4.5 hours · Morning and afternoon · Ages 4+
Na Pali Coast Tour
Cliffs, sea caves, dolphins, snorkeling when the ocean allows.
| Adult | $219 |
|---|---|
| Child 4 to 12 | $199 |
Editorial spotlight · Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor, Kekaha, west Kauai
2026 Golden Lei Awards nomineeBest Boat Tour
Na Pali Experience
The west-side way to see the Na Pali Coast: 35-foot power catamarans that carry 18, run two boats per departure, and go into the sea caves when the ocean lets them. Spinner dolphins near the harbor most mornings, snorkeling if conditions allow, and a crew that picks up marine debris on the same beaches on their days off.
- Coast tour
- $219
- Private boat
- $3,500
- Tripadvisor
- 5.0
- Reviews
- 5,241
Editorial spotlight. Na Pali Experience is a nominee in the 2026 Golden Lei Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The company
Owner-operated on the west side since 2012
Nathaniel Fisher, a Kauai-born waterman, started Na Pali Experience in 2012 and still owns it. It is a small family operation by its own description, with a large crew: the company page names every captain, deckhand and reservations agent. Candice Lecroix runs the office and drives boats; Tadashi Muratake Jr. is head captain and operations manager.
The boats leave from Kikiaola, the small harbor past Waimea, which puts the Na Pali cliffs a short run away instead of the long haul from Port Allen. In 2017 Fisher founded Adopt Na Pali, a nonprofit that runs marine-debris cleanups on the remote beaches the tours pass. The boats carry no single-use plastics and ask for reef-safe sunscreen.
“Nothing compares to entering the sea caves along the Na Pali Coast.”
Founder and owner
Nathaniel Fisher
Administrative manager and captain
Candice Lecroix
Operations manager and head captain
Tadashi Muratake Jr.
Fifteen more captains and eight deckhands are named on the company page.
The one to book
The Na Pali Coast Tour
Four and a half hours along the cliffs on a 35-foot power catamaran. Morning departures at 7, 7:30 and 8; the 7 o'clock run is billed as the dolphin trip, since the spinners are most reliable early. Afternoon departures at 12, 12:30 and 1, with the 1 o'clock able to stretch into sunset.
Sea caves, waterfalls and the cliffs from the water, with snorkeling when conditions permit; the company does not guarantee it, and winter swells often rule it out. Cold drinks, fresh fruit, light snacks, snorkel gear and a dry bag per person are aboard. Ages 4 and up; no recent surgery, neck or back trouble, or pregnancy.
| Adult, 13+ | $219 |
|---|---|
| Child, 4 to 12 | $199 |
| Private boat, up to 18 | $3,500 |
Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026.
Check AvailabilityThe boats
Six 35-foot power catamarans
One design across the fleet, and two boats leave on every departure. The company does not publish individual boat names.
Deluxe power catamaran
- Length
- 35 ft
- Guests
- 18, plus captain and a deckhand
- Aboard
- Two freshwater showers, fold-down swim platforms and ladders, dry bags
- Policy
- No single-use plastics; reef-safe sunscreen only
Book it
Tours
Per person unless marked private. Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026.
4.5 hours · Private · Up to 18
Na Pali Coast Private Charter
The same boat and route for your group alone.
| Whole boat | $3,500 |
|---|
2.5 to 3 hours · Dec 16 to Mar 31 · Up to 18
Private Whale Watch Charter
Humpbacks off the west side with a hydrophone on speakers. Depart 1 pm.
| Whole boat | $1,999 |
|---|
Before you go
Know before you go
Where to check in
Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha, just past mile marker 24 on Highway 50 west, about 25 miles from Lihue. Check in 30 minutes before departure; late arrivals who miss the safety briefing are not boarded.
Parking
A gravel lot at the harbor entrance, run by a private operator, $20 per vehicle.
Included
Cold drinks, fresh-cut fruit and light snacks, snorkel gear, and a dry bag per person.
Bring
A towel, lotion sunscreen (no spray), a charged camera, motion-sickness medicine if you need it, and shoes that slip off. Shoes are not worn aboard.
Who can go
Ages 4 and up. Not for pregnant guests, recent surgery, or neck and back problems. Winter seas can be rough; snorkeling is never guaranteed.
Reviews
What guests say
- 5.0Tripadvisor5,241 reviews as of September 30, 2026
- #2of 12Outdoor activities in Kekaha, Tripadvisor
- 2012FoundedOwner-operated; Adopt Na Pali cleanups since 2017
Reviewers write about going deep into several sea caves on one trip, spinner dolphins minutes from the harbor, turtles at the snorkel stop, and a crew that narrates the history of the coast and hands out fresh pineapple.
Questions
Good to know
Where does the tour leave from?
Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha on the west side of Kauai, the closest harbor to the Na Pali cliffs.
Do you go into the sea caves?
When the ocean allows. Summer is calmest; winter swells can close the caves and cancel snorkeling.
Is snorkeling guaranteed?
No. It is included when conditions permit and the company says so plainly.
What does it cost?
$219 per adult, $199 for children 4 to 12, or $3,500 for a private boat of up to 18. Checked September 30, 2026.
Can young children come?
Ages 4 and up. Not for pregnant guests or anyone with neck or back problems.
Go early for the dolphins
Na Pali Coast tours twice a day from Kekaha, six boats, 18 guests each.
Check Availability