Cajun Encounters Tour Company

"Cajun Encounters takes you 45 minutes from French Quarter beignets and Bourbon Street, but the bayou feels a world away. Your tour “captain”—a total pro who knows caimans from alligators—takes you out on a flat-bottomed boat for two hours in search of gators in the wild. You might even get to feed them. (Don’t worry, everyone from the tour makes it back.) Conservation plays a part of the conversation, as the guide offers a funny-serious take on the swamp, including how the environment was affected by Hurricane Katrina and how it continues to evolve." - Paul Oswell

"Zoom out. What’s the big picture here?Cajun Encounters has been doing its thing for more than 20 years, so you feel like you're in good hands heading out to the bayou. It's about 45 minutes out of town, but a shuttle bus and hotel pick-up are included. You'll want to wear casual clothing (you may get a little wet). It’s a popular tour, so reservations are necessary. Tell us about your fellow tourees.It was mostly couples, in town for the first or second time and keen to broaden their horizons beyond French Quarter beignets. Everyone was enthusiastic and had "seeing alligators in the wild" as an absolute priority. You'll be spending two hours in a flat-bottom boat, so you'll want to make sure that everyone in your party is comfortable with that, but no worries—it's not like they're putting you to work paddling your own ride. How are the guides?The tour ‘captain’ was a total pro and obviously passionate about the bayou. If it’s the right season, gators will come up to the boat for feeding. You might also spy some wild boar, raccoons, snakes, owls, and egrets, too. All the while the guide has a funny/serious take on the swamp: how the environment was affected by Hurricane Katrina and how it continues to evolve. Anything you’ll be remembering weeks or months or years from now?A good lesson in ecology without being preachy. So who will like this tour most?Fans of wildlife and history will all love this nature tour, and though it’s incredibly safe and controlled, it does feel somewhat adventurous." - Paul Oswell

"Cajun Encounters Tours' flat-bottom boats zip along the waterways and canals of Honey Island Swamp, 35 miles from the heart of New Orleans, which teems with gators, boars, and birds. With bald cypress and tupelo trees overhead, guides will point out the gators and—on occasion—lure them with bait, offering an up-close view of their powerful jaws. Although these tours may look a tad cheesy from the outset—reality TV shows about hunting gators haven’t helped—they're educational, fun, and perfect for families." - Stirling Kelso