Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, slightly. Think of it like this. Na Pali Coast itself is the main course and the main course is served year round. In the summer, the side dish is snorkeling and in the winter, the side dish is whale watching. So, Na Pali Coast is there for year round viewing, and the included side dishes change with the seasons.

All of our boats do the exact same Na Pali tours with varying levels of comfort and adventure. They all see them same sites, have the same narrations, and serve the same snacks/beverages.

Our 14 passenger 27′ Raft is typically for the young, daring, and fun. Our raft is priced competitively and is arguably the funnest craft on the water. Those who are fit and in above average physical condition would most likely prefer this experience over all other vessels. The ideal age range would be between 8-45, though we’ve had much older fit and adventurous guests at times.

Our 6-Person Power Catamaran offers the same tour as the raft, on a boat that is a lot more comfortable, and all to yourself. Private tours only.

Our 18 passenger Deluxe Power Catamaran provides the smoothest possible ride on a vessel that is still fully capable of entering any sea cave on Na Pali, should conditions allow (same principle applied to any cave vessel). Our Deluxe Power Catamaran offers an amazing fusion of comfort and adventure.

Our 18 passenger Deluxe Power Catamaran has a “marine head” for emergency use (a tiny room with a porta-potty). This is our only boat of our 3 options that has a marine head. Full Disclosure: Access into this room is not convenient or practical. As mentioned, this should be for an emergency situation only. We use this marine head about 3 times a year to give you an idea of its rarity.

Note: If someone has a medical condition that causes bathroom related issues, unfortunately none of our boats would be a practical option. Feel free to call us at 808 635 1131 for a large boat recommendation.

Mahalo for understanding.

Our 6 Person Catamarans and Rafting Adventures are approximately 4.5 hours long. Our Morning Tours depart at 8 a.m (check-in at 7:30 am) and our Afternoon Tours depart at 1 p.m. (check-in at 12:30 pm).

Our 18 Person Deluxe Catamaran is also 4.5 hours long. Morning tours depart at 7:00am (Check-in at 6:30am) and our Afternoon Tours depart at 12:00pm (Check-in 11:30am).

Our Private Whale Watch charter runs seasonally during the period of Dec 16th – March 31st and is 2.5-3 hours in duration.  Our Whale Watch tours depart at 1pm (check-in at 12:30 p.m.).

We highly recommend choosing a date for your tour that is early in your vacation window in case we need to reschedule due to unforeseen circumstances.

Yes, and we like you! From ship to boat, you’re our kind of people!

Different ships arrive at different times so it will be up to you to choose one of our tours that fit into your ship’s schedule. Usually, the ships are only on Kaua’i for a day or two. With such a narrow window, we highly recommend reserving your tour far in advance.

Note: The small harbor that we use (Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor) is about an hour drive away from the large harbor (Nawiliwili) used for the cruise ships. Taxies are usually readily available but we recommend prearranging your ride before your arrival to Kaua’i. Renting your own car is also an option which might be cheaper and more practical.

Sorry, we do not offer transportation services.

Our 14 Passenger Rafting Adventure is $189 per person + tax. Private Rafting Adventures are $2,300.00 + tax (14 passenger limit).

Our 18 Passenger Deluxe Power Catamaran is $209 per person + tax. Private Deluxe Power Catamarans are $3,300.00 + tax (18 passenger limit).

Our 6-Person Power Catamaran Private Charter is $1,499.00 + tax.

Our Private Whale Watch Excursion are $899 for our 6-Pack, $1,299 for our Raft, and $1,799.

Our 14 passenger Rafting Adventure has a discounted price for those 12 and under. The price for a child 12 and under on our Rafting Adventure is $169.00.

Our 18 passenger Deluxe Power Catamaran also discounts for children 12 and under. The price for a child 12 and under on our Deluxe Power Catamaran is $189.

Our 6-Person Power Catamaran only has one price of 1499 for the entire boat, regardless of passenger ages.

The age limitations vary depending on the vessel.

For our 14 passenger Rafting Adventure, 6 years old is the lowest allowable age, regardless of whether the tour is private or not.

For our 18 passenger Deluxe Power Catamaran, we accept children as young as 4, even if the tour is not private. Please do us a favor and make sure your child is up for a wet, fast, splashy adventure! If not, one of the large sailing catamarans might be a better option.

For our 6-Person Power Catamaran, children must be 4 years old or older.

It is highly recommended that parties with young children opt for morning tours which generally feature calmer water and a higher likelihood of seeing dolphins.

You can read about the formation of the sea caves in our Na Pali Coast section. Many regard the sea caves as the highlight of their tour. The size of our boats allow us to navigate into each of the sea caves along Na Pali Coast (conditions permitting). Quite a few companies will often “claim” that they also explore the sea caves. “Peeking” at the caves from a distance is not exploring them in our book. Beware of this faulty claim.

All of our Na Pali tours aim to snorkel (conditions permitting). Due to our smaller boats and vessel capacities, the state has allowed us to snorkel at Nualolo Kai. Nualolo Kai is by far the best snorkel spot on Na Pali Coast and is accessible by small boats only.

