Na Pali Kayak led me on a 17-mile paddle from Hāʻena to Polihale that remains one of the coolest, most beautiful, and most exhilarating days of my life. I have been extraordinarily fortunate to see some remarkable places, and I can confidently put this experience near the very top. We met at the shop in Hanalei, loaded into a van, and drove toward the Hāʻena launch point just short of the main hiking entrance. Roughly 6 to 8 hours later, 7 guests and 2 guides had covered an extraordinary stretch of coast together and become a real crew along the way. Annie H. was one of our two guides and was absolutely awesome: warm, experienced, and naturally gifted at bringing a group together. She became the master of ceremonies, sharing stories about the area while keeping everyone in rhythm and making the day fun. Our other guide was a yoga teacher with quiet Laird Hamilton meets Navy SEAL energy, an expert swimmer who followed the group and projected total command of the water. The guests were an Israeli family of 4 headed next to Colorado for the 100-mile Leadville mountain bike race, two women from Switzerland, and me, traveling solo from New York City in my early 30s. Before I signed up, both the website and a call with the company made the requirements clear. They were candid about the physical demands, possible ocean intensity, and equipment needed to enjoy the experience safely, so everyone arrived prepared. This is expert ocean, even on a perfect day, and the power of the Pacific is obvious anywhere you look along this part of Kauaʻi. We were a fit and focused group, and our late July or early August day brought calm seas and full sunshine, though it was easy to envision this route getting gnarly if conditions turned or someone arrived unprepared. The defining image is teal water beneath enormous stone mountains covered in dense green vegetation, with literally zero development along the protected park coastline. If there is ever a place that teaches you to honor and respect the power of Mother Nature, this is one of them. Its power, scale, and purity are humbling, and the sacred charge of the land and nature is palpable. From a kayak, the coast feels immediate and immense; you are close enough to register every fold in the cliffs while moving entirely under your own power. Along the way, we paddled into a dramatic sea cave and continued beside towering cliffs that seemed to rise straight out of the Pacific. We stopped at Miloliʻi for sandwiches and a rest on an astonishing beach. I even caught a tiny nap in a little shelter before climbing back into the kayak for the final miles. The guides shared history and insight throughout the day while setting exactly the right pace and leading the group with knowledge and calm. Reaching Polihale delivered a real sense of accomplishment and another spectacular setting, complete with park bathrooms and a place to shower after a full day of salt and sun. On a clock face map of Kauaʻi, Polihale sits near 9 and Hanalei near 12. Since no road crosses the protected Na Pali Coast, our van had to travel counterclockwise around the island, a return of just under 70 miles that took about 2 hours. Everyone was tired, exhilarated, and genuinely bonded, and that long ride became part of the pleasure as we watched Kauaʻi pass outside the windows. Years later, I returned in March during a week of almost constant rain and took a helicopter over the Nā Pali Coast. Even after that gorgeous flight, the kayak journey remained far more dramatic and immersive because we had spent an entire day moving through the landscape at ocean level. My only regret is that I was low on funds and could not leave a larger tip; these were cool local people whose knowledge, positive energy, and love for the island shaped the entire day. This was a heady, organic, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone fit, prepared, and lucky enough to catch good conditions. read more

Great trip and guides very well organized beautiful coastline very doable for anyone in good shape read more

Great trip all went as expected and guides were excellent. We had calm seas but were prepared for the more typical energetic waters.

From start to finish this company gave me the most fantastic kayaking experience that I've ever had. From the most amazing sea caves to shear cliff walls- nothing fell short of just plain jaw-droppin. My guide Mitch was solid and very well experienced. All concerns were addressed with lots of extras added in/ like everything to know about the island! Trip was well catered with food and cold drinks when needed. They went the extra mile- no doubt! I'll be back!!! July 2026 Steve ellisen read more

Iggy was an amazing expert guide on our June 6 outing who made our trip safe, fun and interesting with stories about the history of the Napali Coast while we paddled past incredible scenery and into a couple of stunning caves. Even with the wind at our backs, it's a very strenuous adventure - more than 4 hours to the beach where we stopped for lunch. The biking gloves I brought helped me avoid blisters, and running tights and a UPF hoodie were key. read more

