The 15 mile long Na Pali Coast in Kauai is one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. There are three ways you can experience this breathtaking rugged coastline: take a boat ride, hike the 11 mile Kalalau Trail or take a helicopter tour. Each of them has its own unique perks but the Zodiac boat ride along Na Pali Coast is our favorite. From the water, you can look upon the giant cliffs that rise 4,000 ft above the Pacific Ocean, lush green valleys, cascading waterfalls, and sea caves. However, the best part is you can also snorkel and get to see unexpected ocean visitors such as dolphins, whales, turtles, and more. For our boat adventure, we decided to go with Na Pali Craze for their Zodiac Boat Tour. If you want an unforgettable adventure, a Zodiac boat ride is exactly what you need.
STATS:
Where:
Website: Na Pali Craze
Launch Site:
Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor
8932 Kekaha Rd, Kekaha, HI 96752
Coords: 21°57’34.6″N 159°41’31.0″W
Parking:
Parking is on the right hand side as you pulled in, in the dirt lot, between the coconut trees.
Restrooms:
There are restrooms at the launch site. However, there is no restroom on the boat.
Level:
The Na Pali Coast Zodiac Boat Ride is not for children under 7 years old or under 4ft tall. For your safety, if you have neck, back, or heart problems, any recent surgeries, or if you are pregnant, this tour is not for you.
Estimated Completion Time:
You’ll spend about 5 hours on the water.
Ideal Weather:
Calm ocean, dry days are the best. The water can get very rough, especially on the Zodiac rides.
Ideal Time:
Summers and mornings are better as the waves are calmer on this side of the island. Winter’s waves can be very rough.
Dog-friendly: No
The Adventure:
When we booked our Na Pali Coast Zodiac boat ride, we decided to go with the morning tour as the ocean tends to be calmer in the morning. Since our tour was scheduled at 7 am, the sun was barely rising as we arrived at the dock. The area slowly bathed in the gorgeous golden Hawaiian glow of dusk as we headed toward a silhouette of a figure preparing a small Zodiac boat for a day of fun. As we approached the boat, that silhouetted figure turned into our boat captain, Dane. He greeted us with a warm aloha smile, showed us the pavilion where we can wait and got back to finishing up loading the boat.
This trip was a little present for Dustin’s dad and uncle Larry. Unfortunately, Dustin’s dad injured his back a couple of days earlier so he couldn’t join us on our adventure. As soon as he found out about that, Dane graciously offered to refund his money in full. Now that is great customer service! We wish that Dustin’s dad could have joined us, however, this ride can get very rough at times. It was a smart choice for him to stay behind. This ride is definitely not suitable for anyone with back or neck injuries.
After everyone checked in, Dane went over all the safety procedures. He also gave us dry bags to put all of our non-waterproof items in. After stowing everything away on the small Zodiac boat, Dane leaped on to the boat to show us how to get on it safely. You want to sit down on the dock and slide your bottom over to the sidewall of the Zodiac. Riding on a Zodiac boat requires a bit of determination. There is a strap that runs along the bottom of the boat. This is where you have to slide your feet to keep yourself steady. Along the outside edge of the boat’s walls, there are other straps that serve as your handhold. You’ll want to hold on to those straps. The ride can get very bumpy.
Besides Dustin, myself, and uncle Larry, we had another couple joining us on the adventure. Once everyone got in safely, Dane untied our boat from the moorings, gave the boat a shove and we were underway. As we leisurely cruised across the no-wake zone, Dane gave us the rundown about the current conditions as well as what he was hoping to show us that day. At the time we went, Kauai had been experiencing both a north and south swell. In another word, we were in for an exciting bumpy ride. Sadly, the swells also reduced visibility and made snorkeling unsafe. However, the ocean definitely made up for it with a surprise for us along the way.
As we reached the end of the no-wake zone, Dane began to survey the large waves that were coming straight toward us. After telling us to hold on, the next thing we know, the Zodiac leaped over a crashing wave and went out into the open sea. When we first booked the tour, we weren’t sure how the boat would ride. Because at first glimpse, it looks like a big rubber raft with 2 large motors on the back. What you don’t see is that it has a solid bottom that adds to the rigidity of the craft and gives it a nice, smooth ride. Obviously, being a smaller boat, it gets bounced around in the waves. However, in between the waves, the boat ride like it was gliding across a piece of glass. Dustin was really impressed.
