About Cocoa Beach Eco Tours
Responsible wildlife tours on Florida’s Space Coast, led by Captain Jamie Glasner, a Cocoa Beach native.
Responsible Wildlife Tours on Florida’s Space Coast
About Cocoa Beach Eco Tours in one line: a Cocoa Beach native and a pontoon boat, showing people the Banana River Lagoon without getting in the way of what lives there.
The company was built to share the wildlife and waterways of Florida’s Space Coast from the water rather than from shore. That is the whole idea. We are not a park, we do not stage anything, and we do not promise animals on cue. What we do is put you on quiet, sheltered water with someone who has spent his life reading it.
USCG-licensed captains who work these three lagoons year-round
No-wake speeds in sensitive water, and respectful distances from every animal
A 36-guest pontoon with a bathroom on board, built for sightseeing and photography
Morning, midday, or afternoon departures, daily
Captain Jamie Glasner
Growing Up on the Banana River
Jamie Glasner is a born-and-raised Cocoa Beach native who has spent his whole life on the waters of Florida’s Space Coast. He grew up fishing the Banana River, which is where the local knowledge came from: the feeding patterns and movement of Redfish, Snook, and Trout, learned long before he ever held a captain’s license.
That matters on a wildlife tour more than it sounds. Knowing where fish hold tells you where dolphins hunt, and knowing which flats hold seagrass tells you where manatees graze. Guests get the benefit of it in the form of a captain who knows where to look rather than one who hopes.
From License to Charter
Jamie earned his USCG captain’s license at 18 and launched his first charter operation in 2007. In the years since he has worked nearly every stretch of the Banana River, the Indian River, and Mosquito Lagoon, and he now runs several ventures across the Space Coast, including Fin & Fly Fishing Charters and bioluminescence boat tours.
He still runs trips himself. On any given day the person at the wheel is as likely to be the owner as anyone else on the crew.
Reviews From the Water
Most of what people write about a Cocoa Beach Eco Tours trip comes back to two things: the captain and the animals. The reviews below are pulled live from Google, unedited, and they include the quiet ones as well as the enthusiastic ones. If you are reading Cocoa Beach Eco Tours reviews before deciding, this is the unfiltered version rather than a selection.
Our Commitment to Conservation
The Indian River Lagoon system is one of the richest coastal habitats in Florida. It holds a significant manatee population, hundreds of bird species, dolphins, sea turtles, and highly productive estuaries. We are out here because we love it. We want it to stay that way.
What That Means on Every Trip
- Safe, respectful distances from all marine life. We never approach, feed, or interfere with animals.
- No-wake speeds through sensitive areas, to protect seagrass beds and limit disturbance.
- No anchoring in seagrass, no trash, and no wake where it is not warranted.
- Every waterway left exactly as we found it.
Education Is Part of the Job
Our captains talk through what you are seeing as you see it: which species, what it is doing, why the lagoon supports it. People who understand a place tend to look after it, and a boat is a good classroom.
Where We Run From
There is one dock, at 333 W Cocoa Beach Causeway, and every trip leaves from it. Parking there is free. Guests drive in from across Central Florida, and Orlando is about 60 miles west, roughly an hour on the 528.
If you have questions before booking, the FAQ covers pricing, timing, what to bring, and what the trip does and does not include.
Ready to See Some Dolphins?
2.5-hour eco tours, daily. Dolphins, manatees, and native wildlife from a quiet pontoon boat. All ages welcome, no experience needed, from $32 per person.
