Swamp Country Tours in New Orleans, Louisiana
Just a short drive from New Orleans, visitors will encounter what Louisiana natives refer to as “swamp country”, that wild, natural area of cypress swamp that is so typical of this part of the country. Famous for its scenic beauty and its flora and fauna, the swamp country of Louisiana is fun to tour and such a journey is a great addition to any trip to New Orleans and the surrounding vicinity.
Many visitors partake of these unique tours for just one reason…to see the alligators. While it’s true that you’ll certainly encounter these intriguing lizards on your journey, there’s much more to see on a trip through Louisiana’s cypress swamp. Many outfitters offer you the opportunity to catch a glance at this wild portion of the state. They include:
? Honey Island Swamp Tours (www.honeyislandswamp.com) – This tour takes visitors to what is considered one of the least-altered cypress swamp areas in the country. Honey Island is about a 50 minute ride from New Orleans and is seven miles wide and 15-20 miles long. Tour boats allow visitors to get a good look at the water and its inhabitants as well as the island. These interpretive tours are narrated and the boats are small, allowing for a more intimate experience and access to shallow areas. Two tours are conducted each day.
? Louisiana Tour Company (www.louisianaswamp.com) – Departing from the town of Crown Point, these tours have been operating since the early 1990s. Guests can tour via a traditional covered swamp tour boat or by 6- or 16-passenger airboat for a more high-speed ride. This company also offers hotel pick-up and boats depart several times a day all year round. Narrators are entertaining and every tour is different, because you never know what you might encounter around the next corner.
? Cajun Encounter Tours (www.cajunencounters.com) – This company takes visitors to the famous Honey Island Swamp, where they can view alligators, raccoons, owls, wild boars, nutria, snakes, turtles, bald eagles, black bears, and a vast variety of birds and water fowl. Tours are aboard a 24-passenger boat that has access to shallow areas of the water, putting guests close to nature. Tours leave 3 or 4 times a day, depending on the season, and hotel pick-up is available.
? Cajun Critters Swamp Tours (www.cajunswamptour.com) – This company offers 2-hour tours twice daily, departing from Westwego, LA. Reasonably priced, the tours are conducted onboard a traditional pontoon boat known as the Swamp Queen. Before the tour, enjoy oyster or roast beef po’ boys, boiled crawfish, or shrimp at the onsite restaurant. Pick up is available.
? Jean Lafitte Swamp and Airboat Tours (www.jeanlafitteswamptour.com) – About a 25-minute ride from New Orleans in Slidell, these backcountry tours put you up-close and personal with a variety of local wildlife and plant life. The swamp tours are 1 ¾ hours long and depart twice daily aboard a covered pontoon boat. The airboat rides include some boats that can accommodate up to 98 passengers and others that are much smaller. They depart twice a day, sometimes more often with pre-arranged reservations.
Return to New Orleans Travel Guide Home Page