So fun! Saw so many crocidillys and raccoons! Dustin was so informative and funny! Was the best one we have been on. We went on ultimate swamp and it was no where as good as this. We saw a lot of wildlife and was really good here. read more

See all

Captain James is what makes this tour authentic and fun! After Tiffany Haddish talked about her Groupon and swamp tour experience on a late night tv show, I knew I had to go on a swamp tour when I had a chance to visit NOLA. There were quite a few swamp tours on Groupon. I chose this one because of the reviews and the boat is covered. I purchased the Groupon and then called the number. I left a voice message. Captain James called me back within a couple hours. I told him I had purchased a Groupon. He asked for the voucher code so I provided it to him. He said he had me plus a guest down for the tour. When we arrived to the building (light blue and a bit worn), we saw a man. It turned out to be Captain James. We told him our names and he confirmed we were on his list. While we waited for the others, he told us some stories about himself, which were very interesting and informative. We left at the scheduled time. Thankfully, it was overcast so it wasn't too hot even though it was around 1:30 PM. We saw a gator not even 5 minutes into the tour. Captain James said they love the marshmallows he gives them so they know his schedule better than he does. During the tour, we saw multiple alligators. We also saw birds and Captain James told us about the trees and plants we saw. It was a very fun and interesting tour. With the Groupon, you cannot beat this deal for such a great experience. I highly suggest this swamp tour! read more

See all

This was a great tour. Last time we went it was on the bayou so this was a nice experience to see another area where alligators are in their natural habitat. The tour guide was well educated and provided lots of visuals to keep us all engaged. The tour lasted a little under 2 hours. We were all a little skeptical because on the way up it started to rain. We thought we wouldn't see much but actually saw alot of all different sizes. We also got to see some birds make a cameo for the tour which was an added bonus. The weather was just right now to hot and because of the rain it cooled things down a little. The boats are equiped with canopies on top so you don't get wet and your free to move about the boat freely to get all the angles and pictures you need. Call to book ahead and of your looking for a deal they have a great one on Groupon. read more

See all

This was a wonderful swamp tour run by a great guy, Captain James. The taxi picked me and my girlfriend up at our hotel and drove us out to where the swamp tour is, and from there we went on our bayou adventure. James is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the swamps, animals, and navigating the waters, and the ride was both relaxing and exciting. It's so awesome to see the alligators eat the marshmallows he throws in the water and although none came right up to the boat, they were close enough for great pictures/video and the other wildlife is exciting to see (we even saw a bald eagle!). I can't say enough great things about this tour and I recommend it to anyone who visits New Orleans and wants to see an authentic swamp tour. read more

See all

Though I've been to New Orleans a hundred times, I saw a Groupon for this tour and thought, what the heck! I'm so glad I did. We took the 9:30 am tour, so it wouldn't be too hot. Captain James was knowledgeable, nice, and answered all of our questions, along with telling a few funny stories along the way. We really had a great time. A few words of wisdom, though: 1) wear sunscreen/bug repellant (even though the pontoon boat is covered, you can get a lot of sun); 2) use the bathroom before the tour (there is a small "potty" on the boat, but no, don't use it); 3) don't wear a white shirt (I'll let Captain James explain why!) read more

See all

Captain James is amazing, kind and incredibly knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. He is willing to share his personal stories and he is a colorful character which makes the trip that much more funny/ interesting. On this trip our group of 4 was running late and when we called him he said he would be waiting for us. He even called to check on us to make sure we were headed the right way (we were only about 5 mins late.) On his boat it was covered so it was nice and shaded and he incorporated props (alligator heads, teeth and many other items) into his tour. I definitely recommend THIS tour. You will absolutely get to see the alligators and so much more. Thoroughly enjoyed this experience! read more

