Any time you get the opportunity to visit Kaua’i, you absolutely should. Even if it’s for a long weekend. It is such a magical paradise full of unique adventures. While you could easily spend a week or more exploring Kaua’i, sometimes all you have is a long weekend. The good news? Three days is enough time to experience some of the island’s most breathtaking scenery, incredible adventures, and unforgettable beaches.
So I put together the perfect 3 Day Kaua’i Itinerary for an epic vacation! In this guide, I share where to stay, the must do activities you don’t want to miss, dining options, and an ideal itinerary to make the most of your short trip to Kaua’i. This itinerary assumes you have three full days on Kaua’i. But you can move some activities around based on your timeframe.
3 Day Kaua’i Itinerary
With only three days to spend on Kaua’i, you want to have a plan to make the most of your time. Of course if you want to come and just relax on the beach, Kaua’i is the perfect place for that. With beautiful beaches, gorgeous views, and tropical weather, it’s easy to adjust to island time and feel the aloha spirit.
But there are so many unique activities and bucketlist experiences that you do not want to miss! Check out my guide here for a comprehensive list of the best things to do on Kaua’i. This itinerary will cover the must do experiences if you only have a short time on island.
Where to Stay:
- Best South Shore Hotels
- Koloa Landing Resort
- Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort & Spa
- Best North Shore Hotel
- One Hotel Hanalei
- Best East Shore Hotel
- Outrigger Kaua’i Beach Resort
3 Day Kaua’i Itinerary Packing List
Keep in mind that many resorts offer washers and dryers in the hotel rooms. And one of the biggest mistakes people make is packing too much. For 3 days on Kaua’i, you need to pack even less. But there are still some essentials you should pack based on this itinerary.
Water Shoes
If you decide to visit Secret Falls, then you will need water shoes. I highly recommend these water shoes from Amazon or these water sneakers from Salomon. Believe me, taking your shoes off to hike barefoot in the mud or over rocks is not fun. Neither is finishing a hike with wet socks and shoes. I did both multiple times before investing in several pairs of water shoes.
Bathing Suit
Don’t forget to bring a swim suit! Between snorkeling on the Nāpali Coast, relaxing at Ke’e Beach, and kayaking to Secret Falls, you’ll likely spend plenty of time in the water. There are places to buy beautiful suits all over the island in case you forget or just want one from Kaua’i. Some of my favorite places to shop for bikinis are The Bikini Room, Bikini Hanalei, Deja Vu Surf, and Tamba.
Reef safe sunscreen
Purchase reef safe sunscreen online before your trip or buy some from the shops here. There are plenty of options available, but these are some of my favorites: Aloe Up Face Sunscreen, Aloe Up SPF 50, Blue Lizard SPF 50, Thrive SPF 50.
Slippers (sandals)
To fully embrace the Hawaiian vibes, pack a pair of slippers (sandals). You can wear whatever slippers you have, whether they’re dressier (these are my favorites) or more casual. One of the most popular brands of slippers you’ll see on the Hawaiian islands are OluKai’s. Leather slippers are appropriate to wear with more formal aloha wear, so they’re a versatile choice of footwear.
Camera
Absolutely do not forget to bring a camera! A phone will do, but as a professional photographer, I won’t go anywhere without my camera. Kaua’i is so beautiful with stunning scenery and landscapes and my professional camera just captures it so much better.
If you want any underwater footage or don’t want to risk your camera getting wet on a boat tour or at Secret Falls, bring a GoPro. They are waterproof without a housing so you can use it directly with the floating handle. But I still like using it with the protective housing for some extra protection.
Drones are prohibited in state parks on all of the Hawaiian islands, so I’d honestly just leave it at home. You can get beautiful aerial shots yes, but you aren’t able to fly it in a lot of places.
Car Charger/Portable Charger
With all of the time you’re going to spend driving around or taking pictures during activities, bringing a car charger or portable charger is essential! This way your phone will always have enough battery to get you where you’re going and take plenty of pictures!
