The Best Nā Pali Boat Tour & Why I Think It’s Worth It

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Are you planning a trip to Kauai and wondering if a Na Pali Boat Tour is actually worth it or not?

Seeing the extraordinary Na Pali coastline was NUMBER 1 on my Kauai bucket list, which is totally expected because the main reason people are drawn to Kauai is to see those epic jagged coastal mountains in real life.

Of course people also visit Kauai to see sea turtles, dolphins and colourful fish. Luckily, on the boat tour that I booked to see the Na Pali Coastline, I got to do both!

My husband Dave and I spent a week on Kauai, and we were blown away by the natural beauty surrounding the island. You can definitely see why blockbuster movies like Jurassic Park were filmed here. I loved hiking the trails and seeing the jagged mountains from a higher vantage point, but the classic viewpoint from the water has my heart. Not to mention, the snorkelling here was incredible!

In this guide, I’ll share what I think is the best Na Pali Coast boat tour for you depending on what you are looking for. I’ll also go through what you can expect throughout the tour, what is included and what you should bring with you. I’ll also cover alternative ways to see the Na Pali Coastline.

Short on time? You can jump straight to the Na Pali Coast tour I recommend below.

My Top Pick: The exact Na Pali boat tour we did!

Na Pali Experience Boat Tour

Duration: 4.5 hours
Rating: 5/5 stars ⭐
Includes: Fresh cut Hawaiian fruit, Na Pali Snacks, Iced Beverages (water, juice, soda) 20L Dry Bags (1 per person) Premium Snorkel Gear, Lifevests (optional)
Spots fill fast – book early!

Book this Na Pali Coast Boat Tour!

Why the Na Pali Coast is a Must-See When Visiting Kauai

Table of Contents

The Na Pali Coastline is a must-see when visiting Kauai because it literally IS Kauai! It’s the entire reason I myself visited Kauai and I’m going to bet it’s the reason you want to see Kauai too.

Something I didn’t realise before I got to Kauai is that it’s not actually that easy to see the jagged coastline like you can see in the below photo. The reason for this is that the best views are from the water or the sky. If you are hiking to see the jagged mountains, you will find it a little tricky. There are some hikes, where at the end viewpoint, you can look down onto the mountains and the water but a lot of the time, you cannot see them, because you are hiking on them.

The Na Pali Coast is extremely famous and has even been used as a popular shooting location for blockbuster movies such as Jurassic Park, King Kong, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The Descendants, George of the Jungle and more!

Some of my favourite moments of seeing this crazy coastline are from the water, when the golden light hit the mountains, from the Kalepa Ridge Trail (pictured below), where we saw multiple rainbows at sunset amongst the jagged mountains and from Kalalau Lookout, which you can drive to and look down at the mountains from one of the highest points on Kauai.

girl sitting lookout at Na Pali Mountain Range with a rainbow at sunset

The Best Na Pali Boat Tour on Kauai: My Experience

Na Pali Boat Tour at a glance

Duration: 4.5 hours
Cost: from USD274 per person
Start / End: I recommend doing the early morning tour at 7am or 7:30am for the best change to see marine life and for calmer waters.
Group size: Small group tour
Included in the tour: Snorkel gear, 20L Dry Bags – 1 per person, Lifevest
Food & drinks: Iced Beverages – water, juice, soda, Snacks and fresh fruit

How to book: Check availability and book here
We booked this tour in advance online to secure our spots, especially since places can fill up quickly in peak season.

Choosing my Na Pali Coast Tour

When I was looking at different boat tour options, I knew that I wanted my tour to include snorkelling and also be not too large of a group.

The tour that I ended up picking was perfect for this. It wasn’t a booze tour like some of the others out there, but we still got refreshments and snacks and the snorkelling spot that they took us to was absolutely awesome! We saw lots of turtles and loads of different kinds of fish.

We also saw a pod of dolphins along the way which was a dream for me because I’m absolutely obsessed with dolphins. Unlike some of the larger boat tours, this one was able to maneuver into some of the sea caves which was awesome!

What I loved about this tour & why I think it is worth it

My favourite part of our Na Pali boat tour was definitely the snorkelling and the pods of dolphins that we saw along the way. I couldn’t believe how many turtles there were at our snorkel spot! I also loved how knowledgeable our guides were about the island. Dave and I learnt so much.

We did a morning tour which I think was best for seeing the aquatic life and the whole morning went smoothly, with no huge waves or people feeling sick on the boat. In saying that, after having done a lot of research for this blog post and reading lots of reviews of different tours, it does sound fairly common for the waves to be quite rough and for people to get sick, especially in winter.

