Taking a Nāpali Coast boat tour has to be at the top of your list when you visit Kaua’i. It was one of the first adventures we went on after moving here. Nāpali means “The Cliffs” – Na meaning the and Pali meaning Cliffs. And it’s absolutely breathtaking to see the ridges firsthand, pictures just don’t do Nāpali Coast justice. You can see them from above on a Nāpali Coast Helicopter tour (take the Jurassic Falls landing tour with Island Helicopters), from the lookouts in Kōke’e State Park (at the top of Waimea Canyon), or by hiking the Kalalau Trail which is a 22 mile round trip hike and you have to secure a reservation ahead of time. I think the best way to experience Nāpali Coast is by boat.
In this guide, I go over all of the information you need to know about going on a Nāpali Coast Boat Tour. Keep reading for more pictures and everything you need to know for planning your ultimate Nāpali Coast boat trip. I share information on the types of tours, when to go, what to wear, what to bring, etc.
Experience Nāpali Coast By Boat: Your Ultimate Guide
What to Expect
There are multiple companies that offer boat tours to Nāpali Coast. The majority of the companies leave from ‘Ele’ele, but there are several that leave from Waimea and one company in Hanalei Bay. They typically offer morning and afternoon tours (see the next section for more in depth information on morning versus afternoon tours).
The captains point out various landmarks and tell local stories and historical information as you cruise along the coast. It’s a really great way to learn about the Hawaiian culture and history of Kaua’i. They also point out different locations used in various movies.
Boat tours to Nāpali Coast take around 5 hours and 7 hours if you go to Ni’ihau. So plan to spend a good portion of the day on the water. This is not an activity you want to book if you have a flight at 3pm.
I believe all of the Nāpali Coast boat tours are barefoot tours. The reason for this is because it gets really slippery as the ocean splashes you and the boat deck. Have you ever walked in wet slippers? You slide all over the place! Imagine doing that on a boat that’s constantly moving on a surface that’s also wet. So if you wear any form of slipper (sandal) or open toed shoe, you take them off before you board the boat and leave them in a shoe bin. You can keep your shoes on if you wear closed toed shoes.
Kaua’i isn’t as popular for snorkeling as the other Hawaiian islands or even other tropical destinations, but you do go to the best snorkeling on Kaua’i. Mokole is only accessible by a boat tour and it’s beautiful. The lava created unique underwater rock formations and there are so many fish. If you’re lucky, you might see some Honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) swimming around. Make sure to respect the wildlife, keep your distance, and do not touch the Honu!
Kaua’i has beautiful weather all year, but the winter months can bring storms and rough ocean conditions. Sometimes this means that snorkeling is cancelled, tours get re-routed to the South Shore, or tours get cancelled altogether. If taking a Nāpali Coast boat tour is on your bucketlist (which it should be), I recommend visiting outside of winter.
What Time of Day Is Best to Explore Nāpali Coast By Boat?
There are morning and afternoon tours that explore Nāpali Coast and I see many people ask which time is best to go. Most people seem to be worried about getting sea sick, but there are other factors to take into consideration.
The morning tours tend to have calmer water, so if you get seasick this might be a good option. But you also have a greater chance of seeing more wildlife on the morning tours. The morning tours also include snorkeling and like I mentioned earlier, it’s the best snorkeling opportunity on Kaua’i. If you’re an ocean baby like me, or just love snorkeling, then you definitely want to take a morning tour! It’s important to know that the morning tours typically leave around 7-8am. So take into consideration your drive time and what time you’d have to leave. If you’re not a morning person, you might consider an afternoon tour.
The afternoon tours have stunning views of Nāpali Coast as the light hits the ridges. This makes for a photographers dream tour. Hawai’i sunsets are so magical and experiencing one from the water makes for an amazing memory. Most of the tour companies don’t offer afternoon snorkel tours, except for a short period during the summer. Without the snorkeling and swim time, the afternoon tours typically last about 4 hours. You get back to port a little after sunset.
If you want to take a raft tour, I recommend going in the morning. Some of the rafts and smaller catamarans might make for a pretty bumpy right in the afternoon.
