The Na Pali coast is a 15-mile stunning coastline in Kauai where the lush, rugged cliffs of the island descend to meet the gorgeous bright blue sea below. It’s a jaw-dropping display of natural beauty, and a Na Pali coast tour is something that you should have on your Kauai bucket list. In fact, it’s #1 on my list of the top 10 best things to do in Kauai.
There’s just one (small) problem. You cannot access the coast by car. The beach is only accessible by a strenuous 20-mile hike. However, you can see Na Pali’s views by boat and helicopter. Living in Hawai’i for many years, I enjoyed taking multiple boat tours of the Na Pali coast in vessels of different sizes. My favorite tour was the rafting tour with Blue Ocean Adventures, Which uses small Zodiac boats to tour the coast.
What Makes Blue Ocean Adventures Unique?
Blue Ocean Adventures uses small Zodiac boats to tour the Na Pali coast. The boats allow visitors to explore the small beach caves and get closer to the ocean. The tours are small, with a maximum of 14 people.
One of the most memorable experiences of my life was cruising out to the Na Pali coast on the Zodiac when spinner dolphins started jumping out of the water, circling our boat. They were so close to us that they splashed water on us. You couldn’t have that intimate experience with the ocean in a giant catamaran.
As the name “adventures” surmises, this is an adventure tour. Touring on the Zodiac boat is a whole-body workout to hold onto the boat’s ropes while you cruise. This tour isn’t for anybody pregnant or having mobility issues, poor endurance, or back problems.
What Should You Bring For The Tour?
Keep it simple; you won’t have much space to carry things on the boat. Blue Ocean Adventures provides dry bags for your belongings, snorkeling gear, water, and light snacks.
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, UV shirt)
- Bathing suit
- Loose-fitting clothes or cover-ups that you can easily change in/out of to swim
- Quick dry towel
- Waterproof case for your phone, camera, or GoPro to capture underwater pictures
- If you get motion sickness, plan to take anti-nausea medicine before getting on the boat.
What’s the Best Time of Day to Tour the Na Pali Coast?
Do the morning tour, as the water can get choppy later in the day. The morning meet-up time from the Kikiaola Boat Harbor was 7:30 am. You can park at the harbor.
What Does the Na Pali Tour Consist Of?
Getting from the harbor takes about 15 minutes to the Na Pali Coastline. Once you get to Na Pali, you can cruise through the sea caves along the coastline if the weather allows. One of the caves was famous for being the filming site of a Mary J Blige video.
After jetting up and down the coast, the boat anchors to snorkel at a reef filled with colorful fish, vibrant colored coral, and even sea turtles. At this point, if you want to get an Instagram-approved picture of you jumping off of the boat with the Na Pali coast in the background, this is your time to shine!
Finally, everybody returns to the boat to enjoy a fresh snack and sail back to the harbor.
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