Well after living in the south all my life I finally did a swamp tour with the kiddos and am here to report that even if you're a local you should consider a tour. It's entertaining and fun! It was raining when we arrived but they had raincoats for everyone and as soon as the threat of getting hit by a bolt of lightening passed off we went. The boats here are covered so getting beat down by the sun is not too much of an issue. Like I said it was raining when we went so the covered top protected us from getting drenched as well. We saw some gators almost immediately and that was pretty cool. They are almost tame out here and come to the boat when called to get a treat. We also enjoyed seeing lots of egrets and various other birds, a few racoons and lots of spiders and dragonflies. Our tour guide was very knowable and made a few corny jokes that the tourists and kids loved. We learned a lot about the ecosystem of the area. The tour lasted about 2 hours and was a great way to spend an afternoon. I highly recommend this tour! Tip-sit in the middle if possible. That's the best view and if you're at the very front or very back you'll get swamp water on you for sure. read more

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While we had family visiting we decided to take this tour. The staff is really great! And even though it was hot as heck, we didn't get overheated at all. Great views, great tour guide, lots of fun! We used an online coupon, which I highly recommend. Had no issues at all with it. Don't hesitate to take this tour, absolutely worth it! read more

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This was a fantastic experience that I highly recommend when visiting Louisiana. If you're in New Orleans as I was, you have to make the time to get yourself out of town for even a day and take what's called a "swamp tour". It is so well worth it! Despite the address listed for this company, it's actually in a town called Slidell. We rented a car and drove out here but it looked like they were able to pick people up in a shuttle bus. Our guide was Captain Wade who grew up in the area. He explained to us that when he was a child his family sometimes lived in a house on the Pearl River where his dad was a nature photographer and generations of his family before that had lived off the land here. Capt. Wade learned his lessons well as we were treated to the wealth of his bayou knowledge while he steered us by pontoon into the most beautiful and primordial places along the length of the Pearl River. Once we were really "in" the swamp, I put my camera away as I didn't want to avert my eyes for a moment from what was before me. So the few photos I did take don't give you a real idea of the visual treat that is in store for you on Pearl River. We didn't see as many alligators as you would in the earlier fall, late spring and during the summer when the temperatures are much hotter but we did see some of those gorgeous creatures lurking about. They are just incredible! We saw loads of birds particularly blue heron. We were treated to all kinds of information about the trees and every other living and growing thing the swamp has to offer. It is such a gorgeous experience to travel down that river and through some of the most amazing territory I've seen. I also learned that if you can figure out how to build a dwelling in the swamp so that it touches no part of the land, the state of Louisiana will let you live there for free. There were a few examples of these places which are not for the faint of heart. Living out on the bayou is serious business since your closest neighbors are alligators, snakes and wild pigs. Sadly, we saw no wild pigs on this visit but I will definitely return for another visit in warmer weather (read: extremely hot) when all the swamp life is out and about much more readily. I learned a lot about the Spanish moss too which is which grows everywhere and is so otherworldly. It's vegetable "horsehair" and was often used in plaster, in mattresses and in furniture stuffing. It's a flowering plant that grows primarily on Bald Cypress and Southern Oak trees of which we also saw some incredible examples. Capt. Wade let us know that with the right kind of knowledge one could be provided for fully by what lives and grows on the bayou. Walk in naked and with nothing and you could do just fine. I like that. There are lots of these Swamp Tours advertised but I liked this one as it's a small very personal operation. Everyone involved was very friendly. The time spent was incredibly interesting, fun, and most educational. The more I learn about Louisiana the more I love and appreciate it. read more

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What a different way to spend some time while in New Orleans. You've eaten all the great N.O. cuisine, you've drank until you're heart's content. Now what? The swamp tour! Our tour guide was fun, "safe", and knowledgeable. I never thought I'd be so close to an alligator. It was scary yet thrilling and a great way to spend a few hours doing something different. In addition to the alligators, the tour guide gave interesting history about the land, animals, and vegetation. It's funny how the raccoons and boars also like marshmallows. I guess sugar really is universal. We came with a group of friends, but this is family friendly as well. Bring sunscreen and shades if it's hot. Be prepared for your hair to get taken by the wind once the boat starts zipping through the water. Don't be afraid to ask questions. This was entertaining and educational. Step out of your box and onto the river for a new experience. read more

