What an absolutely amazing experience! The swamp was beautiful and Captain Steve made our boat ride one to remember! He is extremely personable and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions and teaching us so many cool facts! We were able to see alligators, herons, raccoons, egrets, turtles, and plant life. We met some locals and even got to hold a... read moreWhat an absolutely amazing experience! The swamp was beautiful and Captain Steve made our boat ride one to remember! He is extremely personable and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions and teaching us so many cool facts! We were able to see alligators, herons, raccoons, egrets, turtles, and plant life. We met some locals and even got to hold a baby gator! We had so much fun we wanted to go back for the night tour! Thank you Captain Steve for making this Chicago family’s trip one to remember! read less

Awesome tour with Captain Barry. He was very knowledgeable about the history, wildlife and geography of the area! We saw tons of Alligators, turtles, birds and raccoons and he always made sure everyone got to see the points of interest regardless of what side of the boat we were on. The weather was beautiful but the boat was also... read moreAwesome tour with Captain Barry. He was very knowledgeable about the history, wildlife and geography of the area! We saw tons of Alligators, turtles, birds and raccoons and he always made sure everyone got to see the points of interest regardless of what side of the boat we were on. The weather was beautiful but the boat was also covered so that was helpful in keeping cool. The whole operation was efficient and all the employees were very polite and helpful from Karen our bus driver to the people working in the gift shop. I would definitely recommend this company! read less

It is a must if you are in the Big Easy. I thought I would take the family on an adventure. It was a hit. We chose to take the charter for convenience. Nice AC ride. The gift store was great full of one of kind genuine gifts. Captain Emmit was awesome. He turned... read moreIt is a must if you are in the Big Easy. I thought I would take the family on an adventure. It was a hit. We chose to take the charter for convenience. Nice AC ride. The gift store was great full of one of kind genuine gifts. Captain Emmit was awesome. He turned on the rocket busters on the but and ripped up the swamp. He was funny and took us to the perfect stops to see all the wildlife. I counted about 10 to 15 gators, wild pigs, turtles, and a family of raccoons. My family had a blast because of him. I highly recommend doing this with your families. If you are lucky you may get Capt Emmit. Quick Tip: go early before it gets hot and take a few extra bucks to tip your driver and Capt. read less

I’m a California resident visiting this wonderful tour park. Captain Jerry was one of the best Tour guides I have ever came across in my life. He made the tour very interesting and is very knowledgeable about the history and culture of Louisiana. He was also very knowledgeable about the land he is currently touring and interacted with the wild... read moreI’m a California resident visiting this wonderful tour park. Captain Jerry was one of the best Tour guides I have ever came across in my life. He made the tour very interesting and is very knowledgeable about the history and culture of Louisiana. He was also very knowledgeable about the land he is currently touring and interacted with the wild life species in such a unique and caring way. I also loved the souvenir store it had a lot of great merchandise. I would definitely come back to this place when I visit Louisiana again. I had the best experience here. Don’t miss out! read less

We had an amazing experience with Cajun Encounters last weekend for the swamp tour. We had a group of 8 and everything was seamless! From the booking to the location pickup to the swamp tour- Cajun Encounters created a fun and memorable experience for our group. Steve was our shuttle driver and he was very knowledgeable about New Orleans and... read moreWe had an amazing experience with Cajun Encounters last weekend for the swamp tour. We had a group of 8 and everything was seamless! From the booking to the location pickup to the swamp tour- Cajun Encounters created a fun and memorable experience for our group. Steve was our shuttle driver and he was very knowledgeable about New Orleans and its history. The bus was extremely comfortable and it felt as if we had two tours packed into one! Our swamp tour guide, Captain Emmett, was excellent! He knew the swamp and animals like the back of his hand and provided some humor a long the way! I will be recommending Cajun Encounters to all family and friends! read less

I would definitely recommend Cajun Encounters for your swamp tour! Our driver Duane was so kind and knowledgeable about the area! He made our bus ride wonderful and entertaining.

We had Captain Barry as our swamp guide. He had so much information to share with us and was ready and willing to answer any questions we had. He was super... read moreI would definitely recommend Cajun Encounters for your swamp tour! Our driver Duane was so kind and knowledgeable about the area! He made our bus ride wonderful and entertaining.