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This is a very unique trip in the world of commercial tour companies who typically put a large number of individuals on a boat ride to an overpopulated place for a few minutes of snorkeling. This Na Pali coast kayak tour is different in that they do not hold back on the adventure. Let us start by saying this is a challenging trip with true open ocean kayaking in which you will paddle at a moderate (and occasionally vigorous) pace for a solid 6-7 hours of the trip duration (about 3 hours of the 12-13 hour day is van transport and another 2 hours or so is spent unloading and reloading). All of this is well coordinated and as streamlined as they can possibly make it for a trip that lets you kayak 17 miles of gorgeous coastline. The views are stunning and swimming in the open water (and a cave!) is awesome. We could not have asked for a better experience! Iggy and Mitch (our guides) are such nice people who know how to keep things organized and offer assistance without being overwhelming. The vibe in our group of 12 was also great, and the guides deserve a big thank you for that as well. Of note, we are people who play a lot in the mountains of Colorado and we have open water kayaking experience--be aware that this is a higher energy output trip. The organizers will chat with you prior to the trip about what you should expect and it is obvious that they do an excellent job of getting groups together that can tackle this kind of open water kayak experience. We had our 12 year old son with us and they spent a lot of time talking to us about this and they did make an accommodation for him to join. Our son did great and the guides treated him like another adult on the trip (they of course made sure they thought he could handle the trip). Our only point of feedback would be to have a more emphasis on eating/snacking in the mid morning. While there are plenty of breaks for water (and quick snacks), the way the trip has to be set up (because of winds, weather, waves, and difficulty often building up as day progresses) the lunch stop is later in the day (about 6 hours after starting). We should have planned to snack more; having someone say "we are going to take an extra 5 minutes now to have a bit more of a snack" would have helped us. The trip does make it clear to bring water and snacks --we just should have planned on using one of the water stops for eating as well. Bottom line: this is a WONDERFUL trip a truly epic experience. What a great first day for us in Kauai. Thank you!!! read more

Never had anything but a great experience kayaking NaPali with this outfitter. Great guides and camping equipment for rent to stay overnight on the beaches along the coast. Chee hoo! read more

We had a fantastic trip down the Na Pali coast! With a huge group and choppy conditions, they handled us like pros. We saw beautiful things, no one got sick, and they kept us laughing and informed the whole time. Could not recommend more highly. read more

My husband and I had an amazing trip. The guides (Mitch and Rory) were so knowledgeable and so helpful. We went on the tour group 2nd trip of the season, and the seas were pretty rough, but the views were incredible, and the guides made sure we were well taken care of. We didn't get motion sick, but someone on the trip did, even though they took dramamine. The last 3-4 miles, we had a crazy headwind, so the last stretch took a while (it was such a slog), and it was 7pm by the time we got to Polihale. Mitch ended up getting us all dinner on the way back, to make sure all of us were able to eat dinner before all the restaurants closed. It was a long trip and quite the slog at the end, but the whole experience was incredible. Would highly recommend IF you're ready to handle potentially rough seas, winds, falling in, and a lot of paddling. Definitely not for the faint of heart. read more

EPIC KAYAK TRIP! If you want to see the epic Na'pali Coast intimately as possible, with super capable, knowledgeable, and kind guides, this is the way to do it. Bring all the snacks and water! You're in for a ride of your life! Our guide Iggy was incredible. Thanks Iggy!!! read more

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Napali Kayak tours led myself, my wife and son on an amazing trip down the Napali coast with guide Mitch!! It was the tour groups first trip of this season and the sea was rough but we went to unbelievable places highlighted by caves with waterfalls and the washing machine!! Unreal and made me feel so thankful to experience such amazing natural wonder! This trip was for intermediate or advanced paddlers only so know your level. Thank you Mitch and Josh!! read more

Great experience! My friend and I (both 30 year old girls) did many of the activities in Kauai (boat tours, hikes, paddle boards, etc) and both agreed this was by far our favorite. You will not get this experience or the views any other way, nor will it be as rewarding. Highly recommend. We were lucky and saw dolphins, a monk seal and many birds. The paddle was strenuous but David and Mitch were very helpful, nice and knowledgeable. A must do. read more