Great price for an awesome tour! The boat is a quieter and slower motor boat that I really appreciated. I didn't want a giant, obnoxious fan behind me the whole time. The tour is around 2 hours and we met up at a seemingly abandoned building next to the tourist center (yeah I know... ) My initial thought was that I got scammed but I called the number I got through Zerve(ticketing website) and we found the tour guide in bright orange shirt. We followed him down the street to his boat and we took off. A word of advice: Remember to use the bathroom in the tourist center before the ride! The boat ride was smooth and the tour guide had tons of personal stories and knowledge about the area to fill the whole tour. He pulled out samples of what he was talking about(moss, tree stump, etc) and he knew exactly where the birds nest and large alligators roam! Highly recommended! read more

Cajun Critters Swamp Tour - Can you spot the 6 foot alligator? - Tours Near Me - Westwego, Louisiana

What a fun way to spend a Saturday in New Orleans! Cajun Critters set up a bus to pick guests up outside of their accommodations to take us to the swamp tour spot. It was about a 45 minute ride, and our bus driver entertained us the whole time with cool facts about New Orleans! Once we got to the tour spot, there was a gift shop and bathrooms. The boat seated about 25 people. The tour lasted around 2 hours. We saw four alligators, a bunch of raccoons, and two wild hogs! Very cool. We had Captain Eddie as our guide and he was so awesome!!! He made sure that we got to see everything we wanted to see, and he was feeding the gators so that they got close to the boat. Captain Eddie did a great job making sure everyone on the boat was having fun. The swamp itself was beautiful--lots of diverse vegetation. This was an easy 5 stars! read more

See all

We took this tour last week and had a great time! We booked very last minute and although Captain James seemed a little gruff on the phone, he was very nice in person and we had a great time. He was super knowledgeable and gave a lot of local history bits as we were on the tour. He also passed around an old school photo album of him with various catches and it was incredibly endearing. The tour is very reasonably priced and it's super fun to watch Captain James throw marshmallows at gators. The only reason I'm knocking off a star is because the tour ended up being about 30+ minutes shorter than advertised without any explanation. I bet this might be because we were a bit on the off season and there was less to see? I'd like to take this tour again during the peak season to see a little more activity. Still, a very nice outing. (Tip your guide!!) read more

I was told to go on a swamp tour by various friends. They didn't necessarily recommend this one but I just picked it out of the blue since it was pretty close to where we were staying. I loved the tour. The boat was covered which was a great relief from the sun and rain showers. (Although, it felt great when it rained). It seemed like the tour guide owned the boat/Cajun critters swamp tour company but I'm not sure. He was wonderful - nice, knowledgable and funny without being cheesy. He had pictures and artifacts of his own too. He seems to be especially great with kids and had mounds of marshmallows for them to throw to the alligators. We saw about 5 small/baby alligators. We didn't see any big mamas on our tour. The tour guide had a lot to say about other things besides alligators - like the vegetation and other wildlife. He had lived in the area his whole life and spoke of his alligator catching days - it doesn't get any more authentic then that. Highly recommended ! read more

See all

Capt James and his tour was awesome! Not only fun but very informative! Will bring the rest of the family next time ! read more

See all

My family loved this tour! When we pulled up, I thought there must be a mistake, because the building looked abandoned, and because it was raining, we called rather than walking up to make sure we were in the right place. James told us to sit tight, and he would be out shortly to lead us to the boat. We lucked out and it stopped raining and we had great weather for the tour. James made it very interesting, giving lots of details about the natural environment and wildlife along with the history of the area. He joked with the guests and answered questions. He really was a great tour guide. The area is beautiful, and we saw several gators, along with some turtles and lots of types of birds. I highly recommend this tour, and they seem to have a deal on Groupon fairly often. read more

See all

AMAZING! This was the greatest experience ever! We came on a mini family vacation with two 4 year olds and they had the time of their life! We all left with so much knowledge of the Bayou! Our Captain was so knowledgeable. We got to see so many gators! If you are looking for a swap tour book here now you will not be disappointed! communication before the trip was always quick , easy and clear. We can't wait to go back. Thank you for such an amazing experience! I know this will be an experience we will talk about for years. read more

