Kayak Swamp Tour New Orleans: the Guided Maurepas Paddle
A 1.5-hour guided paddle through the cypress of the Maurepas Swamp, from $59, with check-in inside the building and lockers at no charge.
Updated 3 November 2026
In shortThis is a 1.5-hour guided kayak tour through the Maurepas Swamp, paddling between cypress trees and winding bayous on private water. The guide leads the group and narrates in English, and restrooms and lockers are available before you set off. It suits travellers who want quiet water at eye level and a short slot rather than a half-day away from the city.
1.5 htour length
from $59per adult
★ 5.031 reviews
Kayak swamp tour New Orleans: what the 1.5 hours cover
The tour is a 1.5-hour guided kayak trip through the Maurepas Swamp, with prices from $59 per adult and a rating of 5.0 ★ (31 reviews). The operator works entirely on private property, so the bayous you paddle are not the ones other boats use. The guide stays with the group and talks in English as you go.
From a kayak seat you sit low, with cypress trunks beside the bow and no engine noise, which is the main reason to choose paddling over an airboat. The guide covers the natural history of the swamp, the people who once lived on these waterways and the folklore that gave the area its reputation. The Maurepas land bridge between Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas was clear cut in the late 1800s and early 1900s during peak cypress logging, which is why so much of the forest you see is second growth.
Age brackets are child 4 to 15 and adult 16 and over, so this works for families with older children rather than toddlers. Bring insect repellent and closed-toe shoes: mosquitoes are active in these wetlands for most of the year, and the Park Service warns about fire ants and stinging caterpillars in these wetlands. Restrooms and lockers are on site, so you can leave a bag behind instead of paddling with it.
Go in the mild stretch if you can choose. October and November bring average highs in the 60s F with lows in the 40s-50s F and less frequent rain, while June to September is hot and humid with highs often in the low 90s F and a heat index that can reach 110°F. Alligators feed vigorously by late April and tail off around early October, and they stop feeding below roughly 70°F (21°C), so a winter paddle is about basking animals, birds and trees rather than constant movement.
Guided kayak, 1.5 hours in the Maurepas Swamp
A short guided paddle on private waterways, from $59 per adult, rated 5.0 ★ (31 reviews). Check-in is inside the building with the customer service representative.
Check in, then 90 minutes on the water90 min You enter the building and check in with the customer service representative, then head out for the 1.5-hour guided kayak tour through the Maurepas Swamp. The route follows quiet waterways between towering cypress trees, with the guide setting the pace and stopping to talk. Restrooms and lockers are available before you start, and the lockers are at no charge.
Photos: ours and the tour operator's
What is included
Included
1.5-hour guided kayak swamp tour
Restrooms
Lockers, at no charge
Meeting point, pickup and cancellation
Meeting point: enter the building and check in with the customer service representative.
Transport from New Orleans is not included, so plan to drive to the launch.
Cancellation: for a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Ages: child 4 to 15, adult 16 and over.
Other kayak swamp tour New Orleans options compared
This page is the shorter and cheaper of the two guided paddles, and the one to pick if you have a car and only a couple of hours. The Small-Group Manchac Swamp Kayak Tour runs 2.5 hours, includes transportation from the French Quarter, a paddle lesson and all gear, and is the better choice without a car; the self-guided option puts you on the bayou without a guide, which only makes sense if you have paddled before.
The tour runs 1.5 hours from $59 per adult, with check-in inside the building. Times vary by day, so look at the live calendar before you plan the rest of the morning.
