Kauai Na Pali Coast Boat Tours

No road runs along the Na Pali Coast, so the cliffs on Kauai's northwest shore are seen from a trail, a helicopter or a boat. We compared six boat tours that leave from the west and south of the island, from a Zodiac raft that slips into sea caves to a sunset cruise with dinner. Each one comes with its price and its catch.

  • Calmest sea from about May to SeptemberSummer gives the best chance of entering sea caves; winter swell brings humpbacks but turns some boats back
  • Book early in your stayA rough sea can cancel a trip, so leave a spare day; morning departures tend to meet flatter water

In a hurry? Our top pick is Na Pali Riders' Zodiac raft with sea caves and snorkeling: ~$255 a person for about 4 hours from Kikiaola Harbor. It scores 4.9 from 900+ reviews on Viator. Book it here.

Book on Viator Book on GetYourGuide

Compare all 6 tours

If you only have a minute

Which Na Pali Coast boat tour should you book?

Say a friend flying into Lihue for a week asked us which Na Pali boat to take. Over shave ice in Waimea, this is what we would tell them.

For most people, the best Na Pali Coast boat tour is Na Pali Riders' Zodiac raft, from ~$255. It scores 4.9 from 900+ reviews on Viator, it is small enough to slip into the sea caves on a calm day, and it stops to snorkel. Just know that it is a rough, wet ride with no shade.

Want shade and a smoother hull? Na Pali Experience runs a power catamaran at ~$275. Holo Holo Charters sails for ~$292 with breakfast and lunch, and its full day to Niihau costs ~$339. The Lucky Lady sunset cruise is the cheapest seat at ~$223, and a private boat for six is ~$2,200 per group.

No boat can promise a sea cave or a calm sea. Check every fare side by side and the calm months, see how each trip is spent, then read the small print we pulled out before you pay.

Our pick

The Na Pali boat we would book: Na Pali Riders

It gets you closer to the cliffs than any shared boat here, with the strongest review record of the six. The price buys proximity rather than comfort, and that is its weakness for some.

Inside a Na Pali sea cave, a waterfall spraying down past dark rock walls Our pick

Na Pali Coast Zodiac Raft Expedition and Snorkeling, Na Pali Riders

★★★★★ 4.9 from 900+ reviews on Viator · free cancellation up to 24 hours before

You check in at the Na Pali Riders office in Waimea, 45 minutes before departure, with your waivers signed. The crew hands out dry bags and life jackets for anyone who wants one, then runs a safety briefing. You drive your own car down to Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor.

From there a 30-foot Zodiac, a rigid-hull inflatable, runs north to the Na Pali Coast. It sits low and turns tight, so on a calm day the captain can take it inside sea caves that the catamarans pass from outside. Whether you go in is decided on the water.

When the ocean allows, there is a snorkel stop at a sheltered reef, with mask, snorkel and fins provided. Viator lists 4 hours with snorkeling. Na Pali Riders is family-owned and run by US Coast Guard veterans, and safety comes up again and again in the reviews.

Duration
4 hours with snorkeling on Viator
On the water
A 30-foot Zodiac rigid-hull inflatable
Departures
Early morning and late morning; the early one is calmer
Route
Kikiaola Harbor north along the Na Pali Coast and back
Check-in
Waimea office, 45 minutes before; you drive to the harbor
On board
Snorkel gear, dry bag, fruit, chips, juice, water, Gatorade
Limits
Not for pregnancy, back, neck or heart problems, or recent surgery
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before
Price per person from ~$255 Zodiac · sea caves · snorkel
Viator GetYourGuide

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

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How the trip runs, step by step

This is the order the listings give. The ocean decides how much of the second half happens.