See all

Highly recommend this tour! Captain James is a great tour guide. He knows the swamps and wildlife very well. We purchased a Groupon and reserved our spots by calling. We arrived at the address that was on the Groupon, which looked like an abandoned building. We called Captain James and he informed us he would be out to lead us to the boat. We were not charged to park our car (some tours charge). Since we went during the off season the wildlife wasn't as vast. Captain James was determined to find us an alligator. He knows all their hiding places and hang outs. He came through for us and found one. If you go during the spring/summer time he feeds them marshmellows. Thank you for a great experience! read more

See all

I learned so much on this tour and had an absolute blast! We got to see about 30 gators and several up close! You will not be disappointed!! It was funny to see another tour pass by and they were all leaning over to listen and look at our tour! read more

See all

Great tour and tourguide! Highly affordable yet action packed. Your tour guide is a former marine- gives history and fun facts along the way. Good sense of humor- and we saw tons of gators. Would come back! read more

Cajun Critters Swamp Tour - Tours Near Me - Westwego, Louisiana

My boyfriend, who was a sceptic about the whole idea of a swamp tour, and I had an AMAZING experience on our tour (Monday 5/29)! Captain James was funny, informative, and friendly. He had so much knowledge of the area; it blew me away. I learned a great deal about the bayou, alligators, and even Cajun culture. It was informal and personable, but still structured so that you got a lot out of the experience. Personally, I felt it was much better than the larger, commercial options. We saw a ton of alligators (which seems consistent as long as you come during the warm months). There were minimal bugs. I'm from urban California and am easily scared, yet I felt totally safe. I also get motion sickness easily, but love boat rides, and I didn't feel queasy at all. I highly recommend it! Take advantage of the Groupon deal currently going on-- you can't beat the price. It's a 15-20 minute drive from the Quarter. If you're a fan of silly tourist shirts, you can purchase a Cajun Critters original tee for $12 at the end of the ride. He has a sign up, but doesn't push it at all. I actually inquired because I am most certainly a fan of silly tourist shirts. This was easily one of my favorite parts of our N.O. trip. Go!!! read more

This tour was the only one with a large enough boat to walk around AND with a cover! We went on a rainy day but that did not stop us at all. We were kept dry and walked around freely while all the other smaller tour boats got wet. Would have Hated to be on that tour lol. It got sunny towards the end of the tour which was good. The tour was approximately 1.5 hours which was plenty of time. Captain James was very funny and knowledgeable. He has been catching alligators for a very long time and knew his stuff. He got the alligators to come near he boat and we got AMAZING pictures! The best tour you can get without traveling far. Would highly recommend and will come again when in the area! read more

See all

Thank you so much for everything! He was very knowledgeable about the swamp area and the animals, wildlife and history of the area. His customer service was impeccable (our uber driver dropped us off in the wrong area and he came out of his way to pick us up. So GREATFUL) He left a outstanding impression on these two Californian city girls WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK read more

See all

Very informative and interesting tour ! It is great for families or couples , even solo acts . The Captain was so knowledgeable, I learned quite a few things . Very affordable as well . read more

Being from Louisiana and now living outside the state, I always use Cajun Critters Swamp Tour whenever I come back with new visitors! There are so many overpriced/impersonal swamp tours around New Orleans but Cajun Critters is as authentic as it gets. James is amazingly knowledgeable because he is from the area where he guides tours. It is clear he is passionate about the land and his community. James makes sure everyone is enjoying themselves and goes out of his way to ensure that everyone has a positive experience. Going on the Cajun Critters Swamp Tour is like visiting the hometown of an old family friend--highly recommended! read more

This tour was Amazing. Captain Dillon was charming, hilarious and very informative. He took my 5 year old daughter and let her pick flowers from the marshy bayou. Will definitely do this tour again. read more

See all

We took the tour today, and had a great time! The guide was very knowledgeable, but super friendly and kind. Even let my son 'drive' the boat for a second. I would reccomend this over the noisy fanboats! Very fun. read more

