Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 37 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando worth booking?
Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando is a 1.5-hour experience in Daytona Beach, United States, from $65 per person. It scores 71 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 37 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 71 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (37)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $65 per person
Blue Springs is the closest spot for manatee kayaking near Orlando, just about an hour from the airport! Each year, record numbers of manatees (over 600) migrate to the warmer 72-degree waters during the colder months. J
What you get
About this experience
Blue Springs is the closest spot for manatee kayaking near Orlando, just about an hour from the airport! Each year, record numbers of manatees (over 600) migrate to the warmer 72-degree waters during the colder months. Join me for a paddle on Florida’s longest river, the St. Johns, as we search for these incredible creatures alongside other wildlife like alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds. From November to March, during manatee season, the Blue Springs run transforms into a manatee sanctuary and is closed to swimmers and paddlers. My sit-on-top kayaks offer the best view of these gentle giants as they glide by. (there is a max weight limit of 250lbs for the single kayaks and 450lbs for the tandem)****Please note if you need a two person tandem****My kayak tours are capped at 6 kayaks per tour, perfect for families and smaller groups!
What's included
Included
- Local Knowledgeable Guide
- Two Person Tandem available upon reguest with 2 single purchase.
- Kayak and paddle, life vest/whistle, dry bags for wallet, keys, and phone
Not included
- Bottled water
- Sunblock
- Tip for you guide(if you had an amazing time!)
- Sunglasses(polarized preferred) to see underwater better
- Hat (there is no shade on the water)
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Daytona Beach
When you put in Blue Springs State park into your maps app, go past the entrance of the park, do NOT enter the park, go to the end of the dirt road where there is a boat ramp. That is our launch location for the tour. PLEASE DO NOT GO INTO THE PARK!
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
When you put in Blue Springs State park into your maps app, go past the entrance of the park, do NOT enter the park, go to the end of the dirt road where there is a boat ramp. That is our launch location for the tour. PLEASE DO NOT GO INTO THE PARK!
Options you can book
Single Person Kayak
Two Person Tandem
2 person minimum per kayak
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- AWA Kayak Tours
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- not wheelchair accessible
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 37 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
37 verified traveler reviews for Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Fun beginner friendly experience
Fun informative trip with a knowledgeable guide. Saw manatees and gators! Recommend!
via Tripadvisor
Fun experience!
If you want to experience something fun in the Orlando area that's not a theme park, you've gotta try this! I was in Orlando helping my son settle into his apartment for the Disney College Program, and since program participants receive free tickets to visit the parks, he and his friends decided last minute to visit Epcot. That left me with time to myself to have a solo excursion for the day. I found AWA tours on TripAdvisor and booked a manatee kayak tour near Blue Springs State Park for the next morning at 10 am. I received a confirmation text from the tour operator, Aaron, pretty quickly regarding details is what to bring, how to get there and where the closest restrooms were before arriving to the meeting spot. I gave myself 1.5 hours to get to the meeting point but due to morning work traffic, my ETA kept getting pushed back, but I luckily arrived just a few minutes after 10 am. Turns out I was the only one on the tour so I got a personal guide! I appreciated that it wasn't cancelled on me since no one else booked a tour that time. I figured that we probably would not see any manatees because it wasn't high manatee season, but Aaron assured me that we would see some that day. We paddled out around the water and saw a bald eagle as well as many other kinds of birds. I heard crocs croaking at each other. And finally when we reached the other side of the water, we saw manatees! I told Aaron multiple times that he is a manatee whisperer as they would come to his paddle board and play with him. It was so cute to watch their interaction. As we made our way close to the springs, you could see the change in the color of water to a clear green shade. That's where we were able to see a mama manatee and her baby and a few other male manatees. This was definitely a highlight of my FL trip. I loved the serenity of being in the water and surrounded by nature, and especially watching the manatees in their natural habitat. I highly recommend AWA kayak tours if you want to do someone unique in central FL!
via Tripadvisor
Great Tour with a great guide
We had a great tour. Aaron is a fantastic guide and took care of everything. We saw manatees, alligators, and a wide variety of birds. We never felt unsafe at any point. Highly recommended.
via Viator
Stop Looking- Choose This Tour!!
Look no further! We chose this tour because the reviews for the guide, aaron, were amazing. They were so true! Aaron is so knowledgeable about the area and wildlife and he’s just an overall nice dude. Kept us laughing and made us feel so welcome. We just hung out while the manatees were playing right beside us. Saw a few gators as well. Overall the best experience I’ve had on a tour. So much fun.
Response from the operator: Thank you guys for booking with me! Let me know next time you are ready for another Adventure. - Aaron
via Tripadvisor
Kayaking tour with Aaron
Our kayaking tour with Aaron was an amazing experience. He is super friendly knowledgeable making the whole trip feel safe and fun. We saw alligators,birds, fish and manatee
Response from the operator: Thank you again for booking with me! If you ever get back to Florida look us up again and I'll try to find you a different Adventure! - Aaron
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 71
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Daytona Beach.
How much does Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando cost?
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Prices start at $65 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Daytona Beach usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Daytona Beach is not rushed.
Is Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 71 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 37 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Daytona Beach, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Daytona Beach can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Daytona Beach and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Guided Kayaking Manatee Tour near Orlando start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Daytona Beach within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Daytona Beach?
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Daytona Beach combines Daytona International Speedway tours and ride-alongs with beach days on hard-packed sand, airboat rides, dolphin cruises and St Augustine day trips. On Outty we rank every Daytona Beach experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Daytona Beach Dolphin & Manatee Tour – Paddleboard or Kayak, New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour, Polynesian Fire and Dinner Show Ticket in Daytona Beach. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Daytona Beach?
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March to May and September to November. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Daytona Beach?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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