We had Captain Barry as our swamp guide. He had so much information to share with us and was ready and willing to answer any questions we had. He was super funny and really made sure we had a great time and more importantly were safe! Saw so many alligators and amazing views. My favorite part was seeing the other animals that live in the bayou! Would definitely do again when I come back to New Orleans! read less

Amazing! Our tour guide Captain John was AMAZING! He was hilarious. He stopped and got us as close to the animals as he could. He was so informative. We are locals and enjoyed the boat ride and seeing the animals closer than we normally see them! ;) All around great trip! We will definitely be back!

Oh, my gosh! We have been on three swamp tours with Cajun Encounters/Pearl River Eco Tours and they are amazing! Our last one, June 21, was the best yet. Our captain, Michael was terrific! Very personable, kind, and funny. We were under a heat advisory and he made sure that everyone had water and was... read moreOh, my gosh! We have been on three swamp tours with Cajun Encounters/Pearl River Eco Tours and they are amazing! Our last one, June 21, was the best yet. Our captain, Michael was terrific! Very personable, kind, and funny. We were under a heat advisory and he made sure that everyone had water and was drinking throughout the almost 2 hour tour.
We saw at least 20 alligators of all sizes, as well as turtles, raccoons and a variety of birds.
This company is well run, efficient, and organized. We recommend the Adventure Tour and will soon be taking one of their night tours.
Please be aware that the Pearl River Eco Tours and Cajun Encounters are owned by the same company. If you book a tour through the Pearl River website, you still need to report to the Cajun Encounters address for your tour. This was a little confusing and we actually went to the wrong place and almost missed our tour the first time we did a tour.
We highly recommend! read less

This tour was AMAZING! Captain Todd was super knowledgeable, he had tons of facts about history, plants, cultures, animals, and of course gators. He was really nice, answering all questions and directed his conversation where people were interested. He went slow enough that we got to really appreciate the gators and sights, but also fast enough that we saw a... read moreThis tour was AMAZING! Captain Todd was super knowledgeable, he had tons of facts about history, plants, cultures, animals, and of course gators. He was really nice, answering all questions and directed his conversation where people were interested. He went slow enough that we got to really appreciate the gators and sights, but also fast enough that we saw a bunch of different environments and areas of the swamp. The whole experience was educational and incredibly fun. For people who want to get up close and personal with a swamp, but also good for people who might be a little nervous about the gators and want to still feel safe. I loved every minute of it and would recommend. read less

This tour was so incredible. The swamp looked like it was straight out of a movie. We loved it so much and Desi was the best guide! He was extremely knowledgeable and knew the swamp in and out. He also found gators for us which was the absolute highlight! We will definitely come again next time we are in New... read moreThis tour was so incredible. The swamp looked like it was straight out of a movie. We loved it so much and Desi was the best guide! He was extremely knowledgeable and knew the swamp in and out. He also found gators for us which was the absolute highlight! We will definitely come again next time we are in New Orleans. Thank you Desi and Cajun Encounters! Highly recommend! read less

What an AWESOME experience! Definitely one of our favorite memories from our trip to New Orleans! We saw lots of egrets, turtles, and best of all lots of gators!! It was amazing! Xander was an excellent, fun, and friendly tour guide and really knew his stuff. It was also neat to see the houses of the people who live off... read moreWhat an AWESOME experience! Definitely one of our favorite memories from our trip to New Orleans! We saw lots of egrets, turtles, and best of all lots of gators!! It was amazing! Xander was an excellent, fun, and friendly tour guide and really knew his stuff. It was also neat to see the houses of the people who live off of the swamp and to hear a little about their lifestyle and culture. My kids absolutely loved it when the boat got up to high speeds! They had a blast!! I will say, I think the tour could have been just fine perhaps 15–30 minutes shorter, as my little kids' attention spans and hungry tummies started making them a little restless after about an hour and a half of the tour, but for older participants, I'm sure that's not as much of a problem. I would recommend bringing a jacket in case it gets a little chilly. Overall, an incredible and memorable experience with no regrets! Don't pass this one up! read less

Our multi-generation family outing with Cajun Encounters in March was great from start to finish. The pickup on Canal St and trip out to the tour site with Dwayne (the Rock!?!) started us out on the right foot, and the boat tour led by John R was great. He shared stories from his experiences growing up and... read moreOur multi-generation family outing with Cajun Encounters in March was great from start to finish. The pickup on Canal St and trip out to the tour site with Dwayne (the Rock!?!) started us out on the right foot, and the boat tour led by John R was great. He shared stories from his experiences growing up and living on the bayous that really brought the swamp to life. We saw a number of different swamp critters (including, yes, alligators, but much more) and enjoyed learning how the plant life and animals there are uniquely adapted to their ecosystem. Highly recommend this tour. read less

We opted for the transportation. Rene was great! He made the bus ride enjoyable by telling us about the history of the city and pointing out notable areas.