Just took this tour with Captain James and had a great time! Love how he grew up on these swamps and had a personal story or cool fact to share about many aspects along the way. The tour was about ~90 minutes long and really informative. We saw tons of gators as well as other wildlife. Captain James definitely seemed to know exactly where the gators were hiding. Also brought us to a spot with a bunch of baby gators! His tour was a highlight of my trip here in NOLA. Highly recommend it for tourists and locals alike! read more

Our you guide James made the whole experience. He was so knowledgeable and fun. We saw a bunch of alligators and he also talked about different species of birds and snakes in the area. Such a great time. read more

Ok so I really enjoyed this tour... I don't remember the gentleman's name but he was so AWESOME, FUNNY, AND FRIENDLY!!! Was a great and memorable experience I will never forget!!! Out of all the swamp tours I saw, this one was the closest to the French quarters and we Lyft there and back for not that much... cheaper than the shuttle. read more

Excellent guide! He grew up on the Bayou and therefore is not only knowledgeable but has a deep love and respect for the swamps. He was kind as can be and pretty darn funny! We saw a ton of gators and he even let the kids feed them! We had a blast!!! When we go back, we will be visiting Cajun Critters again! read more

At First you kind of wonder what could a swamp tour in the Heart of the City really have. It's a very much a family trying to run a small business. Extremely affordable and very much fun for the kids. Between the artifacts and the knowledge of the captain really made for a great time. A family of 7 can break the bank thankfully there still Mom and Pops like this that helps families learn and have fun while doing it read more

Wonderful tour with a local with the knowledge and stories that count. It was perfect until family on another tour pulled up with a cooler of live baby gators for show and tell. They passed them around roughly while the gators hissed, stressed out and scared. They had guests guess male or female and then shoved fingers inside the gators back ends. This is not okay!! We should respect and appreciate them from afar, not pass them around to tourists who don't know how to handle WILDLIFE and violate them. Disgusting. read more

The tour guide was great! He has been a local to the area all of his life. He had nicknames for the gators, and knew the best spots to find them. He was very knowledgeable about the animals in the area as well as the plants. I learned a lot, but not in a boring way! Also, he shared a couple photo albums with us showing all his catches throughout the course of his lifetime. So cool to look at and felt very personal as well. Definitely recommend! But consider bringing a jacket as it can get chilly out on the water! read more

Such a fun tour. Hilarious guide! Had just the best time. Guide knew everything about the area & was just a plethora of helpful information. One of the best & most fun things we've done on a vacation & we've been blessed with extraordinary activities throughout our marriage on vacations! !!!! Saw so many gators of all sizes along with some other Bayou creatures!! Book a tour & bring marshmallows!!!Make sure,you ask about the plastic cartons scattered throughout the water. You will have the best time! read more

Not really knowing what to expect from a swamp tour (yet having been on many similar excursions in other travels), the morning we had on Cajun Critters Swamp Tour was better than we could have imagined. We met our guide within a hundred meters of the docks, and by some stroke of luck, everyone else cancelled that day because the weather was supposed to be miserable. Turns out it wasn't, so my husband and I got our own private bayou experience for about $25 each! Obviously, this won't happen to everyone--but the tour really was amazing. : ) We got to see all sorts of birds, including a really rare black crowned night heron, and there were so many beautiful views of the swamps and flora (we really recommend the morning trip). And, of course, we got to see alligators! By the end we must have seen between 15-18, the longest one being about 5 1/2 feet. Supposedly the week before, other tours got to see a 13 foot gator, but we were thrilled to see at least one! The guide knew the swamps like they were his backyard, and he had a lot of fun facts and interesting knowledge to share. The entire ride was breathtaking, immersing, and a wonderful learning experience I will never forget. Really recommend this to anyone who wants to see the swamps! read more

See all

This tour was incredible. The gentleman running it was born and raised on the swamp; he knows absolutely everything about not only the gators and other "critters," but also he told us so much about the other wildlife there such as the trees and birds. He was so friendly and his experience and demeanor made the tour so much more personalized and authentic. We also realized while on the water that some of the other tours had boats that were much louder than ours; the quiet ride was so peaceful and we were able to really hear everything the guide had to say. Definitely recommended! read more

