted — and this top-rated Tripadvisor experience allows visitors to go on a three-hour adventure with an in-water guide who will take photos of the experience. Courtesy of Explorida The tour is run by Explorida, which was started by local Citrus County residents, who wanted to provide an educational and responsible way to interact with the local wildlife. "When done responsibly, these encounters can be a life-changing experience by facilitating a soulful connection with nature," the company says in its mission statement. Courtesy of Explorida More than 400 West Indian manatees — who are about 10 feet long and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds — migrate to the area in the winter during peak season, which runs November 15 through March 31. Since the concentration is so high, many manatees stay throughout the summer, and they can be spotted year-round. Courtesy of Explorida The tour includes the use of a wetsuit and snorkel gear, as well as the guidance of a U.S. Coast Guard master captain and an in-water guide, who will also serve as a photographer. Suitable for travelers ages 3 to 103, the level-one snorkel experience is recommended and float noodles will be provided. Visitors need to bring their own swimsuits, towels, sandals, or water shoes, as well as a change of clothes. By booking through Explorida's site, Manatee Swim Tours are $64, while a Sunset Snorkel is $74. Private tours are also available from $575. For those who don't want to go into the water, a viewing cruise is available for $35. Courtesy of Explorida The tour ranked No. 3 in Top Overall Experiences in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best rankings in 2021, behind a glass-bottom kayak tour in Tierra Verde, Florida and a zip line tour in Colorado Springs. Travelers gave the manatee swim 1,062 5.0 reviews with one recent traveler saying that it was "more than we could have ever anticipated" and that they "were treated like royalty by all the staff." Courtesy of Explorida The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects wildlife by prohibiting human interactions with whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles in the wild, but this Crystal River experience is legally permitted (only in this area), according to Visit Florida. Manatees were placed on the endangered species list in 1966. Since they are protected by law, careful instruction is given on the tour about how to safely interact with the slow-moving creatures. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit