Fern Grotto
Fern Grotto
3.5
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This fern-capped cave is a favorite wedding site.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
474 reviews
Excellent
105
Very good
133
Average
129
Poor
62
Terrible
45
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Paola010
Oklahoma City, OK98 contributions
Feb 2020
We had not returned to the Fern Grotto for 36 years, and with so many visitors, pollution, etc, did not know if we would still find it beautiful. We went upriver with the Smith boats--a family business that has been on the Wailua River for years and happily discounts seniors and special needs. It's a short walk from the pier to the grotto. And, yes, the grotto is still enchanting with its little waterfall, misty ambiance, and a little music and dance from the Smiths.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melea P
Orlando, FL69 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
I had read about this adventure as something low cost to do on the east side of Kauai. After exploring waterfalls on the east side we ended up at the Fern Grotto boat tour. I hadn’t done enough research beforehand to look at the boat schedule or realize you can purchase your tickets online. We arrived just before the last tour at 3:30, rushed inside to buy tickets ($30/adult) and jumped on the boat. Everyone was super friendly and patient with us. I am so glad we arrived just on time. On the way to the grotto, the boat captain gave us the history of the Smiths family, the land, and the exorbitant amount of rain in the mountains. The walk to the grotto and the grotto were so picturesque. We arrived at the perfect time to see the sun shining through the dripping water, so beautiful! The musicians played music while following us on the walk path then entertained us at the grotto and entertained us more on the boat ride back. The lead singer was funny and a lovely singer, we learned a little bit of a hula dance and enjoyed the music of the ukuleles. The total time for this tour is just over an hour and highly recommended by me and my friends.
Written June 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
love2laffx3
Phoenix, AZ13 contributions
Nov 2020
The hosts were happy to be back in business after months of being closed. In fact, we were on the trip on their first day back in business. The walk to the Fern Grotto was lush and lovely. There was adequate social distancing on the boat. One thing they could improve, however, is that they should have two lines or better instructions for people who have already bought and paid for their tickets. Apparently, we could have gone straight down to the boat for check in instead of waiting in the box office line. Perhaps they were just out of practice.
Written November 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sweetra
United States290 contributions
Feb 2023
When we arrived for our boat trip to the grotto, there were two busloads of people that arrived and went on their boat trip first. We were on our way 5 minutes later with a tour bus. It wasn't too bad as our boat was half empty.
They told stories, played music, and sang and danced on the boat ride. The fern grotto was interesting and it was nice to hear the stories and of course more singing and dancing. From what they said, it wasn't as full and lush as it used to be. Still, it was very pretty.
We were treated to some wild pigs squeaking and running around on our way back to the boat. That was fun.
If you want to see the grotto, go for it. But it's not something that I would consider a must-see. We did not opt to do the luau as we had done an amazing one at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu and did not want to diminish the feeling.
They told stories, played music, and sang and danced on the boat ride. The fern grotto was interesting and it was nice to hear the stories and of course more singing and dancing. From what they said, it wasn't as full and lush as it used to be. Still, it was very pretty.
We were treated to some wild pigs squeaking and running around on our way back to the boat. That was fun.
If you want to see the grotto, go for it. But it's not something that I would consider a must-see. We did not opt to do the luau as we had done an amazing one at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu and did not want to diminish the feeling.
Written March 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M M
Prague, Czech Republic9 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
We are visiting Kaua’i and our Hawaiian personal trainer back in Boston told us he got married in the Fern Grotto in 1996…so we looked up this tour and decided to take it for our Billy, the Big Kahuna.
First off, pretty inexpensive at $30 each! Very relaxing, a short walk to view the Fern Grotto and constant entertainment by the Roosters who are not shy..or quiet.
A real shout out to the Hawaiian entertainers who played their instruments, sang a danced the hula for us. They were great. Please don’t forget to leave them a tip on the way out. I am guessing that’s all they get for doing these cruises…and they are worth $10 a person as you leave the boat. You know we all give 20%-25% in tips at restaurants…this Hawaiian family is worth that too!
I am only saying this as I didn’t see much going into the “basket” on the way out.
I know that expenses on all of the Hawaiian Islands are much higher than on the mainland…and we all wonder how people are able live here! Exactly..take care of the entertainers, please!
First off, pretty inexpensive at $30 each! Very relaxing, a short walk to view the Fern Grotto and constant entertainment by the Roosters who are not shy..or quiet.
A real shout out to the Hawaiian entertainers who played their instruments, sang a danced the hula for us. They were great. Please don’t forget to leave them a tip on the way out. I am guessing that’s all they get for doing these cruises…and they are worth $10 a person as you leave the boat. You know we all give 20%-25% in tips at restaurants…this Hawaiian family is worth that too!
I am only saying this as I didn’t see much going into the “basket” on the way out.
I know that expenses on all of the Hawaiian Islands are much higher than on the mainland…and we all wonder how people are able live here! Exactly..take care of the entertainers, please!
Written September 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravlLvr7
Pleasanton, CA34 contributions
Feb 2022
At first glance, the old grotto boats and the building screamed "old and touristy". However, what made my friends and I embarrassed (we're originally from Hawaii but now live in CA & OR) was the rudeness of the boat driver. When we were ready to leave the dock, one of the passengers in the back, shouted to the boat driver "can you speak up-we can't hear back here", the boat driver shook his head (in disgust) and blatantly went to the mike and said "if you cannot hear me, move up-there are plenty of seats in the front"!!