In Waimea

  • Check in at the office on Kaumualii Highway, waivers signed
  • Dry bags, optional life jackets and the safety briefing
  • Drive yourself to Kikiaola Harbor and board the raft

Along the Na Pali Coast

  • North past Polihale to the cliffs, waterfalls and valleys, watching for dolphins and turtles
  • Into a sea cave or two if the captain judges the sea safe, then a snorkel stop at a reef
  • Back to Kikiaola, about 4 hours after leaving

What the price covers

The fare pays for the raft, the crew and the gear. The drive, the parking and anything like shade or a toilet are not part of it.

Included
  • Guided Zodiac trip along the coast
  • Snorkel gear, when conditions allow
  • Dry bag and optional life jacket
  • Sliced pineapple and apples, chips, drinks
Not included
  • Hotel pickup or a ride to the harbor
  • Parking at Kikiaola, $20 paid at the harbor
  • A meal (snacks only)
  • Any promise of a sea cave

Between us, before you go

Waimea is a long drive from the resort towns. Na Pali Riders gives 45 minutes from Lihue, an hour from Kapaa and 1 hour 45 minutes from Princeville, and a late arrival means no tour and no refund.

Book the early departure if you can. The company itself calls it the calmer trip with more wildlife, and a flat sea is what opens the caves. Port Allen or Kikiaola explains the two harbors.

Why it beats the catamarans

Closeness and evidence. With 900+ reviews averaging 4.9 on Viator and 300+ more on GetYourGuide, few Kauai boats have a deeper record, and none of the big hulls can follow it into a cave. Who can enter the sea caves goes into the details.

What you give up is comfort. There is no shade, no meal and no restroom listed, and the ride slams on a swell. If that sounds like a long morning, the power catamaran is the closest thing with a roof.

Who we would not send on it

Anyone with a bad back or neck, since the listing turns them away and the hull bounces. Travelers who get seasick easily, who will be happier on Holo Holo's sailing catamaran. Families with small children, because the sea-cave version takes no one under 5.

Book it if

You want to be close enough to the cliffs to feel the waterfall spray, and you would trade a buffet for a chance at the sea caves. It suits active couples, photographers with a waterproof camera and families with teenagers.

Skip it if

Ready for the cliffs?

The trip is on Viator (4.9 from 900+ reviews) and on GetYourGuide (4.9 from 300+), where a shorter option also appears. Both let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can watch the surf forecast before you commit.

Viator GetYourGuide

The year and the trip

When to go out to the Na Pali Coast, and how long it takes

All six boats head for the same cliffs. The choices are the hull, the harbor you leave from and how much of the day you want to spend on the water.

Style · small and fast

Close to the cliffs, light on comfort

Na Pali Riders, Na Pali Experience, Explore Kauai Scuba

4–5 hfrom Kikiaola Harbor on the west side, the closest start

The raft, the power catamaran and the private boat all leave from Kikiaola, so less of the morning goes on the run north. Smaller hulls mean closer looks and, on calm days, the caves. Expect spray and bumps.

Style · big catamarans with a galley

Meals, a bar and a steadier deck

Holo Holo sail and snorkel, Holo Holo Niihau day, Lucky Lady sunset

5–7 hfrom Port Allen, a longer run along the west side

These boats feed you and ride the swell more gently, with room to move around. They watch the caves from outside. The trade is time, since Port Allen sits further from the cliffs.

Sea and heat on the Na Pali Coast through the year

  • Chance of a calm sea, roughly
  1. Jan78°F high26 °C

    Big north swell days, humpbacks offshore

  2. Feb78°F high26 °C

    Whale weeks, many trips cut short

  3. Mar79°F high26 °C

    Swell easing, still a gamble

  4. Apr80°F high27 °C

    Last humpbacks, calmer spells begin

  5. May82°F high28 °C

    Summer pattern starts, caves open up

  6. Jun84°F high29 °C

    Among the flattest weeks of the year

  7. Jul85°F high29 °C

    Calm and busy, book well ahead

  8. Aug86°F high30 °C

    Warm water for the snorkel stop

  9. Sep86°F high30 °C

    Fewer crowds, sea still kind

  10. Oct84°F high29 °C

    The first winter swells arrive

  11. Nov81°F high27 °C

    Rougher, wetter, fewer cave days

  12. Dec79°F high26 °C

    Humpbacks return, holiday boats fill

Temperatures are rough daytime highs on Kauai's west side. The bars show how often we would expect a calm enough sea along the Na Pali Coast; they are our opinion, not a forecast, and no promise that a trip goes ahead. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick for sea caves. The best months in detail.