In the event that the conditions are not favorable for Nualolo Kai, our backup spots are both better than Makole, which is the only location on Na Pali that the large competitor boats are able to go.

In the winter months, we typically replace the snorkel portion of our tour with whale watching and a quick swim/picnic stop. Note: If snorkel conditions present themselves in the winter and the group shows interest, we are happy to take advantage of the unusual opportunity. All of our gear is always on-board and ready to use at all times.

Our Na Pali Coast tours are primarily sight-seeing tours. We like to think of snorkeling as a possible bonus when conditions align and are favorable (more often than not). In the event that we are able to snorkel, all top of the line gear is on board at all times. In the event that we are unable to snorkel, we are usually pretty successful at finding a calm, clear water, sandy bottom area to swim and picnic at.

Yes! Everything is included and provided on board upon arrival at our snorkel spot for the day. We receive a lot of positive comments about our snorkel gear. You will be impressed with the quality and cleanliness of our equipment. Everything is on board at your disposal: Masks with comfort straps, defogger, fins, life-vests, and floaty noodles.

Absolutely. If you brought your own personal gear from home, by all means, bring it with you on your tour. We have plenty of storage on our boat for all of your snorkel gear.

Yes, we do! We have child-size masks, snorkels, and fins on board at all times.

We do have some prescription masks on board but it is hard to stock every corrective lens for every different face. Our advice is if you know you will be needing a special lens mask, go to a snorkel shop like Seasport Divers and try on a few different options until you find the perfect mask. Consider our onboard prescription masks as more of a backup.

Yes, we have life vests on board at all times for adults and children to wear. Only those that are 12 years old or younger need to wear a life vest, otherwise it is considered optional for teenagers and adults.

Before boarding our boat, each passenger will be given a dry bag for all of your electronics and towels. These bags are air and watertight as long as they are sealed properly. Your captain will make announcements throughout the tour when it is safe to remove your electronics from your bag. It is important to understand that whenever your camera is out of the bag it is at risk. Ideally, we recommend playing it safe and bringing a waterproof camera. A waterproof camera will also be beneficial for your snorkel experience.

Dry bag = A sealable bag that is completely waterproof submergible if closed and sealed properly. Each bag is large enough for a towel, camera, and other misc. smaller items (sunscreen, sunglasses, etc). 1 Dry bag per person.

Absolutely we do. Follow these simple steps to greatly reduce your odds of motion sickness. One of the most important tips is to get a good nightʻs sleep before your tour. Also, be careful of what you eat 24 hours before your tour.

Ideally, you want to be on a lighter stomach, eating only simple and bland foods. If you are known for having motion sickness issues, make sure you are on our morning tour and pick up a box of Bonine over the counter at any local grocery store. Be sure to take a Bonine pill the night before as well as the morning of your tour. This will ensure the medication is well activated within your system.

Some people also like to wear seasickness wristbands. Once onboard, we have a few more tips if needed, however, at that point, it’s best to not think about becoming seasick and just enjoy the ride.

We accept all major credit cards and gift certificates only.

Yes, of course, we can do that for you. If you have already reserved a tour with us, please call us at (808) 635-1131 and we can split payment in your reservation. If you have not reserved yet, consider booking separately for the same tour on the same day.

Note: If booking separately, be sure to call us and request to be on the same boat otherwise we would not know the two parties knew each other and you could end up on different boats.

The moment you reserve a tour with us, your card will be charged. Our cancellation policy is very lenient. Cancel anytime up to 48 hours of your tour departure and there is absolutely zero penalty. However, cancel within 48 hours of your tour departure for any reason and there is a 100% penalty charge including tax.

In other words, please don’t back out on us at the last minute. Travel insurance is highly recommended in case of the event of a last-minute cancellation. Travel insurance covers airfare as well as tours like ours. Mahalo!

Our customer cancellation policy is 48 hours. You may cancel your reservation with us anytime up to 48 hours from your scheduled tour departure time with ZERO penalty; once within 48 hours of your scheduled departure time, there is a 100% penalty charge including tax.

If you are the type to make last-minute cancellations or simply want to play it safe, we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance so that you are covered regardless. Travel insurance covers airfare as well as tours like ours. Mahalo for understanding.

If we cancel for any reason, there is no charge to anyone. Full refunds are issued on the spot without the need to call us. Emails with all the refund details will be sent out for your records. As always, feel free to call us if you have any questions or concerns. 808-635-1131.

Gratuity is never expected but always appreciated. The industry average seems to be somewhere between 10% and 20% of your sales total, depending on your captains performance. We do believe we have the best captains/crew in the industry and we appreciate you wanting to appreciate them. They’re worth it, we promise!

Cash directly from you to them is the most meaningful and probably preference number 1. For those without cash, most captains also have Venmo as an option. As a last resort, you can call the office and we can add the charge to your credit card on file. Mahalo!

Yes! Please call us at 808 635 1131 or Buy Gift Cards that can be used for both Na Pali Experience and Na Pali Pirates (our sister company that specializes in Rafting Adventures). Mahalo!