For an establishment that is coming back from the pandemic, I would expect minimum courtesy to paying patrons. Nonetheless, he displayed attitude that we (previous locals) were totally embarrassed by.
All in all, we definitely overpaid for our 'experience' plus the grotto looked unkept. However, the female singer on our way back had a beautiful voice and was entertaining - she gets a '4'.
For an establishment that is coming back from the pandemic, I would expect minimum courtesy to paying patrons. Nonetheless, he displayed attitude that we (previous locals) were totally embarrassed by.
All in all, we definitely overpaid for our 'experience' plus the grotto looked unkept. However, the female singer on our way back had a beautiful voice and was entertaining - she gets a '4'.
Written March 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hitomi K
Minato, Japan186 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
At $30 per person, this is the cheapest optional tour on Kauai. I was satisfied with the boat ride across the river, the explanations given by the staff, the hula and singing, etc.
The Fern Grotto was smaller than I expected, and we couldn't go very far inside, so it was below expectations.
The Dry Cave at the northern end was a bigger surprise.
The dancers and singers on the way there to entertain the guests and the staff who explained all about Kauai and the caves on the way back were all friendly. There are more wonderful places than Fern Grotto that you can see for free on Miyakojima and the main island of Okinawa, so I ended up writing a harsh review.
The hula dancers, ukulele players and singers were by no means bad, but I don't think they were skilled enough to be worth paying for.
The Fern Grotto was smaller than I expected, and we couldn't go very far inside, so it was below expectations.
The Dry Cave at the northern end was a bigger surprise.
The dancers and singers on the way there to entertain the guests and the staff who explained all about Kauai and the caves on the way back were all friendly. There are more wonderful places than Fern Grotto that you can see for free on Miyakojima and the main island of Okinawa, so I ended up writing a harsh review.
The hula dancers, ukulele players and singers were by no means bad, but I don't think they were skilled enough to be worth paying for.
Written October 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine
Walla Walla, WA230 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
If ambivalent about seeing the grotto you might feel the boat trip and local entertainment not worth it. For us, it was a nostalgic return to one of the places we saw on kauai honeymoon in 1991...a year before hurricane iniki tore through the middle of the island. So the ride was entertaining...local info one way and music and hula the other. Again, some may sneer, but everyone did get up to join the dance. So get over yourself! The grotto is still lovely. Kauai is just so magical and tropical.
Written November 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deacon Peter Miranda
Slidell, LA46 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
The fern grotto reminded me of a trip to the redwoods of California. For years I saw the post card pictures of the huge tree you could drive through. Same goes for the fern grotto river Cruise. Go thirty minutes the boat takes you leisurely to the dock while you hear some history of the Smith family and some facts about the river. Once you get to the point of disbarment, you meander through a rainforest path filled with beautiful native flora then you arrive at the filled in grotto, watch a hula and are rushed back to the boat. Seems to me more than 25 minutes could be allowed to photograph and take in the beauty at least since the grotto barely baring any ferns is a disappointment. Thirty minutes back then with some entertainment. Don’t get me wrong the people/family are supper. I guess my expectations were a bit higher.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sightsee55021805360
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • Family
Ukulele player was really mean to my 7 year old son. He was trying to dance along with her song so she scolded him on the microphone in front of everyone. He left the boat in tears. He really wasn't doing anything bad. The driver was really cool, boat experience was really nice, but some of the entertainers take out their misery on others.
Written November 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How easy would it be to get a taxi from the port to Smith Family grotto? I have tried a taxi service and for the 15min ride is extremely expensive.
Written July 17, 2023
Sorry I can’t really help you as we had our own car and drove from our hotel to the grotto but honestly I’m sure it would not be that difficult to get a taxi
Written July 19, 2023
What are the transportation options from the cruise port to the Smith family boat launch area? I don't want to pay for a big tour that includes other things and we may not be renting a car for the day.
Written June 28, 2018
Not sure I was staying at a nearby hotel. But I’m sure Taxi could get you there pretty inexpensively
Written October 7, 2018
rknan2016
Parksville, Canada
What is the price of a seniors ticket for the river cruise?
Written October 16, 2016
shannlaw
Santa Barbara, California
How long does it take to kayak to the fern grotto? And is it hard to do for kids?
Written August 5, 2016
We started slightly up river at Kamokila Hawaiian village. From there, it was maybe ten minutes. If you start at the other kayak rental places at the mouth of the river, it will take you longer. There isn't much to see in that section so you're better off starting further up river; plus, it's a lot cheaper.
Written August 3, 2017
Is it far from the car park to the boat ride, my husband has a stamina problem and can only walk about 200yds. Thank You
Written July 30, 2016
From the parking lot to the loading area is just a short walk (20 - 30 yards), with benches to sit on. He could sit there while you walk upstairs to the ticket office to get the tickets. However the benches are not covered and it does get very hot. As for the Grotto itself it is probably 400 yards round trip to the Grotto and back and as the other person said it slightly uphill to the grotto.
Written July 31, 2016
Can you get there by car on your own, or do I have to join a tour group
Written August 24, 2015
You either have to take the tour by boat from the Smith family tour group or rent a kayak and paddle up the river yourself to see the Fern Grotto. You can not drive to it.
Written November 6, 2015
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