How each trip is spent

  • The run out and back
  • Along the cliffs
  • Snorkel stop, if the sea allows

Total hours come from the listings; the split between the run, the cliffs and the snorkel stop is our rough estimate. Explore Kauai Scuba says the run from Kikiaola to the start of the cliffs takes about 30 minutes; Port Allen boats need longer. The Niihau day adds the channel crossing to Lehua.

  1. Check-inEvery boat starts on the west or south side, with no hotel pickup. Na Pali Riders checks you in at its Waimea office, the others at the harbor or the Port Allen Marina Center. Both harbors explained.
  2. The run northBoats pass the long beach at Polihale before the cliffs begin. Rafts and fast boats bump and spray, the big catamarans ride steadier. The hulls compared.
  3. Along the cliffsWaterfalls, the Kalalau Valley and the sea caves. Only the small boats can go inside a cave, and only when the captain judges the sea safe. Who goes in.
  4. Snorkel and backMost daytime trips stop at a reef when the ocean allows. Take a seasickness tablet before you board, not once you feel queasy. Swell and refunds.

On a tighter budget? The Lucky Lady sunset cruise at ~$223 includes a taco buffet and an open bar, with no swimming and no caves.

How to choose

How to pick the right Na Pali boat

The cliffs are the same from all six decks. What differs is how close you get, how wet you get and what comes out of the galley.

The hull

A 30-foot Zodiac on tour 1, a 35-foot power catamaran on tour 2, sailing catamarans on tours 3 and 4 and a 28-foot private boat on tour 6. What each one feels like.

Sea caves

Only the raft and the private boat list going into caves, and only in a calm sea, most often in summer. The catamarans show you the entrances. How the caves work.

Snorkeling

A reef stop on most daytime trips, Lehua Crater on the Niihau day and none on the sunset cruise. Every stop depends on the sea. Where each boat snorkels.

Budget

From ~$223 for the sunset cruise to ~$339 for the Niihau day per person, or ~$2,200 for a private boat for up to six. Every fare in one table.

The harbor

Kikiaola, on the west side, is closest to the cliffs. Port Allen, near Eleele, has the big catamarans and a longer run. Port Allen or Kikiaola.

Children

The Lucky Lady takes children from 3, Holo Holo from 5. The raft is no place for toddlers. Ages on every boat.

Everything else to do on Kauai

The 6 tours

Six ways along the Na Pali cliffs, side by side

We read the Na Pali Coast boat listings on both booking sites and kept one of each kind of trip. Each card gives the price and the length next to the tour company's name. It also names the catch, with a button for each site that sells it.

A Zodiac raft anchored in turquoise water with snorkelers swimming beside it Our pick

Na Pali Coast Zodiac Raft Expedition and Snorkeling, Na Pali Riders

The one we would book to get inside the coast, not just look at it.

About 4 hours from Kikiaola Harbor on a 30-foot Zodiac, after check-in at the company's office in Waimea. On calm days the raft enters sea caves the big boats cannot reach, and it stops at a reef to snorkel. Fruit, chips and cold drinks come on board.

  • Rating4.9 from 900+ on Viator, 4.9 from 300+ on GetYourGuide
  • Duration4 hours with snorkeling
  • Tour companyNa Pali Riders
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsSea caves on calm days; the closest views; a deep review record
  • Ideal forActive travelers who don't mind getting wet

Good to know: Rough and wet, no shade and no meal. You drive yourself to the harbor and pay $20 for parking, and a late arrival means no tour and no refund. When the caves are open.

