Capt. George was awesome. I went with a group of nine guys, and we all had a great time. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and easygoing, which made the whole trip even better. The tour felt authentic, local, and not commercialized. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and genuine New Orleans boat tour. read more

We had a fantastic tour with captain George! The whole family had a blast listening to his stories. He's a skilled boat driver and funny too. Highly recommend. read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

We had the best time on this tour! Capt George has a real knack for storytelling and we enjoyed the many many stories he told. Boat was very comfortable and since there was only 4 of us, it was like a private tour. The bayous were beautiful and we got to see a lot of gators and birds. Highly recommend!!!!! read more

I've been on four swamp tours in Louisiana and this was like no other. You'll feel like you're being dropped off in the wrong place but don't worry; you're in for a good time. Captain George gave us all the tea about the neighbors and also welcomed us into his lovely home. Also, best gumbo in Louisiana at DePope, don't miss it! read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

See all

We sought out to find a true local who knew the Bayou like the back of their hands rather than some commercialized tour company and we found that in Happiness Bayou. We could've spent all day out in the Bayou listening to Captain George's stories. He had us fully enthralled. I left a little piece of my heart in St Bernard Parish, thanks to Captain George and his wife, Samantha and their little tavern. read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

I couldn't recommend an experience more. If you are looking for a bayou tour that isn't overly commercialized by some bimbo transplant that is reading a script, I would strongly suggest you pick captain george at the happines bayou tours. Captain George is a local to the area who seemingly is born and raised and knows the waters like the back of his hand. He has interesting stories for days and is such a fun welcoming person. You are seriously missing out if you do not book this bayou tour! The food and drinks at the tavern afterward are excellent and the locals and the staff are just as kind! This is a truly one of a kind experience and I wish nothing but success to captain george and Sammy! read more

See all

Captain George was a fun guide to learn about the bayou, the culture, the aftermath of Katrina, and of course, the gators. He's down to earth and funny. The boat was very comfortable and we were so glad it was shaded! Our party was the only one the boat with Capt George, so it was super intimate. He also gives you a look at a "camp" or home on the bayou for a quick bathroom break. As a first-timer, I would def recommend to others wanting the DL on this bayou. read more

Captin George does a fantastic, entertaining, and informative narrative. Money well spent!

I went on a swamp tour with this company and had one of my most favorite times of my life. Captain George was so cool in his story, his family's stories and just about life. Our group started in the bar that is his and his wife. Our group was the entire boat and for the next at least 2 hours, we had the best time. He answered all questions and added his twists to the story. Stopped halfway at his fish camp and it was amazing. I offered to buy it. The trip was over to soon. We finished at the bar with cocktails and food. Samantha is an really good cook. Met some locals (Kelly and Lammy) I set between them and got more stories. It was everything and more. Go do it people, you wont be disappointed. read more

Holy Cow! I can't say enough about this experience! The captain George, and his wife take amazing care of their guests. They were so kind and helped us organize our trip perfectly. George gave a tour only a professional could give. He has gators on payroll... And I promise you, you will not regret booking this tour to find out what that means. If I could reincarnate after death, first thing I'm doing is going on a Happiness Bayou Tour. read more

See all

Capt. George deserves much more than a 5 star review! Since it was so late in the season, there were not many gators out and about as they were in hibernation. Not seeing a lot of gators did not detract from the tour AT ALL because of how fabulous Captain George was and how much history and knowledge he had about the area, wildlife, and his surroundings. Captain George was born and raised in the swamp and boy, let me tell ya, I learned SO MUCH in the short time spent with him. Would highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in a unique tour experience. Few Pro's: + BYOB on board the boat. + Capt. takes you to his "camp" (basically his second home) halfway through the tour for potty stops and souvenirs. + Cost was great! $40/person for 2.5 hours. + Great for all ages. We were a group of 30-somethings, but there were kids/families on board as well. + Local/family company - it is only George and his brother that run the actual tours. Love supporting those with their own businesses and passions! + Although we didn't see many gators, we did get to see other sea life. Capt. George has crabbing cages all over the place and will pull some up to show you. read more

See all

If I could give more stars I would! First trip to NO and had the best time! Everything you'd want and more! Cap'n George has the the best info/stories. Not your generic tour guide, true life guy who lives and loves his home! Real gem, his wife Samantha! The smile and sweet accent! Have food people, SO Good! read more

We just had the BEST tour with Captain George! He has a vast amount of knowledge about the animals and the water systems as well as the marsh, rivers and swamps. While this tour is informative, the best part are George's stories! Best part of visiting NOLA was this tour. 10/10 read more

See all

Captain George was amazing. He was very informative. He made sure everyone was safe & having a great time. I would highly recommend. If you're thinking about booking the tour, please do. You will enjoy it. The nature & animals. The bayou is beautiful. read more

Pleasant guide ,captain knew history o bayou made trip interesting! I'd recommend him to travelers

