Na Pali Coast Boat Tour
Arguably the best way to appreciate the beauty of the Na Pali Coast of Kauai from up close and at eye level is by boat.
On a Na Pali Coast boat tour, you can gaze in awe at the jagged cliffs as they tower above the water, their red, green, and brown hues making for sensational photographs.
Because the Na Pali Coast is remote, with no road access, there are currently three ways you can experience it: a Na Pali Coast helicopter tour or airplane tour, a Na Pali Coast boat cruise or raft tour, or a Na Pali Coast Hike along the Kalalau Trail.
A Na Pali Coast catamaran cruise allows you to take in the views of the legendary coast at leisure, plus allow you to do some snorkeling (if you opt for a morning cruise) or admire a sunset over the ocean (if you choose the afternoon boat tour option).
⛴️ BEST KAUAI BOAT TOUR
Our #1 boat tour pick is this sunset catamaran cruise for great light. 🌅 Or this morning catamaran tour for snorkeling and wildlife viewing.🐬
And our #1 raft tour pick is this half-day snorkel NaPali adventure in a motorized raft! 🐠
While a Na Pali Coast boat cruise is less expensive than a helicopter tour, it is still pricey. But it’s a bucket list experience that you won’t want to miss, especially if you visit Kauai when the weather is good.
Boat tours do occasionally get canceled on account of weather, especially during the winter months, so book your Na Pali Coast boat cruise for early in your stay so you have the chance to reschedule.
Best Na Pali Coast Tours in a Nutshell
Activity Best Tours
(Reserve early, these sell out fast!)Aerial Views Helicopter, doors-off helicopter, airplane Boat cruise & snorkel Catamaran, raft, super raft Sunset tours Sunset & dinner, snorkel & sunset More options Na Pali, Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Na Pali Coast Catamaran Cruise + Snorkeling
Mornings usually offer calmer waters, resulting in better visibility while snorkeling. So if you want to snorkel along the remote Na Pali Coast, consider a morning boat tour.
On this tour, you will be treated to unbeatable views of the towering cliffs, the lush narrow green valleys peeking through, pristine little coves and beaches, and sea caves and arches.
If weather conditions are optimal and the waters are not choppy, your captain will likely steer close to sea arches and caves, and perhaps a waterfall or two.
Although you won’t get close enough to be drenched, or nip in and out of a cave, you will get close enough to marvel at the texture of the rocks while enjoying the relatively greater stability of a larger vessel.
Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for frolicking dolphins, and, if you take the cruise in the winter, watch for spouting humpback whales as well.
On the half-day excursion, you will have time to swim and snorkel at a tropical reef with a diversity of marine life. Gear rental is usually included in the cost of the tour.
⛴️ This highly rated deluxe morning boat tour of the Na Pali Coast departs from Eleele on the island’s south shore. Sandwiches are provided for lunch. Snorkeling and a water slide allow for fun in the water. 🐠 🐬
>>> Check price and availability for this Na Pali Coast snorkeling tour now!
⛵️Or consider this snorkel and sail option on a sailing catamaran (also departing from Eleele) that includes breakfast, lunch, and wine and beer. Snorkel with turtles and rays, look for dolphins and whales, and enjoy the spectacular scenery! 🐢 🐠
>>> Check price and availability on this Na Pali snorkel and sail tour now!
Up for a full day boat adventure? This highly rated tour goes beyond the Na Pali Coast to Kaulakahi Channel to Lehua Crater, the Forbidden Island of Ni’ihau, and beyond. It’s an exciting 60-mile trip! You’ll snorkel on reefs along the way, look for marine life, and, of course, enjoy the scenery.
>>> Check price and availability for this full-day Na Pali + Ni’ihau boat tour now!
Top-Rated Na Pali Coast Boat Snorkeling Tours:
Na Pali Coast Sunset Boat Cruise
Want to experience the beauty of the Na Pali Coast from the water plus enjoy a brilliant Kauai sunset over the ocean? Opt for an afternoon boat tour!
Know that based on wind and weather, the waters off the Kauai coast can be choppier in the afternoon, so take your motion sickness medicine as directed. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to choose a morning tour.
The waters tend to be choppier in the winter months, when tours may even be canceled due to the weather. If you want a better shot at a clear, bright, and calm day for your Kauai catamaran cruise, visit in the summer.
The light is nicer in the afternoons, so if you are a photography enthusiast, an afternoon cruise is the way to go.
Know, however, that the motion of the boat can make it difficult to keep your camera stable. It’s much easier to take photos with a top quality smartphone instead. If you use a camera, stabilize yourself against the side of the catamaran.
That said, the Na Pali cliffs look amazing with the sun’s light on them. The bright reds and greens look very vibrant against the blue of the ocean.
If clouds do roll in as you reach the north end of the coast, you will likely be treated to rainbows.
On your way back to the south shore, look back and watch the sun set over the ocean. If you are lucky, you may see playful dolphins in the water.
This deluxe afternoon catamaran tour departs from Eleele. It is a large catamaran for greater stability but the number of passengers is restricted to allow everyone to have more room. Dinner is served on the way back.
>>> Check price and availability for this Na Pali Coast + sunset cruise now!
This power catamaran tour also departs from Port Allen in Eleele on Kauai’s south shore and includes dinner. You’ll be served your craft beverage in a souvenir stainless steel cup!
>>> Check price and availability for this Na Pali Coast sunset + sightseeing tour now!
This sunset Na Pali Coast tour aboard a sleek 50-foot catamaran is a delightful way to experience the beauty of the coast. A champagne toast is raised as the sun sinks over the ocean. Also enjoy dinner and other drinks, including mai tais.
>>> Check price and availability for the Leila Na Pali sunset sail now!
Best Na Pali Coast Sunset Boat Tours:
Things to Know About Na Pali Coast Catamaran Tours
Catamarans are larger boats, generally more stable than small boats or rafts. They are a relatively more comfortable way of viewing the Na Pali Coast from the ocean, especially if the rocking of ocean waves bothers you.
That said, the waters off the northwest coast of Kauai can be quite choppy, more so in the winter months but likely any day of the year that the wind kicks up. Crew has buckets on hand to help passengers that start feeling sick, but if you tend to get motion sickness, it is recommended you take medication ahead of time.
Na Pali Coast catamaran cruises are also usually barefoot cruises for better grip as you move around the boat.
There’s plenty of room to move around in the catamaran if you have good sea legs. You can choose to sit topside in the open, or in the cabin below, or get a seat on the lower level. It can be really windy, so keep your phone close, use a strap for your camera, and tighten the strap of your sunhat if you wear one.
It’s quite exposed on the catamaran unless you sit inside the cabin. Lather on the sunscreen (buy a reef safe one!), and wear an SPF lip balm, sunglasses, and a sunhat that can be secured. You can also wear clothing with SPF protection since the cruise lasts a few hours.
It can be cool, especially topside or outside on the lower deck. Bring a light jacket or a windcheater and secure your hat if you plan to wear one. A waterproof jacket is even better, as you may be splashed!
Na Pali catamaran cruises leave year round from Port Allen at Eleele on the southwest shore of Kauai. Sometimes, cruises may be canceled on account of super rough waves or other weather related issues, especially in the winter. In the summer, some boat tours depart from Hanalei on the north shore.
The Na Pali Coast boat tours we recommend can be reserved way ahead of time, but in most cases can be canceled all the way up to a day or two before your cruise date. You can also pay right before the date you will cruise.
Book the top 5-star rated, immensely popular Kauai experiences! Reserve now (with free cancellation) before they sell out.