~$255per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A white boat waiting beside a dark sea cave entrance at the foot of the cliffs Top rated

Na Pali Coast Deluxe Power Catamaran, Na Pali Experience

Fast like a raft, with a roof and a shower.

A custom 35-foot power catamaran leaves Kikiaola Harbor for 4.5 hours, morning or afternoon. The open bow gives clear views, part of the deck has shade, and fold-down platforms and ladders make the snorkel stop easy. A fresh-water shower waits on board for afterwards.

  • Rating5.0 from 800+ on Viator, 4.9 from 100+ on GetYourGuide
  • Duration4.5 hours
  • Tour companyNa Pali Experience
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsThe top score here; shade; easy water entry
  • Ideal forCouples and families who want speed with some comfort

Good to know: The listing calls snorkeling a bonus, not a promise, and warns that afternoons are windy and wet. No meal is listed. It does not go into caves. Raft or catamaran.

~$275per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A sailing catamaran with a striped sail under the green Na Pali cliffs Two meals

Napali Coast Sail & Snorkel from Port Allen, Holo Holo Charters

A full morning on a sailboat, fed from start to finish.

A 50-foot sailing catamaran leaves Port Allen and puts up its sails when the trade winds allow. Breakfast comes on the way out, then a reef snorkel with gear, flotation and a waterslide off the back. A deli lunch follows, with juices, soft drinks, beer and wine.

  • Rating4.8 from 500+ on Viator, 4.8 from 100+ on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 5 hours on the water
  • Tour companyHolo Holo Charters
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsBreakfast and lunch; real sailing; a waterslide
  • Ideal forFamilies and anyone who wants an easy day

Good to know: The longest run to the cliffs, from Port Allen. No children under 5, no full-face masks, and no refunds for seasickness. Where the boats snorkel.

~$292per person
Viator GetYourGuide
The low crescent island of Lehua off Niihau in a deep blue sea Full day

Niihau and Na Pali Coast Full-Day Boat Tour, Holo Holo Charters

The whole coast, then a channel crossing to the remotest reef.

Seven hours on a catamaran built on Kauai. After breakfast it runs the Na Pali Coast, then crosses to Niihau, the private island, to snorkel at Lehua Crater. A deli buffet lunch comes on the way back, with beer and wine served after the swim.

  • Rating4.7 from 100+ on GetYourGuide
  • Duration7 hours
  • Tour companyHolo Holo Charters
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsNa Pali and Niihau in one day; the most remote snorkel
  • Ideal forKeen snorkelers with a strong stomach

Good to know: The priciest seat here and a long day in open water. Sold on GetYourGuide only. You see Niihau from the boat; visitors cannot land. The Niihau day.

~$339per person
GetYourGuide
Passengers on a catamaran deck watching the sun set over the ocean Sunset cruise

Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady, Kauai Sea Tours

Golden cliffs, tacos and a Mai Tai on the way home.

The Lucky Lady catamaran leaves Port Allen in the late afternoon for about 5 hours. You reach the cliffs as the light softens and watch the sun go down from the deck. An island-style taco buffet comes with an open bar of beer, wine and Mai Tais, and there are restrooms on board.

  • Rating4.7 from 1,600+ on Viator
  • DurationAbout 5 hours
  • Tour companyKauai Sea Tours
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsThe lowest fare; dinner and drinks; the most reviews here
  • Ideal forCouples and anyone who has snorkeled enough

Good to know: No swimming or snorkeling, and the light fades on the way back. Sold on Viator only, gratuities are extra, and the bar is 21+. Sunset or morning.

~$223per person
Viator
A small private charter boat on blue water below green sea cliffs Private boat

Private Na Pali Coast Boat Tour, Explore Kauai Scuba

Your own boat and crew, at your own pace.

A 28-foot motorized boat for up to six people leaves Kikiaola Harbor at 7:00 am for about 5 hours. The owners crew it themselves, and the boat is small enough to get close to sea caves and waterfalls when the ocean allows. Snorkel gear, bottled water and snacks are included.

