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Entire home

Snorkel with the Manatees in Your Back Yard - Kayaks Included

Waterfront holiday home with kitchen and patio

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

Terrace/patio
Exterior
Interior
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Nestled on a canal off the Homosassa River, this waterfront house offers a unique retreat. Swim with manatees in the clear waters just 300 yards away and take advantage of kayaks included for your use. With two docks, an LP gas burning fire pit, and a screened-in back porch overlooking the canal, you can unwind by the water.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 484 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Add dates for prices

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 amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

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

  • Smoke-free property

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
  • Snorkelling 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

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Marina

1-bedroom cottage and private boat dock on deepwater canal close to the springs

  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, 118 reviews
1-bedroom cottage and private boat dock on deepwater canal close to the springs

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

Rules

Please see the attached PDF for house rules, sign and return to ----@--------.---

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
On-site 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 that 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 transport 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 area

Map
Homosassa, FL

What's nearby

  • Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park - 3 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Citrus County Dog Park - 4 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Three Sisters Springs - 21 min drive - 13.4 km
  • Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge - 21 min drive - 13.3 km

Getting around

  • Tampa, FL (TPA-Tampa Intl.) - 69 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪RaceTrac - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Pizza Hut - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Crumps Landing - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Manatee Pub - ‬17 min walk

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?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

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

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within 2 miles (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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Reviews

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

9.8

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

10

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 139 out of 157 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 157 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 157 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 157 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 157 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

David R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Place!

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

10/10 Excellent

Angela

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The kayaks, the manatees the area was so wonder!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Tracy R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just as advertised

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 Excellent

Kristy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

4th visit

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 Excellent

Mary B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Visiting the Manatee

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 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great trip

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 Excellent

Chris H.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Great 2 day get-a-way

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

6/10 Okay

Greg M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication, location
Adequate! Internet did not work so I followed directions and sent a text with no reply. Shower drain very slow so had to stand in a dirty puddle to bathe. Neighbor warned us against thefts in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tina M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun Time in Homosassa

We enjoyed our stay in this house on the waterway. We saw lots of different birds and other wildlife. We kayaked to the river and visited some of the local attractions.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Oréo C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

Perfect
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Manatees

Unfortunately the house was not available during our stay due to hurricane damage. However the property owners were great. They promptly refunded our money and put us up in another location. We did get to tour this property and it looks like it will be a perfect place to stay in the future. The owners also let us use their kayaks. We were able to reach the springs in a couple of minutes and had a great experience kayaking the a ton of manatees. Can’t wait to stay at this property in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great weekend !

We got there later than normal, because, due to the inclement weather, we decided we wouldn't try to swim with the manatees. I love the keybox entry. The house was clean and orderly, it had everything we needed. We always enjoy our stay here, whether we swim with the manatees or not!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deb L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Feels like home

This is an older home but very clean...everything works great....Cook a meal or grill out...Wash your clothes....but most of all.......enjoy the manatees right in front of your eyes....We did not canoe but they are there for you to use..a great rental.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very Nice house

The house was right on the water and very close to the springs. We were able to take or boat out scalloping and stop by the springs on the way back everyday. You just need to make sure your boat fits under the bridge. We have a pontoon boat and had to take down the canopy to get under.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

Lovely place, great location, spent hours just sat outside watching the birds, insects and jumping fish! Had a daily visit from a heron! The kayaks were great, went out for a paddle every day and saw manatees every time, including mothers and babies! It was very quiet on the Monday but by the time we got to Friday it was very busy with boats and paddlers but this did not spoil our enjoyment. The house was clean and had everything we needed. The only negatives were that the area where you entered the water to get in the kayaks was very rocky and slippery and the road could be a bit noisy at times, but these were very minor points. Met a very friendly neighbour who told us all about the area and how it had been affected by recent bad weather (The weather was gorgeous when we were there if a bit cool on a morning by Florida standards!). All in all we had a lovely stay and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Ashley P.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great Spot…

We loved this spot on the canal it was awesome and had great access to the spring. Down Side was the inside of the house had fruit flys and porch smelt like cat pee. Bathroom was tiny and flys seemed to accumulate their. Coach was broke and and fridge doors don’t shut all the way which causes it to beep all day and night. Previous guest trash was left which made dumpster smell up the whole yard. This property does bode have a dishwasher and if you leave a few dishes in the sink you will be charged $100. We were also blamed for broken vintage blinds.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angela M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Truly OUTSTANDING location!

The location of this house is suburb, especially if you like to kayak and particularly if you like to kayak to hang out with manatees. Diana made the whole process easy and clear and was prompt in answering any questions we had. We visited for a couple of nights in late November and felt so lucky to have just a 4 or 5 minute paddle to the Homosassa Head Spring where manatees congregate in the colder months. And the Ellie Schiller Wildlife State Park is just a 5 minute walk from the house as well. The backyard with 2 docks, kayak ramp, chairs and a gas fire-pit is a lovely place to relax. Other nearby adventures (all within 30 miles away )we recommend are: swimming with manatees in Kings Bay with Bird's Underwater Dive Center, stand up paddle boarding on the Rainbow River (turtles and otters)and kayaking the Weeki Wachee River(manatees and raccoons). One recommendation would be to plan on cooking or grilling out at the house if you're visiting on a Monday night since most local restaurants seem to be closed on Mondays!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Doug S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An Unbelievable Spot

I am honestly surprised this place was available. The description seemed too good to be true. This is a super unique and amazing place to stay. Being able to kayak down to the Springs and get there early in the morning before crowds is worth it alone. But the house is great, there is a nice little dock with a fire pit (gas) and you see mullet jumping in the river constantly. It is about a 5 minute walk to the wildlife park. This is not Disneyworld. it’s 1000 times better. I am reviewing photos to share and realize all the ones of the dock itself have family members in them. I don’t want to share those, but trust me, it is beautiful. We would definitely go again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Lanae M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Convenient location

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

10/10 Excellent

Heather J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just what we needed

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 Excellent

Ariana B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great time with manatees!

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 Excellent

Ashley P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay!

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 Excellent

Becky R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

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

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fishbowl

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 Excellent

Lynn D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location!

Fishbowl House is in a great location right on the canal! Kayaks, paddles and life jackets provided. We were there at the right season to see Manatees. Towed the kayak to the springs two mornings and were surrounded by manatees the first day and a few graced our space this morning. Well appointed house very comfortable and the outdoor space added to the overall ambiance. Could have stayed longer! Enjoy this place if you can!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025