Silver Springs: Manatees and Monkeys Clear Kayak Guided Tour

About This Experience

You meet at the main entrance of Silver Springs State Park, pay the small park and launch fees on arrival, and get a short lesson on land before launching. The standard boat is a clear two-person kayak, so a parent and child can paddle together, and the guide leads the group for at least an hour and a half on the water.

The river here is so clear that kids can watch fish, turtles and eelgrass slide past under the see-through hull. Manatees turn up on many trips, most reliably in the cooler months, and the park's rhesus monkeys sometimes appear along the banks. Part of the route follows the Fort King waterway under cypress trees, past old props left over from jungle films shot here. The guide takes photos along the way and shares them afterward with a QR code.

Silver Springs is about an hour and a half from Orlando, and the tour leaves on time, so late arrivals miss out; plan to be there 30 minutes early. There is little shade on open stretches of river in summer, and you may get a bit wet. Manatees and monkeys are wild and never guaranteed, and a few reviewers saw neither. The monkeys can carry herpes B virus, so nobody should approach or feed them.

This works well for families with kids old enough to sit in a kayak for two hours and enjoy spotting wildlife, and for parents who want to share a boat with a younger child. The listing says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or epilepsy, and anyone who is uneasy on the water may prefer the park's glass-bottom boats.

Highlights

• Look straight down through a clear kayak into the Silver River's spring water
• Watch for manatees, turtles, fish, wading birds and river otters
• Keep an eye on the banks for the park's wild rhesus monkeys
• Paddle the cypress-shaded Fort King waterway past old jungle movie props
• Share a two-person kayak so a parent and child paddle together

What's Included

• ✓ Clear two-person kayak, with single kayaks or paddleboards on request
• ✓ Life jacket, matched paddle and all required safety gear
• ✓ Dry bag for your phone and small items
• ✓ Short on-land paddling and safety lesson
• ✓ Guided tour of about 1.5 hours or more on the water
• ✓ Photos from the guide, shared after the tour

Not Included

• Transport from Orlando; you drive to Silver Springs yourselves
• State park entry, paid for each visitor on arrival
• Launch fee, paid per kayak on arrival
• Bottled water, so bring your own
• Gratuities for the guide

What to Bring

• Swimsuits or quick-dry clothes, since you may get a little wet
• Refillable water bottles for everyone
• Sun hats, sunglasses and sunscreen
• A towel and a change of clothes to leave in the car
• A warm layer for cool winter mornings

Good to Know & Caveats

• Manatees and monkeys are wild and never guaranteed. Manatees show up most often in the cooler months.
• Children may ride with an adult. Contact the operator in advance if you plan to bring a small child.
• Arrive 30 minutes before your start time. Tours leave on time and do not wait for late arrivals.
• State park admission is free for children 5 and under at the main entrance.
• Never approach or feed the monkeys. They can carry herpes B virus, and feeding them is illegal in Florida.
• No paddling experience is needed, but everyone should feel comfortable on the water.
• Swimming is not permitted at Silver Springs.

Meeting Point

Meet at the main entrance of Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488. Transport from Orlando is not included.