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The Pearl River Swamp Tour is fantastic. More education, less show. Captain John was able to provide history and information about the ecology of the area. He really loves the river, swamp and bayou. We saw egrets, a few alligators, racoons (that are brown and blonde, not the black and white ones that come out at night in the SFV), turtles, snakes, and a wild pig on the regular tour. The alligators are just now coming out of winter hibernation. Once the weather is consistently warmer (70+ degrees), there will be more. What was also great was the fact that Captain John grew up on this river and swamp. He was able to tell about the foliage as well as the animals. For example, the Bald Cypress growing in the swamp is a member of the Redwood Family, which grows in the Sierra and along the coast of California, where we are from. When you are able to travel to New Orleans, be sure and schedule a trip with Pearl River Swamp Tours. Thank you Captain John! read more

I've actually been on a couple of swamp tours featuring alligators including one in the Everglades and let me tell you, this one blows all the others away!!! Not only do you get the excitement of being so close to gators and seeing them in their natural habitat, you gain a wealth of knowledge of the land, the water, the history of the area, all of the creatures that inhabit it, AND the plants and THEIR history too! If you're in the area and not sure which of the many tours to take, look no further! Even my 8 year old commented on how much we were learning compared to others on other tour boats nearby were! This is the one you want!! Our amazing captain taught us the difference between marshes and swamps. He showed us the destruction left from Katrina and told us about the laws regarding hurricane and flooding insurance. We even saw the only home on the bayou that is covered by that insurance because it's the appropriate 18ft off the ground! We passed many floating homes and a historic bridge. He taught us about Sassafras, Bay leaf and Cypress and let us touch and smell some. He taught us about ball cypress timber, how it doesn't decay and the tragic story of "The Senator", the biggest and oldest bald cypress in the world! He taught us about Cypress knee and Tupelo gum, and where the name "Spanish Moss" came from. We saw TONS of gators and watched quite a few of them jump up real close and grab the marshmallows which he explained do NOT interfere with their diets. We saw raccoons, snakes and egrets too. We arrived a bit early for our morning tour and they let us hop out on earlier boat which we appreciated. It's located about 35 minutes north of NOLA and they do provide hotel pick ups if necessary for an additional cost! Calling and booking was simple. We gave a card to hold our space but paid in person when we arrived. They go out our rain or shine as the boat is covered. Don't forget plenty of water and cash for tipping your guide! Ours was beyond fantastic!! Funny and intelligent! My 6 & 8 year olds had a blast and I felt very safe with them on the boat! We couldn't recommend this tour enough!!! INCREDIBLE!!! read more

We had an absolute blast at Pearl River Eco Tours. Captain Wade did a fantastic job of showing us around, and it was so evident that he really knew the ins and outs of the area. We saw raccoons, alligators, blue heron, osprey, wild boar and turtles of all kinds. We fed the animals, learned the differences between bayous, swamps, and rivers, learned about local trees, honey bees, and interesting facts about the bald cypress tree root systems. He was very scientific and thorough, and I felt like my kids and I had such a great experience while learning a lot about nature and the wildlife around the swamp. It was really an eye opening adventure and I have a newfound respect for the folks who live and make their living off the Pearl River. read more

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Awesome experience! Captain John was very knowledgeable and friendly. We saw gators, raccoons, turtles, snakes, and hogs. Definitely recommend! The swamp and bayou are so peaceful and scenic. read more

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Great experience while vacationing in New Orleans. I definitely recommend! We took a nice ride into the bayou where I was able to feed a raccoon marshmallows. We didn't see any gators but it was a great experience. We will go again on our next trip. read more

I wanted to see Pearl River, learn more about the ecosystem and maybe, just maybe we'd see alligators. I'm glad we did this since we didn't rent a car in NOLA and they drove us all the way to Slidell to do this. The driver was nice and the ride was comfortable. The Captain was really nice and we were the only ones with one other person on his boat, since we did the smaller tours and it was much more personable. I liked it a lot and we learned so much about mangroves, the ecosystem, saw some boars, raccoons, herrings, and different trees and plants. It was too cold for the gators to come out, they were hibernating but that's ok, we had a great time without it. The captain even went an extra mile and went down a bayou for us, it was really nice! I loved it! read more

Great tour. I have done tours with another company, and this was by far the best. Not just looking for animals, but learning about the way the ecosystem works. Highly recommend. read more

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Amazing Tour We had to do quite a lot of research to find this tour company since a lot of the tours offer different things and have different prices. We first wanted to go on a propeller boat, but they can only go on the rivers and not deep in the bayou. This was just perfect! We took the 6 people boat and ended up being only our 3 person party. It is worth every penny to have a smaller group boat. Our guide was very friendly and explained everything about the bayou in a very captive way. We did the morning ride and suggest you do the same as it gets hot as hell under the sun during summer. I totally recommend for any kind of groups or family that want to visit the bayou and learn about its wildlife & history. read more