First Night: Settle In
Many flights arrive in the afternoon or evening, which works out best as you typically can’t check in until late afternoon. After you land and get your rental car, head to Costco or Safeway to pick up essentials for your trip or if you plan to do any cooking at your hotel. For a three day trip, buying bulk at Costco might be too much unless you’re in a large group.
After checking into your hotel, head to Poipu Beach for sunset. Across the street from Brennecke’s Beach Broiler, Honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) come ashore to rest for the night. Volunteers rope off the area where they sleep and are around to answer questions. Please keep a respectful distance and don’t use flash photography!
After sunset, grab dinner nearby at Brennecke’s Beach Broiler, Keoki’s Paradise (my favorite!), or Puka Dog before heading back to your hotel to rest up for an adventure filled Day 1.
Day 1: Nāpali Coast + Waimea Canyon – Start Your Trip With Two Kaua’i Bucketlist Experiences
Start your trip off with a day full of breathtaking views and adventure. Wake up early and head to Port Allen for a morning snorkel boat tour to Nāpali Coast. If you only do one activity while you’re on Kaua’i, definitely take a boat tour to Nāpali Coast. It’s one of the most recognizable coastlines in the world, and one activity you do not want to miss.
Note: Make sure you book this tour in advance! This is a popular activity and they sell out quickly, especially during the summer months.
Enjoy breakfast on the boat as you leave Port Allen while the captain points out various historical landmarks. Look for dolphins from the bow of the boat as you cruise towards the snorkel spot. You might spot Honu or monk seals while you snorkel at one of the best spots on Kaua’i. I’ve even seen a couple octopus here! You’ll pass sea caves, waterfalls, and the towering ridges and epic drop offs that make up Nāpali Coast. You turn around at the Cathedrals and sail back to port, enjoying lunch and a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. Arrive back at port just after noon.
After getting off the boat, drive less than 5 minutes to the home of Lilo & Stitch, Hanapepe.
It’s a quaint town, but filled with Aloha spirit. Spend 30 minutes to an hour exploring the art galleries, local shops, and famous swinging bridge. Check out the Lilo & Stitch mural and pose in photo stand ins with face cutouts.
Since you’re already on the west side of Kaua’i, when you’re done exploring Hanapepe, head farther west to another must do activity. Heading to Waimea Canyon after your boat tour means you won’t have to drive back to the west side of the island another day.
Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, has stunning views of the red cliffs covered in green foliage and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The last two viewpoints look out over Kalalau Valley, the area you turned around at on the boat tour.
Driving up to the top and back down will take you about two hours. If you’re looking for a hike, the Awaʻawapuhi Trail (pictured below) is one of the best on Kauaʻi. But if you’d prefer a more relaxed afternoon after the boat tour, then the scenic lookouts in Waimea Canyon are still a breathtaking option.
Note: If you do any hike on Kaua’i, especially after being on the boat all morning, make sure you pack plenty of water! While the temperatures drop a bit as you go up in elevation into Waimea Canyon, it’s still a tropical island and it is warm.
Stay in Waimea Canyon to watch the sunset and then enjoy a delicious local dinner at Wrangler’s Steakhouse in Waimea. Or you can head back to your hotel to shower after your adventure filled day and head to the Beach House for sunset and dinner right on the water.
Note: Make reservations at both restaurants!
Day 2: Pick Your Adventure on the Beautiful North Shore
Get another early start on Day 2 as you head to Kaua’i’s beautiful north shore. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Koloa and parking is limited, so you want to leave early. You’ll pass through the iconic tree tunnel on your way out of Koloa which is absolutely beautiful in the early morning light.
There are so many potential options for activities on the North Shore that you can pick your adventure.
Option 1: If you were able to get a parking pass for Ke’e Beach (the start of the Kalalau Trail), then you definitely want to hike to Hanakāpīʻai Falls. This is an 8 mile roundtrip hike with about 2,500 feet of elevation gain. Come prepared with proper footwear, water, and enough time to complete the hike safely before dark. It typically takes 4-6 hours to complete.
