Na Pali Experience
Na Pali Experience
5
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
About
Aloha! Join us for an experience you will remember forever. Kauai's Na Pali coast is one of the most spectacular attractions in the world. Avoid the crowds and climb aboard a vessel that allows you to have a closer look. Our boats are the most practical size and design for touring Na Pali. Large enough for comfort and small enough to enter and explore ALL of the sea caves! Allow our small family operation to provide you with your Na Pali experience. Space is limited; reserve your tour today!
Kekaha, Hawaii
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Awards
Travelers' Choice
2023
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Na Pali Experience
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
2,952 reviews
Excellent
2,897
Very good
43
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
5
Tyna Baptista
Las Vegas, NV1 contribution
Sep 2021 • Friends
Captain Drew made our experience on the 7:00am Na Pali Experience Morning Magic Tour so amazing! The views were indeed magical and the small party size of 6 people was simply PERFECT! Highly recommend the early morning tour, avoided the late morning wind and waves and much less boats and people in the water.
Captain Drew went above and beyond to really give us the history of each part of the island, pick out the best spots for pictures, crazy cool going into the sea caves, and even helped us find the dolphins and honu's (turtles). Chips, juice, and pineapple really topped off the trip post-snorkeling. From start to finish this was worth every penny! Be sure to tip him well... guarantee you will have a great time no matter what but show some appreciation cuz he will make your trip unforgettable! Mahalo nui loa Captain Drew from Tyna, Sydellle, Kaimana (Jojo) and Linda 9/10/21!
Captain Drew went above and beyond to really give us the history of each part of the island, pick out the best spots for pictures, crazy cool going into the sea caves, and even helped us find the dolphins and honu's (turtles). Chips, juice, and pineapple really topped off the trip post-snorkeling. From start to finish this was worth every penny! Be sure to tip him well... guarantee you will have a great time no matter what but show some appreciation cuz he will make your trip unforgettable! Mahalo nui loa Captain Drew from Tyna, Sydellle, Kaimana (Jojo) and Linda 9/10/21!
Written September 11, 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.
Matt
Southlake, TX1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Family
Our family of 5, including our 13-year old, did the Morning Magic Tour of the Na Pali caves. It was fantastic! We’ve done almost every tour on Kauai, and this one ranks near the top. Captain Drew did an excellent job all around: making us feel safe, getting us up close to dolphins, navigating the caves, telling us the history, and helping with the snorkeling. I highly recommend going in the morning. It was a very early wake up for us, but the sea conditions and overall weather are more likely to be better in the morning. We loved the trip out there, and motoring into all the caves. It made for some great pictures! The snorkel spot was as good as anywhere on the island. We saw several varieties of fish and a half dozen turtles. A+ trip all around!
Written August 2, 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.
Marcos R
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Couples
Everything that was advertised was delivered. At first we had to book ourselves on different boats as these guys are very popular BUT their admin/secretary/scheduler called me back a few days before the trip to get us on the same boat! YAY! *follow-up kiddos to the office staff*
Our boat captain was Chellen so we were “chilling with Chellen” into coastal caves and across the sites. He stopped by each site, remarked on each’s historical significance, and made sure we all got our pictures taken with our significant others. Having been on plenty of boats I was very comfortable with his handling the boat through the sometimes choppy waters. I also appreciated his rotating the seating arrangements which gave everyone an opportunity to the bow. He was reassuring and offered everyone assistance with their gear (most of us brought our own snorkels but borrowed fins). It was a beautiful and fun experience. Also appreciated his recommendation for dinner (MCS Grill); can’t go wrong with a restaurant filled with local families enjoying some Hawaiian Home Cooking
Our boat captain was Chellen so we were “chilling with Chellen” into coastal caves and across the sites. He stopped by each site, remarked on each’s historical significance, and made sure we all got our pictures taken with our significant others. Having been on plenty of boats I was very comfortable with his handling the boat through the sometimes choppy waters. I also appreciated his rotating the seating arrangements which gave everyone an opportunity to the bow. He was reassuring and offered everyone assistance with their gear (most of us brought our own snorkels but borrowed fins). It was a beautiful and fun experience. Also appreciated his recommendation for dinner (MCS Grill); can’t go wrong with a restaurant filled with local families enjoying some Hawaiian Home Cooking
Written August 25, 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.
