Napali Coast Sea Cave Tours: Snorkeling or a Boat Tour

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Highlights: Napali Coast Sea Cave Tours

What makes this tour a can’t-miss experience is exploring the sea caves. This operator specializes in entering sea caves, going under waterfalls, and showing unique spots the catamarans can’t reach.

You will even go inside a sea cave with a skylight and an island. This is an adventure tour, so get ready for a fun ride on their 30ft Zodiac raft.

• Choose their snorkeling tour (4 hours) or their non-snorkeling tour (3 hours)
• Non-snorkeling tour runs from May through September (summer months)
• Tours run daily at 6:30 am and 11:00 am. Note: departure time may change based on the time of year. Click the booking link for details.
• Departs from the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor, just past Waimea Town on the west side (click here for directions)
• Included: Snorkel gear, lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are provided
• Children 5 and older are welcome!

Pro Tip: The 6:30 am/7:00 am departure is their most popular tour due to lighter winds, calmer waters, and more dolphin encounters.

Napali Coast Rafting Tour Details

Your Nā Pali Ocean Raft Tour starts on a 30-foot Zodiac rigid hull inflatable raft, and from there it is all about getting you out to one of the most remote and beautiful stretches of coastline in all of Hawaii: Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast. Be ready for a fun, slightly wild ride.

On the way out, you will often have playful pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins riding right alongside the boat. Keep your eyes open, and you might also spot Hawaiian green sea turtles and, if you are lucky, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Visit in the winter, roughly December through April, and the humpback whales take over the show.

You will cruise past miles of white sand beaches until those first towering Nā Pali cliffs come into view. This is the part that gets us every time: magnificent beaches, cliffs that drop straight into the sea, lush green valleys, thundering waterfalls, and shadowy sea caves.

This tour company specializes in entering the sea caves. You will enter every sea cave along the 17-mile coast (weather permitting). The whole tour is narrated, so you will pick up plenty of history and local lore along the way.

If conditions allow, you will also stop to snorkel in a pristine bay full of underwater life, and there are light snacks and drinks on board to keep everyone happy.

What is Included:

• Sightseeing the 17-mile Nāpali Coast
• Snorkeling (conditions permitting, allowed only for those who can swim)
• Seeing the sea caves (conditions permitting; the tour may enter the sea caves too, highest probability is in summer months)
• Wildlife Encounters (dolphins, tropical fish, seabirds, turtles, whales)
• Light Snacks & Drinks (served towards the end of the tour)

What to Bring:

• Comfortable clothing
• Light jacket
• Swimsuit
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat (tie-down is recommended)
• You will be barefoot on the raft tour (socks or water shoes are allowed)

If someone in your group will be expecting and still wants to join, or if you have children over 3 but are too young for this tour, check out our review of Makana Tours!

This tour made our 5 Best Napali Coast Boat Tours list!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?

Booking in advance is highly recommended. It will also maximize your chances of getting the tour date and time you prefer. In addition, plan your reservation early in your time on Kauai, as tours are weather-permitting, and the information you learn on the tour will be valuable for the rest of your time on Kauai!

What type of boat will we be on, and will there be any shade?

Their raft (aka “Seabiscuit”) is made by the maker Zodiac®. Zodiac® is known in the boating industry for exceptional quality and safety and is utilized in military and industrial operations, including the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy SEALS.

You will sit much closer to the water, so there’s a higher chance of experiencing a refreshing splash or two on the tours. The boats do not have a cover or top for shade, which is by design for the best coastline viewing.  Hats, sunscreen, and/or sun shirts are recommended. These boats provide adventure and excitement.  If you’re expecting a luxury cruise in your Sunday best, this is not the tour for you.  Please ensure to follow their cancellation policy should you need to reschedule or cancel for any reason.

Who is this tour best for?

The Zodiac© raft makes for a wild, sometimes fast, and rough ride. Due to the nature of the Nā Pali Raft & Snorkel Adventure, you must be ready to experience ADVENTURE ON THE SEAS!

You must be in good physical condition to attend this expedition. We cannot accommodate pregnant women, anyone with back or neck problems, medical conditions, or recent surgeries.

Will I get seasick?

If you are prone to motion sickness, it is always a possibility when in moving water. Even more so from the boat. They definitely recommend taking something beforehand, as they are unable to provide refunds for seasickness.

What if the weather is bad?

Their tours usually run rain or shine in moderate weather conditions. However, they may cancel the activity up to just before the tour due to severe or unsafe weather conditions.  They always maintain the safety and integrity of the tours.  However, please allow their experienced team to make the call in the event of weather — do not rely on weather forecasting apps.  These do not always reflect the conditions where the tours take place.

If the weather and/or surf are unsafe for any reason, the tour will be canceled or postponed. You will be notified as soon as possible before your tour if there are any weather-related changes.

What is the cancellation policy?

• 1-5 Guests = 48-hour cancellation policy.
• 6-9 Guests = 72-hour cancellation policy.
• 10-14 Guests = 7-day cancellation policy.
• 15 or more Guests = 14-day cancellation policy.
• “No Shows” (Includes all persons who miss their scheduled tour) = 100% penalty

Please note: The above times indicate the minimum notice required by our company for reservation cancellations. Schedule changes and/or cancellations that DO NOT provide the proper notice time will be subject to 100% penalty. Thank you for understanding.

Will there be a restroom available during the tour?

There is no restroom on their boats.  It is preferred that you use the restrooms at the meeting spot before the tour begins, as there will be no bathrooms available during the tour.

Is there public parking available at the meeting location?

Yes, parking is available at no charge.  Specific directions will be included in the confirmation details after you have made your reservation.

Is gratuity included in the ticket price?

Gratuity is not included, nor is it expected.  If you would like to leave a gratuity for your captain and/or guides, you are more than welcome to do so in Cash or Credit Card, and it will be much appreciated. See our Tipping in Hawaii Guide.

About Na Pali Riders

Nā Pali Riders has been running raft expeditions along Kauai’s coast since 1997, and that kind of longevity tells you something. At the helm is owner and Captain Brandon Elsasser, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran with 16 years on the water everywhere from the Caribbean to the Bering Sea, and he is licensed to operate vessels up to 1,600 tons. In other words, you are in seriously capable hands out there.

What we love is that they go the extra mile, literally. Their 30-foot Zodiac rigid-hull inflatable boat, Seabiscuit, is built for safety and to reach remote stretches that larger boats cannot access, so they cover all 17 miles of the Nā Pali Coast. The sea caves are their specialty, and when ocean conditions allow, they will nose right into them for an up close look at this wild volcanic coastline.

Best of all, the experience feels personal. They keep things friendly and flexible, narrate the history of the valleys where Hawaiians once lived, and let nature set the pace, whether that means pausing for dolphins, turtles, or winter humpbacks. You can book a private charter or share the ride and meet some new faces. Either way, it is a small, local operation that treats every guest like ohana.

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