Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Agreement") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Customer", "Passenger", or "Guest") and Coopertown The Original Airboat Tour, regarding your use of our website (coopertownairboats.com), online ticket purchasing systems, and participation in any airboat excursion, private charter, or wildlife presentation conducted at our facilities located at 22700 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33194.

By purchasing a tour ticket, entering our premises, or boarding any Coopertown vessel, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by all terms, conditions, and safety notices set forth herein.

All ticket rates and schedules published on this website are stated in United States Dollars (USD) and are subject to change prior to booking confirmation.

• Ticket Rates: Standard public airboat tour tickets are priced at $39.00 USD per Adult and $21.40 USD per Child (ages 6–11). Children under 6 years of age ride free with a paying adult.
• Alligator Exhibit Access: All tour ticket purchases include full complimentary access to our authentic on-site educational alligator exhibit and live presentations.
• Digital Confirmation & Receipts: Upon completing checkout via PayPal or credit card, you will receive a unique order reference number (e.g. COOP-YYYYMMDD-XXXXX) and an instant printable receipt (view receipt format).
• Redemption Procedure: Present your digital receipt on your mobile device (or a printed copy) along with matching identification at the Coopertown ticket desk upon arrival.
• Ticket Validity: Standard public tour tickets are open-ended and remain valid for redemption for up to 365 days (1 full year) from the date of purchase.

Please note the following critical details regarding the park entrance fee:

• The park entrance fee is separate from and not included in the online airboat tour ticket charge.
• This fee is collected in person on-site at our ticket desk upon arrival, or visitors may present a valid America the Beautiful National Parks Pass or active Everglades Annual Pass to waive the fee.
• 100% of National Park Service fees support the ongoing conservation, scientific research, and preservation of the Everglades ecosystem.

Coopertown Airboats operates 365 days a year, including Christmas, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving. Public airboat tours depart continuously throughout the day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (the last airboat departs at 4:30 PM daily).

• Open Scheduling / Walk-Ins: Public tour ticket holders do not require a fixed departure time reservation. Simply check in at our dock, and you will be boarded on the next departing airboat.
• Weather Conditions: Tours operate in sunshine and light passing rain. The Everglades climate frequently features brief, passing subtropical showers that pass quickly.
• Safety Weather Holds: Passenger safety is our paramount priority. In the event of severe weather conditions—including active cloud-to-ground lightning, severe high winds, tropical storm warnings, or official park closures—airboat departures may be held temporarily until conditions clear.

We maintain fair, transparent, and guest-friendly cancellation policies:

A. Weather-Related Cancellations Initiated by Coopertown

If Coopertown suspends or cancels departures due to severe inclement weather or government-mandated park closures:

• Your digital tickets automatically remain 100% valid for any future date or departure with no rescheduling fees or expiration penalties.
• Alternatively, guests who cannot reschedule are entitled to a 100% full refund back to their original payment method (PayPal or credit card) upon request.

B. Customer-Initiated Cancellations

• Unused Public Tickets: If you purchase tickets online and are unable to visit, you may request a refund anytime prior to your ticket being redeemed at our dock.
• Redeemed / Completed Tours: Once a tour ticket has been redeemed and the passenger has boarded or completed the tour, tickets are strictly non-refundable.
• Private Tours & Group Charters: Private charters, corporate groups, and film productions involve dedicated vessel reservation and captain allocation. Cancellations for private charters require at least 48 hours advance notice for a full refund.

To request a refund or reschedule, contact our reservation office at (305) 226-6048 or [email protected] with your order number.

Airboats are high-performance watercraft propelled by powerful aircraft engines, designed to skim over shallow water, prairies, and sawgrass. For the safety and comfort of all passengers, the following rules are strictly enforced:

• Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): Coast Guard-approved life vests are provided for all passengers. Florida law mandates that all children aged six (6) and under must wear a properly fitted PFD at all times while on board.
• Hearing Protection: Airboat engines generate high sound levels. Complimentary sound-dampening earplugs or headsets are provided to every passenger before departure and are strongly recommended.
• Physical & Health Considerations: Airboat rides feature high speeds, wind, vibration, and sharp maneuvers. Expectant mothers in advanced pregnancy, individuals with severe back or neck disorders, and guests with recent major surgeries should consult a physician and ride at their own discretion.
• Sobriety & Conduct: Intoxicated passengers posing a disturbance or hazard will be denied boarding without refund. Smoking, vaping, and the possession of firearms or illegal substances are strictly prohibited on all vessels.

Coopertown operates inside the historic River of Grass, home to thriving populations of wild American alligators, endangered snail kites, great blue herons, and turtles.

• Passengers are strictly forbidden from attempting to feed, bait, or touch any wild creature encountered during the tour.
• Littering, throwing objects into the water, or discarding trash into the Everglades ecosystem carries severe federal and state penalties and will result in immediate ejection from the park.
• While alligator sightings are exceptionally common on our historic 5-to-8 mile trails, alligators are wild, free-roaming animals; sightings cannot be legally guaranteed due to seasonal weather and temperature patterns.

Coopertown is South Florida's premier production support provider, having assisted major film, television, and fashion productions (including Miami Vice, CSI: Miami, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic) for over 40 years.

• Private Tours: 1-Hour, 1.5-Hour, and 2-Hour private eco-expeditions require advance coordination to reserve dedicated captains and crafts.
• Commercial Filming & Photography: Commercial productions, film crews, and fashion shoots must coordinate directly with Coopertown management and obtain any necessary commercial filming permits from the National Park Service.
• Drones & Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): In accordance with National Park Service Policy Memorandum 14-01, operating personal drones or unmanned aircraft inside Everglades National Park or from our property is strictly prohibited without written federal authorization.

Outdoor wilderness ecotourism inherently involves natural conditions not present in urban environments. By purchasing a ticket and embarking on a Coopertown tour, each passenger acknowledges and voluntarily assumes the inherent risks associated with open-boat travel in a subtropical wetland:

• Environmental Factors: Exposure to direct sun, heat, humidity, rain, wind, insects, and natural vegetation.
• Wild Fauna: Proximity to wild animals, including alligators, birds, and aquatic life in their natural, uncontrolled habitats.
• Watercraft Motion: Rapid boat acceleration, vibration, water spray, and abrupt maneuvers required to navigate narrow sawgrass channels.
• Personal Property: Coopertown is not responsible for personal items (smartphones, cameras, hats, sunglasses) dropped overboard or damaged by water spray. Secure all loose belongings before departure.

To the maximum extent permitted by Florida law, Coopertown Airboats, its officers, licensed captains, and employees shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from tour participation or website use.

This Agreement and any claim, controversy, or dispute arising out of or related to your ticket booking, visit to Coopertown, or participation in our airboat tours shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

You expressly agree that exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement shall lie in the state and federal courts located in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

If any provision of these Terms is deemed unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.