New Orleans Airboat Adventure: Wildlife and Swamp Scenery
4.7
3,680 Ratings
Lafitte
Escape the hustle-bustle of New Orleans on an exhilarating airboat ride. Spot alligators, snakes, turtles, and more as you explore the beautiful swamp scenery.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Mississippi River - Drive-out along the Mississippi River approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the embarkation point of your airboat from your New Orleans hotel. Depending on the option you selected, board a large airboat holding 15 to 25 passengers or a small airboat limited to six to eight passengers for a more intimate, personalized experience.
  • Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve - Set out on a 1 hour and 45 minute tour on a 20,000-acre (8,095-hectare) tract of tidewater cypress swamp close to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Your airboat is powered by an aircraft propeller to allow a fast, fluid trip through the shallow marshes. Feel the wind on your face as you zip into bayous lined with mossy cypress and tupelo-gum trees.

Prepare to see plenty of alligators in the warmer months (and warmer days in winter), some of which may be out sunning themselves on rocks! Your guide may even feed the gators, affording amazing photo opportunities. Keep your eyes open for turtles, snakes, egrets, herons and ibis. You may even catch sight of a hawk, owl or bald eagle. In the cooler months, look for white-tailed deer, raccoons and the large rodents known as nutria.

Be sure to check out the indoor exhibits of alligators, including an albino alligator.

Note: This tour does not include hotel pick-up or drop-off unless option selected at checkout.

What's Included
  • Expert local guide
  • Thrilling airboat ride
  • Convenient roundtrip transportation (selected at booking)
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks (gift shop and bar available on site)
Additional Information

Take a pause from the bustling city life of New Orleans and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature on this exciting, family-oriented airboat trip! Observe alligators, snakes, turtles, egrets and herons as you undertake a swift and entertaining journey over a brackish cypress swamp near the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Revel in your surroundings of moss-draped cypress and tupelo-gum trees as you navigate through bayous bursting with life and seize stunning photo opportunities.

This top-tier small-group tour is capped at a select few, just 6 people, allowing for clearer wildlife viewing. Regular small airboat accommodates up to 10 people, and large airboat accommodates up to 30 people.

Please be aware: If you choose the self-drive option, hotel pickup will not be provided. If you select the option with pickup, pickups will start 1 hour and 15 minutes before the tour commences.

  • Operates in all weather conditions (sunny or rainy); please dress appropriately
  • Minimum age is 5 years
  • Reservations booked separately will not be guaranteed to be on the same boat
  • Taxi & Ride Share services not available in our area
  • We offer a full refund in case of inclement weather that is unsafe to operate tours (lightening/ thunderstorms/ high wind). We still operate in the rain.
Location
5118 Texas St
Texas Street
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(3680 Ratings)
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Brett_c
Mar 29, 2024
This tour is a must on your New Orleans experience! - Our captain "Sean/Shawn" was professional, knowledgeable, and down to earth! He was a pro on alligators and pointed out much more on the tour. He was great with both the kids and the adults and tried to include everyone by not talking over the motor and making sure all questions were answered.
Review provided by Viator
328heidih
Mar 29, 2024
Fun family experience. - Fun trip around to look for gators and saw a turtle and a bald eagle nest! Our guide has a lot of experience about gators and love to whistle and call for them! Super treat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melissa_d
Mar 29, 2024
Airboat adventure - Tour was awesome! We saw lots of different wild life and trees. Our guide Jay was awesome. He called the alligators to him and gave them a kiss! Pretty cool!
Review provided by Viator
Chip_h
Mar 28, 2024
An excellent way to experience the bayou - Airboat did a fantastic job. Well organized. Great value for the money. My guide knocked it out of the park. I would recommend this to anyone. Hands down!!
Review provided by Viator
Jody_f
Mar 28, 2024
A fun experience! - Really well organised tour and we saw lots of alligators. The guide was really friendly and informative.
Review provided by Viator
Amy_c
Mar 28, 2024
Do it! - Such a memorable experience! Gators everywhere - along with owls, an eagle, a pelican, turtles, and a water moccasin! A knowledgeable young man driving the boat, he even kissed a gator!
Review provided by Viator
Whitney_p
Mar 28, 2024
So much fun! - This was one of the coolest and memorable experiences we had while visiting. Our guide was experienced and got excited about sharing history, knowledge of the animals, and answering questions.
Review provided by Viator
Krista_c
Mar 28, 2024
Lots of Wildlife and Beauty to see - We had a great guide. Tik Tok is the name he gave us. Super knowledgeable, we fed some gators marshmallows, got great pictures, saw some little raccoons, a bald Eagle and its nest, lots of gators from baby size to over 15ft. It was a highlight of our trip and would highly recommend it!
Review provided by Viator
Rachel_c
Mar 28, 2024
Skip it - Our guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We would have felt better if the boat hadn’t stalled out twice during our trip. The guide asked if theee was a mechanic on board multiple times when the boat stalled out. Everyone thought we were going to get stuck in the swamp. Also, it would have been helpful if the Check-In building was marked so we would have known to go there first before standing in the huge line at the dock. Unfortunately I found this tour to have a complete lack of professionalism.
Review provided by Viator
Tracy_w
Mar 27, 2024
Airboat gator viewing - Was an awesome time saw quite a few gators Guide had a name for them all Was educational and learned something
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
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May 2024
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