This was the second time we had been to Coopertown. The first time was a few years ago and we absolutely loved and thought it was well worth it! This time, I'm sorry to say it was a waste of time and money. There were 5 of us and we paid ahead of time 130.99 on Groupon for our tickets, along with an additional 8.00 a person National park fee once we got there! Along with a child. The first time we went, there was an exhibit where you could pet a baby alligator and ask any questions you had about them. This time there was nothing. This time we got on the airboat ride and it wasn't until we were headed back that an alligator was spotted! Of course we were not told beforehand that it was mating season and spotting gators was not as likely to happen. Had I known that, or been warned I would have reconsidered. I was on the other side of the boat of course so Even standing, I barely got a glimpse of the gator before he went under. We got back to the doc and that was it. I felt like I had paid almost 200 for an experience that was very different from our first trip. I contacted the company and talked with the assistant manager Mary Anne, and told her of my disappointment and she didn't seem to care. They didn't offer any sort of compensation, and the customer service was more of a "suck it up"- experience. I contacted Groupon and they said it was something that had to be worked out with the merchant. A few years ago I would have highly recommended this experience! Now, not so much. It's was overpriced and not guaranteed or cared about if you see anything. read more

This place was such an amazing experience! I absolutely loved it. The staff was incredibly friendly and super knowledgeable--they shared so much interesting information about the different species in the Everglades, which made it even more enjoyable. The airboat tour was definitely the highlight. Our tour guide (I wish I could remember his name!) was so fun, engaging, and informative. He answered all of our questions and made the whole experience feel exciting and memorable. I'm from Las Vegas, so getting to see live alligators and be out in nature like that was really special. I was honestly expecting way more bugs, but it wasn't bad at all--I barely got bitten! They also have a cute little gift shop if you want to grab souvenirs. Overall, this was a 10/10 experience and something I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the area! read more

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We had an amazing time at Coopertown Everglades Airboat Tour! The airboat ride was super fun and exciting from start to finish. We were lucky to see a lot of alligators up close, along with beautiful varieties of birds, which made the experience even more memorable. We also spotted a few turtles during the tour, which was a nice bonus! The guides were not only knowledgeable but also super funny and friendly, making the whole ride enjoyable and engaging. Back at the complex, they also have a couple of alligators you can see, which was great to check out after the tour. The gift shop is well-stocked with a great collection of items at very reasonable prices, and the staff there were incredibly friendly and helpful. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and definitely something we would do again. Highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Everglades! read more

Booked through Groupon for ~$30/person, and then had to pay another $8/person on-site for national park fees. We went on a holiday week and there was a LONG wait despite booking ahead. We were given a boarding number (first come first served even if booked ahead) and that boarding number wasn't called in the back for 1.5hr despite initially being told 50min wait. There was a "reptile show" casually happening in the back (where they went on economics tangents and the reptiles were in glass cages, so not much to see) and also a full restaurant with breakfast, burgers, fries, etc. The actual airboat was great though -- the driver served as a tour guide and paused the boat every so often to give historical/species fun fact. We actually got to see 2 alligators en route! The speed is quite fast at some points so it's an enjoyable boat ride, cool foliage, nice Florida experience. I wish they organized the actual boarding process/waiting time better (there was just a crowd of people around the boats in the back, no lines, no signage of what number is happening, no clear times). It's surprising it was so messily organized given this company has been around for decades. Also, the server for the restaurant was particularly sassy with all our adjacent tables that day. But the airboat ride is fun! read more

Coopertown Airboats - Boat Tours Near Me - Miami, Florida

We liked that this company was only one of three that could operate in the National Park. Driving there was easy, but it doesn't have a well marked sign or entrance. GPS got there without problem though. There is adequate parking. We opted for a private tour and are so glad we spent the extra to do that. Money well spent when we saw how crowded the other bigger airboats were with people. Plus we found out, the more people, the heavier the boat and less places they can go with lower water levels. Having Tommy, our guide, answer our questions and engage in conversation as he was driving, then stopping at various places was great. He gave so much information about the Everglades that really was interesting and made the trip that much more enjoyable. He would stop and point out the wildlife. He explained some of the ecosystem of the area. A one hour tour is plenty to see and have the full experience. We saw several alligators, fish, birds and the local fauna. There is a small gift shop and restaurant on the property, but they only have port-a-potties. Just so you're aware. But the trip is so awesome that didn't matter at all. This was a tremendous experience and a highlight of our trip!! read more

