3 Best Nāpali Coast Boat Tours on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Whether you’re going to hike on the Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai Falls, take a helicopter tour around the island, or see the Nāpali Coast by boat, choosing one of these three options is a must-do when you’re on Kauaʻi.
While each is unique in their own way, a Nāpali Coast boat tour offers an experience that is much more accessible than hiking and much more personal than a helicopter tour.
What is the Best Type of Nāpali Coast Boat Tour?
The answer is easy!
Any of the Zodiac boat tours that I’ve listed below are the best and most personal kinds of experiences that you can have on a Nāpali Coast boat tour, and below, I’ve outlined why.
4 Reasons to Choose a Nāpali Coast Zodiac Tour
If you want the opportunity to jump and swim in the ocean, then you will want to be on one of these boats. I say this because, generally speaking, larger boat tours along the Nāpali Coast don’t prioritize stopping and slowing down to enjoy the water. For this reason, a Zodiac tour is the best option in order to have the opportunity to get in and out of the beautiful turquoise blue water along the coast.
The second reason is that a Zodiac tour will be able to access all of the caves on the Nāpali Coast, which can’t be said for a bigger boat in some of the tightest caves. One of the best is called Double Door, and it’s definitely one that you’ll want to see on a Zodiac tour!
The third reason is that a Zodiac boat limits the number of people on your tour; a bigger boat obviously means more people.
Finally, the last reason, which also ties into number three, is that with a smaller group of people, the tour is much more customizable. After you see the coast, you can ask the captain to park it at any one of the spots along the way to spend more or less time if your group is the majority on the boat. Captain Aaron, who I went with, was pretty awesome in allowing us to swim in various spots for a few hours after heading through all of the caves because our group was the biggest on the boat.
My Experience on the Nāpali Boat Tour
Fom the Kīkīaola Small Boat Harbor on the West Side of Kauaʻi, @napaliodyssey took us out around at around 8:00 a.m.
From the boat harbor, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to the actual start of the Nāpali Coast, which was fairly enjoyable because we saw countless dolphins and even a few sea turtles that were putting on a show for us!
Miloliʻi State Park
When you finally make it, Miloliʻi State Park will be the first stop along the tour, which is only accessible by boat or kayak only.
Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park (Kalalau)
The next stop along the coast is the Open Ceiling Cave, followed by Honopū Valley. If you look closely, you might be able to see the Honopū Arch.
That being said, if you were to hike the Kalalau Trail, you should know that making it to Honopū is never guaranteed on account of the crazy ocean conditions, the tide, the currents, and your swimming ability. Boat and helicopter tours are the best way to ensure that you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful and remote Honopū Valley.
Furthermore, the most famous photos that you would find in any Google search of the Nāpali Coast are generally Honopū and Kalalau Valley, so get your camera out! This is the best part of the tour!
Finally, our captain took us as far as Hanakāpī‘ai Beach, where we could even see the start of the Kalalau Trail before started making our way back.
Nāpali Coast Boat vs. Helicopter Tour & Kalalau Trail
What sets a boat tour apart from the Kalalau Trail or a helicopter tour is that you get to explore caves and waterfalls that you wouldn’t normally get to see or get a good view of otherwise.
Our captain got us up close to every waterfall and into every cave along the coast. Captain Aaron even accommodated us when we asked about trying to get certain photos!
All in all, every one of these experiences is pretty spectacular along the coast. That’s why, if you’re interested in exploring all your options, I’ve also included my top helicopter recommendations below.
Snorkeling Advice
If you plan on getting in the water on your Nāpali Coast Tour, buy your own quality mask and snorkel! There will be more than one opportunity where you will be snorkeling/ diving during your trip.
Take it from someone that lives in Hawaiʻi, bring your own Mantis mask and snorkel! They are the best and most comfortable masks on the market by far!