Captain James is one honest business man but i will get into that later. We found this tour because it had fair reviews, pricing and distance from our hotel. They also provide round trip pick up/drop off included in the price - $45 per person for 2 hour tour. The driver was nice enough to pick us up from the restaurant we were having brunch instead of the agreed upon destination which was the hotel. Once picked up the driver said the drive was NOT included and we had to pay an additional $50. So we quickly scrambled to get the money. When we arrived Captain James was friendly, funny, and even told us the history of the Catrina devastation. It was very interesting coming from a Louisiana native. Although we only saw 5 4 feet alligators (i was hoping for 6 feet!), Captain James tried his hardest to keep us entertained and educated. Our driver hit traffic and we had to wait about 30 mins and in the meantime, Captain James told us we can remain in the boat and out of the sun until the driver comes. He had his next group already in the boat but still allowed us to wait in the shade. During dinner, we got a call from Captain James and he told my husband that the driver misunderstood and should not have charged us for the ride. As such, Captain James refunded us the amount by dropping it off at the hotel! Sure enough when we went back to the hotel the concierge advised us of an envelop full of cash. This is one honest man and for that i am ok only seeing 4 four feet alligators!! Rare to find this quality in any human being let alone a business man. We told everyone about this once we returned to CA. read more

Absolutely great tour! Great prices & exactly what I wanted! 2 hour 9 am tour was perfect

We bought a deal through Groupon. The weather had been really warm, and all of the recent reviews raved about the abundance of wildlife. Unfortunately for us, a huge cold front blew through a couple of days before our tour and the temp was hovering just above 40* for our 9:30am tour. No worries though. The captain had so many great stories and interesting information about the bayou. He managed to show us a 14 foot alligator and several smaller alligators (although only one of the smaller gators was willing to swim around and eat marshmallows). We also saw quite a few blue herons, a cormorant, some egrets, and a variety of other birds. It was a fun (although chilly) outing. read more

I purchased a Groupon for our group of six to take the Swamp Tour with Captain James. He was easy to work with to schedule our visit and was really friendly when we arrived! I liked how the boat wasn't one of those airboats with the big noisy fan on the back, I seemed to enjoy the boat ride more than I expected. We actually saw a lot of alligators, from small 2-footers to several 4-6 footers and the last one we saw was around 8 feet! We saw turtles and different birds, as well. My only complaint, being a Northerner, was that it was so hard to understand James at times with his really thick accent. read more

I found this swamp tour via Groupon. It was $33 for a two-hour tour for two people. On the particular day I made the reservation for there was a heavy storm so Captain James called to postpone the tour until the next day. The day we actually went on the tour was sunny and clear. Captain James was very knowledgeable. funny and engaging. He also fed the alligators marshmallows.....who knew those critters loved marshmallows so much? Captain James had a thick Cajun accent so it was somewhat difficult for me to understand him at times but I could tell he is passionate and connected to the Bayou. He had plenty of anecdotes to share with us about his 27+ years giving wetland tours. read more

I have been on a few swamp tours and I recommend Cajun Critters. James is very knowledgeable and kind of funny, too. It's good for any kind of group. The pontoon boat is covered, which is great for sunny, hot days. Also, it's not too loud, like some of those fan boats. It's easy to find and only 15 minutes from New Orleans. We saw lots of alligators and James pointed out many birds and plants. He is a true local Cajun and offers a great tour. read more

Highlight of our trip! On the reservation it said to call about 24 hours out and after I left a message, Captain James returned my call. When we showed up at the site, he made sure everyone got on the boat okay and was a jovial, good-hearted guide. He made us all feel welcome and comfortable. His knowledge of the area was tremendous and so interesting. We saw so many alligators we quit taking pictures of them. It was fun how he had them trained to come up to the sides of the boat. He provided an interesting narrative for nearly the entire tour and we saw more wildlife and scenery than we had even hoped for. The cajun musci enroute back, after the narrative was the perfect touch. I would recommend this tour over any other if you want an authentic backwoods tour. read more