  • Rating5.0 from 14 on Viator; new on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 5 hours
  • Tour companyExplore Kauai Scuba
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before
  • StrengthsNo strangers; a flexible route; caves possible
  • Ideal forFamilies and groups of four to six

Good to know: The price is for the whole boat, so it adds up only with a group. GetYourGuide showed a lower figure, ~$1,599 per group, on a listing with no reviews yet: compare both. Fares compared.

~$2,200per group
Viator GetYourGuide

Honest note: the GetYourGuide and Viator buttons are affiliate links. Booking through them sends us a small commission and costs you nothing extra. It never decides which tour we recommend.

Before you go

Eight things about Na Pali boats that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page. Each one can decide whether your day ends with a cave on your camera or a long, queasy ride back to the harbor.

What you should know

  1. Take the tablet before you board. Seasickness tablets work best taken before the boat moves. Holo Holo gives no refunds for seasickness, and the raft gives no mercy. Swell and refunds.
  2. Leave early for the west side. Kikiaola is a long drive from Princeville or Kapaa, and Na Pali Riders turns away late arrivals without a refund. Plan the drive like a flight. Getting to the harbors.
  3. The same trip, two prices. Holo Holo's sail costs a little less on GetYourGuide than on Viator, and the private boat a lot less. Check both buttons before you pay. Every fare compared.
  4. No one can promise a cave. Only small boats go in, and only when the captain judges the sea safe that morning. Summer gives the best odds. How the caves work.
  5. Mornings tend to be calmer. Na Pali Experience warns that its afternoon runs get windy and wet, while Na Pali Riders steers people to the early raft. Book early in your stay to leave a spare day. The best months.
  6. Bring cash for parking. Kikiaola charges $20 per car, run by a private company, for the raft, the power catamaran and the private boat. Port Allen boats park at the marina center. Harbor details.
  7. Leave the full-face mask at home. Holo Holo bans them and asks you to wait 24 hours after a flight over five hours before you snorkel. Classic masks are provided on every snorkel trip here. Snorkeling on each boat.
  8. Check the age rules first. The Lucky Lady takes children from 3, Holo Holo from 5, and the raft turns away pregnant guests and anyone with back problems. Ages on every boat.

Everything in one table

Six Na Pali Coast boat tours, catch included

The six tours side by side. Each row sets the strength of a tour against its catch.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Boat, food and drink Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
Na Pali Riders Zodiac raft (our pick) Sea caves and close views ~$255per person 4 h 30-foot Zodiac; fruit, chips, drinks Na Pali Riders
4.9 on Viator		 Caves on calm days, a snorkel stop. Rough, wet, no shade; you drive to Waimea.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Na Pali Experience power catamaran Speed with some comfort ~$275per person 4.5 h 35-foot power catamaran; shade, shower Na Pali Experience
5.0 on Viator		 Top score, easy snorkel entry. Snorkel only a bonus; wet afternoons.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Holo Holo sail and snorkel An easy, well-fed morning ~$292per person 5 h 50-foot sailing catamaran; breakfast, lunch, beer, wine Holo Holo Charters
4.8 on Viator		 Two meals, real sailing, a waterslide. Long run from Port Allen; no under 5s.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Holo Holo Niihau full day Keen snorkelers ~$339per person 7 h Catamaran; breakfast, deli lunch, beer, wine Holo Holo Charters
4.7 on GetYourGuide		 Na Pali plus Lehua Crater. The priciest seat and a long day at sea.
GetYourGuide
Lucky Lady sunset cruise Couples and an easy evening ~$223per person 5 h Catamaran; taco buffet, open bar Kauai Sea Tours
4.7 on Viator		 Lowest fare, dinner at sunset. No snorkeling; tips extra.
Viator
Explore Kauai Scuba private boat A group of four to six ~$2,200per group 5 h 28-foot boat; snacks, water Explore Kauai Scuba
5.0 on Viator		 Your own route and crew. Only adds up for a group; few reviews.
ViatorGetYourGuide

Prices are "from" rates in US dollars, per person except the private boat (per group of up to six), and they shift often, so the booking page has the final say. The Book buttons are affiliate links that help keep this guide free, and your price stays the same.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who saw the cliffs

Travelers who went out on a glassy morning and some who rode out a rolling one, on what won them over and what they would do differently.

