I've been on numerous boat tours all around the world and by far this was a top three for me…read more First Captain Phil first mate Jonah worked so well together. Both are Hawaiians and knew their history and this was "their backyard". They were very personable and patient with even the fittest of passengers to the no so coordinate (yes, me!). The boating skills were par none and getting up close with sea life and the caves and shoreline alike. Lala was already starting to brew and the waters were rough. Think rollercoaster-class 4 water rafting combined. Thrilling yet never feeling unsafe. This is a trip for anyone who truly appreciates nature and getting to see the remote NaPai coast. There was lots of wildlife and made me all the more convicted to do everything we can to preserve this beautiful earth. Thanks so much!

Captain Rich and Keali were great at driving the boat and giving their knowledge of the beautiful…read moreNa Pali coast and Hawaiian history. Saw sea turtles when we snorkeled, a thoroughly enjoyable trip. A must see in Kauai!!

DRAMAMINE, y'all…read more You're choosing to do the Na'Pali coast from the North Shore, which means smaller boats, and choppier waves. I took one Dramamine, the night before. Then another, an hour before our departure. AND THE BOAT RIDE WAS GREAT. I was all smiles and adventure and breathing -in the ocean air and wind! Unlike, a few folks, who were NOT doing so well. (One or two barfed over the side, but thankfully I didn't notice. Know how your body handles boats and waves. Don't do tours like this, without proper prep. It will NOT be fun if you underestimate it.) Check-In staff was super friendly, and personal. They remembered me from my original email. Sweet. Parking was easy. Shuttles team was super friendly. The strangers we rode with, all turned out to be cool. 2 boats go out (mini-catamarans, with cover from the sun). They expertly traverse the waves, and cliffs, and the caves, giving you some amazing first-hand visuals and photos. But yeah, that boat will be a rockin', during those up-close cave moments. Spoiler: You probably won't see whales, unless you're there before May. But we DID see a cute pod of Dolphins, who cozy'd up to our boat for a while. Our boat had Casey and Spencer. They were wise beyond their years, in all things Kauai. Funny and friendly. Spencer navigated the heck out of those waves, while Casey handled the nauseous passengers with MOTHERLY CARE. Spencer was 50/50 on allowing us to snorkel, based on conditions and a previous scare, a few weeks prior. But he ultimately made the call to GET IN THE WATER. He wisely kept us on a leash (not literally), whistling at swimmers when they got too close to a reef (with waves that could wash you onto the reef). It was fun and chill. Saw a HUGE, MASSIVE KING DADDY SEA TURTLE. He did not enjoy us as much as we enjoyed him and he bounced. Followed by a JR. Turtle, who stuck around a bit longer. Tons of fish. Spencer & Casey gave us good food and hike recommendations, and everyone treated us like friends / family. Highly recommend this team if you're going out. And you already know I highly recommend some Dramamine.

Had a great experience this week with Lance and Miguel. Before we even got out of the bay we had…read morean amazing dolphin encounter. The tour itself was both breathtakingly beautiful and informative, with lots of great history and a thorough knowledge of the coast's features. We were able to get in close to the cliffs and even go into a couple of sea caves. On the way back -- a very bouncy and splashy affair in the best way for those of us who were adventurous enough to sit in the bow -- we stopped at Tunnels Beach to snorkel the outer reef, which was full of tropical fish and turtles. The tour included lunch and refreshments as well. Overall a great way to spend an afternoon -- definitely a 5-star experience. A word to the wise-- the northwest corner of Kaua'i is often rainy and can get a bit cold when the wind is up, so not a bad idea to bring something extra to throw on after you finish the snorkel and are heading back to port.