I’ve only taken tours out of ‘Ele’ele, so I’m not as positive on times and specifics on the tours leaving from Hanalei.
What to Bring on a Nāpali Coast Boat Tour
The weather is almost always beautiful on Kaua’i, and if you’re visiting from somewhere colder it will seem so warm and tropical. But the mornings are chilly on the water, especially if you take a raft excursion where you cruise along faster and are more likely to get splashed. Pack some layers in case you do get cold. I wore a hoodie the entire time on a raft tour in the summer time.
My hair tangles so easily, so I always bring a hair brush and this Stream2Sea leave-in conditioner. It keeps my hair from getting tangled after being in the water. And it’s reef safe! So it won’t harm the corals or marine life.
Being on the boat all day you are exposed to a lot of sun. Don’t forget some reef safe sunscreen. I see so many people soooo burnt while on island. Don’t be that person. You don’t want to spend the rest of your vacation miserable because you’re sunburnt. Many of the tours don’t allow the spray sunscreens on board. But they do offer sunscreen available to use on their boats or to purchase in their office. But if you’re planning on spending more time outside while on Kaua’i, you will probably want your own anyway. It’s important to know that a lot of brands claim they are reef safe or reef friendly and they actually aren’t. These are my favorite brands of reef safe sunscreen – Stream2Sea and Project Reef Mineral Sunscreen.
Definitely bring a camera and a GoPro to capture some amazing photos and videos! The views are so beautiful and it’s so fun to record the dolphins as the swim, jump, and flip alongside the boat. You will love looking back at these photos and remembering your amazing trip! You can get a waterproof phone pouch if you don’t have a GoPro or don’t want to buy one. As a photographer, I already had a GoPro and I LOVE the photos and videos I’ve gotten with it.
If you are worried about getting seasick, take some seasick prevention beforehand and bring some on board with you. Two of the most popular options are Dramamine and Bonine. They are very similar but Bonine is made for activities whereas Dramamine is for times you want to sleep (planes, long car rides, etc.). It’s recommended to take one the night before and another one an hour before your activity. There are patches and bracelets as well, but I have never used them so I can’t speak for how well they work.
Don’t forget a pair of sunglasses! You will be out in the sun all day and the sun is bright as it reflects off the water, so protect your eyes!
The boat companies don’t offer towels for you to use. Bring your own if you don’t want to air dry after snorkeling. I usually forget mine so I end up air drying.
Morning Nāpali Coast Boat Tours
If you’re an early riser and love being in the ocean, take a Nāpali Coast Morning Snorkel Tour. It’s so beautiful watching the sun rise on the water. The morning tours offer snorkeling, and as I mentioned earlier, Mokole is the best snorkeling spot on Kaua’i. You enjoy breakfast as you head to the snorkeling spot. And then after snorkeling, you cruise to Nāpali Coast where you see various waterfalls, sea caves, Kalalau Beach, and the iconic Cathedrals.
It gets a little chilly on the water, especially early in the morning or in the evening as you head back to port. Bring some warm layers, you only need a long sleeve or a sweater. Wear your bathing suit underneath your clothes so you don’t have to change before snorkeling.
The swim time only lasts about an hour and all of the snorkel gear is provided. This is so convenient because it eliminates the need to rent and bring your own. Plus it’s pretty bulky to carry. Some of the companies even offer prescription masks so you can still snorkel even if you wear glasses.
As I mentioned earlier, water is typically calmer in the mornings and the marine life tends to be more active. There is always a chance to see dolphins, whales, monk seals, Honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), and more marine life, but your chance is greater on a morning tour. And I’m not talking about just a few dolphins here and there, on multiple tours we found pods of hundreds of dolphins.
The most common dolphins you see are spinner dolphins. They come right up to the boat and swim alongside the bow. But you can watch them jumping and flipping from anywhere on the boat. But the best view is definitely from the front of the boat.
Kaua’i is the rainiest Hawaiian island. So naturally, there are TONS of waterfalls. And there are some gorgeous ones along Nāpali Coast! These are only accessible on a boat or helicopter tour. While you see waterfalls all over the island on a helicopter tour, you miss out on some amazing experiences from a boat tour. On calm days, the captain drives the boat right up to the waterfalls so everyone can get a photo in front of them.
