New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Meet your guide for pickup in downtown New Orleans and head for a 2-hour boat tour in Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve that is one of the last protected wetlands in Louisiana. Visit a Cajun village only accessible by boat; learn about the animals and plants in the lush swamps; and get close to wildlife that are out and active with an expert local guide.
Please note that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
PLEASE NOTE: tour ONLY picks up from the location listed. Pick ups from any other location cannot be accommodated.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Lake Pontchartrain
After pickup in central New Orleans, it's a short drive across Lake Pontchartrain to Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve that is one of the last protected wetlands in Louisiana.
Your guide welcomes you aboard a custom-made 22-passenger flat-bottom boat. The smaller sized, quiet boat can fit through narrow passages in the swamp foliage so that you see more and get closer to wildlife. As your guide explains the history of Louisiana’s wetlands and swamp ecosystem, be on the lookout for alligators, raccoons, owls, wild boar, nutria, snakes, turtles, black bears, bald eagles and other bird species. Get a close look at some wild gators as your guide shares facts about the toothy beasts, who can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (453 kg). Glide safely through the fertile swamplands, learning about Cajun culture and how local people have utilized the swamp for food, homes, and medicine. You even see an authentic Cajun village that is only accessible by boat. Gain an understanding of why the wetlands are slowly disappearing and about the efforts being made to preserve Louisiana's natural treasures. After a fascinating 2-hour boat tour, your guide returns you to shore.
What‘s Included
Free parking on site
Transportation from downtown New Orleans
Life Jackets for guests under 16 years old
Wildlife encounters
Live commentary on board
Professional tour guide
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Options
2:45PM Tour - 1:15PM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 1:15pm and return is at 6:00pm
9:30AM Tour - 8:00AM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 8:00am and return is at 12:45pm
12:15PM Tour - 10:15AM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 10:15am and return is at 3:30pm
5PM Tour - 3:30PM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick up will commence at 3:30pm and return is at 8:15pm.
Reviews
5,366 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour
Jzzbassman72,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jacob was knowledgeable and made sure everyone saw lots. Interesting showing the different ecosystems in the marshes.
Super fun and Captain Jacob was great!
Excursion156680,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super fun! Even though it was cool and winter, Jacob made sure that we saw alligators and lots of other wildlife. Would definitely do this again.
Sunbathing alligators.
Jay A,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Tony was Awesome. Very knowledgeable and personable. He would take the time to find all the different types of wild life in the marsh and along the banks of the river. I could tell we had a better experience than most. We saw 7 different alligators and a variety of marsh birds and the whiskey tree was beautiful to see. We also saw turtles, snakes and snails in the area and he was well versed in all the history of the marsh. I highly recommend this swamp tour.
One of the Best Swamp Tours Around
smvo178,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an excellent experience with Cajun Encounters. We booked the option with transportation, and our bus driver, Derek, was friendly, funny, and super helpful on the ride. He shared a lot of local tips and food recommendations, which helped toward the end of the trip back to the hotel drop off. There was a bit of an issue with part of our group getting who got picked up from a different location. The pickup process itself is pretty straightforward, just keep in mind there’s a 30-minute pickup window at the starting point. Even with the mix-up, the team handled it well and offered a credit or gift certificate for future use, which felt fair and much appreciated. Once we arrived, our swamp tour captain, Jacob, was fantastic. He was engaging, really knowledgeable, and clearly knew the swamp well. We saw a ton of wildlife and had plenty of time to take photos. As someone from NYC, seeing raccoons just wandering around in nature instead of digging through trash was honestly adorable and easily one of the favorite parts of the tour. Everything overall felt organized and well run. From start to finish, it was a smooth experience, and you could tell the people working there actually care about what they do. I would definitely recommend Cajun Encounters if you’re looking for an easy, well-run swamp tour with great guides.
Swamp Tour
Christine H,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Captain Roy was very friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this trip to anyone visiting the New Orleans area.
Great Time
Z7901QHsophiap,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Scott was wonderful! He let us take everything in, not rushing the experience at all, and provided so much knowledge. It was such a great time.
Fantastic Swamp and Bayou tour as well as bus ride
Jet64932950326,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was just fantastic. The bus tour operator, Derek was awesome and so was the boat tour guide, Greg. We saw amazing wildlife during this tour and the swamp and bayou were spectacular.
Definitely a great tour
Culture453528,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great bus driver Derek really had great insider knowledge about restaurant recommendations! Also Aaron was our boat driver he was great answered all the questions anyone asked very friendly
Very informative. An...
julie s,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very informative. An enjoyable day. Saw birds and alligators. Learned about the history of the swamp/bayou.
Swamp Tour
lisafF9025DG,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Scott aka Swamp Ninja was the best guide. Super knowledgeable and friendly. Amazing experience. Great tour and sights seeing.
From US$70.12
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Operated by Cajun Encounters Tour Co.