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Home » Travel » The Best Napali Coast Boat Tour

The Best Napali Coast Boat Tour

July 1, 2015 Photo Essays, Travel

A good friend of my father’s grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii. That fact, combined with the random weeklong October break from school, meant that I was fortunate enough to spend weeks of my childhood every year in what is still one of my favorite places in the world.

As time went on and the family vacations slowly ceased, I took a break from visiting Hawaii. Eager to see the world and experience growth from unfamiliar cultures and bits of life lived outside of my comfort zone, I stopped wanting to go.

Eventually, and especially since moving to San Francisco, I began to hear a small whisper intuitively calling me back to Hawaii. I had yet to visit one major island, and as my interest in hiking and spending time in raw nature had grown since childhood…I knew it was finally time to get to Kauai.

Take Me To letters

Kauai via Napali Coast Boat Tour

Pihea Trail, Kauai

A Na Pali coast hike quickly foiled by fog…Kauai weather changes more than SF’s!

There’s a lot to love about Kauai. There’s much that’s unique and different from the other islands collectively. Chickens roam wild (yet local eggs still cost $9 a dozen, someone explain that one,) scenery appears older, more weathered, increasingly dramatic. Small Hawaiian towns get even more relaxed, and there is more emphasis on having the right hiking shoes than the right bikini.  (In short, why did it take me so long to get there?)

But perhaps the most defining characteristic of Kauai, the significant reason to visit above the other islands, is the truly green, rugged, jagged cliffs of the Na Pali Coast.

Na Pali Coast lookout
Boat tour Napali Coast Kauai
I’ve seen a lot of beautiful things in my life…I’m not exaggerating when I say the Napali Coast blew most of them away. I can hardly remember feeling so small, being surrounded by so many natural power and beauty, and reveling in just how glorious our planet can be.

Napali Coast in the rain
Napali Coast Beach By Boat
Seeing this coastline makes you feel both humbled and proud at the same time. I felt connected to something larger than myself while in its presence.

Napali Coast By Boat

Napali Coast By Boat
It is an experience that can hardly be put into words nor a photo frame.

Napali Coast By Boat

View from boat

Want to go?

There are a couple of ways to access the coast: you can drive to a point (though the road dead ends) and see some views from scenic lookouts on the western coast. (Check out the beautiful Pihea Trail for some great hiking from the Pu’u o Kila Lookout.) You can hike the first four miles of the Kalalau Trail (highly recommended.) You can take a boat trip. You can even take a helicopter!

While I have yet to take an open door helicopter over the natural wonder (weather related,) I can say that to me, seeing the Napali Coast from the water was a completely different and worthwhile experience.

Choosing a Napali Coast Boat Tour

All I can recommend is what I know. I booked my trip with Holo Holo Charters, one of a few Napali Coast boat tours.  They’re the only company who goes out to Ni’ihau (a restricted island off the coast) but unfortunately my group was unable to go (again, weather related!)  And I recommend being prepared for seasickness – though I fortunately wasn’t affected, it is more common than not to be very sick due to the swells of the journey. They’re upfront that the boat ride is far from smooth most days, but believe me when I say it is completely worth it.


TIP: Their 7 hour boat tour combines both Ni’ihau and the best of the Napali Coast, and includes breakfast, lunch, and snorkel gear.

You will want to ask about weather conditions the day before your tour, as this may affect where you’re able to go on the water and you can reschedule as needed.

Tours run year-round, though I recommend Jan-Mar when your boat tour may very well include whale watching (mine did!) You depart from Port Allen Harbor at 6am.

They also have a sunset boat tour, snorkel tour, sailing tours, and an adventure tour. Be sure to book in advance!


Na Pali Coast Hike Option

Hiking is a great way to see Na Pali, but unless you’re prepared to take the overnight journey on the Kalalau Trail (11 miles, permit required, named one of the most dangerous hikes in the world – though recently reopened) a morning trip to the Napali Coast via boat will give you the best access to views that will make your eyes widen in awe of a place so beautiful it seems unreal…

Kalalau Trail, Kauai

View from the Kalalau Trail

You can also always drive up to the Kalalau and Pu’u O Kila lookouts on the northeast side of the island, but you will only see a fraction of what you can see from the water and will often face crowds. It’s for this reason that I most recommend taking one of the Napali coast boat tours.