I 100% recommend taking sea sickness medication before leaving the wharf, to make sure you don’t get sick.

For a few hours out on the water and a lifetime of memories, I think the time and money for this tour are TOTALLY worth it. Tours on Kauai are not cheap, but if I were to go back and redo any tour again, it would be this one (or a helicopter tour because the views from the sky look INSANE).

Tips for making the most of your Na Pali Coast Boat Tour

Take seasickness medication before you go – the waves can be pretty big, especially during the winter months. We were fine on our tour but you never know what the conditions are going to be like. I take Gravel for this usually but it does make you a little sleepy so you have to be ready for that. It’s worth it if it stops you from feeling sick though!
Bring a jacket – at high speeds on the boat, it can get pretty chilly!
Wear your swimmers so you don’t need to get changed.
Wear water shoes such as flip flops or Tevas.
Bring cash to tip your guides.
Wear and bring sunscreen – the Hawaiian sun can be strong!
Bring your own towel
Be aware that if you drive to the meet up spot, you will need to pay for parking which is pretty expensive (around USD20 + tax)
Ask the guides lots of questions about Kauai – they are SO knowledgeable!
Don’t forget your camera and/or Go Pro!

Who this tour is best for

This Na Pali Coast boat tour is a great fit for anyone who genuinely loves being out on the water. If you enjoy ocean adventures, you’ll get the most out of the experience, especially if snorkelling alongside sea life is high on your bucket list.

That said, you don’t have to be in the water to enjoy it. If snorkelling isn’t your thing, you can stay on board and still have an incredible time soaking in the dramatic cliffs, sea caves, and coastline views that make this part of Kauai so iconic.

You might however, enjoy a boat tour that leans more towards the food and drinks like this one. This tour is an hour longer than the other one and you still get to snorkel but also have access to an open bar with beer, wine, Mai Tais, and soft drinks, as well as breakfast treats, build-your-own sandwiches, rotini pasta salad, chips, cookies, and snacks.

Alternative ways to see the Na Pali Coast

I was briefly trying to choose between doing a helicopter ride over the mountains and the boat tour, but both Dave and I knew that we wanted to go snorkelling pretty badly which is why we chose the boat tour. I don’t regret it at all, but next time I would love to experience the helicopter tour.

Another way to see the Na Pali Coast is by doing a hike. You can do the famous Kalalau Trail or even just a portion of it, but because you are hiking in the mountains on the trail, you don’t get views like you do from the ocean or the sky.

Another place to get a great view of the ridge mountains is from the Kalalau Lookout which is located up in Waimea Canyon. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you could do another of the hikes up there such as the Awaʻawapuhi Trail or the Kalepa Ridge Trail.

frequently asked questions

If you’re going to splurge on one experience in Kauai, I truly think it should be a Na Pali Coast boat tour. It’s one of those experiences that actually lives up to the hype.

Yes, it’s expensive, and I definitely felt that when booking, but after doing it, I can honestly say it was worth every dollar. The Na Pali Coast is one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the island, and seeing it from the water gives you a completely different perspective than anything you can get from land or even by helicopter.

It’s not just a tour, it’s one of those core travel memories that sticks with you long after the trip is over. If it fits in your budget, I highly recommend doing it.

The tour one that we did was 4.5 hours but there are some that last 5.5 hours or even 6 hours.

The tour provides snacks and drinks but it doesn’t hurt to bring along your own. Snorkelling can be hungry work!

There are private tours available but they come with a higher price tag. If you are looking for a private Na Pali you can check out this one which can hold up to 15 people if you have a large group.

Wear your swimsuit under your clothes so that you don’t need to get changed on the boat. All snorkel gear is provided but you can always bring your own if you have it.

On top, go for something lightweight like a t-shirt or tank, plus a light jacket or windbreaker. It can get surprisingly windy (and a bit chilly) once you’re out on the water, especially in the morning.

You’ll also want to pack reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat, just keep in mind that it can be breezy, so anything loose might not last long.

A small dry bag is a great idea to keep your phone, camera, and any valuables protected from splashes. And if you’re prone to seasickness, I’d definitely recommend taking something beforehand because the ocean can be pretty rough along this coastline.

My thoughts

I absolutely loved the Na Pali Coast and I’m so glad we did a boat tour. If you are staying on the island of Kauai and on the fence about whether or not you should do a Na Pali Boat Tour, I’m going to help you out and say JUST DO IT! You won’t regret it!

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