Clear Kayak Weeki Wachee: Manatees & Spring Wildlife

See the river floor and the wildlife beneath you from inside a clear kayak.

Clear kayak tour on the Weeki Wachee River and estuary with a live guide, where you paddle through spring-fed waters and shallow estuaries looking for manatees, dolphins, turtles, fish and birds. The tour runs 2 to 2.5 hours, starts at Mary's Fish Camp, and uses tandem kayaks with all safety gear, paddles and dry bags provided. You stay in the kayak for the full duration on this ecologically sensitive waterway, and the guide stops for photos along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Clear kayak tour on Weeki Wachee River

• Start at Mary's Fish Camp
• Kayak through estuary waterways
• Observe wildlife like manatees and dolphins
• Listen to guide's information about area
• Stop for photos along the way
• Return to launch site by drifting downstream

The experience

What makes this kayak tour different is the kayak itself. The hull is clear, so you're looking down through the water at the river floor and whatever moves across it. You launch from Mary's Fish Camp into the estuary where the Mud and Weeki Wachee Rivers meet, paddling through winding waterways where fresh and salt water mix. The guide leads you upstream first, which is the harder half of the paddle, then you drift back downstream to the launch site. The whole tour runs 2 to 2.5 hours.

Wildlife is the draw here, and the guide knows where to look: manatees, dolphins, turtles, fish and birds all move through these waters, though the river and its inhabitants change day to day. The guide stops to help you frame photos and shares information about the waterway and what lives in it. Because the Weeki Wachee is ecologically sensitive, you stay in your kayak the entire time. There are no beach stops or exits to stretch. The kayaks are tandem, so you're paddling with a partner: either another adult or one adult with one child aged 3 to 17.

All kayaks are tandem unless you arrange otherwise beforehand. Weight limits apply: no individual over 250 pounds per seat, and the combined weight of two paddlers cannot exceed 425 pounds. You'll need at least a moderate level of fitness for the upstream paddle, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy. Children must be at least 3 years old to participate.

What’s included

• Tandem clear kayak, paddles, seats and dry bags.
• safety equipment including lifejackets and whistles.
• live guide in English.
• all fees and taxes.

Information

Lasts 2h–2h 15m, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 79 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday and Sunday: 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00Wednesday to Saturday: 08:00, 09:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Get Up And Go Kayaking - Weeki Wachee

Is this one for you?The 2 to 2.5 hour commitment leaves room for other activities in your day, and the upstream-then-downstream structure means the harder paddling comes first while you're fresh. Book this if you want to see wildlife from a unique vantage point and don't mind staying in the kayak for the full tour. There are no beach breaks or exits on this ecologically sensitive waterway.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on the Weeki Wachee clear kayak tour?

Manatees, dolphins, turtles, fish and birds all inhabit the Weeki Wachee River and estuary, though wildlife sightings depend on daily conditions and animal behavior. The guide knows the waterway and will point out what's moving through it, and the clear kayak lets you see into the water as well as across it.

Is the upstream paddle difficult, or can beginners do this?

The tour is designed for beginner paddlers, but the first half paddling upstream is a workout. You'll need at least a moderate level of fitness. The return downstream is a drift paddle, which is easier, and the guide leads the pace throughout.

How long does the clear kayak tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs 2 to 2.5 hours total, starting at Mary's Fish Camp. You'll spend the full time in the kayak. There are no stops to get out because the Weeki Wachee is ecologically sensitive.

Do I need my own kayak or paddling experience?

No, all tandem kayaks, paddles, seats, dry bags, lifejackets and whistles are provided. The guide leads the tour and handles the route. You just need to be able to paddle at a moderate fitness level.

Can I go alone, or do I have to share a tandem kayak?

All kayaks are tandem, so you'll paddle with a partner. One adult can pair with one child aged 3 to 17, or two adults can share. You can arrange a different setup beforehand if needed.

What are the weight limits for the clear kayaks?

Each seat has a 250-pound limit per person, and the combined weight of both paddlers cannot exceed 425 pounds per kayak. These are manufacturer restrictions built into the equipment.