★★★★★Zodiac, sea caves, snorkel

We took the 7:00 am raft and the sea was flat enough for the captain to nose us into two caves. The second one had a waterfall pouring through a hole in the roof, and the whole raft went quiet. Spinner dolphins ran alongside us on the way back to Kikiaola. Go early, we heard the late boat stayed outside the caves.

MTMegan T. · Portland, USACalm sea
★★★★★Zodiac, sea caves, snorkel

Wet, loud, worth getting up at five for. Sit at the back if your back complains.

JSJonas S. · Hamburg, GermanyChoppy sea
★★★★☆Zodiac, sea caves, snorkel

The coast itself was everything people promise, and the crew were sharp about safety from the briefing on. One star off only because the swell that morning meant no caves and a short snorkel. They told us that at check-in in Waimea, so nobody felt misled, and the pineapple on the way back helped my stomach.

APAisha P. · Toronto, CanadaChoppy sea
★★★★★Zodiac, sea caves, snorkel

Small boat, big cliffs. The dry bag kept my camera safe.

RKRyo K. · Osaka, JapanCalm sea
★★★★★Zodiac, sea caves, snorkel

I had read every listing for a week before choosing the Zodiac over the catamarans, mostly because I wanted to get close to the cliffs rather than look at them from far out. That turned out to be the right call for us. The captain knew the names of the valleys and the stories behind them, slowed down for a pod of dolphins and found a calm corner for the snorkel stop where a turtle came straight past my mask. It is a rough ride and you will get soaked, so leave the nice clothes in the car. Allow more time than you think for the drive to Waimea, we nearly cut it fine from Kapaa.

LBLaura B. · Bristol, UKCalm sea
★★★★★Power catamaran, snorkel

The shade on the catamaran mattered more than I expected. My wife burns in ten minutes, and she could sit under cover and still see the whole coast from the bench. The fold-down platform made getting back on after snorkeling easy, and the fresh-water shower afterwards was a small luxury.

DGDiego G. · Madrid, SpainCalm sea
★★★★★Power catamaran, snorkel

Fast and comfortable at the same time. We took the morning boat and the water was glass.

SNSophie N. · Lyon, FranceCalm sea
★★★★☆Power catamaran, snorkel

Good crew, a fine boat and the cliffs at their best in the afternoon light. We picked the afternoon departure for the photos and paid for it with spray and a rolling ride home, which the listing does warn about. Snorkeling was called off that day, so plan on it as a bonus. Book the morning if anyone in your group is shaky on boats.

TWTom W. · Denver, USAChoppy sea
★★★★★Sailing catamaran, two meals

Our first time on a sailing catamaran, and the sails went up on the way back with the engines off. That half hour of quiet along the cliffs was my favorite part of the whole trip to Kauai. Breakfast was simple, the deli lunch generous, and the waterslide off the back kept our teenagers busy for the whole snorkel stop.

HKHannah K. · Wellington, New ZealandCalm sea
★★★★★Sailing catamaran, two meals

Two meals, a reef full of fish and a crew that told the old stories of the valleys. Easy day out.

PMPriya M. · Mumbai, IndiaCalm sea
★★★★☆Sailing catamaran, two meals

A long run from Port Allen before the cliffs start, and on our day the wind was too light to sail much, so it felt more like a motor cruise. Still a lovely day. The crew handled a couple of seasick passengers kindly and kept everyone fed. Next time we would leave from the west side to get there sooner.

