Activity Tips
Kevin Ditamore – Owner / Manager
I’ve been on numerous Na Pali boat tours, but a day on the water with the Na Pali Explorer took me further along the Na Pali coast than I’d ever been before. Their closer departure point to the Na Pali allows more time to explore this spectacular area. Their two different rafts allow for a choice in your vessel that you don’t have with other companies.
For people who are considering a Na Pali adventure and are staying on the east or south sides of Kauai, I don’t think the choice is between this raft company and other raft companies … their closer departures make this company an absolute winner. The question is, “Which one of their rafts is the best choice for my adventure?”
For guests staying in the Princeville / Hanalei area, it is better to do the north shore departure … if (and this is a BIG if) … you are PLANNING AHEAD. There is VERY limited availability for north shore departures as the state of Hawaii and county of Kauai have greatly restricted commercial tour permits on the north shore. If you wait until you arrive on Kauai and hope to stroll down to the Hanalei pier at your leisure and hop on the next available boat, you’ll be standing there a long LONG time. Every seat sells out well in advance almost every day. And keep in mind that north shore departures are only possible in the late spring, summer, and early fall due to large swells that hit the north shore in winter months. Tours that depart from the north shore are more expensive … the shorter season means that they can’t run all year and have far fewer operating days upon which to turn a profit (and everything about running a boat is expensive … from the purchase of the vessel, to the maintenance, the fuel, the insurance, the crew, etc.)
As a resident of Hawaii, I consider the Na Pali coastline to be the most scenic and most sacred place in the islands. There are better places in Hawaii to snorkel, but nothing compares with the dramatic scenery and raw natural beauty of this wild coastline.
If you’re staying on the south shore, you may want to consider Na Pali Explorer Rafting, and if you prefer more of an adventure select a tour with a beach landing. We suggest Kauai Sea Tours Rafting.
Just a word about additions to this tour in 2020. The tour has gotten longer (5.5 hours instead of 4 hours) and the typical itinerary will also include a second snorkel stop near the Kilauea Lighthouse! This is a very scenic area …. you’ll get to see Kauapea (Secret Beach) as well as the beautiful waterfall that cascades over a lava shelf and into the ocean just below actor Ben Stiller’s house! Of course specific destinations each day are based upon weather, surf, and wind conditions, but we think this is a great addition to features of this rafting excursion.