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Wow. This your company is very professional. They provide an experience that is well run and magnificent. We got to see areas of the Nāpali coast only visible by kayak. Mitch our guide provided us with history about the coast and the Hawaiian natives. He was extremely informative. read more

Looking for something new to try. Renting a kayak and you can paddle 1 hour out to the ocean or choose a longer 1 1/2 calmer ride up into the thicker preserve where you see fish birds and turtles. Very reasonably priced and easy activity for young or d read more

One of the highlights of our trip to Kauai. Iggy and Jeffrey were awesome. They offered expectations before heading out, told us some cool stories about the coast, gave us tips along the way, brought a fantastic lunch, and were all around great guys. This is not a casual kayak trip. It's all day in the sun and you should expect to work. My wife and I are fair-skinned and opted to wear long sleeves and pants, which was a good decision (they have sweet long sleeve shirts for sale). Bring sun screen and more water than you think you need. The experience as a whole is completely worth it. 110% recommend. This was our first time on a sea kayak so don't be discouraged if you're in decent shape wanting adventure. read more

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Awesome experience. We've been wanting to do this for years and finally booked it. We are so glad we did; truly the highlight of our trip. Our guide, David, was incredible. My wife was a little timid about paddling closer to shore near Ke'e beach. David assured her all would be fine and to lean on his experience and knowledge of the currents. Thank you David! Never once did we feel unsafe. The views were incredible. Truly the best way to see the Napali coast. Obviously this is not the tour for couch potatoes. It is an active, full day. Plenty of breaks were provided and even opportunities to get off the kayak and swim. Lunch was provided, along with a welcomed hour and a half break to rest, stretch our legs, and play in the surf. Thankfully the best seas were had after lunch. Calm waters, wind at our backs, and a leisurely paddle to our end point. The beach where we ended was great as well -- soft sand, rolling waves, bathrooms and showers. If you're active and want a unique experience this is a must do. Plus, you'll be in a small minority that has circumnavigated the island of Kauai. read more

Brooks and Mitch were excellent guides! They ordered up rainbows, pods of spinner dolphins, cruising swells to make the paddling easy. They gave us great directions for launching and paddling in. We enjoyed great stories and always felt safe in experienced hands. We loved our kayak trip! Mahalo Na Pali kayak!! read more

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We booked kayaks to camp kalalau as soon as we were able to get our camping permits locked in. The week before, we watched the surf report, which was consistent the whole week for our launch and landing dates. Part way through, josh was teetering on having us go out, but on Tuesday, he said it looked fine. Come Friday, we dropped by the shop to get everything finalized, and suddenly he was back to oh surf is too high, and suddenly he and Ivan were talking about "7 foot waves." The forecast was exactly the same as it had been before. 3.5 ft waves with single digit winds and 10s swells, which is actually on the low side for swells. It was pretty clear what the issue was when josh asked us if we had men coming with us. Suddenly, we were inexperienced girls who say "woo" just looking for an easy downwind paddle. His solution was for these same girls who came prepared to kayak to instead go on one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. I consider myself a novice hiker, and I certainly didn't bring my best hiking shoes to kayak. But I made it up and down 14 miles of hills with a 60L pack on one of the world's most dangerous hikes. I consider myself an advanced paddler, and with the benefits of paddle tracking technology, I have objective proof to back it up. We volunteered this along with the fact that we had other advanced paddlers to demonstrate and then guide any others who might need extra direction on certain parts. I went in well aware surf might be big and I couldn't predict exact conditions. We were all prepared to tackle unexpected waves, winds, etc as an expected part of the deal. It didn't matter because all josh and Ivan saw were little girls who they apparently also thought couldn't read a basic surf report. I've attached multiple surf reports for the day they thought was so "unsafe." Being that they're currently the only ones running kayak tours on na pali specifically, it's a pretty good bet it was them sending groups out on Saturday (when the surf was 1/2 a foot higher, and I told my group we'd be staying put all day) and Monday (when the surf was about the same, but the winds were 10mph higher and would potentially make conditions worse). It was never about safety. Attached are the "7 foot waves" and the day's surf reports, which were actually 3.5 (or about upper waist to chest high depending on your height). read more

