The cool weather of January brings Manatees into the warmer bays surrounding southwest Florida as the gulf chills down.
The best way to see manatees in Collier County is from a boat, but BE CAREFL (boats have caused many manatee fatalities). Manatees can also be viewed from shore in various locations in Collier County. You are very likely to see manatees in locations where fresh water canals meet salt water canals, as well as in tidal channels that are important migration routes.
In the winter manatees tend to be within the inland waterways, usually close to the spillways, and in summer the manatees are most often found in areas of seagrass.
Tigartail Channel
The channel between Tigertail Beach / Hideaway Beach and Sand Dollar Island is a haven for manatees. This shallow tidal channel has very warm water and is a place where manatees often congregate during cold weather. Take a canoe/kayak trip the seagrass beds in this unique ecosystem and you may spot numerous manatees in the lagoon.
Conservationists have had to aid stuck manatees in the shallow middle section of the channel due to low tide causing the channel to dry up. Thankfully storms in January 2022 have opened up a new channel across Sand Dollar Island which improves the connection to the gulf making this a much more manatee friendly area.
Port of the Islands (Faka Union Canal)
Port of the Islands off US-41 is a manatee refugium where manatees go during cold weather. The canal spillway here a place Manatees come to drink fresh water coming out of the Golden Gate Estates canals. Manatees prefer to drink fresh water if it is available, although they can survive on salt water.
It is common to see manatees within the residential canals in the Port of the Islands neighborhood as well as near the spillway. If you are looking for a true adventure, boat tours of the area are available from Wild Florida Ecotours, and Manatee Eco Tours.
These tours will take you throughout the extensive canal system and into the waterways of the everglades and include other wildlife such as alligators, crocodiles and dolphins in addition to manatees.
Gordon River / Golden Gate Canal
Similar to the Faka Union Canal is the Gordon River area. Located behind the Naples Zoo, there is a kayak launch as well as tours available from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. This area is a "urban mangrove jungle" right in the heart of Naples Florida.
You will find manatees oftentimes near the spillways on the Upper Gordon River Canal and the Golden Gate Main Canal where these waterways empty into the Gordon River. This is perhaps the best place to see manatees up close in a jungle cruise like setting.