Hands down, one of the most amazing excursion experiences I've had to date!…read more We went out Monday, just after Hurricane LaLa, and honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Our group had 14 people ranging in age, and somehow Captain Rob and Logan managed to make the entire experience incredible for EVERYONE. These two were exceptional. They matched our energy perfectly, kept the vibes fun and upbeat, and made everyone feel comfortable and included. The conversation was engaging, hilarious, and never felt forced. They were also incredibly knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, the surrounding area, and all of the amazing sights we passed along the way. I learned so much while having an absolute blast. One of the coolest parts of the entire excursion was getting to ride into some of the sea caves! It was such a unique experience and definitely something I'll never forget. Captain Rob navigated the caves with such confidence, skill, and expertise. You could tell he knew the waters extremely well and knew exactly how to navigate those areas safely while still giving us an incredible experience. And Logan was the perfect co-captain. The two of them worked together so seamlessly and were clearly in sync throughout the entire trip. It was obvious that they trusted and complemented each other, which made the whole experience feel effortless. Logan was attentive, helpful, knowledgeable, and just as much a part of making the day amazing as Rob was. And then there was the way we came back into the dock with AC/DC's *Thunderstruck* playing. THE PERFECT ending! The energy was absolutely unmatched, and our entire group was having the time of our lives. Rob and Logan truly made this excursion what it was. They were professional, knowledgeable, personable, hilarious, and genuinely fun to be around. More than anything, they made our entire group feel like we were there to have an amazing time... not just on a tour. If you're considering booking this excursion, DO IT. You won't regret it. The scenery, sea caves, Hawaiian history, adventure, laughs, music, and especially the crew made this one of the absolute highlights of our trip. A huge thank you to Captain Rob and Logan for making our day on the water so memorable! We came back with huge smiles, great stories, and memories we'll be talking about for a long time.

Do not hesitate to book with this company. The people are so kind and professional. I booked with…read morethem and had a very easy transaction and experience all around.

Makana and his crew on the Amelia K were outstanding! Super attentive team and the captain is…read moreextremely skilled at maneuvering the boat in the caves and over the rough seas. Our family loved it and were grateful we got to experience the Napili coast together!

While vacation planning for Kauai, one of the things I wanted to do was see the Na Pali Coast. I…read morewas scared to hike as I'm not physically fit for that and helicopter rides were a no for me. So I opted for a boat tour! I chose makana charters because of how detailed they were in their information as different tours tour the coast in different areas. With this tour, included lunch and snorkeling. What I didn't want was a fancy lunch because what I'm really there for is to see the Na Pali Coast and everything else was just an extra for me. The lunch was very simple which I like especially because it can get very nauseous. I wanted to do the snorkeling part, but I also wanted my husband to do it, but he's not a confident swimmer so I stayed with him and watched people snorkel which was totally fine. We did the early morning tour and it was beautiful! The weather was perfect! Our tour guides went around us as we were enjoying the way to the coast and asked us where we were from. They also showed us the forbidden island and told us some history of the island and how certain areas locals would camp but a permit would be needed. They also tried to get into caves as deep as they can go and also showed us where Mary J Blige recorded her music video for everything. We also saw some dolphins going and come back from the coast! The coast was just as magical and beautiful!

It was an amazing boat trip to the Napoli Coast. 4.5 hrs long. The crew was great and Captain…read more"Kauai" was engaging, entertaining and was very informative. He made sure we knew where we were going and how to stay safe. The Captain was very knowledgeable about the Hawaiian culture and the history of the Islands and we were all appreciative of that. We would definitely do this again! Thank you for such a fun day! (The views were amazing!!!)

Josh and Captain Paul were the absolute best! So much fun and highly recommend if you can request…read morefor them to be your guides!!

Some friends that we were traveling with, had to come here years ago and wanted to experience it…read moreagain with us newcomers. Take us reasonably priced and bonus for Auto Club discount! We waited for our timeslot at picnic benches under a roofed area. Boarding the boat was easily accessed down a ramp, and helping hands were available to step onto and down into the benched seating area. Along the journey, our narrator was full of interesting information, facts, trivia, and sprinkled it all with fun-loving doses of humor. There was also vibe-setting live music. We watched kayakers paddle down river as we enjoyed the ease of working our way upriver. Once we arrived at the grotto dock, everyone disembarked and took a short walk up along a smooth path. A side path led off to restrooms. The beautiful jungle foliage was all around us. Tall trees, long vines, and bird song surrounded us we walked up to the viewing platform of the grotto. Once there, the ancient and more recent history and cultural significance of the grotto was shared with us. Additionally, we were treated to beautiful traditional music played at weddings, of which they are a venue. Again, the information was fascinating. The grotto itself is a cave opening at the base of a cliff face. A stream of water flows over the top, feeding into a creek, and ferns grow out from all the crevices. It is a very serene place filled with the gentle sound of running water. On the way back, we were again treated to the talented musicians' playing, singing, and hula dancing. A tip jar was available. Disembarkation was very smooth. I really enjoyed the entirety of the trip. I felt like it was a great value for the ticket price. I would certainly recommended this to anyone who enjoys easy-access to nature and traditional and cultural insight.