The BEST bayou tour i have ever taken. Capt. George grew up in the area and knows everything about anything in the bayou. He engages everyone and loves what he does. Have you ever seen someone kiss a gator??? You will if you choose this your! The bar is small, quaint and absolutely fits the genre. The staff is amazing and wish i lived closer so I could be a local. Highly recommend. read more

I ended up doing this tour twice within a month. Excellent, informative and fun! Captain George knows his stuff! The price of this tour is extremely reasonable and honestly worth every penny! read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

Amazing tour with captain Georges. Great fun and less crowded than those very popular tours. The boat was with about 10 people and there was no other boats around. We saw some really interesting camps affected by Katrina and captain Georges really knows the area as he grew up there and has really cool stories to tell during the trip. The place you take off from is only 20 minutes away from New Orleans so very easy to reach with a lyft or Uber. read more

See all

Amazing tour! Cpt George was the best tour guide I have ever had! I will definitely be recommending them to everyone that I know. Can't thank y'all enough! read more

When I was looking for a last minute swamp tour I couldn't decide which one to go with. I'm so glad I booked our group with Captain George and Happiness Bayou Tours! Captain George was very knowledgeable and down to earth. He was born and raised in the area so he knows what he's doing. He made sure we were all safe on the boat and that we all had a great time by explaining everything to us and he also used a lot of his personal stories to engage us. Also if we had any questions he would always answer them for us. It was an awesome experience since we got to see the old levees that were built before hurricane Katrina and the new ones that were built after, his family camp on the bayou, swamp critters like crabs and spiders, and we got to see alligators and even held his baby gator Gatorade. I would totally recommend Captain George and Happiness Bayou Tours in a heartbeat! read more

See all

My husband and I had a great time on this tour. Everyone was very friendly and Captain George was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Be sure to call before buying to secure a spot. read more

See all

My wife and I have gone on several swamp alligator tours in New Orleans over the past several years. It seems all the others have gotten too "touristy" and "commercial", almost makes you feel your at a Disneyland park tour. George and his wife run the real deal with Happiness Bayou Tours!! They are locals and George, not only is the owner operator & captain, he is an amazing local historian and story teller! He paints an amazing picture of pre and post Katrina, his own experience weathering the storm with his family & friends, along with how the Bayou has changed since the storm. We experienced our own little New Orleans rain storm while out on the water and George was kind enough to open up his "camp house" right on the Bayou and we all took cover until the storm blew over and were treated like family. It was such a unique experience!! He will also show you all the wild life that exists in the area! If you want to get a real education and experience on the Bayou, Happiness Tours is the only way to go! We can't wait to head back out again on our next trip! Added some photos to this review. read more

See all

My family & I took a day tour on the bayou with George & his wife Samantha. They made us feel like family in their swamp camp, cooking for us and showing us around the bayou. We went with George to collect the crabs from traps. COLLECT THE TRAPS WE DID. We got 15-20 pounds of crab!! Which they graciously cooked up for us into a crab boil + gumbo. delicious. While we didn't successfully fish (water was too cloudy) or see gators (water was too cold) it was such a fun day. George & Samatha became our friends that day. Should we return to Nola, we will definitely visit them again. read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - our haul - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

See all

Simple and sun! Always wanted to do a alligator tour. Really enjoyed the ride, nature and captain George. He really knew his stuff about the swamp where he was born and raised. Perfect for an evening cruise in LA. read more

See all

This locally-owned tour was an amazing experience! We as a group of 8 girls for a bachelorette trip had so much fun! Our tour guide, George, was very friendly and knowledgeable of the area. It was cool to hear his personal accounts of the history and his experience of the bayou. He was very friendly with the alligators and his treatment was very humane and they clearly love him. They were also very accommodating with transportation and there was even a bar we could get drinks for the trip! We highly recommend Happiness Bayou Tours!!! read more