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There are a few companies that claim to do airboat rides through the Everglades, but this company was really great! Everything felt so natural and not touristy. Devin was our educator and boat driver. He was so very helpful, very knowledgeable, and made the full experience wonderful! The boat were well taken care of, you were given good sturdy, ear protection, and the boat driver would stop and turn off the boat and tell you about the ecosystem, the live creatures, the plants and flowers, etc. Overall, my experience was absolutely wonderful! I think they could improve on not making the alligator looks so tacky, and also clean up where you check in, but everything else was above and beyond. Every single person I interacted with that was an employee was super helpful and friendly. I highly recommend this place! If you happen to be a senior like me, I have a national Park pass that gets me into national parks for free. For this particular park, it saved me eight dollars. read more

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Looking for something fun and close to the airport to do before our flight home I found Coopertown Airboats. The great part about this place is that you can book in advance, for a private tour, or walk up and join a group tour. The group tour is about 40 minutes long and we didn't have to wait long before they had enough people for a tour. While you're waiting you can visit the resident gators, turtles and snakes. I like that the boat wasn't stuffed with guests and even though it was a group tour everyone had plenty of space. Our guide was great, he was knowledgeable, fun, and kept the whole group engaged. The Everglades were absolutely beautiful, and we got the chance to see alligators up close, which was definitely the highlight. The staff was friendly and professional, and everything was well-organized from start to finish. If you're looking for a fun adventure in the Everglades, close to Miami, I highly recommend this tour. Just one tip if you have an annual pass for the National Parks make sure to bring it and save $8 per ticket on the park fee. read more

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Love love the Airboat tour ! Our tour was 2 hours and our captain was Billy. He was amazing very very nice showed us alligators, there nest , baby alligators ! Wish it never ended ! They gave us noise canceling headphones they worked great . We went to another different spots and areas told us aloe about the everglades and his wxprrice of working there and he did a lot of this stuff when he was a kid . Really recommend for anyone who hasn't been to Florida and wants to go see a national park !! read more

Saw a gator, went fast, and learned a lot, great captain! Everglades national Park is amazing.

Went with the family for the airboat ride to see if we could find some wildlife and crocodiles. The boat ride itself was awesome (ended up sitting in the second row). Definitely wear the headsets to minimize the loud noise as the fan itself is SUPER loud but given how it blocks sound you're still able to hear from our airboat guide (Billy who was great). We ended up seeing various wildlife and 3 crocodiles of varying sizes SO COOL! I think the most fascinating thing I still can't wrap my head around was how the airboats and the guides are able to know what they can ride over the airboat with as I swear there were instances where branches etc we ran right over with no problems. Definitely would recommend Coopertown Airboats if you're in the area. read more

Coopertown The Original Airboat offers an unforgettable Everglades adventure at a fantastic value! I purchased a Groupon for about $20, which was a great deal. Keep in mind, there's an additional $8 National Park fee you'll need to pay onsite. The airboat ride was thrilling, providing stunning views of the Everglades' natural beauty. Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging, sharing fascinating insights about the ecosystem and pointing out wildlife. During the 45-minute ride over Thanksgiving weekend, we spotted three alligators. While I had hoped to see more wildlife, just gliding across the wetlands in an airboat was an amazing experience on its own. Although "Touristy" the green screen picture with the CGI alligators was pretty neat as well and worth the extra $20 for the picture printout and a magnet. This is a nice outing to try once, whether you're a nature enthusiast or simply looking for a unique adventure in Florida. Highly recommend it for the scenery, the thrill, and the excellent value! read more

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We took a 2 hour tour and so glad we did. Devon was our guide and was REALLY good at good job. We saw many alligators, birds, the "duck house/shack", and interesting plant life. The airboat was so interesting and fun. Thank you Devon and Coopertown Airboat Tours for a great memorable time. read more

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We booked a tour for our 35th anniversary. flew 3,000 miles. and phoned for directions before showing up. We were told that airboats depart every 20-30 minutes, the last boat leaves at 5:00, and we need to check in by 4:30. We arrived at 3:30 and the young lady at the counter told us that they are closed due to a thunderstorm, and that the boats being made of metal may attract lightning strikes. A man in a safari-looking type uniform who appeared to be an airboat captain, or a tour guide sitting to the left confirmed, stating "it's too dangerous". We asked for a refund and the young lady told us that because we booked through Expedia and did not buy the tickets from there on-site that she could not issue the refund at the counter. She stated that we would need to contact Expedia for the refund. We contacted Expedia through email, and by phone many times. We were told by Expedia that Coopertown each time replied to them stating that they were going to remain adamant about their no refund policy. The last time that we contacted Expedia we were told that Coopertown flat out lied to them stating that they were open and running tours all day regardless of bad weather. Expedia stepped up and issued the refund regardless of Cooperstown's insistence on ripping us off. read more

