New Orleans: City, Cemetery & Swamp Tour with Pickup

4.76

(183 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

There was this low, steady hum of jazz leaking out from somewhere near Decatur Street as we climbed onto the minibus—someone’s trumpet just floating above the morning chatter. Our guide, Cynthia, waved us over with that kind of energy you only get from locals who actually love their city. She pointed out shotgun houses and explained why they’re built so skinny (I’d never noticed before), and I kept catching whiffs of chicory coffee every time we stopped at a red light. You know how some places just smell like themselves? New Orleans is definitely one of those.

The cemetery part surprised me. St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 isn’t spooky like I expected—it’s more peaceful, almost gentle, with all those marble tombs above ground because of the water table (Cynthia said if you try to bury anything here, it’ll float right back up). There was this one moment where the sun hit a statue just right and I had to stop walking for a second. The names on the stones are French and Spanish and sometimes Creole—layers on layers. Someone left beads on a grave and it made me smile for no real reason.

After that we swapped city noise for swamp quiet. The drive out was longer than I thought but honestly, watching the city fade into marshland felt good after all the bustle. I picked the covered boat instead of the airboat (my back would never forgive me otherwise), but you still get close to everything—moss hanging low over the water, egrets standing so still they looked fake. Our captain called out when he spotted a gator (“That’s Big Al,” he said, like introducing an old friend) and told stories about growing up Cajun in these bayous. I didn’t expect to laugh so much out there—it’s quieter than town but somehow people talk more.

I keep thinking about that mix: city music in my ears one minute, then nothing but wind and water and maybe a distant splash the next. If you’re looking for a day trip from New Orleans that actually feels like New Orleans—well, this is it.