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Very knowledge guide. We saw all kinds of wildlife. Picked up at our hotel right in schedule. Nothing but good things to say. read more

Took a tour here a couple months ago but just got around to reviewing it. This place exceeded my expectations in every way! I chose this company as an alternative to a certain better-known outfit that's a bit closer to New Orleans, because it is one of the few operations that does not include an animal handling component. I want to see the swamps, but don't want to traumatize a baby gator in the process. :) Our guide Wayne was INCREDIBLY knowledgeable about the plants, animals, and ecology of the region. He shared anecdotes about animal behavior, plant life, Katrina, the Cajun community, hunting, and how human activity has impacted the environment here. I learned so much on this tour but it never felt boring or excessively detailed. We saw many gators, wild hogs, and several species of snakes and birds. It was really cool how Wayne was willing to modify the route for people who had special requests (e.g., one lady wanted to see orchids so he took a quick detour to show us a big patch of them). They keep a few hot dogs on hand to get gators to jump out of the water for photo opps, which is cool to see -- I'm sure it's not the MOST sustainable practice out there, but much better than nabbing babies to pass around like some of the other tours do. The boats are small, they seat about 20 people. This makes them very maneuverable and you can get into some pretty cool nooks and crannies. There are occasional traffic jams in some areas of the swamp (keep in mind that several outfits run tours here), but these aren't frequent enough to interfere with the experience. Bring a sweater on this tour even if you think it's too warm. The boat goes pretty fast, and Louisiana weather can turn on a dime so it can get very nippy. Also make sure your camera's charged, there are great sights all the way through. Highly recommended. read more

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Do yourself the favor and take a break away from the drinking and the city, and get down to this tour. If you don't have a car you get picked from wherever you are (an additional $25) and get in a van for a little over a half hour, it wasn't a bad ride at all. We were on a boat that was pretty spacious, definitely room to move. The tour guide was incredibly information and interesting. AS SOON as you move off the doc, alligators! They were awesome, so close to the boat. When the boat picks up speed it is a beautiful landscape like no other, so lush and green. Definitely humid out on the swamp in the summer-bring a water bottle! Not only were there plenty of alligators but I also saw a raccoon and many crazy wild hogs. The tour is 2 hours, so the $25 cost is well worth it. You definitely get your money's worth and I can't imagine how someone wouldn't like this, unless they hated nature. I learned so much about the swamp, the wildlife, history, and the greenery. The highlight of my trip! read more

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You must go with this company! Best thing me and my husband ever did! Not only do get to see gators but you learn so much more!!! We thought we would only see gators and not do much. But we saw gators RIGHT at the dock! We got to see them eat and then we moved on. Our caption thought us so much about the trees, nature, history of the area, and so much more! We saw turtles, a snake, birds and of course alligators. We had a local on our boat with friends and as we were walking back to our cars I over heard her say it was the best tour she had been on. This was our first but I totally agree! The swamp did get a little crowded with other boats but our captain did good with keeping is separate but still seeing everything! Thank you so much pearl river Eco tours and our captain! We felt at home and will come back next time we are in town!!! Sincerely, Fuller Family read more

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There's a reason why this place got 5 stars and highly recommended by JW Marriott and other hotels. Although many companies probably do a fantastic job for the swamp tour a couple staying at our hotel recommended going with this company stating they were "lively and entertaining". Lots of wildlife: snakes, alligators, pigs, birds with many chances to take up close pictures. Defiantly worth the trip! Thanks guys! read more

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I went here on the school trip and it was amazing. We got to see many different swamp animals like: wild hogs, raccoons, alligators, turtles, etc. The staff was super friendly as well and we got to meet Murphey, their Irish wolfhound. I recommend coming here if you want to learn and see the animals and swamp. I have learned so much and made a memorable experience there. read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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We took the swamp tour on Sept. 5. Our tour guide was courteous and friendly. The boat was clean. The ride was fun and entertaining. We saw a lot of the Pearl River and bayou. We learned to identify different plants and the difference between a natural and man-made bayou. Highlights: Seeing the house boats in the bayou. Watching the gators eat marshmallows. The guide pointing out affects of Hurricane Katrina. Disappointments: September is alligator season in Louisiana. This means the gators weren't out and about. We saw less than 10. Tips: Pack sunscreen. Ask for the military discount. Use the bathroom before getting on the boat. Wear sunglasses and a hat. This is NOT a kid-friendly tour. My kids (ages 6 & 3) were bored once their snacks ran out. read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - A house on the bayou. - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