TAKE THE TWO ALLIGATORS OUT OF CAPTIVITY. It's not right!! The airboat was a cool experience, but there is no reason to hold captive two alligators in a VERY small, caged area for their entire lives. read more

We went on the airboat tour at Cooperstown and it was awesome! The experience was exciting from start to finish. The two tour guides were great, knowledgeable, funny, and made sure everyone had a good time. It rained during our tour, but honestly, it added to the adventure and made it even more memorable. That said, we definitely recommend bringing a light jacket, poncho, or towel, just in case! A must do if you're in the area and want to experience nature in a fun, unique way. read more

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Great experience great price via Groupon Enjoyed the view and tour guide comments and munching on sawgrass and lily stems. read more

Coopertown Airboats - Air boats - Boat Tours Near Me - Miami, Florida

Took a trip to the Everglades while my family was in town and we found Coopertown Airboats on Groupon for a deal. When driving towards this area, you pass by a lot of different signs for airboat tours. Coopertown's is the most unsuspecting and plain, plus they had a lot of construction around there at the time which made the entrance pretty confusing. When we arrived, we had a hard time finding the entrance to where we could find the airboats but it was a little past the Coopertown Restaurant. There was only one girl working the "Photobooth" area and she told us to wait for someone at the kiosk labeled "Airboat tours". We waited for a while as she just sat there. I get that she wasn't in charge of that but she could've been a bit more helpful. After a while, she called the other girl over to help and she seemed like the heat took everything out of her and couldn't be bothered. Although not overly friendly, she was helpful enough. Once you check in and pay the extra National Park entrance fee (after showing her our Groupon), we signed waivers and headed inside the gate. We took photos that they sell you at the end of your trip. They gave us a boat number and had to wait for it. While waiting, we went to go see the gator show going on. It was an okay show and fairly informative. Once our boat arrived, they called us over. It was soooo hot, going at peak time in June around noon time. Overall, the boat tour was so cool. We only saw one gator but I thoroughly enjoyed the airboat overall. Our "driver" was super funny, informative, and drove the boat so well. Overall, a good tour to go on but curious to see how the other ones are like. read more

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I came back to give them another try, and this time, they were quite excellent. The person who takes the money at the front could be a little more pleasant, but considering who she deals with all day long, I guess I can't really blame here for being a bit surly. And she does ask if you have a National Park membership, which gives you a little discount. The trip starts with watching the show, which was interesting. They have an albino Burmese python on display, which raised its head up when I approached because I am parseltongue, apparently. They also have a baby alligator that you can feel the tail. I can't remember the young man's name, other than he said if you didn't like the show, his name was Bobby. So, him. Sebastian was our airboat captain, and he was quite excellent. Due to the rainy weather, we only saw one alligator out in the water. For me, that was fine as I've been on rides before. For anyone on their first trip, it was unfortunate, but Sebastian can't help where the alligators are. All-in-all, it was quite well done and we had a very good time. I would come here again. I can't comment on the restaurant because we didn't go inside it this time. I'm still not interested in eating alligators. read more

Coopertown Airboats - Richard and I at the Everglades. - Boat Tours Near Me - Miami, Florida

Amazing tour!! We got up close and personal with several alligators and it was such a unique way to experience the Everglades. Our guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. read more

We had a little bit of a hesitancy when committing to an airboat tour, but they definitely exceeded our expectations at Coopertown. They're one of only two companies that are able to actually operation within Everglades National Park's boundaries. They've been doing it for more than 75 years. Make sure to check Groupon and see if you're lucky enough to book an airboat ride for 4 for only $72 + the National Park entrance fee. No need to make reservations as they offer tours from 9:00a to 4:30p every day. Sam was our guide and he was outstanding. He was funny, energetic, knowledgeable, and had a passion for his job. If you're there during the summer, I would highly recommend taking a very early or very late tour as the wildlife is likely to be more active. Don't let the roadside zoo vibe of this place fool you, you will quickly realize what an amazing experience they provide once you get out in the sawgrass with the swamp puppies. read more

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Coopertown is the oldest and most authentic airboat ride. They offer 40 minute rides for the lowest rate, from what I saw, and give you all you could expect. The ride I took was scarce in terms of wildlife, which i understand is unfortunately due to the terrible impact of the Burmese Python infestation. This snake is wiping out much of the wildlife in this part of the Everglades, and it is very hard to eradicate. The people at Coopertown were just super. I took wildlife tours in Florida over 50 years ago and some of the people were less civilized than the animals, but the staff here were great, easy to talk to and friendly. read more

