The Cajun Country Swamp Tour is ranked #1 in Things to Do in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. It’s winter and since alligators are cold-blooded, we don’t expect them sight any during the tour. They’re all hibernating by now in their dens without any food all winter. But we are looking forward to learning about Cajun Island / Lake Martin Swamp, cypress trees, the bayou and take in a little biding!

Featured Photo: Butch shares a photo he snapped of his wife one January drive on a levy where he spotted one of the biggest alligators he’d seen. Can’t believe he was able to convince his wife to get that close to it for a picture! There’s no way you could’ve done something like this and live through it if it were summer, he said.

We are instructed to gather in this area where we will meet either Butch or Shawn (Butch’s son) for our 3:00pm 2hr tour.

I’m getting over a cold so I’m bundled up in six layers of clothing.

• shirt
• hoody sweater
• sweater
• jacket
• long coat
• windbreaker

I know I look like a marshmellow but I was warm all the way through the 2-hour tour (… I might’ve started to get a little chilly the last 15 minutes of the tour…)!

The tour is conducted on a crawfish skiff that’s environmentally friendly with a very quiet 4-stroke outboard motor and can accommodate about 20 passengers. The chairs swivel nicely for 180° degrees, too!

Tip: Don’t be in such a rush… when you’re last in line, you’re in front of the boat.

Cardinal

Pileated Woodpecker

This Heron uses it’s beak to spear fish!

Whitethroat

And the rest…

More birding pictures…

Tomorrow’s forecast called for rain, so we’re happy to go outdoors and experience Louisiana!

A single person duck blind… Fancy… well-made by our tour guide’s son! Sidenote: Our tour guide Butch was the best!

One of several other duck blinds around Lake Martin. This duck blind can hold a few people… maybe your hunting dog and even conceals your boat!

What’s the difference between a bayou and a swamp?

"Bayou – a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying area, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river, or to a marshy lake or wetland… many bayous are home to crawfish, certain species of shrimp, other shellfish, catfish, frogs, toads, American alligators, American crocodiles, herons, turtles and a myriad of other species." – Wikipedia

"Swamp – a wetland that is forested. The water of a swamp may be fresh water, brackish water or seawater. Swamps are characterized by very slow-moving waters." – Wikipedia

Getting back just before dark – 5:00pm…

This houseboat is often used for overnight camping.

There’s our Mini Cooper near the bright orange light pole. Can’t wait to blast the heater and warm up!

Thank you Butch for the educational and informative swamp tour. We highly recommend the Cajun Country Swamp Tour to anyone visiting Louisiana!