Swim With The Manatees in Florida Gulf Coast

You may have heard about "swimming with the manatees along Florida's Gulf Coast and thought that sounds really great, but how do you do it? Where? When? Is it expensive?

It's actually much easier and not expensive! Here's what you need to know!

What actually are manatees, anyway?

You probably already heard them called "sea cows", but you better not try to milk one! Not because there are dangerous, quite the contrary! Here are some facts about manatees:

Manatees are mammals, not fish.
Manatees are very gentle.
Waters below 68 F can be fatal to manatees, which is why the migrate up the coastal rivers when the Gulf or Ocean goes below 71 F.
Adults can be 13 feet long and weigh 1300 pounds. ( 4.0 metres /s 590 kilograms )
They have paddle-like tails which is why sailors used to think they were mermaids. OK... very ugly mermaids, but if you're a drunk sailor at see for 10 months... well, you get the idea...)
Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon basin, and West Africa.
The main causes of death for manatees are human-related issues, such as habitat destruction and human objects. Their slow-moving, curious nature has led to violent collisions with propeller-driven boats and ships.
Manatees do not have any sharp front teeth They are herbivores.
Manatees are covered with thousands of stiff but sensitive sensory hairs which are their primary sensory organs
Manatees eat over 60 different freshwater and saltwater plants. In the river, Manatees eat the aquatic equivalent of grass, mostly plants growing on the river bottom
They often come right up to you, gently rub against you, kiss you with their rubbery front lips and may even wrap a flipper around you
When the Gulf water temperature dips below 70, they come up the rivers to stay warm. The rivers are fed by springs that keep them 72 degrees year round There's also lots of tasty sea grass for them to eat.
Manatees have good long-term memorydemonstrate discrimination and task-learning abilities similar to dolphins. Social interactions between manatees are highly complex and intricate, which may indicate higher intelligence than previously thought.

What does it mean, to "swim with the manatees"?

Here's how it works:

You watch a video that explains the do's and don't and Federal laws about how to interact with manatees.
You put on a wet suit (72 degrees Fahrenheit may sound warm, but even the experienced guides say you'll get cold after 10 minutes of that. Unless of course, you are as big as a manatee...)
The boat takes you up the river to the places where the manatees congregate.
If the Gulf has been cold the day before, many manatees will be there. I saw hundreds.
You get in the water with your snorkel and make gentle, slow movements. Manatees are curious and will likely come to check you out.
You may not intentionally touch the manatees , but the manatees may choose to touch you, and that's fine. Several wrapped their flippers around me, and a couple even pulled me around the water like that. The may also "kiss" you or your suit with their rubbery lips. It does not hurt. They're just checking you out. You can spend an hour two doing this!
The boats often have hot chocolate and towels for when you get out.

What's it like?

If you are like and the Gulf has been cold, there will be countless manatees around you. You just slowly, quietly float and gently paddle around. The manatees will then come to you, often within inches of your face, looking at you, checking you out, maybe giving you a kiss.

Remember, do not reach out to touch them, that's illegal and you could hurt them. But they will probably rub against you, kiss you are give you a hug!

When you get cold (eventually, you will!), get back in the boat and have some hot chocolate!

What about dangers, like sharks and alligators?

Sharks cannot go in fresh water. The rivers are fresh water. No sharks there!
Alligators are reptiles. They need warm water. The rivers are a constant 72 year round, too cold for alligators. No alligators.

Important tips:

Go when the Gulf is at it's coldest (November to March). The manatees stay in the Gulf when Gulf waters are warm (72 F and above) since the rivers are always 72 F.
Try to go when the Gulf waters have been below 70 F
Shop around, tour boat company prices vary!

How to select a manatee tour guide company

These companies are everywhere along the west coast of Florida from the Crystal River (Homosassa area) north of Tampa down the west coast.

The good guide boats:

Provide wetsuits
Have guides equipped with GoPros to record your group's experiences above and below the water.
Have amenities like towels and hot chocolate on the boat.
Have a warm shower and changing room for afterwards.