Once we were out on the open water, Dane spotted a whale watching tour off in the distance. All the passengers were standing out on the deck looking in the water. Wasting no time, Dane pointed our boat in that direction and hit the gas since there might be a good chance that they spotted some wildlife. Riding on the Zodiac boat along Na Pali Coast is a really unique experience. You sit on the inflated sides of the boat rather than a seat in the middle of the ship. It is very thrilling because you are literally right on the edge, holding on for dear life. However, you are also closer to the ocean than if you are on a catamaran. This especially rewarding once we came up to the middle of a pod of spinner dolphins.
As we approached the whale watching boat, the dolphins decided to make a turn and circle our boat. It was still really early. Dane told us there was a chance that the spinner dolphins weren’t fully awake yet. Even though they were still sleeping, they have incredible autopilot systems that allow them to swim and leap out of the water. We hadn’t seen spinner dolphins since our tour with Wild Side Specialty Tours, so it was awesome to be around these playful creatures again.
After a little while, the dolphins decided to move on from our boat. We then continued on our journey. You can tell where the Na Pali coastline starts. The cliffs started to rise higher and higher as you go further along. At one point, the giant cliffs rise up to at least 4000ft above the Pacific Ocean. There are also many waterfalls cascading down to the ocean from thousands of feet above. Depending on the amount of rain they have on this part of Kauai, the amount and size of the waterfalls can double or even triple.
One of the reasons we love so much about Hawaii is that their culture is steep in mythology and historical significance. Since Na Pali Craze tours are locally owned and operated, all of the company’s owners and employees were born and raised on the island, along with generations before them. This includes our captain Dane. He was extremely knowledgable of the ocean, land, and Hawaiian culture. As we speed along the coastline, Dane told us the name of every single waterfall, small or big as well as all the stories associate with them and with the area.
At one point, we drove past a small waterfall that was pouring directly into the ocean. Dane told us that this waterfall is believed to have magical power. If any water drips on you, you’re guaranteed to be pregnant. He then proceeded to ask if any of us wanted to go under it. We all said yes since none of us thought that he was serious. The waterfall was very close to the rocky shoreline. Dane called our bluff. He swung the boat around expertly and backed us in under the pouring waterfall. All of us were soaking wet and laughing. At this point, it was evident that Dane really knows the water and how to control the boat. The waves were rolling wildly several times throughout our adventure but Dane kept us all out of harm’s way.
As we traced the coastline, we could see why Dane said the wildest ride was from in front of the boat. We were met head-on with the Northern swell. Large waves were coming directly at us. Dane, again, expertly guided our boat over the swells. It almost felt like we were surfing the waves. Soon after the waterfall, we rounded the corner and found ourselves at the feet of the giants. These cliffs here seemed to rocket into the skyline. The tallest peaks scraped the sky with the massive narrow cliffs standing over 4000ft over the crystal teal water.
As breathtaking as the razor-sharp cliffs were, they weren’t the only noteworthy feature on this section of the coast. We soon found ourselves at the mouth of a huge sea cave. On calm days, Dane will actually drive the boat in and around. However, today, the ocean was too unsettled for us to go inside safely. Dane asked if we would like to take a peek into the cave. We were all on board with making an attempt.
With our blessings, Dane spun the boat around and very carefully backing the boat into the cave’s opening. Huge waves roared and smashed into the back wall. Mist shot out of the cave-like smoke from a dragon’s mouth. The boat rose a dropped to what felt like at least 12 feet. All this time, Dane kept a steady hand on the steering wheel and made sure we were staying far away from the rocky walls. This was hands down the craziest experience we have ever had on the ocean.
With the waves getting stronger, Dane hit the gas and got us out of there. The Na Pali Coast has several sea caves along its coastline. Another one we stopped at was the Conch Cave. It earned its name because when the wind blows through it just right, it makes a sound like a conch shell. It also has a small waterfall that runs right through the middle of it.
The huge surf that day created a layer of mist that engulfed almost the entire coastline. This mist turned the already dramatic peaks and valleys of the Na Pali Coast into this moody scene. The sun rays narrowed into beams of light that blasted through the canyons. The shadows also seemed to be exceptionally dark. It was nearly impossible to do the gorgeous coastline justice as we were being pushed around with the strong waves. Even with the strong waves, you still can see the impressively teal and crystal clear water supporting the rising cliffs.
