Blue Heaven River Tours
Blue Heaven River Tours
5
Scuba & SnorkellingBoat ToursPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
About
Nothing beats a day on the water with family and friends! We offer Manatee Tours, Scalloping Tours, Nature-Dolphin Tours and more! Our deluxe heated commercially built 30 Foot Pontoon Boat with an onboard restroom is like a Party on the Patio and perfect for your Manatee Adventure! Our heated pontoon boat is our winter manatee boat and can get into the backwaters for the ultimate manatee adventure! Our deluxe 22 Ft Funchaser deck boat is perfect for manatee, scalloping, and nature-dolphin tours. Step aboard and let us be your designated captain! We provide wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins, swim noodles, fishing license, life vests, and anything you might need for your time on the water. We feature private and self-private tours with the top captains in the region. Best boats ~ Best captains ~ Best prices Click on our website for all the details!
Homosassa, Florida
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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deergal
Johnstown, PA14 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We had a wonderful experience swimming with the manatees on the Homosassa River with Captain Wynn of Blue Heaven River Tours.
He was very accommodating and made sure the 5 of us had a great time and got to see and interact with a good size grouo of manatees.
There were 4 adults and an 11 yr old in our group and he took care in giving us great instructions then coaching us from the 30' pontoon boat while we were in the water, letting us know which way to move so the manatees swam to us.
It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend Blue Heaven River Tours for any of their tours.
He was very accommodating and made sure the 5 of us had a great time and got to see and interact with a good size grouo of manatees.
There were 4 adults and an 11 yr old in our group and he took care in giving us great instructions then coaching us from the 30' pontoon boat while we were in the water, letting us know which way to move so the manatees swam to us.
It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend Blue Heaven River Tours for any of their tours.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor R
4 contributions
Feb 2020
I went on this tour with my family and girlfriend and it was an absolute joy. Captain Duane was knowledgeable, respectful, and a lot of fun! Even getting to where the manatees congregated was delightful. The boat snakes up a pleasant river, with vistas on either side, before stopping at the hotspot where all the manatees frequent. Once settled, everybody on the boat gets to hop into the water and float around with gentle giants. Seriously, the freedom to swim effortlessly and safely among the manatees is pretty mesmerizing.
We went on a fairly cold day, which I highly recommend because the manatees come further upstream to where the water is warmer to hang out. I probably swam next to 15 different manatees during my time in the water. They are huge, but also docile and captivating.
I would liken the experience to the best session of yoga you will ever experience. If you are in this part of Florida during the winter, this tour is something you simply must try.
Thank you for the awesome time, Duane!
We went on a fairly cold day, which I highly recommend because the manatees come further upstream to where the water is warmer to hang out. I probably swam next to 15 different manatees during my time in the water. They are huge, but also docile and captivating.
I would liken the experience to the best session of yoga you will ever experience. If you are in this part of Florida during the winter, this tour is something you simply must try.
Thank you for the awesome time, Duane!
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom
1 contribution
Mar 2020 • Couples
It was a wonderful morning. Captain Ron took us to see the manatees and explained us their behavior and how to interact with them very well. We saw a bunch of them and some of them came up very close, looked us straight in the eyes and turned around for a nice belly rub. They did that for quite a while and everyone had plenty of time. The manatees really gentle, and so were we. Even though they are impressively large there is absolutely no reason to be scared. I would 100% recommend doing this if you are in the area and you cannot go wrong with these guys. Make sure to listen to Ron carefully!
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katrinarossos
Philadelphia, PA3 contributions
Jan 2020
This was easily one of the top experiences of my life. To be able to swim so close to such majestic, gentle creatures was unforgettable. We went out with Captain Duane on a three hour tour, and it did not take long to find a large congregation of manatees at a bend in the river! I honestly thought we'd see 2-3 manatees, but there were 20 or more manatees just swimming and hanging out, including a mother and her calf. Captain Duane was excellent at helping us into and out of the water, advising us on how to properly and appropriately swim near them, keeping us warm on the boat, pointing out manatees to us, and taking pictures. He did all he could to make sure we had a phenomenal experience. Captain Wyn was great as well; he called us the day before our reservation to confirm and make sure to tell us everything we needed to bring for the boat.
Several of the manatees swam right up to our faces and loved a little head rub and then would flip over for a little rub on their flank. It was really a beautiful experience connecting with these magnificent creatures.
Several of the manatees swam right up to our faces and loved a little head rub and then would flip over for a little rub on their flank. It was really a beautiful experience connecting with these magnificent creatures.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NGMhome
Blairsville, GA2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
A fabulous day with Captain Ron to swim with the manatees. A magical time, with the gentle giants swimming among them, scratching their bellies, watching their graceful maneuvers.
Captain Wyn was responsive, courteous and delightful to work with when booking the tour. He answered all of our questions and helped determine the optimal tour for our group.
Everyone in our group was completely satisfied and delighted with the day. Captain Ron was attentive and fully engaged in pointing out manatees when we were in the water. He ensured we were safe and comfortable.
We would never consider another tour company!
Captain Wyn was responsive, courteous and delightful to work with when booking the tour. He answered all of our questions and helped determine the optimal tour for our group.
Everyone in our group was completely satisfied and delighted with the day. Captain Ron was attentive and fully engaged in pointing out manatees when we were in the water. He ensured we were safe and comfortable.
We would never consider another tour company!