GRGreg R. · Sydney, AustraliaChoppy sea
★★★★★Full day, Niihau snorkel

Seven hours sounded like too much before we went, and by the end I wanted more. The Na Pali Coast in the morning, then the crossing to Niihau, then the water at Lehua, so clear I could see the bottom far below while fish crowded around us. Lunch on the way back with a glass of wine, the island going gold behind us. It is the priciest day on Kauai we found, and for us it was the one we still talk about. Take something for the crossing if you are prone to seasickness, the channel can roll.

EVElena V. · Milan, ItalyCalm sea
★★★★★Full day, Niihau snorkel

Lehua was the best snorkeling of our whole Hawaii trip. Long day, zero regrets.

BCBen C. · Austin, USACalm sea
★★★★★Sunset, dinner, open bar

We booked the Lucky Lady for our anniversary and it was a relaxed, happy evening. The cliffs turned orange and then pink as the sun went down, the crew kept the Mai Tais coming, and the tacos were better than we expected from a boat buffet. There is no swimming on this one, which suited us in our dinner clothes. Bring a light jacket for the ride back, it gets cool once the sun is gone.

COChloe O. · Dublin, IrelandCalm sea
★★★★☆Sunset, dinner, open bar

Lovely sunset and friendly crew. A bit of a party atmosphere at the back, so sit forward if you want quiet.

MFMark F. · Vancouver, CanadaChoppy sea
★★★★★Private boat for six

There were six of us, three generations, and booking the whole boat was the only way my father would come. The owners ran the trip themselves and asked us at the dock what we cared about most, then built the morning around it: slow passes under the waterfalls, a sea cave because the sea allowed it, and a long swim for the kids. Split six ways the price was close to a shared catamaran seat, and nobody had to share the view.

NANadia A. · Dubai, UAECalm sea

Back from the cliffs?

Help the next traveler choose

How did your day on the Na Pali Coast go, and did the boat reach the sea caves? The dolphins and the queasy stomachs both help someone else decide.

Stars out of five
The sea that day

At least 40 characters, 40 to go

Dry bag packed

Book Na Pali Riders for your morning on the coast

If you have one morning to give to the Na Pali Coast, we would book Na Pali Riders' Zodiac raft. You get closer to the cliffs than on any shared boat here, and on a calm day the raft slips inside the sea caves.

Cancelling is free until 24 hours before, which leaves room to watch the surf forecast. Leave early for Waimea, bring $20 for parking and eat a light breakfast.

~$255

per person · about 4 hours · from Kikiaola Harbor

Viator GetYourGuide
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Sea caves when the ocean allows
  • ✓ Snorkel gear and dry bag included
  • ✓ Run by US Coast Guard veterans

Good to know

Why the Na Pali Coast is seen from the sea, and what you are looking at

Five minutes of reading makes the valleys, the caves and the island on the horizon much easier to follow from the deck.

The Na Pali Coast runs for about 17 miles (27 km) along the northwest shore of Kauai. Its fluted green cliffs rise up to about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) straight from the sea. No road crosses it, which is why so many visitors see it from a boat.

01Cliffs with no road

The name means "the cliffs" in Hawaiian. On land, the only way along the coast is the Kalalau Trail, a hard hike from the north end that needs a permit to go far. From the water you see the whole length in one morning.

02Valleys you can only reach by trail or sea

Deep valleys cut back into the cliffs between the ridges. The largest, the Kalalau Valley, was home to Hawaiian families for centuries. Crews tell its stories as the boat passes. Which boat to watch from.

03Caves carved by the waves

The surf has hollowed sea caves into the base of the cliffs, some with waterfalls pouring through their roofs. Small boats can enter a few of them when the sea is flat, mostly in summer. How the caves work.

The moment most people remember is the quiet inside a cave, when the engine idles and the only sound is water dripping from the roof.

04Who swims beside the boat

Spinner dolphins often ride the bow waves, and green sea turtles graze on the reefs. Now and then an endangered Hawaiian monk seal hauls out on a beach. From December to April, humpback whales pass offshore.