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We had such a great day on the water yesterday with Mitch and David (our guides). Incredible scenery, amazing sea cave visits only possible by kayak, nice lunch. Just know that this trip is a very full day (6am-8pm for us), and it's not for the faint-hearted / we had big swells and choppy waters for a big part of the morning. But still a great time and we made friends with the other attendees! read more

What a wonderful adventure. The weather was perfect and we got to see all the awesome caves. It is a long day, and isn't for the faint of heart.... take anti nausea meds... it helped alot. The crew, I'm not sure if we have ever met better people. They were so helpful nice...and even funny. They made the 17 mile paddle interesting and fun. This was a bucket list item for my husband and me, lifelong kayakers...this was a level up for sure for us. Beautiful scenery and funny Dad Jokes along the way made this a great day. Highly recommend this team if you are choosing to adventure in kayak on the Napali Coast. read more

Napali Kayak Tours - Lunch Break, Napali Coast - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Had a blast. Seas were a bit rough but guides were terrific and had a great time. would 10 / 10 recommend

All day adventure, pretty epic day, but well worth the effort. Aside from padding all day. The historical stories were cool, and kayaking into the caves was amazing. Worth doing, but don't kid yourself this is a big physical effort. read more

Seems like they delete their 1 star reviews, so I'll try again. I'm sure all the '5 stars' are just friends and family..Ivan was one of the rudest people my family and I have ever had to deal with. Very belittling and impatient and bossy. He rubbed me the wrong way during the check in process in the morning and he just got worse as the day went on. The trip itself is very beautiful but the crew will leave you behind and you're pretty much guaranteed to flip over multiple times along the way. One flip of my uncle and cousin and they lost all their water for the trip because the clips didn't work. The equipment is overly used to say the least and the life jacket smelled of BO which was making me nauseous. On paper, this seemed like the trip of a lifetime, but it was far from it! Save your money and to the tubing in the caves or rum tour or anything but this! You'll thank me later. read more

Props to Ivan, Ahja(sp?), Mitch, and Matty. Was a little nervous going in, but we paddled the coast safely and had plenty of time to take it in and take a dip. Why spend your money on a big boat or copter zipping by when you can immerse yourself in the water and interact with nature. Thanks for a great time, highly recommend if you're on the fence (you can do it)! read more

If you do one thing in Kauai this should be it! We've traveled all over and this is one of the best adventures we've experienced! The 17-mile Na'Pali coast kayak adventure allowed us to see rainbows, monk seals, sea turtles, explore sea caves, enjoy a remote and gorgeous beach all while seeing Hawaii from a different perspective. Casey, our guide, was incredible and shared so much knowledge while also supporting the entire group! A few things to note: -bring tons of water -being snacks easy to eat on water -being water proof camera or gopro -being and wear lots of SPF 50 sunscreen - wear comfortable swimsuits - this isn't a bikini contest. You'll be paddling for 5-7 hours I will say that my husband and I are in pretty good shape so while we were a bit sore the next day, it wasn't horrible . If you want to do this, regular exercise before the trip is recommended as it is physicals read more

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We had an epic adventure with the Napali team. The entire experience was five star from start to finish. This is 17 nautical miles of jaw-dropping views, bonding with your group, and a lot of paddling. It's an amazing adventure with knowledgeable, friendly, engaged guides throughout. This isn't a trip for the faint-hearted, but our group included a range of ages and experience levels who had a truly epic adventure together. What the people who had the best day had in common: we read the info and followed instructions, were committed to having an awesome day, and were lucky to have Annie and Austin as our guides! read more

Napali Kayak Tours - 13 miles in, and having a blast! - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Thanks for squeezing us in for a late season trip! Mitch, Ivan, and Mattie all did an awesome job! We did the full day Napali Coast kayak and had incredible views, great wildlife sittings and good interpretive tidbits from Mitch. We were happy and tired at the end of the day. read more

Our family of 6 had an amazing time on the Napali Coast Kayak trip. Sadie and Mitch were our guides and Sadie told us all the stories about the various caves, Hawaiian history and made it a fun 17 mi trek. We would highly recommend this experience for any adventurous family/individuals. Memories for a lifetime read more

