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During my trip to New Orleans, I wanted to do something a little different from the usual French Quarter sightseeing and eating beignets. I was traveling with my best friend who wanted us to take a New Orleans alligator tour. The truth? I’m really not an alligator fan and dreaded the idea. But after a lot of convincing on her end, I decided to live out my Disney princess dreams Princess and the Frog style, and go on a Louisiana bayou tour with her. 

To my surprise, cruising through the bayou and seeing the alligators actually turned out to be the highlight of my trip! This boat tour is definitely one of the top things to do in New Orleans. 

I’ll tell you all about my experience, along with what to expect and a few things to know before you go, in this New Orleans swamp tour review. 

Arriving For the New Orleans Alligator Tour

One of the perks of this New Orleans excursion is that we didn’t have to worry about figuring out transportation to the tour. The bus picked us up directly from our hotel and dropped us off afterwards.

That made it easy to enjoy the Louisiana bayou tour without having to worry about getting an Uber to and from the bayou. 

Once we arrived for our New Orleans alligator tour, we had to get our tickets and then had a few minutes to browse the gift shop. It was filled with so many incredible alligator souvenirs. Although there are plenty of New Orleans alligator souvenirs that you can find throughout the city, the gift shop was home to the best souvenirs for gator lovers. The gift shop was also a nice place to cool off before the boats departed. 

Cruising Through the Louisiana Bayou  

This NOLA gator tour was such a unique experience for someone who has never gotten to see the Louisiana bayou. There was something so unforgettable about being immersed in the natural landscape while listening to our captain Ernie crack jokes and educate us on the history of Hurricane Katrina, the bayou, Louisiana culture, and of course, the alligators! I always think that tours are better when you get to learn something along the way, and this New Orleans alligator boat tour was definitely one of those experiences.

The bayou itself is so pretty. You get to see so many different types of vegetation. As we cruised through the bayou, I took so many photos of the bald cypress trees, which were draped in Spanish moss. It feels like stepping into a completely different world — peaceful, serene, and almost magical! 

And then there were the gators. I knew we would see a lot of gators on our New Orleans alligator tour, but it seemed like every time we turned our heads, we had more gators heading our way. After witnessing it firsthand, it’s easy to understand why swamp tours are often mentioned as one of the top things to do in New Orleans. It quickly became the highlight of my trip and made me a fan of alligators! 

The coolest part of this Louisiana bayou tour was when our captain threw marshmallows out into the water to draw the alligators. I had no idea that alligators even ate marshmallows, but it’s how the captain baits them to come close to the boat. You learn so much about alligator feeding habits, what they eat, and why during this New Orleans gator boat tour, which was so fascinating! 

I definitely wasn’t expecting the gators to get as close as they did, and even though I absolutely was not an alligator lover prior to this New Orleans excursion, I didn’t feel afraid of them. It was actually so amazing to see them in such close proximity. It was so neat to spot their eyes in the water as they sneakily creep up to the boat. It gives you such a thrill!

Although we didn’t see any raccoons on our NOLA gator tour, it is possible that you could spot some! Unfortunately, you can’t control wildlife, but there is always the possibility of an encounter!

A Few Things to Know Before Your New Orleans Alligator Tour

The Louisiana bayou tour is definitely one of the top things to do in New Orleans. However, there are a few details to keep in mind before you book your alligator boat tour: 

• Keep in mind that it’s HOT. Louisiana heat is no joke, depending on the time of year you go. My friend and I took our New Orleans vacation in June, and it was a lot hotter on the boat tour than we expected. I highly suggest wearing cool clothing so you don’t overheat. 
• Be sure to pack water. During the hotter months, you can easily dehydrate out on the Louisiana bayou, so you might even consider packing electrolytes. I’d also suggest pre-hydrating before you book your New Orleans alligator boat tour. 
• Don’t forget to pack sunscreen. Although the boat we took wasn’t open, there are areas where you will be exposed to the sun. I ended up with a bad sunburn and wished I had thought to pack sunscreen for the Louisiana bayou tour. 
• Bring cash. Although it’s not required, you’re encouraged to leave the tour guide a tip when you depart from the boat. Consider bringing some cash to tip your guide. (They really do earn their tips!) 
• Book your tour ahead of time. I suggest booking your New Orleans boat tour ahead of time. Since this is one of the top things to do in New Orleans, the spots fill up — especially during the busier months. 

The Ride Back to the Hotel Had One More Surprise

I thought the New Orleans alligator tour was going to be the wildlife highlight of my day, but Louisiana had one more surprise waiting for me! During the bus ride back to the hotel, we got to see more alligators hanging out by a little pond and wild boars crossing the road!

I definitely didn’t expect those wildlife sightings. It felt like the cool animals just kept coming, even after our NOLA gator tour was over.

Should You Book a New Orleans Alligator Boat Tour? Absolutely! 

If you’re looking for one of the top things to do in New Orleans, cruising through the Louisiana bayou is definitely high on my list! Even as someone who wasn’t an alligator fan, this was truly one of the most unique experiences you can have in NOLA. Not only is it so cool to immerse yourself in the bayou and see all the New Orleans alligators, but it’s also a great way to learn more about Louisiana culture.

Although there is a New Orleans alligator airboat tour, we opted to go on the regular boat tour. We wanted something a little slower-paced so we could really enjoy the gators. Some of our friends who we met in NOLA did take the airboat tour, and they had the opportunity to hold baby alligators. If you’re an adventurer and want to get close and personal with the gators, a NOLA airboat gator tour may be a better fit for you. 

To take the same New Orleans alligator tour I went on, BOOK HERE! To go on the New Orleans alligator airboat tour, BOOK HERE.

Book Your New Orleans Trip Now 

Are you ready to book your New Orleans vacation? The city has so much to do and see! Some of the best hotels to stay at include The Blackbird Hotel and Virgin Hotels New Orleans. 

Hotel Monteleone is known for its beautiful carousel bar, one of the most popular places to get an Instagram-worthy photo in New Orleans! Or if you’re a fan of The Vampire Diaries spin-off, The Originals, book your stay at The Hotel Royal! Or consider booking a trip at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, where my friend and I stayed! 

Want to Get Paid to Travel to Cool Places Like NOLA? 

If you’ve ever dreamed of making money traveling, you’ve come to the right place. If you want to get paid to travel the world and even experience free excursions like a gator tour in New Orleans, be sure to check out my $1 guide Booked While You Sleep, where I tell you about some of the best ways to get paid to travel.

If you want to read about travel that changes you, download the first edition of my digital travel magazine On the Go.