We then embarked on a private boat tour with Will. He pointed out the swamp creatures and gave us the run down on the area. He was great... read moreWe opted for the transportation. Rene was great! He made the bus ride enjoyable by telling us about the history of the city and pointing out notable areas.

We then embarked on a private boat tour with Will. He pointed out the swamp creatures and gave us the run down on the area. He was great about stopping for pictures. Loved the turtle soup conversation about how you can find a lot of the ingredients in the area!

Will and Rene were great about answering questions!

Gift shop was stocked with snacks, ponchos, sweatshirts, T-shirts, etc. Great if you forgot anything! read less

Today was a beautiful day, early January but lots of sunshine. We were able to see a few gators, but little that I know, they are currently in hibernation. Desi our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful swamp AND eco tour. He gave us a lot of details and knowledge about the bayou swamp, the natives,... read moreToday was a beautiful day, early January but lots of sunshine. We were able to see a few gators, but little that I know, they are currently in hibernation. Desi our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful swamp AND eco tour. He gave us a lot of details and knowledge about the bayou swamp, the natives, the ecosystem & how, what made things changed in the environment. I came expecting for a power struggle of the tour guide with the gators (my last tour was over 20 years ago 😆) and came out with once in a lifetime experience, for me and my young child.
My hotel was in New Orleans downtown area, and the drive out of US 90 was already a peaceful experience. The bayou was so serene, and the gorgeous sunshine made the experience even better.
Although I have never taken other swamp tour, from other company, I am glad I chose Cajun encounters. The length was just perfect for us. Thank you Desi & Cajun Encounters.
Oh, the online ticket purchase was also a great experience. Nonetheless, they need to put a blurb in the online part where you do need to still check in at the counter (where you can buy souvenir or refreshments) even buying the 'ticket' online. read less

I had an amazing experience! I booked the private tour because I had a group of 8 and wanted a more intimate experience with just the 8 of us. In addition, with the private tour, we were able to bring alcohol which was great because we were celebrating my husband’s birthday so the alcohol was a great addition to the... read moreI had an amazing experience! I booked the private tour because I had a group of 8 and wanted a more intimate experience with just the 8 of us. In addition, with the private tour, we were able to bring alcohol which was great because we were celebrating my husband’s birthday so the alcohol was a great addition to the tour. Also, our captain was phenomenal!! Walker is very knowledgeable and he’s absolutely hilarious. 10/10 recommended requesting Walker as your captain for your tour. In addition, the tour was very peaceful and of course we enjoyed seeing all of the wild life especially the gators. All around great experience. We will definitely be back!! read less

This tour exceeded our expectations. Our guide Desi was the best. He was very knowledgeable and informative! He educated us about the entire swamp and all the wildlife. We saw several gators, raccoons, birds, frogs, spiders and huge grasshoppers! It was truly one of the most unique experiences. I would recommend to anyone visiting NOLA! Thank you, Desi!

Our tour was amazing. The bus ride was great with our driver, Laura. She was very informative and made the ride entertaining. The boat tour was amazing. We saw so many different wildlife and the views were incredible. Our captain Desi was a great guide. He was informative and stopped to let us see. It was great to hear about... read moreOur tour was amazing. The bus ride was great with our driver, Laura. She was very informative and made the ride entertaining. The boat tour was amazing. We saw so many different wildlife and the views were incredible. Our captain Desi was a great guide. He was informative and stopped to let us see. It was great to hear about his experiences. read less

This tour was the highlight of our vacation to the Gulf Coast! We absolutely loved this excursion. Robert was our tour guide, and he was amazing! He was charming, knowledgeable, and funny. Just being out on the water and seeing all the wildlife was so amazing. It is such a unique experience for those who don't live where there are... read moreThis tour was the highlight of our vacation to the Gulf Coast! We absolutely loved this excursion. Robert was our tour guide, and he was amazing! He was charming, knowledgeable, and funny. Just being out on the water and seeing all the wildlife was so amazing. It is such a unique experience for those who don't live where there are real life dinosaurs in the water! I highly recommend this to young and old alike. My 3 and 7 year old children had a blast! read less

Captain Sonny! So amazing! Take your friends, family, anyone you know. Cap. Sonny is very knowledgeable and kind. He knows everything! Water is calming and weather was nice. The breeze on the water is so relaxing! Would definitely do again!