At Wai’napa’napa Falls, the captain guides the front end of the catamaran underneath the waterfalls. There’s a really fun myth about touching these waterfalls, so make sure you’re at the front of the boat and don’t miss the action!
Then you come to Kalalau Beach and the ridges that make up Nāpali Coast known as the Cathedrals. This is also the turn around point for your tour. Your captain will slow down and cruise for a bit so everyone has a chance to take some photos (also good for Christmas cards!). Once everyone is finished taking photos, the crew puts up the sails, gets ready for lunch, and the bar opens!
You spend the remainder of your boat tour taking in the beautiful views, looking for more marine life, and enjoying some cocktails as you head back to port.
Afternoon/Sunset Tours on Nāpali Coast
An afternoon Nāpali Coast boat tour is a perfect way to end the day on Kaua’i. You leave port around 2pm (varies a little depending on the time of year) and you cruise up to Nāpali Coast. If you’re not a morning person, looking for a romantic evening with your significant other, or a photographer looking for some gorgeous picture opportunities, this is it! The light hits the ridges of Nāpali Coast and it looks even more dramatic. It is so breathtakingly beautiful. And there’s still a good chance to see wildlife!
After you turn around at Kalalau and the Cathedrals, you enjoy dinner and cocktails as you head back towards ‘Ele’ele. All the companies stop to take in the sunset on the water. You get back to port shortly after sunset.
Raft Tours on Napali Coast
If you’re looking for a more adventurous tour, check out a Nāpali Coast Raft Excursion. The rafts are smaller and cruise along much faster and closer to the shore. You go into the sea caves and get up much closer to the waterfalls. It gives you a much bigger appreciation for how massive the cliffs really are. Plus you are so much closer to the wildlife! Imagine seeing dolphins flip right in front of you or swim under your raft. Or a whale diving right under the boat. It’s such a cool experience.
The raft tours are definitely a bumpier ride than the catamarans. You hold on to the rope on the side of the boat, one in front of you between your legs, and put your feet under a foot rope to keep you in place. The office told me that I would feel sore the next day, but I never was. But it does require some physical ability to hold on.
You might want to wear a sweater or a long sleeve for the tour. You’re much closer to the water so you get splashed a lot more. The boat tour companies offer you a dry bag to hold your belongings that you return after the tour. You can always put clothes into the dry bag as you warm up.
There are no bathrooms on the rafts! But the captains will stop frequently for bathroom pitstops in the water. Lunch, waters, and a small selection of drinks are still provided on the rafts. But there are no alcoholic beverages.
Ni’ihau + Nāpali Coast Tour
If you want to spend a truly memorable day on the water, take a Ni’ihau and Nāpali Coast tour. Watch the sunrise as you leave Port Allen and cross the Kaulakahi Channel to the forbidden island of Ni’ihau. If you’ve never heard of Ni’ihau before, it’s a privately owned island that you can see from the west side of Kaua’i. It is owned by the Robinson family and is home to native Hawaiians. You cannot go on shore, but you can get a close up look at the island.
The Ni’ihau boat tours start early in the morning rossing the Kaulakahi Channel to Ni’ihau. You eat breakfast on your way across and you usually snorkel first. There’s a drop off at the snorkel spot, so there’s a greater chance of seeing a wider variety of wildlife as you cross the channel and cruise around the untouched waters off Ni’ihau. I’ve seen monk seals, manta rays, and even an oceanic whitetip reef shark! After snorkeling, you head over to Keyhole and then into Lehua Crater. You will see hundreds of seabirds at Lehua Crater because it’s a wildlife and seabird sanctuary.
Then you head back across the channel to Nāpali Coast. This tour really is the best of both worlds because you still get to see Nāpali Coast and the world famous ridges. From here you enjoy lunch on your way back to Port Allen. You should get back around 2pm.
These tours are very weather dependent, especially in the winter time. The main goal of crossing to Ni’ihau is to snorkel there. But sometimes ocean currents and the swell prevent the boat companies from crossing. They give you the option to reschedule or go on a regular Nāpali Coast boat tour.