Spent the day with Sadie and Mitch from Napali Kayak doing a father and daughter trip. They were awesome guides. Never felt unsafe, both were excellent with the history of the ancient Hawaiians, and both provided an excellent tour of the many caves that we explored. The scenery was spectacular. Definitely recommend it to all who have a love for exploring and a desire for an epic adventure. Mahalo Gene and Gigi Fischer read more

Napali Kayak is THE place to go for Na Pali Coast kayaking tours! Seriously: not only do Ivan and Josh care about making your kayak adventure the best experience possible, but they really want to tailor it as much to your needs as plausible (difficult, at best, for a family of four from Chicago!). It's also clear that they really care about Kaua'i, and honoring the beautiful paradise that the Garden Island is. Napoli Kayak has been in business for almost 20 years; through the thick and the thin - they're reliable, responsive and responsible. Napali Kayak should be your first choice for kayaking tours / rental in Kaua'i! read more

Guides were great! Conner and Elli took care of us and showed us some awesome caves on our trip. Everything was on time and well organized. The food was really fresh and delicious. On the ride home, we stopped at Oshikara Market which was perfect to get some food and sushi. Great day. Great outfit. We really enjoyed it. read more

Napali Kayak Tours - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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What a day! This trip is full of amazing scenery, truly knowledgable guides, and 17 miles of bliss on the water. We highly recommend Napali Kayak tours as part of time spent on Kauai. It was spectacular! Thanks to Ivan, Annie, Sadie, Jeffrey, and Jake - y'all made the experience the best experience! Mahalo from Buddy and Sheila read more

The annual trip rents from these guys and they are the best! With that being said, we do not go on a tour since it's an annual thing. But if you haven't kayaked the Napali Coast, then do the tour. You'll be glad you did because you will go over safety, which is hella important when you're out on the open ocean. Seriously! You'll learn how to use your kayak and why a vest is important. (DUH) Not to detail my whole trip, but they drive you to Haena where you launch. Morning time is better because of the sea breezes. And with your proper permits in hand you either stay in Kalalau or Milolii and finish your tour in Polihale. That's where you'll get picked up (hopefully with some fresh brews) and endure a crazy bumpy ride back to civilization. I think the road back to Waimea was bumpier than the ocean! Some things to remember: Go with a group! It's a lot more fun and you get a discount! Kamaaina discount! Return customer discount! Make your reservations ahead of time! Dry bags are your friends! Use them properly! Pack out what you pack in! Have fun and enjoy the beauty of Napali! Don't bring a bag of wine for every person in your group. read more

Wow, this was such a difficult (but beautiful) day. Annie was seriously the most amazing guide!! She is so positive, knowledgeable, kind, and really knows how to take care of her guests. She was the best part about the tour other than the breathtaking scenery. Be warned - this kayak trip is NOT for you if you are not in great physical shape and have strong upper body strength. We were happy when it was over, what an accomplishment! Our critiques are: there seemed to be a bit of disorganization upon entry so that could have gone more smoothly. Also, after lunch there is 5 miles of kayaking left. We were going slower and falling a bit behind but Austin (the guide who was supposed to be in the back) just passed us and kept going. There was quite some time where we felt unsure and unsafe being so far from the group. Overall great trip, Austin could work on his professionalism. He was also on his phone with his girlfriend at one point on the kayak. For the price, we would have appreciated the last part of the trip be a bit better. We love Annie! Thanks guys! read more

Napali Kayak Tours - Tours Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I had a great trip paddling the Na Pali Coast with Napali Kayak. Our friendly and gracious guides Zak and Gabe showed us the beauty of the coastline and made sure we all stayed safe. Lead guide Zak was very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area and shared interesting facts about the coastline. I understand why National Geographic rated it as one of the best adventures in the US. It was a memorable experience which I highly recommend. read more