We are from Michigan, just moved to Louisiana and had friends with us so we were looking for interesting things to do. Found this group and ended up having an amazing time with Cajun Encounters. We did a swamp tour and it was so much fun. Captain John R. was funny, engaging, clearly knowledgeable and just a delight. We had... read moreWe are from Michigan, just moved to Louisiana and had friends with us so we were looking for interesting things to do. Found this group and ended up having an amazing time with Cajun Encounters. We did a swamp tour and it was so much fun. Captain John R. was funny, engaging, clearly knowledgeable and just a delight. We had older kids with us and they enjoyed the trip as well. The time flies by. I highly recommend this and will be coming back when family comes to visit. read less

On 6/20/21 My husband and I had the absolute best time taking the swamp tour! Captain Luca was great! He kept us totally captivated with his knowledge of the area and animals, his sense of humor, and his stories of growing up in the area. We couldn’t possibly have had a better time! The current prices are super affordable, and... read moreOn 6/20/21 My husband and I had the absolute best time taking the swamp tour! Captain Luca was great! He kept us totally captivated with his knowledge of the area and animals, his sense of humor, and his stories of growing up in the area. We couldn’t possibly have had a better time! The current prices are super affordable, and well worth every cent and more. Gift shop has tons of interesting things, snacks, and drinks. The bathrooms are neatly kept and to the side of the main building. You get the feeling of real privacy not being IN the gift shop, but you’re only a few steps away.
10/10 do recommend and we plan to go again next time we are in the area. read less

This may have been one of the best tours I've ever been on in my life. We got to see countless gators, several raccoons in a SWAMP, a blue heron, wild pigs/boars and also many turtles. The best part of the tour was the knowledge that we gained from the tour guide captain Barry. Absolutely the most knowledgeable and nice... read moreThis may have been one of the best tours I've ever been on in my life. We got to see countless gators, several raccoons in a SWAMP, a blue heron, wild pigs/boars and also many turtles. The best part of the tour was the knowledge that we gained from the tour guide captain Barry. Absolutely the most knowledgeable and nice person I've met here in New Orleans. If possible ask for him by name to be the tour guide for your tour and you will not be disappointed. Absolutely worth any money to take this tour read less

We really enjoyed our swamp tour! Our tour guide, Capt. Barry, was very knowledgeable and took the time to find gators, raccoons, and pigs. He stopped and made sure everyone got the pictures that they wanted and made the trip very fun. The drive back from the swamp was just as enjoyable with our amazing bus driver, Dwayne! He was... read moreWe really enjoyed our swamp tour! Our tour guide, Capt. Barry, was very knowledgeable and took the time to find gators, raccoons, and pigs. He stopped and made sure everyone got the pictures that they wanted and made the trip very fun. The drive back from the swamp was just as enjoyable with our amazing bus driver, Dwayne! He was very accommodating with where people needed to be dropped off, shared some tips about the city, and made it a fun ride back into the city. Would highly recommend this swamp tour if you’re visiting New Orleans! read less

Captain John K. gave us a phenomenal tour of the Pearl River and Honey Island Swamp. He was fun to talk to and gave us great information about the area and the wildlife. We saw at least 20 alligators (up close and personal), wild pigs, turtles, cranes, and a lot of other birds. The vegetation is so beautiful. ... read moreCaptain John K. gave us a phenomenal tour of the Pearl River and Honey Island Swamp. He was fun to talk to and gave us great information about the area and the wildlife. We saw at least 20 alligators (up close and personal), wild pigs, turtles, cranes, and a lot of other birds. The vegetation is so beautiful. Captain John was born and raised in the area so he was full of fantastic information about it all. It was a great morning in the bayou. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Cajun encounters and ask for captain John K. if you can. read less