Contact info and prices

Prices typical run from about $70 per person to $200/person. It depends on the size of your group, the amenities and varies from one tour company to another. Adventuure Center

Adventure Center - This is the one we used. They were great!
River Ventures -
Swim with Manatees -

Swimming With The Manatees in FloridaCamping tips

There are many camping areas in the nearby Withlacoochee State Forest. And since the winter months are the best time to swim with the manatees, the campgrounds should not be full!

Withlacoochee State Forest -
To purchase a pass or make a reservation, visit ReserveAmerica or call 1-877-879-3859.
General info: (352) 797-4140
Email Tracy.Pollard@FDACS.gov.

Camping and cabin reservations can be made using one of the following methods: Florida Parks Map

book a cabin or campsite at one of our Florida State Parks. Just visit the new Florida State Parks Campground Reservations site or call toll free at 1-800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. You can buy day passes there, too.
• Online - Reserve.FloridaStateParks.org.
• Call center - 800-326-3521 or TDD 888-433-0287 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
• At a park - Visitors can contact the park directly to make reservations for primitive sites, primitive group camps and developed group camps.

Most state parks are open 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year. Visitors may make campsite or cabin reservations before 1 p.m. on the same day until 11 months in advance.

Cabin reservations may be made from one day up to 11 months in advance of your arrival date.

Reservations can be made beyond 11 months only when the reservation period starts within the 11-month period and ends outside that period. The result is reservations could extend 11 months and 14 days in the future.

Campgrounds near Swimming With The Manatees in Florida in Florida

Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort -
4510 North Fort Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830. Phone: (407) 824-2900.
Yes, you can camp on the park at Universal Orlando. They have several options, including Fully-Equipped Campsites for tents to 45-foot and bigger RVs. There is a limit of 10 Guests per site, so leave cousin Randy at the trailer...
They have a swimming pool, illuminated at night, with a waterslide and a whirlpool spa. They also offer archery, horseback riding and canoeing . They have a pet-friendly policy
When we looked in September 2021, they were booked up until May 2022, except for a few last minute dates, and the average price was $106 (tent site) up to about $200 for premium RV sites, all plus tax and fees. Book 6 months to a year in advance!
This campground is about 10 minutes from Walt Universal Orlando Resort, 24 minutes to Universal Orlando and 17 minutes to SeaWorld.
Thousand Trails Orlando RV Camping -
2110 Thousand Trails Blvd, Clermont, FL 34714. Reservations (Member): 1-800-388-7788. Reservations (Non-member): 1-888-481-6348. Ranger Station: 352-394-7575.
Open Year Round. Number of Sites: 1017. 255-acre RV campground. This campground is about 20 minutes from Walt Universal Orlando Resort, 40 minutes to Universal Orlando and 33 minutes to SeaWorld.
Tropical Palms -
2650 Holiday Trail, Kissimmee, FL 34746. Open Year Round Call: (877) 570-2267.
343 sites. Our resort offers spacious private cottages and RV site rentals set on 69 beautiful sun-kissed acres in Kissimmee, Florida. We are 4 miles from Walt Universal Orlando Resort, 11 miles from the Orange County Convention Center, and within walking distance of Old Town and Fun Spot. Enjoy all that central Florida has to offer, while also having convenient access to our pool, cafe, shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, live entertainment, social events, and much more. This campground is about 20 minutes from Walt Universal Orlando Resort, 20 minutes to Universal Orlando and 17 minutes to SeaWorld.
Kissimmee RV Park--
2425 OLD VINELAND RD, KISSIMMEE, FL 34746. Phone:(407) 396-6655. Email:mgr@kissimmeervp.com
Kissimmee RV Park (formerly Orange Grove Campground and RV Park) centrally located and 6.5 miles from the peripheries of Universal Orlando’s Magic Kingdom. Orlando attractions are generally within 30 minutes of our Kissimmee campground and long or short term RV park rental. Kissimmee RV Park is pet friendly. We welcome cats and all non-aggressive breeds of ogs. They have a heated pool, a recreation hall with kitchen and bingo, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, and restrooms and showers. Every site comes with a concrete patio and a picnic table. This campground is about 13 minutes from Walt Universal Orlando Resort, 25 minutes to Universal Orlando and 20 minutes to SeaWorld.