Quick Details
Details
- $65 per person (Drive Out)
- Multiple Trips Per Day (Check Calendar For Times)
- 30 Min From Downtown Nola
- Beginner/Child Friendly
Transportation
- Roundtrip Shuttle From Nola $25 per person
- pickup times are 1hr before tour start time
- pickup is in front of Mary’s Ace Hardware at 732 N. Rampart St.
Person
2 – 3 hours
$79
$ 65
New Orleans Swamp Tour
Grab your paddles for this 2-3 hour kayak swamp tour of the historic Manchac swamp. This cypress swamp is steeped in fascinating history. Early Native Americans, cypress loggers, and even Voodoo Queen Julia Brown, once called the swamp home.
The Manchac Magic kayak swamp tour is a great way to get out of the city and experience the scenic cypress swamps right outside of New Orleans. This paddle trip is a great beginner or experienced paddle outing and all ages and skill levels are welcome to attend.
What to Expect
What can you expect on our daily kayak swamp tour of the Manchac Swamp only 30 minutes from downtown New Orleans?
Our Manchac Magic kayak swamp tour is designed for nature and history enthusiasts, or visitors who want to get outdoors and experience nature in a kayak. Your kayak tour will be guided by a Louisiana local who specializes in the nature and history of the swamp ecosystem. The Manchac swamp, located roughly 30 miles from downtown New Orleans, is an expansive cypress swamp that is defined by its many bayous and backwater channels. Your tour will last about 2-3hrs on the water, and you will cover 3-4miles round trip. Meander down the bayou with your guide who will stop to point out areas of interest, share historical information, and sight wildlife along the way.
The tour covers a variety of ecosystems, as you paddle through finger lakes of the swamp, open marshes, and secluded backwater channels where cypress trees cover you and spanish moss hangs over head. Birders and nature enthusiasts will have the chance of seeing a variety of egrets and herons, osprey, bald eagles, vultures, owls, many warblers and song birds, and if you’re lucky, even a limpkin or roseatte spoonbill. The swamp is home to many alligators, turtles, snakes, and fur-bearing animals like raccoon, deer, and nutria.
The slow moving bayou water is great for beginner paddlers and more experienced enthusiasts. The tour covers 3-4 miles on the water and is of an easy to moderate intensity. The bayou has very little current and turns frequently which helps on windy days. If you’ve never paddled before make sure you are ready for adventure and are excited to take on a new experience. We have a selection of single and double kayaks available, so couples and groups of two usually ride tandem and solo guests ride single. On some smaller trips everyone will have the ability to select a single or double kayak.
Questions about the tour? CALL/TXT 985-205-1527
-
Roundtrip Shuttle From New Orleans is offered daily for $25 per person
Pickup and drop off location is: 732 N Rampart St. New Orleans, LA (in front of Mary’s Ace Hardware)
Pickup Times are always an hour before tour start time.
-
Winter: Dec-Feb. Temperatures can range from 30- 80 degrees. Trees are bare of leaves, and the swamp has a spooky grey appearance. Comfortable paddling weather and wildlife is still out and about. Alligators can be seen on warmer days.
Spring: Mar – May. One of the best times of years to see wildlife. Alligators very abundant. Wildflowers are blooming and the temperatures are great for paddling.
Summer: June – Aug. Swamp is very lush and green and wildlife can still be abundant in the morning and evening. Rain showers common in the middle of the day. Book early or late evening tours.
Fall: Sep – Nov: Another great time of year to see wildlife. Temps from 50 – 80 degrees. Cypress trees can take on a nice orange/red color to the leaves, picturesque time of year.
-
Layering:
Dress comfortably for the weather conditions during your tour. Dressing in layers is always a good idea. You will warm up as you paddle and cool off when you take a break in the shade. Breathable and synthetic garments that have UV protection are a great choice. During the winter you will want a variety of layers. Pants, long sleeves, jackets and vests that you can vary during your paddle. During the summer, t-shirts and shorts are fine as long as you bring sunscreen and bug repellent. Bringing a change of clothes is a good idea if you get sweaty or a little wet on your trip. You can change and head back to the city refreshed.
Sun Protection:
Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen . Bugs and mosquitos aren’t a problem most of the year. During the summer months is when it is a good idea to bring bug repellent.
Shoes:
Water shoes are a great choice if available. When it is warm out many people where sandals, flip flops, or even go barefoot. Normal tennis shoes are also fine as you do not need to step in the water to get into your kayak. Rubber boots (or Cajun Reeboks as the locals call them) are a good choice if you really want your feet protected. Dress shoes are not recommended.
Don’t forget to bring your camera to come home with great memories from the beautiful Manchac swamp!
-
While you won’t need much to enjoy yourself on a kayak swamp tour there are a few key times which will allow for the most enjoyable experience on the water!
Sunscreen: While you will spend a lot of time in the shade, there are sections of the tour where you will be in open sun before we make our way in to more secluded sections of the bayou.
Hat: It is always a great idea to bring a hat with you as an additional layer of sun protection. It keeps the sun out of your eyes and reduces glare when trying to spot wildlife.
Sunglasses: Keep the sun our of your eyes on those bright days. Polarized lenses help you see into the water to spot alligator gar and other aquatic creatures.
Water: You always want to stay hydrated when in the outdoors! We recommend always bringing at least one bottle of water with you during your tour. During the summer months it is recommended to bring a 1/2 gallon of water if possible.
Bug Repellent: While bug repellent isn’t always needed, it comes in handy if you are not a fan of bugs. During the summer months bugs are most active in the swamp and it is a good idea to bring repellent.
Change Of Clothes: While not a necessity to bring a change of clothes, it can be nice to change into a fresh set of clothing if you work up a sweat or splash some water on yourself while paddling.
Phone/Camera: You will not want to miss the opportunity for pictures of your experience in the swamp! Make sure you bring a way to document your trip. Our life vests have pockets that will hold a phone while paddling so you can take it out to snap some memories along the way!
Cash: Tips for your guides are highly appreciated! They work hard to show you a good time and the tourism industry relies heavily on tips.
-
Read this for our detailed breakdown on the best time to book depending on season!
-
Contrary to what many believe, alligators have a natural fear of humans. We usually see alligators from babies up to 8-10ft long. We do not feed wildlife. Alligators tend to be on logs or swimming in the water and we see them from afar.
-
Once you make your reservation, an email will be sent to you for confirmation, and further details for directions and arrangements will be provided. Please visit our contact page and send us an email if you have inquiries about large groups and specialized packages; we can put them together for you.
-
A 100% refund is offered for tours that are cancelled by the company due to inclement weather e.g. weather considered hazardous to tour members safety. This includes: lighting storms, unsafe water conditions, wild fires, etc. Tours still operate in rain that is not dangerous.
100% refund for cancellations over 48hours in advance.
50% refund for cancellations under 48 and over 24 hours in advance.
No refund is issued for no calls/no shows/cancellations under 24hrs of tour start