Coopertown Airboats - Boat Tours Near Me - Miami, Florida

Super fun experience! We went on the airboat and were able to see 3 alligators, some turtles, birds, and a ton of lily pads! The guide was very knowledgeable and made some jokes along the way! Before the tour we were able to see the alligators they had on site as well as touch a python after hearing insightful information from Jeff! The gift shop has really cute things such as alligators, turtles, stuffed animals, and other nice souvenirs. We bought a few for our kids, they loved them! We tried some alligator and frog legs at the small restaurant they had, that was an experience in itself. I don't think I would eat it again, but it's definitely something everyone should try at least once. *check Groupon, they offer discounted prices for coopertown! read more

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Long lines and bad organization makes this "Groupon" stop a big No No. During the winter the line to eat your ticket or your Groupon voucher scanned is about 1hr to 1hr and a half long. After that it's a 20min dinky "animal show" which is some instance clown posse chic w dreads holding a pet alligator. Basically keeping you busy for 40-60min while your airboat is ready. Once you get on the airboat it's a 40min trip into the river of grass which is great. Only downfall is the boat captain who knows zero about the everglades( I grew up here so it was double painful for me to sit through). Worst part is the extra $8/ per person they tack on as a "national park fee" even though they keep repeating its on miccosukee Indian land. read more

Great experience! We came as team on Xmas day. Our tour guy was funny and knowledgable about the alligators. read more

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Pretty cool. They had a little show and after u can take pictures with the baby alligator. Also there's a couple of alligators and snakes you can see. We did the airboat & saw 3 alligators! Pretty cool. read more

Guided tour on the "River of Grass" I found a Groupon deal for this Coopertown Airboat tour. No reservation required. There is an additional $5 per visitor National Park Entrance fee payable when we redeemed our Groupon offer. We used our Annual National Park Pass. Coopertown is one of three authorized airboat businesses that offer professional airboat tours inside Everglades National Park so I guess they can charge for that entrance fee. I always bring my pass with me anyways. The $80 pass already paid for itself when we originally purchased it in Haleakalā NP. We redeemed our ticket and signed a waiver. We had a little bit of a wait time so we browsed inside the gift shop. Oh, we almost missed the wildlife exhibit but I was able to take a pic with a small gator. They only allowed for guests to touch the tail. The gift shop was a good size offering apparel, souvenir merchandise and snacks. We purchased a few souvenir shirts after our tour but had to get some ear plugs for the tour because the airboats are LOUD. Even my Apple Watch warned me LoL! Our tour guide was a newbie, just moved from TX to FL three months ago in Sept... and he looked like Jared Leto with the beard and sunglasses LoL! Nice guy and knowledgeable and funny. We did spot a couple of gators, we were lucky. These animals are not paid actors so they don't just show up on demand LoL! The tour was about 40 mins. This is not my first boat tour in the Everglades but my first ever airboat ride. Pretty educational and informative. Good deal with the Groupon. Review #2793 read more

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Had a really fun time at the Coopertown Airboats this morning! We elected to get there early to be on the first boat (9am), and really enjoyed the tour. We saw lots of alligators, a few turtles, and several different kinds of birds over the course of the 45 minute tour. Our tour guide was friendly and had some good jokes that kept everyone entertained and lighthearted. The opportunity to see the mini 'zoo' in advance and have our young boys hold a baby alligator was also a thrill for them. Would definitely come back! read more

This tour was so fun! Our guide drove the boat like it was a race car doing spin outs and all kinds of stuff that made the tour more exciting than I thought it would be. We didn't see a ton of gators out that day, but there were a couple. The boat entertainment definitely made up for it. It was such a cool and unique experience. read more

Very friendly staff and fun experience, if you planning to visit everglades Air boat ride, try this place and you won't be disappointed. We didn't try their restaurant but heard it also really good. read more

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10/10 recommend! They have a store and restaurant on site so you can grab a beer or sangria for the trip. We got super lucky and were able to see 3 alligators! Our guide was Juan and he was so amazing- he has so much knowledge about the alligator and the Everglades. Just a great time with a great boat of people! read more