The experience itself is short, but it's a chill and beautiful boat ride with a short walk to the…read moregrotto. It was perfect for our large group that had both seniors and young kids. Hawaiian music there and back is a nice touch, but what was a standout for me was the customer service. We were going to be ten minutes late for our scheduled date and time, and they called us 5 minutes before when we hadn't checked in. They said that the boat would only wait up to 5 minutes, but they could reschedule us for the following day and time since they had availability. I also didn't know they had a AAA discount, and when I saw a sign at their ticket counter, the woman working there refunded me the discounted amount since I had booked directly on their website under my name. I will be recommending this to anyone visiting Kauai!

We were on the NCL Pride of American and wanted a beach day…read more Within 15 minutes of walking, here we were, the beach. We rented chairs and an umbrella. We thought we would get small beach chairs. Nope, we got nice lounge chairs! The umbrella was a must as it will rain on and off. Also, it provides nice shade. We were close to restrooms, shops, and Duke's restaurant. The staff were super friendly and accommodating. We will book through them again.

Beach Boys catamaran sunset cruise…read more I arrived to the Nawiliwili Bay & Hulei'a River cruise boat slip to join the other passengers on a sunset cruise. This particular day, for whatever the reason, didn't have too many passengers. It made for a better cruise experience, in my opinion. After the normal safety briefing, we set off on the Kalapaki Kai II (smooth sailing gorgeous catamaran!) with the captain narrating the entire evening. While this was not a dinner cruise, we did enjoy a full service bar with light snacks during the evening. In my opinion, the cruise seemed uneventful and not very entertaining, but I am not necessarily interested in history, which is mainly what the captain spoke about during the cruise. He did a thorough job speaking about the Kauai scenery, fish ponds, mangrove trees, Haupu mountain range, Kalapaki Beach, the lighthouse, golf-course and Kauai's still-standing original hotel! We even watched numerous people surfing in the Nawiliwili Bay.... Can't say I'll see that anywhere else except Hawaii! The sunset was not anything to speak of the night of my cruise... but that is clearly out of our control! While I had a ho-hum evening... I will still highly recommend this sunset cruise! It was an incredibly smooth sail.... Short & sweet -- started at 5:30p and ended just as the sun set!

Without a doubt, the best experience I've had on the island. It was a blast from start to finish…read more If you're more into adventure and thrill, this is the ticket. They take you into caves and aren't afraid to squeeze in. What we didn't expect, getting MAJA island stories and information while the captain/DJ plays some great music and choreographed movie scores to go with the vibes. We met hundreds of SPINNA dolphins and during the one hour snorkel stop, we were escorted by a beautiful Honu across the reef. The wife and I talk about this trip all the time. The jokes and good conversations are something to remember from the staff as well.

Easily One of the Best Experiences of My Life - 10/10 Would Do Again…read more If you're debating whether or not to book with Nā Pali Pirates, just do it. Hands down one of the coolest things I've ever done. Captain Dom was the perfect mix of chill, knowledgeable, and safety-conscious--dude knew exactly how to handle the boat, even when we got up close and personal with some pretty intense waves near the cliffs and caves. And Chaz? Absolute legend. Kept the vibes light with some solid (and delightfully cheesy) jokes, plus he snapped a ton of pics so we could actually enjoy the moment without worrying about our phones. But the real highlights? Getting insanely close to the cliffs and feeling the sheer power of the ocean, then just floating out in the middle of nowhere, taking it all in. Oh, and did I mention we saw THREE whale breaches and a bunch of dolphins? Unreal. If you're on the fence, take this as your sign to book it. Zero regrets, just pure adventure.

What a great experience! Captain Greg and Caleb were very professional and experienced sailors…read more Water got a little choppy but never felt like they weren't in control. Very knowledgeable of the sites and where the turtles and dolphins were. Saw some baby dolphins on this trip. The cave was amazing and the scenery along the Napali Coast is surreal. Soft drinks, water, and some Subway sandwiches were provided. Snorkeling was amazing as well. Great job guys!!

