Swamp tours (New Orleans, Houma, Jean Lafitte: houses, school, living)

[polyxavier]

Would like to do one when we come to New Orleans this summer. (Can't change the date due to work/school issues.) I have looked at several online and they all look pretty good. Is there much difference between any of them? Also, is there a better time of the day to go on these if one wants to see alligators?
Thanks.

[va_bank]

Cajun Encounters is very good, located on Honey Island Swamp and Pearl river. We've gone twice. One time the guide was more scientifically oriented, telling us about the ecology of the swamp, history of gator farming, local community. The second time, a different guide pretty much put on a gator circus show and then took us through the community of boat houses on pearl river. The two tours were completely different, but a lot of fun.

Also, this site is great for people moving/living/working in NOLA. For tourist info such as swamp tours and things to do for first timers, Tripadvisor is better. Although, if you are looking for advice on "off-the-beaten-path" tourism, I'd come back here again.

[Robert_J]

I've taken the Honey Island Swamp Tour - The Original Honey Island Swamp Tour | New Orleans, Louisiana and it was awesome. Saw the boat houses, small gators, huge gators and even got the science lesson.

I would have asked about bigfoot at the time but I didn't know they had one - Bigfoot | The Original Honey Island Swamp Tour

[rawrockills]

My wife and I took my mom on the Jean Lafitte tour. I felt like it was worth the money. Saw a good number of gators but my wife went again with a friend and didn't see as many. So I guess it just depends on the day. I think it is closer to New Orleans than Cajun Encounters, depending on where you are coming from.

[va_bank]

I like what my first tour guide said: "You can see alligators at any zoo in the world, but there are things that you see here that you will never see anywhere else." he was right, there's much more to it than just gators.

[sconley9922]

My girl, her mother and myself went to the Cajun encounters tour this morning around slidell and had a lot of fun...we saw plenty gators, wild boar, snakes, large turtles, Hawks, and raccoons...I will go again soon.... and it was foggy this morning giving the tour in the swamp an eerie feeling.....it was like a scary movie...lol

[Bluesmama]

The one I took was different. We did the A Cajun Man's Swamp Tour near Houma, run by a man who grew up there. He had forgotten to bring the chicken bait for alligator, so we didn't get to see one up close. But we saw them in several places here 'n' there, plus all kinds of other wildlife. This one circles around a little "island" and it was very beautiful and peaceful. Then there's the added treat when he takes a break to grab his squeezebox and sing a Cajun song. :-) I don't think this one draws as many tourists, so the boat doesn't get packed.

I'd like to do another swamp tour in a different area next time. Maybe the Honey Island one.

[treesgreen]

I tried it once. It was ok. We didn't see any huge alligators but they did pass around a baby alligator that we held. It's something that you should try at least once.