Please go and see it for yourself.

(And maybe check the weather first.)

—

Also, need a Kauai Itinerary?

Or perhaps you’re looking for where to eat in Kauai?

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Winner of Gold and Silver 2019 Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing.

About Anne

Anne Lowrey is an award-winning travel writer based in San Francisco.

After spending a year in the world, she insisted on building a life at home she loved as much as she loves travel. The result was a move to SF, which she affectionately calls her “soul city.” She believes in the balance of and connection between time spent at home and abroad.

Comments

  1. Chanel | Cultural Xplorer says

    July 1, 2015 at 7:28 am

    I wish I too could have visited Hawaii all the time growing up! 😀 That would have been amazing. Kauai is still the only Hawaiian island that I have been to, and I loved every moment of being there a couple years back, and I cannot wait to return. Lovely photographs too!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 1, 2015 at 12:33 pm

      Being close since I grew up on the West Coast helped!
      I was the same! You’ve got to get over to Kauai. If you find a cheap flight, it may be impossible to resist. Heck, I’ll even go with you! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Danielle Isbell says

    July 1, 2015 at 9:37 am

    Kauaii is one of my most favorite places on the planet! It’s simply stunning. We had flash floods when we were there during November, but the weather changes so fast! Bright and sunny one minute and stormy the next. I loved it! Can’t wait to go back. 😉

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 1, 2015 at 12:34 pm

      The weather changes are crazy, aren’t they!
      Glad you were okay during flash floods. I’ve heard they can be quite dangerous, especially if you’re hiking close to the coast.
      Still, I can’t wait to go back either!

      Reply
  3. Brad Bernard says

    July 1, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    Yeah, that was fun! The Napali coast is surreal. And best eggs I’ve ever had. Worth every bit of that $9 even if we could’ve harvested them ourselves from the airport parking lot.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 2, 2015 at 9:26 am

      I knew you would comment about the eggs. I still can’t get over it. There are a ridiculous amount of chickens…it makes no sense!
      But yeah, Napali by boat was a magical day!

      Reply
  4. Jessica Wright says

    July 6, 2015 at 7:41 pm

    Stunning photos and how inspiring!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 8, 2015 at 9:17 am

      Thank you, Jessica! Glad you enjoyed 😀

      Reply
  5. Kit F. says

    July 8, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    Mahalo for sharing your experience on yourNapali Coast Tour with Holo Holo Charters. Your photos are very powerful and captivate the raw beauty of Kauai’s majestic coastline. Aloha!

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 8, 2015 at 2:08 pm

      Aloha Kit, thanks for dropping by the blog! Pass my regards on to the Holo Holo crew and I look forward to another boat trip with you guys next time I’m in Kauai! Cheers.

      Reply
  6. Jessie says

    December 16, 2019 at 1:22 pm

    Awesome Article! Did you try scuba diving in Kauai? If not, maybe give it a shot next time. Great photos and it looked like you enjoyed your time. I Just wanted to say I appreciate your enthusiasm for travel and enjoy your site. Mahalo

    Reply
    • Anne says

      December 17, 2019 at 1:19 pm

      Aloha! I hope to scuba there next time. Thanks for the kind words!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. One Week in Kauai - Part Time Traveler says:
    July 20, 2015 at 7:02 am

    […] coast from the water. While there are some boat ride options that leave from the north, I recommend the one I experienced which leaves from Port Allen in the […]

    Reply
  2. A Second Home in 2015 - Part Time Traveler says:
    January 2, 2016 at 8:28 am

    […] Week in Kauai, Take Me To…Kauai’s Na Pali Coast […]

    Reply
  3. One Week in Kauai Itinerary - Part-Time Traveler says:
    June 27, 2018 at 10:18 am

    […] Trail: With incredible views of the Na Pali coast, this hike alone is the reason many come to Kauai. Be forewarned that it is a challenging hike […]

    Reply

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