Miami Cocaine Capital Historical Landmarks Tour

Immerse yourself in the history of how Miami became the cocaine capital of the United States in the early 1980's. Designed to delight fans around this specific period in time, this tour is mainly conducted in Coconut Grove and covers some of the most iconic spots that had a signficant role on the drug war. Condominiums, cigarrette boats, sailboats, Mutiny hotel, peacocks.. you will be hearing and learning some of the most impressive landmarks that became a mecca for the 1980's cocaine kingpins

Meeting Point

2550 S Bayshore Dr

2550 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133, USA

You will be able to park your car at the parking lot right at the entrance of the lot. Please wait for your guide at Montys Restaurant

What's included:

• Bluetooth to play your own music
• Driver Guide

Not included:

• Bathroom

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour

2550 S Bayshore Dr

2550 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133, USA

Welcome to the Cocaine Cowboys Tour—where Miami’s sun-soaked glamour collides with its most notorious past. We’ll uncover how the city became the drug capital of the 1980s through four explosive themes: high-speed distribution channels, luxury real estate laundering, the rise of cigarette boats, and the infamous Hotel Mutiny, where traffickers and celebrities shared champagne and secrets.
After this intro, we’ll walk through the marina to explore how cigarette boats powered the smuggling empire—getting up close to the vessels that once outran the law and helped reshape Miami’s underworld.

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Rickenbacker Causeway

Rickenbacker Cswy, Miami, FL, USA

From the marina, we’ll cruise across the iconic Rickenbacker Causeway, stopping at a panoramic viewpoint where the Miami skyline stretches like a monument to excess. Here, you’ll uncover how real estate became one of the most powerful laundering tools of the cocaine era—where luxury condos, high-rise banks, and beachfront properties weren’t just symbols of success, but vaults for illicit fortunes. As the city grew skyward in the 1980s, so did the empire behind it.

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Coconut Grove

Miami, Florida

After exploring the skyline and uncovering its hidden history, we’ll head into Coconut Grove—known to locals as “The Grove.” This lush, bohemian enclave was more than just a tropical escape in the 1980s—it was a discreet playground where luxury homes masked illicit fortunes. As we wind through its leafy streets, you’ll immerse yourself in the “green jungle” that once concealed cash, secrets, and silent deals. Keep an eye out for the iconic peacocks, proud and vibrant symbols of a neighborhood that’s always danced between elegance and edge.

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The Mutiny Hotel by Provident Hotels & Resorts

2951 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133, USA

Our final stop is one of the most infamous landmarks of Miami’s drug-fueled past: The Mutiny Hotel in Coconut Grove. In the 1980s, this wasn’t just a luxury hideaway—it was the beating heart of the cocaine underworld. Drug lords, celebrities, crooked politicians, undercover agents, and informants all crossed paths here, blurring the lines between glamour and danger.
Known as a mecca for kingpins, the Mutiny was so flush with cash it sent out armored trucks stuffed with profits. It sold more bottles of Dom Pérignon than anywhere else on Earth—proof that Miami’s high life was fueled by something far darker. Here, you’ll hear the wild stories that made this hotel legendary, standing in the very place where power, paranoia, and excess collided.

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