Type II fun bliss!! This trip absolutely kicked our butts and then some, the next morning it felt like we'd been hit by two Mac trucks (not one). But despite the pain involved, it was so worth the experience and getting access to excluded beaches and exploring the sea caves. We did see turtles, monkfish seals, and big schools of fish. And it was admittedly fun to wave and laugh at all the tourists trying to get the same experience from big boats. Our guides were Casey and Sarah; we launched from Tunnels Beach on the north side and it's a one-way trip down to Polihale Beach on the south-west side of the island. The first half is 12.2 miles of rowing, all downwind. We stopped for lunch and rest for 1.5 hours at Miloli'l Beach which is only accessible via boat or helicopter. There is a public bathroom and a picnic area, a crew comes in to manage to landscape, but no fresh water or amenities otherwise. Then jump back in your kayaks for the remainder of 5 miles and expect an ocean shore landing (that will most likely dump you and flip over your kayak) on the beach to finish! 17 miles is no joke and this is not a trip for the average person. If you don't have decent arm or core strength, if you struggle with long workouts or with any exertion, if you cannot swim well....do not book this tour. Seriously, especially when you add on the sun exposure or seasickness will. I consider myself able-bodied in all these areas and I almost didn't make it thanks to severe seasickness that made it impossible to row at one point. A few things we noted from our trip: 1) Going in the last two weeks of the season (first week of October) is signing up for a real rough ride. The waves averaged 4-6 feet on the open water (you will most likely capsize) and the winds whipped us like crazy. Try to go before September if you can and make sure you're VERY fit if you do go in September/October. 2) Get a good night's sleep, don't drink too much the night before, eat a small meal if you can and do some stretches or yoga before you go. You will probably get seasick, so take Dramamine. Especially if you're dealing with other bodily issues like your period (my bad luck), lack of sleep (my husband). 3) If you're staying in the South Shore area, you'll need to be in the car by 4am to be there by 6am. Despite it being only a 1 hr drive usually, we ended up being 20 minutes late because of slow drivers in the morning work commute hours. Don't be late! 4) Be prepared to get wet, end up in the water a lot, and also use the ocean as your bathroom. Don't bring anything expensive with you, you risk losing it. Make sure your clothes are comfortable, easy to remove. Come prepared with long sleeves and a hat. 5) The car ride back is 1.5 hours and extremely bumpy as the first 20 minutes is off-road from Polihale Beach. Follow their advice to bring a change of clean clothes that are comfortable, but we also highly recommend bringing body wash so that you can rinse off the salt at the beach shower and lotion for after to keep your skin from feeling awful. 6) You'll need energy during the ride, so follow their suggestion to bring snack bars. I'd also recommend those energy cubes with caffeine that you can buy at REI for backpacking trips, I regret not having them with me. Lunch is typically sandwiches, a big bag of shared chips, cookies, and fresh pineapple. If you need more food or have particular preferences, pack something you need with you! 7) Take the trip back to shore slowly, listen to their instructions. We were moving too fast and were taken out pretty badly at the end (our fault) and lost a bunch of gear in the water 8) Bring cash like they recommend so you can stop and get snacks and poke at Big Save on the drive back! And for tips :) 9) Invest in a waterproof phone case so you can take photos! 10) Enjoy the view though and try not to take too many photos, focus on the moment! :) read more

The staff and guides were very nice, professional and great communicators. You can tell they care about this amazing place!

The best kayak adventure you will ever have! Josh and his crew will take care of you start to finish. I've paddled with them three times now, absolutely love them and there is no better way to explore the Napali Coast. read more

5 stars all around. Staff was amazing, professional and fun. The highlight is ANNIE! find out when she is guiding and go with her, brings such positive vibes and professional kayaking skills. The highlight is her local knowledge of Hawaiian History of the coast. Will definitely do again. Mahalo nui loa Napali Kayak is the best! read more

My daughter and I had an amazing kayaking adventure with Napali Kayak Tours -- the 17 mile trip to Polihale Beach. We were a last minute add-on and so had to scramble to prepare but it was well worth it. During the trip we had incredible weather which meant we got to kayak into all of the magical caves. Kayaking through waterfalls (er, or around them) and swimming in the blue/green water will be in my memory forever. Our leaders, shared all sorts of historical and natural history along the way that gave the trip more purpose and perspective. This was a trip of a lifetime and a great memory with my daughter. The entire process, from booking the trip with Josh to saying goodbye to our wonderful leaders, Iggy and Alfredo, was seamless, organized and amazing. The communication was excellent and I felt I had the information needed to ensure the most successful trip. I especially liked that they did not sugarcoat the trip as it is challenging but well worth the physical effort. I felt that our guides were experienced, and ensured that we had the knowledge necessary for a safe trip. They had our backs. read more