Coopertown Airboat Rides

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Miami, FL
Coopertown Airboat Rides
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Coopertown Airboat Rides is a quirky Everglades tour! You know it's going to be interesting when it says on the sign "Coopertown, population 8." The man who owns the operation lives in the house at the front, and he used to have a family of eight until the kids grew up. We felt like we were in a modern-day trapper's realm. It's amazing how this little house is directly on the water, among the mangroves, water lilies and sawgrass.

There are plenty of alligators and snakes in cages in the back. While you wait for your tour, one of the sweet guides shows you the animals and lets you touch them. The guide who showed us truly had a love of snakes.
It took a little longer than 15 minutes (as we'd been told) for us to depart. But hey, this is Southern time. Got to get in the spirit of things here! Our guide was a weathered and friendly man. He started out telling us he's the tour guide, not the captain, because he doesn't stay until the end should the boat go down!!
Our guide tried his utmost to make sure we saw alligators, and we did! Four of them in all. All of them came close to the boat, which was exciting. You're more likely to see alligators when it's warm, sunny, and not windy. It was not sunny on the day we went but we saw them anyway!
It is super fun to take an air boat ride! The airboat's smooth, fast movement was the funnest part for me. I just loved the way the guide drove in wavey lines through the crystal clear water and sawgrass. The sky looks amazing, arching over the endless expanse of water. I loved seeing the wildlife too- a real treat! It's also interesting to learn about the area from the guide's commentary.
After our 45 minute tour, our guide let us hold a two-year-old alligator. This was a highlight for my teenage son!
We did this tour again, many years later, in 2023 on our last day living in Florida. It was just as good! It was an incredibly hot August day, and so the tour was much better when the boat was going fast, making a breeze through our hair, than when we were going slow looking for wildlife. We saw one alligator, since they don't come out as much on hot days. 
You are given headphones to protect your ears from the loud noise of the motor- bring an alcohol wipe to clean them off with. 
Coopertown Airboat Rides is the location of television and fashion photo shoots for magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. When we were there, a European fashion magazine was doing a shoot!
For a cool book about the Everglades, for older kids, check out Gatorlands- it enriched our travels!

Continue to directions...

The airboat and the gorgeous scenery.

A butterfly on a flower.

The sign on the road.

The delightful waterway as you head out on the ride.

The sawgrass scenery.

An alligator.

Alligator cruising along.

You can hold a two-year-old alligator.

Directions

Cost is $23 for adults, and $11 for children aged 7-11. Children under 7 are free.
Coopertown Airboat Rides are located at 22700 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL, call (305) 226-6048.
From the Florida Turnpike, take Hwy 41 (Tamiami Trail) west for 11 miles and you will see the sign on your left.

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Last Updated: Sat, 19 Aug 2023 16:41:31 GMT

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