Forget those crowded, overpriced, sanitized big company tours. Drive a little off the beaten path and take a Happiness Bayou Tour instead.  Captain George is the real deal, born and raised on the Bayou. This is a small family business run out of Eddie Pinto's Marina 2651 Paris Rd, New Orleans, LA. 70129.  We had some trouble finding it but I called them and Samantha talked me right in. She even emailed detailed directions including Captain George's cell phone number. Upon arriving they let us know that one other party in our group was running late but no worries, we would still get the full 2+ hour tour.  In the mean time, George introduced my kids to some their pets they keep at the marina.  They have a rooster, two dogs, three cats, and my kids favorite the piglet. He told the kids every animal's name and even fed the animals to ensure they would hang around a while. The boat only holds 12 people, so every tour is personal.  The accommodations are simple, but comfortable.  Once we got underway, George had no problem showing us how fast his boat could go or how tightly it could turn.  The kids had a blast on the ride. He pointed out all of the wildlife as well as other sights such as the hunting camps and flood walls.  He told us the story behind the land and who has controlled it over the years.  All very interesting!  George doesn't just know what's out there.  He knows why it's there and even who put it there. His detailed knowledge of the area is amazing.  Since the weather was calm we even got to take a trip through the flood gates outside the flood wall.  Once we got to the quieter smaller part of the Bayou we went gator hunting. We saw several small gators and George was able to get one to come right up to our boat. It got close enough for George to attempt to catch it by hand!  That little gator narrowly escaped, but I appreciate George's effort. At one point on the tour George surprised us all with his very own baby gator.  Everyone got a chance to hold it and take pictures.  And by the way, nobody is trying to squeeze extra money out of you for pics with the gator.  We were all free to take as many photos as we wanted. Unfortunately we weren't able to find any REALLY big gators, but it wasn't for lack of trying. This is real nature, not a zoo, so things don't always go as planned. Throughout the entire tour, Captain George was full of informative stories about growing up on the Bayou, the hunting camps, crab trapping, alligator behavior, alligator anatomy, alligator hunting, alligator farming, logging, floods, Hurricane Katrina, who owns what land, how the land is used, pig hunting, swamp rat bounties...on and on and on.  If felt we got MUCH more than our money's worth on this tour and tipped generously. I recommend you do the same and support this excellent family business. read more

Kenny was a great tour guide. The swamp tour is a must do if you are local and/or visiting. They give you time to take pictures and ask questions. read more

Had a great time with Captain George! Very informative, fun and accommodating! Highly recommended for your swamp tour on your trip to Nola! read more

See all

Thank you Capt. George for making my first experience on the bayou a memorable one. The depth of knowledge you possess, the compassion you show for the gators and your overall presentation was worth well more than the cost. You've reaffirmed my belief that small businesses provide the best experiences. Can't wait to come again. Best of luck to you and Carter!! read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

The best tour guide in the Bayou by far! Captain George was amazing & very hospitable! I came with a group of friends & had a blast sight seeing the Bayou & all of the beautiful nature it has to offer. Highly recommend & would definitely come again. read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Alligator Tour - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

See all

This was a really fun tour, captain George was sooooo informative! It was cold and he even had blankets for the ride, I got to hold a gator and we even saw some in the swamp read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

See all

Fantastic tour with captain George who grew up on the water, lived through Katrina, and shared his stories & knowledge. Beautiful & fun adventure with friends & strangers. Highly recommend this tour, a great way to spend some time on the bayou. The birds, the alligators, the history, the personal stories & the love George has for this area make this tour totally special. read more

See all

This was a great tour. It made the vacation for my wife. Captain George has many interesting stories. You can BYOB and there is two bathroom stops at the captains camp. Very fun, we would do it again. read more

First time visiting New Orleans and this was definitely the highlight of the trip!! The tour was fun, taking us through the nature of the bayou, up close with alligators and other wildlife, and offered us a perspective of the history and culture of the region from the eyes of a local. Capt. George was friendly, knowledgeable, and a real delight to ride with. The company itself made booking super simple, we gave them a call to set things up and they were incredibly helpful and even arranged for a driver to pick us up from the French Quarter for a very affordable price. All in all, an amazing tour with an amazing, local company. I never write reviews, but I had to write this one, as this was the tour that set the tone for the rest of our visit. Thank's Capt. George, I will definitely be recommending to my friends who visit. read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

See all

George is an awesome captain who has a passion for the Bayou! Highly recommend taking this tour with George! read more

Happiness Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Violet, Louisiana

We had a wonderful time on this bayou tour with Captain George. We were a diverse group from Oregon, Canada, and New Orleans. He showed us and explained so much about the wetlands, wildlife, and what Hurricane Katrina has done to the area. The stuff we learned was new even to the part of the group from New Orleans. Captain George is very knowledgeable. We had no idea that this natural habitat was so close to downtown New Orleans. This is a highly tour, highly recommended even for locals. read more

Really fun. The captain/tour guide was very knowledgeable, and of course holding the baby gator made it!

This was absolutely amazing! I specifically looked for a tour that was not super commercial and did individual tours. Captain George was incredibly knowledgeable and answered all of our questions while telling us all of his wonderful stories and explaining all of the different bodies of water. We got to see him empty out the crab traps which was very unique and cool. He also wasn't very shy with the gators and even gave one a kiss. Throughout the whole tour we were just in awe of the natural wonders around us, we felt safe, and we were amazed by the wealth of information that Captain George had to share. We also met his awesome wife Samantha who gave us a ride back. She was super nice and friendly. We can't wait to come back with the whole family in tow next time! read more

Captain George was great. Down to earth and knowledgeable. This tour is an experience and not a dime a dozen "touristy" tour. We researched a lot of well known companies and decided to go with Happiness Bayou... did not disappoint. This felt more like hanging out with your friend than the tour companies that try to squeeze every dollar out of you. Highly recommend. read more

Best tour I've ever been on. The captain was very knowledgeable & friendly. We took our kids 14 & 16, they loved it as well.