New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat: Covered Boat & Local Captain

Drift past gators and burial mounds in a covered swamp boat

You board a covered swamp boat and drift through the Barataria wetlands with a local captain narrating wildlife, Cajun villages, and a 2,000-year-old burial mound. Gators and birds are easiest to spot spring through fall. The boat has cushioned seats, windows, a restroom, and room to stand. You're comfortable while the swamp moves past you.

Step-by-step itinerary

New Orleans swamp boat tour adventure

• Travel along the Mississippi River
• Board covered swamp tour boat
• Enjoy narrated swamp tour
• View Indian burial mound and Cajun cemetery
• See fishing village and local wildlife

The experience

You've just landed in New Orleans. The air is thick, the streets are loud, and by afternoon you're ready to leave the city behind for something quieter. That's exactly when a New Orleans swamp tour makes sense. The boat leaves from the Mississippi, and within an hour you're drifting past cypress trees and into the Barataria wetlands where the waterways are the only roads. The boat is covered, has cushioned seats and windows you can raise or lower depending on the heat, so you're not baking in the sun while your captain narrates what you're seeing.

The wildlife is the draw, and it's real. Gators, herons, egrets, turtles, nutria. They're all here if the season is right. Spring through fall is when you'll actually spot them. Winter they're dormant and you won't. The boat moves slowly enough that you can see details: a bird's nest in the mangroves, a turtle's head breaking the water, the way the trees grow right out of the swamp floor. You'll pass a Cajun fishing village and a cemetery where the graves sit above ground because the water table won't let you dig down. There's also a 2,000-year-old Indian burial mound visible from the water. It's the kind of thing you'd miss driving past on a highway.

The captain does the talking, pointing out what's moving in the water and explaining how people actually live out here. It's not a performance. It's someone who knows the swamp telling you what he sees. The boat has a restroom and room to move around, so even if you're out for a couple of hours, you're not cramped. Bring sunscreen and a hat: the water reflects heat, and the shade from the roof only covers so much. If you're traveling with other people, book together so you're guaranteed to be on the same boat. If you don't, you might end up on different departures.

What’s included

• Your tour includes a professional captain and a fully narrated swamp boat ride through the Barataria wetlands.
• The boat is covered with cushioned seats, windows, a restroom, and standing room.
• You travel from the Mississippi River to the swamps and back.

Options for this experience

4 options

Morning departure, the earliest boat slotGuide in English · 09:40No hotel pickup is included, so you make your own way to the dock.

Around noon departure, midday boat slotGuide in English · 12:10No hotel pickup is included, so you make your own way to the dock.

Early afternoon departure, mid-afternoon boat slotGuide in English · 14:10No hotel pickup is included, so you make your own way to the dock.

Late afternoon departure, the last boat slot of the dayGuide in English · 16:15No hotel pickup is included, so you make your own way to the dock.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:40, 12:10, 14:10 and 16:15

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Departure Point: Barataria Blvd, Marrero Address: 9706 Barataria Blvd. Marrero, LA 70072 Please plan to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to tour time. The boats will depart on time and cannot delay start time.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Louisiana Tour company

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see the Louisiana bayou without driving yourself or arranging logistics. The boat leaves from the city and the captain handles the narration and navigation. Plan for a half-day out. The slow pace is what lets you actually spot wildlife and absorb the landscape.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Will I definitely see alligators?

Not guaranteed. Gators are easily spotted spring, summer, and fall, but they hibernate in winter. Other wildlife (birds, turtles, nutria) are visible year-round.

Is the boat covered?

Yes. The boat has a roof, cushioned seats, windows that raise and lower, a restroom, and standing room.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed. Emotional support animals are not.

What if I'm traveling with a group?

Make one booking for all passengers to ensure you're on the same boat. If you book separately, you're not guaranteed to be together.

Do I need to be in good physical shape?

No. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen and a hat. The water reflects heat, and the roof provides partial shade.

What will I see?

Wildlife (gators, birds, turtles, fur animals), a Cajun fishing village, a Cajun cemetery, and a 2,000-year-old Indian burial mound.