fengfam20
Redlands, CA1 contribution
Mar 2022
We had a wonderful time on the Na Pali coast with Captain Chellen and the Na Pali Experience. It was a rainy day with large swells, so Chellen did a great job setting expectations about what the tour would entail, but promised to make the most of the situation, which he definitely did! We saw Spinner dolphins, a green turtle, and 5 humpback whales on our tour and Chellen made sure to stop and let us enjoy the marine life for as long as we wanted. He was extremely knowledgable and shared really interesting facts while we watched them. He was also very knowledgable about the natural history of the Na Pali coast as well as the cultural significance of various locations to ancient Hawaiians, which really made the whole tour for us. He did a great job communicating the plan with us and even adjusting things as he assessed the ocean conditions. He was up front about the possibility of not being able to explore the coastal caves, but made an attempt to expertly and safely explore as the swells would allow, making for an exciting boat ride. We were unable to snorkel at the usual site, which he warned us about at the start of the tour, but still found a place where we could safely take a dip and enjoy some of the juice and snacks he had brought along. I had done a tour of the Na Pali coast with one of the bigger tour companies several years ago and I would 100% recommend doing this smaller, more intimate tour to all of my friends visiting in the future. Chellen made sure we all got to do exactly what we wanted, was flexible with his plans, and made for a fun, engaging, and educational tour of the gorgeous Na Pali coast. We would definitely do this again when we come back to Kauai!
Written April 9, 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.
Jenny A
2 contributions
Mar 2021
Na Pali Experience was easy to work with from the get-go, and our captain Manu was fantastic. His deep interest in the history, geography, and wildlife of the area kept the stories, factoids, and personal anecdotes flowing, which added so much incredible context to our experience. The boat was beautiful (more classy than the zodiacs other companies were driving), sparkling clean, and the setup was entirely professional, with fresh pineapple, beverages and snacks, snorkeling equipment, and dry bags provided. Manu was attentive to our needs and very engaged, stopping when we saw humpback whales and pods of dolphins, answering a ton of questions, and even exercising really impressive boat driving skills to get us into small caves along the coastline. If you've experienced the Na Pali coast from Waimea Canyon or Kalalau, a boat tour adds a whole new take and is definitely worth the cost. P.S. Don't forget to tip your guides! They work so hard and COVID hasn't been easy for them.
Written March 28, 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.
hayleymmitchell
1 contribution
Nov 2021
This was hands down the best Na Pali boat tour - captain Drew was incredibly knowledgeable and knew exactly where to find the best wild life. The tours are capped at 8 people in a very comfortable and spacious boat. We highly recommend this for anyone looking for a Na Pali coast boat tour - don’t bother looking anywhere else!
Written November 30, 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.
mariQV111
New York City, NY1 contribution
Apr 2021
Our boat trip with Na Pali experience exceeded our expectations. This was my first Na Pali tour but I went with a few friends who have been on a Na Pali boat tour with a different company and they said that this was SO much better. Manu was THE BEST guide/Captain. He was very informative, made sure we were all comfortable, having fun AND kept us laughing the whole time. Definitely recommend if you book to request him! Manu went above and beyond to make sure we saw dolphins, whales, monk seals and more! The boat held six people so we weren’t crammed in with a bunch of strangers like some of the other tours. The waters can be a little choppy but Manu worked well to avoid it and give us a heads up when things would get bumpy. It was a beautiful and amazing experience and a must do in Kauai. Highly recommend Na Pali Experience as the tour company to choose for your excursion!
Written April 21, 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.
yapper20
San Francisco, CA112 contributions
Nov 2020 • Family
AWEsome is all we can say. Starting from the attentiveness of Nathanial, the owner, who spent 30 minutes on the phone with me telling me all about the trip before we booked, to when he called us up the day before suggesting we change days for a better experience, to the trip itself with Drew. Drew was just a great captain through and through. Starting with his ever friendly personality, to his command of the boat on rough waters to his knowledge of the area. We saw Dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins. The weather started out very questionable, and it rained here and there throughout the day, and sometimes pretty hard. We did see some sun, but it just didn’t make a difference because the views were amazing. Drew, the master captain that he is, took our boat into sea caves, under waterfalls, for even more amazing views. It was like the Back of the Falls on the Jungle Cruise, only real! Having the small 24’ boat all to ourselves (4 of us) made it even better. Oh, and the boat didn’t feel small, it was roomy, impeccably maintained, and handled the swells like a champ. Our one hesitation was the cost for a private charter, but it was a once in a lifetime experience, and worth it. The only thing that could have made it even better was if we had seen a whale breech, but we knew that was unlikely in November (we did see a spout and a fin off in the distance). Thanks to Drew and Nathanial for making this AWEsome Na Pali Experience possible!
Written November 24, 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.