If you're looking for the ultimate Nā Pali Coast experience, I can't recommend Napali Navigators…read moreenough. We took their Nā Pali Coast Tour and Snorkel Excursion, and it was hands down the best excursion I've ever been on. Captain Greg was an exceptionally skilled captain who made us feel safe and confident throughout the trip. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating information about Hawaiian culture, the geology of the Nā Pali Coast, the marine life, and so much more. His passion for Hawaii was evident and made the experience even more meaningful. Captain Greg went above and beyond to make sure everyone had an unforgettable experience. He made a special effort to locate a pod of spinner dolphins and expertly positioned the boat so every passenger had an amazing view. It was truly incredible to watch them in their natural habitat. The Nā Pali Coast itself is breathtaking beyond words. Towering emerald-green mountains, cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear turquoise water, and dramatic sea cliffs create scenery that simply has to be seen to be believed. The entire crew was friendly, professional, attentive, and highly skilled. From start to finish, everything was well organized, and they made everyone feel welcome and comfortable. This tour exceeded every expectation I had. If you're visiting Kauai, this is an absolute must-do. It was truly the highlight of our trip and the best excursion I've ever experienced. Thank you, Captain Greg and the entire Napali Navigators crew, for an unforgettable day!

This one I'm going to have to file under one of the hardest things I've done in my life! But I'm so…read moreproud we accomplished this and did this! So many people talk about kayaking the Wailua River and hiking to Secret Falls. We didn't get a chance to do this on our last trip, but my youngest and I tackled this on this trip! Our guide, Ronda, arrived a couple minutes after our tour start time at 1pm. The morning guide said she'd be along "in island time." Once she got there, she took the time to tell us a little about herself, went around our group and had us each introduce ourselves and share a few words. She took the time to memorize all of our names! She also explained to us as all the other tours were heading out, that she liked to hang back and let everyone go do their thing so we can experience the falls privately as just our group. This girl knows what she's doing! It was about a two mile kayaking journey up the Wailua River with stops intermittently along the way for our "kayak kisses" so Ronda could tell us about the history and other aspects of the island. We were almost in our own little version of Survivor, thinking up ways we could survive out there and what we would need. It was honestly very cool. Once we got the end of the kayaking journey, we were given walking sticks for the moderate 1 mile hike to Secret Falls. There are a couple of areas where you have to cross through water, but nothing higher than the knees, at that time. The hike was beautiful! Ronda pointed out the Hawaiian Woodrose, kukui nuts, which we got to crack open and have a small sample, we washed our hands with awapuhi from the awapuhi plant, etc. it was such a cool adventure. We met the local songbird and dug to find worms for him to eat. He ate right from our hands! He actually landed on my hand and looked at me for a couple seconds! We saw cows on the journey home as well. Secret Falls is amazing. We had a blast swimming around there and resting from the journey. We met a lot of great people in our tour. It was like we all became a little family. We packed up and hiked back to our kayaks and headed back down the Wailua for the journey home. This time the wind was against us, so it was literally like paddling upstream both ways lol! This was such an amazing experience. I'm sure I'm leaving some things out because there was so much! I would say, if you're doing the 1pm tour, don't have any other plans the rest of the day. You don't want to be in a rush to get out of there. Our 5 hour tour ended up being close to 7 hours. It was nice because on the way back the motorized vessels were no longer on the river, so we didn't have to worry about other traffic. I'd also recommend having dinner for that night figured out ahead of time because most places locally close at 8pm. We were able to grab dinner from a spot about 10 minutes prior to their closing. They recommend tennis shoes or hiking boots, but my daughter and I used our water socks/reef shoes and while there were a couple times when we were bouldering I would have liked to have better shoes, ultimately it wasn't an issue. Ronda gives you an opportunity to unplug from the world, get yourself on island time, and take in all the beauty Kauai has to offer. Take it!

Had a great time renting kayaks for a half day 12:30-5:30. Called in to make the reservation and…read morestaff was very accommodating. Wes met us at the river and went over very clear instructions and tips. It was great that they included wet bags to store your things. The river itself was beautiful, the waterfall 'hike' is generally very easy with a couple stream and river crossings that are slip hazards but overall not physically strenuous, and the waterfall is beautiful and the pool is swimmable. Plenty of time to check out both arms of the river. **WARNING - DO NOT park in the adjacent thrift store parking lot if the park parking is full. They slapped a huge sticker on our windshield and demanded $25 in payment when we got back to our car despite actually spending some time in the thrift shop and scheduling a donation time.