This was the best $48 we have spent on entertainment! We were up close and personal with nature, not in a cramped boat with a million people and the tour guide was a blast! Would highly recommend this tour over the others! read more

While in New Orleans we were looking for a few day time activities to balance out the craziness that is New Orleans at night. We stumbled upon this place and could not be happier with the tour and experience. Since it's about 45 minutes outside of town, I'd recommend using their pick up service. Even if you have a car it's nice to be driven out there and not worry about directions and getting lost out there. We did a open air boat tour. We saw a dozen gators and ventured off into the swamps to see the vegetation and other wildlife out there. Our tour guide was knowledgeable about the area, history and wildlife. The tour lasted about 90 minutes and was pretty entertaining the whole time. I'd recommend taking this tour over others, they the own the land you see and you'll get a good tour of the swamps in the area. read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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As soon as we got to NOLA we were aching to hit the bayou and see what the swamp had to offer. After culling through the numerous tour companies out there, we settled on Pearl River Eco-Tours. And we are glad we did. Pearl offers a Honey Island Swamp Tour which many other companies do as well. What I noticed on the swamp and running by other companies along the way was that Pearl's tours are smaller and more personal. While other companies ran three or four boats packed to the brim in the short two hour trip, Pearl River seemed to focus on a smaller more intimate experience. This allowed for more interaction with our tour guide, Brian. Brian is a fantastic guide - knowledgable, great stories, and a wicked sense of humor too! Brian is from the area and knows the swamp like the back of his hand. He has stories about big gators (which were in a hibernation period when we visited), the history of the swamp, Cajun culture, and some fun insider stories about the swamp that you don't hear in tour guides and books. Insider knowledge that comes from living and growing up in the swamp itself. On the tour we were still able to see wild pigs, raccoons with a taste for marshmallows ("only raccoons with diabetes," as Brian joked), and egrets. Tossing marshmallows apparently is common practice with the tour companies in the area. I highly recommend this tour and hope to come back during the warmer months when the gators supposedly are in abundance and come up to the boats to feed on marshmallows. I guess the gators have diabetes too! read more

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If you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend taking a swamp tour with Pearl River Eco-Tours. My son and I were staying in Biloxi and drove the hour over to LA just for the tour, and I'm so glad we did. We booked the smaller boat and it was 7 passengers and our tour guide. The smaller boats can get into some of the nooks and crannies that the larger boats can't, it's so worth the additional cost. Our tour guide was a local who was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He adhered to the restrictions on feeding the animals in the wildlife area (unlike other tour operators we saw). We saw numerous gators and several raccoons, but didn't get to see the pigs. Our swamp tour was by far our favorite part of our trip and we won't hesitate to go again next time we are in the area. read more

Had a great tour, very informative and lots of wildlife. Dezzi was our guide and he was amazing read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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Awesome trip‼Desi is an Awesome guide‼Super knowledgeable about all the wildlife, plant, trees, natives & eco life‼All 4 of us learned & saw so much, several alligators, turtles, wild boar, raccoon, fish & much much more‼ You will definitely get your money's worth & you'll throughly enjoy every minute of this interesting, exciting & informative boat ride‼ read more

This place was amazing!!!! Super educational, you could tell the guides really cared about the area, the wildlife, and the history. I am local to New Orleans and I took some out of town family, but I definitely want to come back. We booked a group tour and it was more than worth the money. read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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Very informative tour of the swamp. We saw plenty of gators and wild hogs as well as native birds and plant spices. Beautiful scenery and Captain Van made sure we kept all our fingers:) read more

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Great tour. Love to have someone that is able to speak to the flora and environment in the area. Captain Van was great. We did the larger boat tour-was perfect for our toddlers. read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - Wild Boar on trip - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

Had an amazing time on the tour with Trey as our captain. He made sure we saw wildlife and had interesting facts about the local environment. Even more importantly, it was a blast! Informative and lots of laughs and beautiful sights along the way. Highly recommend. read more

Pearl River Swamp Tours - Beautiful view - Tours Near Me - Slidell, Louisiana

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Super fun and informative. Our guide Trey surely made the adventure special with his great sense of humor and easy delivery. Great information about the eco system, wildlife, and his personal recipes made for a most memorable experience. We took the small boat which was a very good choice in our opinion. Recommended highly! read more

Great tour! We had the pleasure of having Trey as our guide (I am pretty sure that is his name. I have a terrible memory, so my apologies if that is wrong). He was great! He is very knowledgeable about the animals, plants, and area as a whole. He kept us engaged even when everyone in our 6-person tour was beat after 4 days of vacationing in New Orleans. He is very funny and obviously loves this job. If you have the option, definitely go with this company and guide, you will not regret it. read more