Julie S
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Family
We booked the private catamaran for our family of four, and I would highly recommend it! Our guide was Captain Drew and he was wonderful. Not only was he kind and professional, he was very knowledgeable about the island, the Nā Pali Coast, and the history of the Hawaiian islands. Since it was a private charter, and just the four of us, he made sure we understood that we could customize our tour. Frankly, we were more than happy to let Drew lead the way. He’s been with the company for 7 or 8 years and has lived in Hawaii for 28 years, so he’s skilled at his job and knowledgeable. The Nā Pali coast is stunning, and the tour takes you through caves and all along the mesmerizing coast line. The snorkeling was better than the tour we did in Maui, as we saw a greater diversity of fish and had two turtles swim right up to us as they breezed by! We went on the early morning tour and we’re able to see countless spinner dolphin pods swim along side our boat. They were a dream to watch, as they seemed to race the boat, spin up in the air, and even flipped upside down to splash us with water. The catamaran on the private tour was the perfect size for us, but might be a bit rough if you have smaller kids, back or knee problems, or a heart condition. We were all a little weary at first, because the waters can be a bit rough, but we quickly realized that Drew knew what he was doing and was completely comfortable with the waves and boat. We figured if he wasn’t worried, we didn’t need to be, either. I would definitely book this tour again on our next visit to Kauai.
Written August 8, 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.
Explore702831
1 contribution
Sep 2022
Chellen was a great guide, we searched ever sunset, snorkel, and raft cruise on the Na Pali before choosing Na Pali Experience. It was the perfect combo action and relaxation - seeing the coast up close and far back, exploring the sea caves and getting to snorkel. 6 people + your captain is way better than a 40 person boat that feels crowded.
Written September 16, 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.
Kiyana P
1 contribution
Hi. Do you go in any caves during the month of February? I’m interested in going in the open ceiling cave pukalani. I know many won’t go during the winter. Thank you
DrMemory
Tucson, AZ32 contributions
Very unlikely. The seas are too rough in the winter months. I would not recommend a boat tour of the Na Pa Li at all in the winter. Instead opt for a helicopter tour for wonderful views. If your are a little adventurous and enjoy photography, go for a "doors off" flight to be able to get the best photos.
Is this a good tour if we don’t plan on snorkeling?
John
Peoria, Arizona, United States50 contributions
This is a super cool small boat experience that takes you into the sea caves and gets you up close to the Na Pali coastline. Snorkeling part is fun but even if you don't snorkel the experience is awesome.
Jennifer B
Sydney, Australia101 contributions
Hi we’re staying in Poipu. Where is your meeting point and how long is the drive please?
Ninik949
New York6 contributions
Should take you 35-40 min. Boat leaves from Kikiaola Harbor. Very easy to find. They will send you all the directions and info you need.
67gal
Ontario, Canada6 contributions
How big are the boats (how many feet)? Are there cushioned seats? I can't find any pics of the inside of the boats...if anyone has any that would be appreciated! Thanks!
David E
Mesa, AZ769 contributions
All sitting areas have a 3" pad to sit on and what looks like a 2", but more dense, pad to lean back on. My pics only showed the sitting area in front of the boat, but if you search the thumbnail pics at the bottom of the current picture window (on Tripadvisor), you can pick out better pics that others have provided that show the inside really well.
funkyshopper
New South Wales66 contributions
We are staying in Kapaa- how far is the departure point from there?
NaPaliExperience
Kekaha6 contributions
Exactly 1 hour but allow a little more for cushion, especially if on the later tours. Thanks!
jennvu
Temple, TX35 contributions
Is this a good option for young children? I have 7&8 year old sons.
DStreets
Michigan5 contributions
Our 8 year-old had a great time and was even a braver snorkeler than our older kids (12, 14, 17). All tolerated the ride without problem despite pretty rough seas for about half of the trip. All did get one dose of preventive meds before.
Shuvya A
2 contributions
Is snorkeling experience required to be able to participate in the snorkeling part of the tour? I have never snorkeled in my life but am eager to try. Thanks.
SusanneAkehurst
Gosford, Australia103 contributions
No experience needed xx
Hi, will be coming from POA ship, options onhow to get to you without a car?
jkurlan
Glastonbury, CT19 contributions
That is a long distance around 30-40 minutes. Taxi or Uber but it will probably be expensive.
Debbie S
Blacklick, OH79 contributions
Can you be pregnant and do this tour?
Na Pali E
Kekaha, HI4 contributions
Aloha, First off, congratulations! Now, heres your answer. 1st trimester can be ok if approved by your doctor and on our Morning Magic trip when the seas are generally calmer. Please also call 2 days before your departure to check on forecasted conditions to make sure it is average to above average conditions. Hope to see you soon!
Mahalo nui loa,
Nathaniel Fisher
Na Pali Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Na Pali Experience Information
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