Entire home

Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included

Photo gallery for Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included

Fitness facility
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 484 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included

One of a kind rental, because it is on a canal off the headsprings of the Homosassa River. Swim with the manatees very near the house in the winter months. They gather in the clear waters just 300 yards away, a short kayak paddle, and kayaks included. The water is always 72 degrees so don't let the cold air scare you off, it is quite pleasant. You are also allowed a 10% discount at Bird's Underwater Dive Center who manages the house. You can take a tour with them on the Crystal River with your discount or they will loan you masks and snorkels if you would rather go it alone from the house. This clean, popular house has been a rental unit for 11 years and many people return very good reviews. The Homosassa Springs State Park is across the street and over a short footbridge. There are two docks, you can fish, or sit and enjoy a fire on the LP gas burning fire pit. This is the Only vacation rental unit in Homosassa within 300 yards of the clear freshwater springs. Two-night minimum stay. Screened-in back porch overlooking the canal. Spacious backyard with banana, grapefruit, and fig trees. Canal has direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of unique waterfront restaurants that specialize in fresh seafood in this little old Florida town.

Paddle to the clear freshwaters of Homosassa River outside of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, see their website. Manatees gather 300 yards from the house to winter in 72-degree water. You may swim with manatees. House owned by Bird's Underwater Dive Center, see the website, who will rent you necessary snorkel gear and explain rules of engagement with manatees.

Great swimming in summer. Great fishing. Walk to state park two blocks away to view manatees and other indigenous animals.

Keywords: Waterfront House

Property manager

Karl Oestreich

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • Near the marina
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 900 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 12:00 PM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Snorkel Manatees Your Back Yard Kayaks Included House
Snorkel Manatees Your Back Yard Kayaks Included
Snorkel Manatees Your Back Ya
Snorkel With the Manatees in Your Back Yard Kayaks Included

About the neighborhood

Map
Homosassa, FL

What's nearby

  • Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park - 4 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Citrus County Dog Park - 5 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Three Sisters Springs - 13 min drive - 13.7 km
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - 14 min drive - 14.0 km

Getting around

  • Tampa Intl. Airport (TPA) - 69 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Sugarmill Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Crumps Landing - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Freezer Tiki Bar - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Twistee Treat Homosassa - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included?

Check-out is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is within 2 mi (3 km) of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Old Mill House Gallery and Printing Museum, and Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park. Citrus County Dog Park is 2 mi (3.2 km) away.

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Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 137 out of 154 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 154 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 154 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 154 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 154 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10

This place rocked! It was clean, comfy, and the backyard space is great for relaxing by the water.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10

Super fun stay! Having the kayaks available was key. We brought our snorkles and wetsuits and used the kayaks to paddle down to the park and happily observed the manatees. Small cottage but had evertrhing we needes.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

8/10

Nice place and conveniently located. We enjoyed the kayaks provided. Only suggestion would be that a few window blinds needed replacement.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10

Nice quaint home on the channel. Kayaks were a great addition and the river was awesome ! Manatee State park literally just down the road.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10

We loved staying in this home on the canal. It was clean and well appointed. The access to the canal couldn’t be sweeter! We look forward to going back.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10

This was our 4th visit to this property and we hope to stay again next year. We love the location and the owner is kind and responsive. Highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10

The kayaks, the manatees the area was so wonder!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10

Second time staying, and we really enjoy the house and garden.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10

We really enjoyed our stay! The location was great for visiting places in Weeki Wachee, Crystal River, and Homosassa. Very close to a Publix and almost next to the state park. A highlight was definitely using the kayaks and seeing the manatees! We did have an issue with the AC not working. However, the owner was extremely responsive and got us set up with a portable AC unit asap and credited us for the trouble.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10

Great Location, enjoyed it very much. Will come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10

We are always impressed with our stay at FISHBOWL. The cottage is small, but large enough to accommodate our needs. It's easy to find, we like being able to put in the kayaks in the back yard and paddle to the manatees.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10

The house was perfect for a short stay. Clean, great location, perfect size, great outdoor space.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10

My daughter and I had a fabulous stay. The property was very well located for kayaking and touring.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

We stay there every Thanksgiving and have not been disappointed! See you next year!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10

Clean, Neat and Manatees!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

The house is great, has all the amenities, very clean. The owner is responsive and very nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

Loved this place. It was so cute and the water was in the back yard. We will stay here again
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10

Perfect location! Close to the spring, minutes from local stores and restaurants, and right on the water. The place is well kept and has everything you need. We will definitely stay here again when we need a little stay-cation.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10

Everythung at the house was fine, the manatees were friendly, and the food, service, and entertainment at MARGUERITA GRILL was GREAT !!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10

The house was very comfortable for the two of us. Host very communicative regarding nearby attractions, restaurants, anything. We did the manatee snorkel adventure with Birds as recommended by owner and we were not disappointed.New comfortable mattress. It was a bit chilly so did not spend as much time outside, but house was right on a canal and saw herons and pelicans and other birds.Would stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10

Loved the location that was right on the water. Short kayak to the clear spring water with dozens of Manatees!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10

Nice view off the back. Kayaks worked out perfectly to go to friends house down the canal. My only word of advice, if you’re a light sleeper bring ear plus as people were flying down the road and it was loud.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10

House was as described. It was very clean and close to everything. I would definitely recommend for a get-a-way to swim with the manatees.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10

House was great. Fishing will captain Parker Springstead was awesome.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10

Perfect
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024