On a normal day of Na Pali Coast Zodiac Boat Ride tour, Dane usually pulls the boat over to one of the available beaches or a safe spot for us to snorkel and play in the water. However, the conditions weren’t safe to do so today, so we all agreed on heading back to the launch site at the halfway point. Lucky for us, it was a smoother ride on the way back. There were times Dane seemed to actually surf the Zodiac on the waves. It was super fun.
As we surfed along the swell, Dane spotted something out of the corner of his eye. We all wanted to check out what he saw. It was another pod of spinner dolphins. This pod was so much bigger and more active than the last one we saw. We also had this pod all to ourselves. The dolphins were definitely more awake this time. They were all playing, chasing each other all around our boat. We saw several calves jumping out of the water, mimicking the adults as they were doing their infamous spins. The little calves looked like little footballs, shooting out of the water.
Dane slowed the boat to a crawl. We all sat there, breathlessly taking in this marvelous present the ocean had bestowed upon us. Since we were in a small raft, we were immersed in the middle of the pod. Dustin hung off the side of the boat and put the Gopro underwater. He was able to capture videos of dolphins racing along under our boat. It was almost like they had accepted us into their pod. It was such a surreal and mesmerizing experience.
Eventually, a bigger catamaran spotted us and came over to see what all the commotion was all about. It was our cue to leave. Waving goodbyes to our pod of dolphins, Dane cranked up the engined and we headed back. Dane pulled up to a calm spot near the launch site and turned off the engine. He then gave us our super delicious packed lunches of teriyaki chicken and rice. We were able to jump into the ocean to take a dip if we wanted to. After everyone ready to go, Dane took us back to the launch site to conclude our exciting adventure.
I have to say, we weren’t sure what to expect when we first booked the Na Pali Coast Zodiac Boat Ride. The boat ride is definitely for someone more adventurous, but it was something that you need to tick off your bucket list. It was such a thrilling and unexpected adventure. We can’t wait to go back with Na Pali Craze, maybe this time in the summer.
Don’t forget to check out our tubing adventure with Kauai Backcountry if you still have more time to spend on Kauai. It is another bucket list experience that you need to do at least once. For hiking, our favorite hike is the off-the-beaten-path Kalepa Ridge in the Waimea Canyon. You can also do the Waipo’o Falls when you’re in the area. If you love snorkeling, check out our blog of the best 3 snorkeling spots for beginners in Kauai.
If you do island hopping, you can check out on some fun things to do on Oahu and the Big Island such as Top 10 off the beaten path things to do in Oahu, Top 10 things to do on the Big Island, exploring Kaumana Lava Caves, hike Kiholo – Queens Bath Hike, or taking scenic drives through Kapoho Kalapana Road Scenic Drive, Chain of Craters Road – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Onomea (Pepe’ekeo) Scenic Drive – Hilo.
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter!
RECOMMEND GEAR:
Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
• Sunscreen (non-aerosol)
We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter – Zinc Oxide – Coral Reef Safe and All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion – Coral Reef Safe (3 oz)(2-Pack) or Stream2Sea SPF 30 Reef Safe Sport Tinted Sunscreen.
• Towel/Change of Clothes
In case you get wet or wanted to go in the water for a swim.
• Hat and sunglasses
To help with the sun and wind.
• Snack/Lunch
if you have dietary restrictions.
• Medication/Motion sickness medication
Na Pali Coast Boat Ride is about 5 hours long. Please make sure to bring all the medication that you might need to take during the 5 hours. Also, don’t forget your motion sickness medication if you’re prone to get seasick.
• Phone or Camera
To take photos. However, they might get wet or damaged.
• Waterproof Phone Case
If you bring your phone, make sure to use a waterproof phone case. Our phone cases were donated by my sister. She got the Mpow Waterproof Case.
CAMERA GEAR:
• Camera:
Sony a7 III
Gopro Hero 7 Black
• Lenses:
Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens
• Accessories:
GoPro The Handler Floating Hand Grip – Official GoPro Mount
Aluminum GoPro protection frame