I'm so glad we made time on our trip to leave the city and explore Honey Island Swamp! Our group of seven had a long night, so it was a bit of a struggle to get there on time at 9:45.. luckily, we all made it on the tour because we told them we were running five minutes late and they were nice enough to wait for us. Our hungover asses really appreciated it! We didn't see any of their biggest alligators, but we did see plenty of little guys. In addition, we also saw wild boars, snakes, lizards, birds, and of course all the nature-y goodness the swamp has to offer. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of our captain (review's way overdue), but he was great and his jokes were on point. Highly recommend making the way out here! We paid $25 each, not including tip and tax. Pretty worth it for an educational experience, if you ask me. read more

Don't hesitate to do this because it sounds touristy. We drove ourselves out there since a car rental was way cheaper than the pick up charge. The place is about 40-45 minutes away from New Orleans. After reaching the place we paid for our trip and I saw binoculars for rent. I asked if I should rent one and the tour guy said probably not unless I was into bird watching, and also, there wouldn't be many songbirds around this time of the year. I appreciated his candidness. Our boat of about 12 passengers was headed by Captain John. He explained the difference between swamps and bayous and the ecosystems in these. This is an opportunity to experience something that is a way of life for many in Louisiana. We saw some young crocs and a large alligator nicknamed Al who is about 50+ years old. Also saw turtles and snakes and some birds. Saw beautiful irises and water lilies. The 2 hour tour was over too soon. Go on this tour - you won't regret it. read more

This tour was so much fun! The guide was great and I was happy that there were NO mosquitos but I would still recommend you bring your insect repellant just in case. It was cool to see the alligators come and get the snacks the guide provided (marshmallows and wieners) and also to see the family of wild boars do the same. Please be advised that the seats on these boats are METAL and YOU WILL NEED a SEAT cushion to accommodate your hind parts - please BELIEVE ME! I went on the tour on 06/19/2015 and mine STILL hurt. LOL!!! But it was worth it because I really enjoyed this tour. read more

Money well spent. Trey our boat guide was extremely familiar/knowledgeable with the area and I'm positive everyone on the boat not only learned a few things but also saw animals and plants they would likely have never seen before in their natural environment. Extremely cool. I highly recommend the tour if your looking for things to do. Their are several different companies you can go with and I can't give an honest comparison to the others because I've only spent time with this outfit, but I can tell you the staff is extremely friendly and you can tell they live what they do. Do yourself a favor and book today! read more

We enjoyed the tour. Small boat with personal service. Our captain took the time to explore the bayou and river ecosystem. It's no frills. You get on the boat and go, but very worthwhile. read more

I love it here! and I love the honey island swamp! Neil is a great guide - he grew up in the area and tells lots of stories. (including the tale of the honey island swamp monster lol). the main channel of the pearl is a fast boat ride down a wide river, then you turn off into the swamps and explore amongst the elephant ears and overhanging trees. there are gators and wild boars and maybe all kinds of other things. definitely recommend everyone go on a swamp tour here, tourist or no. read more

This is what a swamp tour should be like. Our captain was awesome - extremely knowledgeable and he seemed to really be excited to take a bunch of tourists into the swamp. We drove ourselves out there - you might prefer this option rather than the pick up service (renting a car is way less than having to drive around in their shuttle). A swamp tour seems touristy and I guess it is. But the swamp is so beautiful and cool - everyone should experience it up close and personal when they visit NOLA. My only issue is that our captain didn't want to take us that far in to the swamp since he would have to follow behind another tour operator's boat. I understand him not wanting to turn our tour into a "Disneyland ride," but I also feel that maybe we missed out on something. Not many animals around - not sure if it was due to the time of year or the fact that there were so many boats out in the area. I did a couple swamp tours a long time ago and both times we never saw another boat. Now I guess the area is getting really crowded - kind of a shame. I wish they could each get their own territory so it doesn't become so jammed up with tour boats. read more

What a great experience! The tour guides are real locals who know everything about the area. The scenery was beautiful and the gators are out in their natural habitat. Everyone is really friendly on this tour if the swamps. If you have never taken a tour of the. Bayou I highly recommend this tour. read more

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Went on the swamp tour today. We saw quite a few alligators turtles birds wild pigs and some beautiful bayou country. Our guide Wade was fantastic he has lived in this area his entire life. Told us a little bit about Katrina and how they survived that. Very well worth tour in this area. I would highly recommend this particular company because they answer their phone and you talk to a real person. Sarah Wiebe needs to go on this. read more