Plus you’ll want time to spend the rest of the day snorkeling and hanging at Ke’e Beach. Make sure you pack your beach essentials and food or snacks, the sunsets here are breathtaking!
Option 2: If you were unable to get passes for Ke’e Beach, or you’re not interested in hiking, head to Ha’ena Beach Park. The snorkeling here is amazing with the unique underwater lava formations and there are so many fish. You might even spot some Honu swimming around (please remember to keep your distance, never approach or touch them even if they swim close to you). Make sure you walk across the street to check out the Maniniholo Dry Cave and about a half mile down the sand to Tunnels Beach.
Stop at Hanalei Bread Company as you drive into Hanalei or bring whatever you got at the grocery store on your first night. The sunsets here are so beautiful and if you’ve gotten a parking spot, you won’t want to leave again.
Note: There is very limited parking at Ha’ena Beach Park, plan to get here early! There is also minimal cell phone service.
Option 3: Sometimes the water is too rough for snorkeling (typically in the winter months). If this is the case or you don’t plan to get in the water and just want to sight see for the day, spend a more relaxed day exploring the North Shore. Stop at Kilauea Lighthouse on your way to Hanalei, take a short hike to Secret Beach, or walk the Wai Koa Loop Trail to the stone dam. Then spend the rest of the day exploring the shops in Hanalei. Make reservations to walk the beautiful gardens at Limahuli Garden + Preserve National Tropical Botanical Garden.
Just make sure you head to the Hanalei Bay Pier for sunset! Then pick one of the many amazing restaurants in Hanalei for dinner. Bar Acuda, the Dolphin, and Kalypso Island Bar & Grill are some of my favorite options.
Note: Make dinner reservations at any North Shore restaurant.
Day 3: Waterfalls + Side Trips
Day three will provide many opportunities for side trips and explorations as you drive around exploring waterfalls. Depending on where you’re staying, start your morning with breakfast at Kiahuna Sunrise Cafe in Poipu, Kountry Kitchen in Kapa’a, or Wake Up Delicious in Hanalei.
After breakfast, head to your kayak tour to Uluwehi Falls (Secret Falls). You can book a guided tour with a company or rent kayaks to go at your own pace. Kayak about 2 miles up the river then hike about a mile to these gorgeous 120 foot waterfalls. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a picnic, swim, and take totally Instagram worthy photos to make your friends jealous.
When you’re done exploring Uluwehi Falls, head to ‘Opaeka’a Falls and Wailua Falls. They recently implemented a $10 per vehicle and $5 per visitor fee, but it’s good for both waterfalls. So make sure you head to both waterfalls on the same day! They’re both quick stops admiring from the parking lot/viewpoints since both hiking trails are now closed.
If you’re hungry after exploring waterfalls, head to Lil Fatties Tacos in Kapa’a for a bite to eat. If you have some extra time, I suggest hiking the easy trail to Ho’opi’i Falls. You might recognize this waterfall as the Amber Mine from Jurassic Park (check out more Jurassic Park Locations here).
Head back to your hotel room and relax until it’s time for dinner. End your Kaua’i vacation with a beautiful evening full of history and culture at the Smith’s Family Garden Luau. Located on 30 acres of lush tropical botanical garden on Kaua’i’s east shore, it’s the perfect end to an epic vacation.
Note: Bring or wear bug spray!
Is 3 Days Enough in Kauaʻi?
While three days isn’t enough to see everything Kauaʻi has to offer, it’s enough time to experience the island’s dramatic landscapes, stunning beaches, and waterfalls. This itinerary combines some of Kauaʻi’s most iconic experiences into an unforgettable trip.
If you have additional time, I highly recommend adding a helicopter tour! It’s such a thrilling way to see some of the more remote areas on Kaua’i. There are some incredible hiking trails and plenty of beautiful beaches to explore.