Unethical! We were a party of 4 with a National Park pass that allows entrance for 4 people. Cranky old hag that took our money wouldn't allow us to enter under my sister's pass. Hag didn't even check or scan the park pass but hey if you can over charge a white couple $16 she gonna do it. Ain't right. You know it ain't right. read more

this place is more like a 4.5 out of 5 stars. highly recommended! I was looking for things to do in miami, and stumbled upon this place. I was pleasantly surprised they also offered groupons, which is a steal if you ask me. Glad i took the chance on groupon and selected this ride/tour. There is an additional $5 per visitor National Park Entrance fee payable when redeemeding the groupon offer. We took the first airboat ride out into the everglades and i think it was the best choice. Our tour guide mentioned that later airboat rides produce too much noise and scare the gators. So come early to ensure you get to see the most gators out in the everglades. Before the airboat ride, you'll sit on bleachers to learn about snakes and gators for about 20 mins. They also brought out a small gator for everyone to touch. On the actual tour, you spend like 45 to 1 hour in the everglades. it was so nice to get fresh air and they take you to their own alleyway where you'll see different plants, birds and gators. I would recommend wearing mosquito repellant and sunscreen. read more

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This was the highlight of our trip to the Everglades. Would absolutely go again. Seeing the park by boat was absolutely breathtaking. We saw an alligator swimming around the boat and the guide narrated perfectly. Check Groupon for a deal to save some money on the ride. read more

We really wanted to do an airboat tour when we were in the Everglades, so we picked this one. The tour was $20/person which I thought was reasonable. The tour was about an hour long. We really enjoyed the tour. It was fun going out into the swamp and we saw quite a few alligators. One alligator swam right next to our boat. The guide was entertaining. I rated a bit lower because their website said they were taking Covid-19 precautions (this was back in the winter at the peak of the pandemic) and from what we saw they took none. None of their employees wore masks. Their tours were packed full. The waiting area was a zoo. There was no attempt at social distancing. At least it was outside. Overall, their pandemic considerations was my only complaint. If you're fully vaccinated now, this is a good tour. read more

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Fun and absolutely breathtaking!! We got a private boat tour with just our party which made it more personal without feeling overcrowded or rushed. Our tour guide had so much knowledge and answered all our questions. He really took his time so we can take pictures and enjoy the scenery. Take some time to enjoy the gift shop afterwards and make sure to bring cash and leave a tip!! read more

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What a great experience! John, our airboat tour guide was phenomenal! He was very knowledgeable and took us on the ride of our life, zipping in, around, and out of places! He was also comical and kept us entertained. But, don't let the airboat tour be your only reason for going. Jeff was our guide for the show. He was friendly and knowledgeable about all of the wildlife in the area--we were able to hold a python and pet small alligator; very cool. I'd definitely recommend this tour and give them a 10/10 rating! Oh, and check Groupon for cheaper tickets;). read more

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Sam was an awesome tour guide! Very entertaining with the drifting and our tour went over the allotted 40 minutes. Successfully summoned 3 alligators along the route. Highly recommended, thank you so much! read more

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My boyfriend and I had been wanting to take our 4 year old on an airboat ride for a while now so he went on Groupon and got us tickets. Note: there is still a $5 entrance fee but Children under 6 ride and enter free. I've been on an airboat ride before but this place was an entire experience! From the minute we checked in everyone was extremely friendly and kind! I felt like I was in a different planet. We saw a sign that said we could take buckets of beer on the airboat and quickly head over to grab a bucket. It was nice that the adults are able to have a few drinks while the children enjoy themselves; I can't tell you how much I appreciated this! Before the airboat ride began we sat at a mini demonstration with baby gators and snakes. The girl that did this show was great and we were able to pet and take pictures with the animals. After the show it was time for the airboat ride. The airboat ride was fun and we got up close and personal with the gators. Our tour guide called a couple over so that we could get a good look. This is what the tour was all about! Overall this was a really good experience and we had a great day with our little one. Definitely recommend doing this tour! read more

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So much fun, got to enjoy the Everglades, see some wildlife including alligators.guide was funny and professional. Got a good price through Groupon read more

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We went with a Groupon discount for abt 15$ a pop. It's a pretty usual airboat tour for the northern Everglades boundary. The beginning you checkin, sign your waiver and you are set to go. It was seamless and we were directed to a wildlife exhibit with 2-4 gators and a python in captivity. They also have a baby alligator which you can pet and take photos with. After abt 10-15 min at the wildlife exhibit we got on our airboat. It's loud, hot sun but enough cool breeze when the boat is zooming by the ecosystem. We saw abt 4 gators and a couple of birds. It's very loud where you can hear the host when only stopped. And that's also a good time for photos. Overall fun hour spent. Carry enough water, sunscreen and they even allow beers. (We didn't know that ahead of time) read more

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