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric P
Bala Cynwyd, PA1 contribution
Feb 2021 • Family
We had a wonderful trip with captain Ron on the 20 ft pontoon. Booking was super easy. Captain Wyn asked a lot of questions about what we were interested in up front to make sure he set us up with the right boat at the right time. I was nervous as we were bringing along our 2 year old and 4 year old, but they had no problem getting wet suits for both of them, and both got into the water and had a blast. It was a quick trip to the manatee waters, and we spent most of the 3 hours in the water. Captain Ron was clearly a manatee whisperer, not only locating them left and right in the water, but also being able to tell which would want to play, and then directing us carefully with how to interact to engage them. Both my wife and I swam and played with the manatees, truly amazing experience, well worth the cost. Would absolutely book again.
Written February 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cindy
8 contributions
Feb 2020
The weather was perfect!! The manatees were very curious and playful!!. As soon as we got in the water we were met with several manatees swimming our way. Captain Jodi was the best!!! She knew right where to go to get us the best experience. Captain Wyn was very helpful in making our arrangements for this adventure. We did the 4 1/2 hour tour and we had a wonderful time just hanging out with the manatees. There was probably around 8 to 10 manatees that would continuously swim up to us, spend a little time before swimming away and then return over and over. Overall great experience and would highly recommend this tour.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle E
12 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
We did the 3 hour Manatee tour with Captain Ron and it was amazing! We got to swim with and pet lots of manatees. We were in the perfect spot...they just kept coming. We even saw some dolphins and monkeys right when we got on the boat.
Captain Ron did a great job instructing us on where and how to swim up to the manatees so we wouldn't scare them away. The tips were great and listening sure paid off! This was an experience of a lifetime! Highly recommend it.
And Captain Wyn was so patient with answering all of my questions when booking. He even talked us out of spending the extra money on a stand-up paddleboard, knowing we wouldn't have enough time to use it. Thanks for saving us the extra $50!
This tour will give long lasting memories!
Captain Ron did a great job instructing us on where and how to swim up to the manatees so we wouldn't scare them away. The tips were great and listening sure paid off! This was an experience of a lifetime! Highly recommend it.
And Captain Wyn was so patient with answering all of my questions when booking. He even talked us out of spending the extra money on a stand-up paddleboard, knowing we wouldn't have enough time to use it. Thanks for saving us the extra $50!
This tour will give long lasting memories!
Written February 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chelsea M
New Stanton, PA16 contributions
May 2020 • Friends
Four of us went on a private manatee tour. The owner was big about making us feel comfortable during these strange times. They were cleaning the entire boat when we arrived. It was nice that the owner met us before our trip but it was Captain Ron that took us out and wow did we have a great time. The owner was very honest with us before the trip about the possibility (or lack there of) of seeing a manatee. We went May 14th which is way after manatee season (due to the heat) but he looked at the weather and found which day would be the coolest. Once on the boat Captain Ron took us up river telling us all about the river and a lot about manatees. He really knew his stuff. Not too far on our trip we saw a group of four manatees playing, little farther up the river we found one more, and close to the springs we found one eating so we got in the water with it and swam with it for about an hour. Ron was great at telling us how to behave around it so we wouldn’t make it uncomfortable. It was honestly a great time. I can’t wait to go back next year during prime manatee season with my family and even someday going on a scalloping tour because that sounds like a great time. I’d recommend this trip for anyone. And if you go and find manatees you HAVE to get in the water with them. It feels so freeing to swim with a manatee. Thank you to Captain Ron for making our entire trip!!
Written May 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy P
5 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Captain Duane is a very knowledgable, capable, kind captain. He navigated around the river/bay to see as many manatees as we could. The biggest things that stuck out to me where his compassion to the manatees and his attentiveness to his passenger. From great thoughtful discussion to hot chocolate after a chilly swim there was nothing left to be desired. If I were coming back to swim with manatees. This is the only tour I would go on. I can not recommend him enough. The boat is heated and large. There is an observation deck. He also scallops and knows many great local dives and will readily tell you about them. Thanks Duane and Winn! (Wyn) (apologies If I misspelled your name)
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimberly B
Ball Ground, Georgia
What day/time is the best to take the tour? How long are you actually able to be in the water with the manatees for? How far out can we schedule?
Written May 3, 2018
Manatee season is November through March or April. The colder the better. Mornings are better as well, unless it’s going to be cold all day. The boat is very close to the spring. It probably takes about 15 minutes to get there because they have to go at idle speed. You spend most of the trip swimming minus travel time to the spring and back.
Written November 22, 2018
Kimberly B
Ball Ground, Georgia
My friend, Kasey Mcpherson enjoyed your tour back in January and highly recommended you guys! I'm trying to plan my trip now. I will be in Orlando the week of the 20th and was wondering best day/time of a tour and the prices. Not sure how many of us yet, but anywhere from 3-6! Getting details situated. Thanks.
Written May 3, 2018
Hi Kimberly, the best way to reach me for all the details is by phone. This way I can discuss all the details and answer all your questions. I am so thankful for referals and want to make sure I give you great service. My # is 423-320-3008 and if it doesn't show up on the thread you can find it on my website. Thanks, Captain Wyn Walker Owner Blue Heaven River Tours
Written May 4, 2018
Hello, is there a shower to rinse off after returning to the dock? Trying to plan ahead. Thanks!
Written January 14, 2018
There is a bathroom at the restaurant's bar on the outside which you can use. I believe Captain Wyn has an outdoor shower but I am not 100%. The river water is fresh so I didn't feel I had to rinse off.
Written January 14, 2018
Jerry Z
Crossville, Tennessee
Three women in early 70's. We will be at Homasassa Springs Nature Resort from jan 8 thru feb 8. Can you suggest an appropriate tour and what is cost? thanks
Written December 29, 2017
Hi, I would recommend the 3 hour tour. You can do a semi private tour for $59.00 per person or a private tour that is $350.00 that covers all 3 of you. All the prices and tours are on my website.
Thanks, Captain Wyn
Written December 30, 2017
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