Manatee Paddle Rentals & Tours — Local services in Crystal River

My girlfriend and I were in Orlando on vacation from California and wanted to swim and paddle board with manatees before we left. We were pressed for time as our flight left that afternoon and it would've been impossible to get to experience the manatees if it wasn't for Noah and his mom at Manatee Paddle. We called ahead of time to see if we could get a reservation with our super limited time frame since we had a 2 Hr drive from Orlando to Crystal river and then back to Orlando Int Airport, Noah told us it would be tight but he would set up an hour rental if we got there as soon as possible and get us set up fast and on the water ASAP with all the equipment. When we arrived around noon he had us set up and paddle ready in a flash even though I dropped my go-pro camera in the river right off the bat. The service was beyond great, the equipment was top notch and the entire experience was amazing. We paddled and swam with a group of manatees at 3 rivers cove and it was the HIGHLIGHT of our trip to Florida.......Now tor the best part about the customer service at this business. After our swim which took longer than expected because who wants to cut this experience short right...70 degree warm clear blue green water frolicking with these gentle giants? We got back on the paddle boards and tried to paddle back to the loading ramp which was about 30 min away in good smooth water. The winds had picked up to about 20mph and it made paddling back very slow and difficult in fact about 1/3 of the way back we realized we wouldn't make it back for probably another 2 hours possibly. This meant we would definitely miss our flight back to Los Angeles and be completely screwed. Heck we were probably not going to make it back in time anyway as we were so late. We beached the paddle boards a safe location and jogged back to the loading ramp through the neighborhood. We found Noah and his mom in the rental truck loaded with kayaks and paddle boards and explained our situation regarding the flight and offered to take them to the location of the paddle boards and help load them back up. Noah and his mom are such stand up people that they said not to worry about it as we'd miss our flight and to get going ASAP and that they would go find the paddle boards and get it all figured out. We felt so bad to leave like that and we were unbelievably appreciative of the way they treated us as customers. Manatee Paddle definitely gets 4 thumbs up from us!! Thanks from...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I’d give them 10 if I could!) We were so excited to kayak the Crystal River into Three Sisters Springs, Hunter Springs, etc. to see the manatees. Still, our day started off a little rocky — we were given the wrong information at Three Sisters Springs, purchased tickets, and soon learned there are no kayak rentals inside the park (it’s walking access only).

Thankfully, we headed into downtown Crystal River and found Manatee Paddle — and what a great find it was! This family-owned business is run by the nicest husband-and-wife team who truly care about their customers. They explained everything clearly, provided a handy map, and made the whole process so easy.

We rented a kayak, hitched a golf cart ride a couple of blocks to the launch, and met the husband there. The experience was perfect — no hidden fees, no confusion, just friendly, honest service and great conversation. When we returned, the owner was waiting to help us out of the water and even shared some awesome local restaurant tips (definitely check out Crump’s Landing!).

Manatee Paddle was the highlight of our trip — professional, kind, and genuinely wonderful people. If you’re planning to kayak in Crystal River, skip the confusion and go straight here! Plus, the downtown area is adorable — with a museum, coffee/smoothie shop, and a few great local stores.

Highly recommend — 10 stars for a 5-star...

Manatee Paddle is hands-down the best way to explore the magic of Crystal River and Kings Bay! Whether you're a local or visiting the manatee capital of the world for the first time, this place is an absolute must.

From the moment we arrived, the staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about helping people experience the natural beauty of the area. Their kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are top-notch — clean, stable, and easy to use, even for beginners.

We paddled through crystal-clear waters, winding through lush mangroves and spotting wildlife everywhere — and yes, manatees! So many gentle, graceful manatees gliding right beneath us. It felt like something out of a dream.

The location is perfect for launching right into Kings Bay, with easy access to Three Sisters Springs and other hidden gems only reachable by water. Manatee Paddle gave us great tips on where to go depending on the time of day and water conditions, which made our experience even better.

If you're looking for the ultimate way to connect with the natural heart of Florida, don’t miss Manatee Paddle. It’s an unforgettable adventure that’s peaceful, awe-inspiring, and just plain fun. Highly,...