Captain John R was an amazing guide! He has an extensive knowledge of the area - I feel very confident in his ability to navigate us through any situation that may arise on the bayou. He has a wealth of information about the natural flora and fauna; he can tell you how to survive on the land and what to... read moreCaptain John R was an amazing guide! He has an extensive knowledge of the area - I feel very confident in his ability to navigate us through any situation that may arise on the bayou. He has a wealth of information about the natural flora and fauna; he can tell you how to survive on the land and what to look out for; and he can provide you with a very detailed history of the area, probably from the beginning of time to the present, if you’re interested. Please ask any questions you may have because he can give you the answer to that and much more! On top of everything previously stated, Captain John has a fun personality and a great sense of humor. I wouldn’t trust anyone more than Captain John to have the most informative and enjoyable time out on the river! read less

We had a nighttime swamp tour with Captain Barry and he was PHENOMENAL! He made great use of the time we had to ensure that we saw gators, frogs, spiders, the swamp, bayou, and other aspects of the ecosystem- so cool! Barry made sure we all got a chance to take pictures and videos. Being a native to the bayou,... read moreWe had a nighttime swamp tour with Captain Barry and he was PHENOMENAL! He made great use of the time we had to ensure that we saw gators, frogs, spiders, the swamp, bayou, and other aspects of the ecosystem- so cool! Barry made sure we all got a chance to take pictures and videos. Being a native to the bayou, Barry shared his excellent knowledge and experience with us about the area, the animals, and the plants. He also shared some other interesting facts about the history and popular culture of the swamp and bayou. This was a tremendous experience if you're from out of the area and I highly recommend it- especially if you can get Barry as your guide!! read less

This company was great to work with. We did the group swamp tour with pickup which was timely and the bus was air conditioned and very comfortable. The guide on the bus gave us a ton of information about the area as we drove which made the hour drive go by so fast. And she gave us a great recommendation... read moreThis company was great to work with. We did the group swamp tour with pickup which was timely and the bus was air conditioned and very comfortable. The guide on the bus gave us a ton of information about the area as we drove which made the hour drive go by so fast. And she gave us a great recommendation for lunch! Our guide on the boat captain John was amazing as well. He was knowledgeable about the area and friendly and made our time amazing in the swamp. Would absolutely recommend!! read less

We toured with our 4 grandchildren. Wonderful experience, 2 hour tour, great value!
Reviews from our grandchildren-
Captain Barry was great and helped teach us a lot of new things!
Caption Barry was amazing and nice and funny and I loved when Addie buzzed him!! My rating 5/5
This was very fun and exciting I loved all the animals and it was very... read moreWe toured with our 4 grandchildren. Wonderful experience, 2 hour tour, great value!
Reviews from our grandchildren-
Captain Barry was great and helped teach us a lot of new things!
Caption Barry was amazing and nice and funny and I loved when Addie buzzed him!! My rating 5/5
This was very fun and exciting I loved all the animals and it was very funny when I had a hand buzzer on my hand then gave the caption a hand shake my rating 5/5
I loved the alligators and pigs!!! 5/5 read less

This tour was awesome. I went with my wife and two kids (ages 7 and 17 months.) Our guide, Captain John was great. He was knowledgeable about the areas we viewed, he was well educated in alligator facts, and he knew right where to find all the great animals(alligators, hogs, and raccoons.) He made the trip enjoyable with his sense... read moreThis tour was awesome. I went with my wife and two kids (ages 7 and 17 months.) Our guide, Captain John was great. He was knowledgeable about the areas we viewed, he was well educated in alligator facts, and he knew right where to find all the great animals(alligators, hogs, and raccoons.) He made the trip enjoyable with his sense of humor as well. Very nice guy. I would highly recommend taking a tour with Cajun Encounters. You won’t be disappointed read less

My husband and I went on the swamp tour during our first visit to Louisiana. It was fun from the minute the bus driver Sunshine picked us up near our hotel. The drop off center had clean bathrooms, a nice gift shop, and a comfortable waiting area outside under the pavilion. Our Caption, Luca, made the experience even... read moreMy husband and I went on the swamp tour during our first visit to Louisiana. It was fun from the minute the bus driver Sunshine picked us up near our hotel. The drop off center had clean bathrooms, a nice gift shop, and a comfortable waiting area outside under the pavilion. Our Caption, Luca, made the experience even more enjoyable with his knowledge of the area, animals and locals. His love and respect for nature, the region and his job were inspiring. We saw several alligators, a wild pig, snakes, raccoons and a spider the size of your hand! The boat ride was both exhilarating and serene. This tour turned out to be the highlight of our trip. Don’t miss it! read less