05The island on the horizon

West of Kauai lies Niihau, a privately owned island closed to visitors and known as the Forbidden Isle. Beside it sits Lehua, a crescent of an old crater with some of the clearest water in Hawaii. The Niihau day.

06Why the swell decides

The coast faces north and west, straight into the big winter swells, while summer usually brings flatter water. Captains decide on the day how far they go and whether anyone swims. How refunds work and the calm months are worth reading first.

17 miLength of the Na Pali Coast

4,000 ftHeight of the tallest cliffs

6Boat tours compared on this page

24 hFree cancellation before every trip

Traveling with children? Our guide Na Pali with children sets out the age rules on each boat.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about Na Pali Coast boat tours

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

What does a Na Pali boat trip cost?

Fares on this page begin at ~$223 per person for the Lucky Lady sunset cruise. The raft costs ~$255, the power catamaran ~$275, Holo Holo's sail ~$292 and the Niihau day ~$339. A private boat for up to six is ~$2,200 per group. Every fare and extra is in our price guide.

Which Na Pali boat tour should I pick?

For most visitors, Na Pali Riders' Zodiac raft, because of its 4.9 from 900+ reviews and the chance to enter sea caves. If you want shade and a smoother ride, the power catamaran is the natural alternative. Families who want meals should look at Holo Holo's sail and snorkel.

When is the best time for a Na Pali boat tour?

Summer, roughly May to September, usually brings the calmest sea and the best chance of sea caves. Winter brings humpbacks but also big north swells that cut trips short. Mornings tend to be calmer all year. The best months.

Will the boat go into the sea caves?

Only small boats can, and only when the captain judges the sea safe. Na Pali Riders' raft and Explore Kauai Scuba's private boat list caves; the catamarans view them from outside. Nobody can promise one. How the caves work.

How long are the trips?

About 4 hours on the raft, 4.5 hours on the power catamaran and about 5 hours on Holo Holo's sail, the sunset cruise and the private boat. The Niihau day takes 7 hours.

Where do the boats leave from?

The raft, the power catamaran and the private boat leave from Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor on the west side. Holo Holo and the Lucky Lady leave from Port Allen near Eleele. Both harbors explained.

Is hotel pickup included?

No, on none of the six. You drive yourself, and Na Pali Riders even asks you to drive from its Waimea office down to the harbor. Allow plenty of time from Princeville or Kapaa, since late arrivals lose their seat.

Is food included?

On the catamarans, yes. Holo Holo serves breakfast and a deli lunch, and the Lucky Lady a taco buffet with an open bar. The raft brings fruit, chips and drinks, and the private boat snacks and water. No meal is listed on the power catamaran.

Can children come?

Yes, on most boats. The Lucky Lady takes children from 3 and Holo Holo from 5. The raft is rough and its sea-cave trip takes no one under 5. Na Pali with children sets out every rule.

Can you see Niihau on a Na Pali tour?

Holo Holo's full day crosses the channel to snorkel at Lehua Crater beside Niihau. Niihau itself is private and closed to visitors, so you see it from the boat. The seven-hour Niihau day.

Which boat is best if I get seasick?

A big catamaran rides steadier than the raft, which bumps and soaks you. Whatever you book, take a tablet before boarding, sit low near the middle and choose a morning departure. How to handle a rough sea.

Will I see dolphins or whales?

Many crews meet spinner dolphins and green sea turtles along the way, and humpbacks pass from December to April. Wild animals keep no schedule, so no listing promises a sighting.

Is a sunset cruise a good way to see the coast?

It is a relaxed evening with the cliffs in soft light. The Lucky Lady serves dinner and drinks, but there is no swimming, and the light fades on the way back. Sunset cruise or morning trip.

Can I cancel for free?

Usually. Every listing we read lets you cancel without charge until 24 hours before departure, but confirm it on yours at checkout. If the operator cancels for the sea, you get a refund or a new date, depending on the listing's policy.

Read before you travel

Guides to a day on the Na Pali Coast

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.