We have literally done this tour over a dozen times in the last 20 years. From the start with ease of reservations to the people that check you in, to Gary the boat captain and owner, everyone was amazing. They go out of their way to make sure your trip is enjoyable. Have recommended them to many people and encourage anyone whose is in for an incredible adventure, to do it. Truly a bucket list item read more

Every Nā Pali Coast boat tour seems to have perfect reviews. It's frustrating to sort this out. I confess, I used AI to help me prioritize what is most important. - Leaves from the North Shore, so no soul-crushing drive across the island - Has a bathroom (just in case) - Has shade - Small boat that can enter sea caves - Locally run, not packed with tourists (chill vibe instead of megaphone guides) North Shore Charters nailed all of it. They're a bit under the radar and not aggressively marketed, but all the better for it. Book early. They keep groups small, which makes it better -- but also means they fill up. read more

Spencer and Matthew are outstanding guides for an epic tour of the north coast. Spencer has to be one of the best captains on the island - he kept the boat hugging the swells and always had control. Their lives growing up on Kauai benefited the whole group with insights and deep knowledge of the land and its stories. You will not regret hiring this crew for a once in a lifetime excursion! read more

See all

The women workers who greet and transport you to Anini beach are nice, while the all male crew is quite interesting. They have this old guy named Unc who seems like he did too many drugs. He told my children some pretty inappropriate stories of helicopter crashes and sharks attacks. Why? Great question! The boat captain was a nice guy but man was he annoying to listening to. He also told my son that the $100 scubapro mask I brought for him was "cheap", and that his Cressi mask...CRESSI (talk about cheap) was much better! lol. Anyhow, it was nice having access to Na Pali from Princeville, but I think I'll choose a different crew the next time I visit. You might consider the same. read more

Lee and Gary were great! Everything from start to finish was perfect. The sightseeing was incredible, the boat was comfortable, and the snorkeling was fantastic. This wasn't my first Na Pali boat tour and this one was the best! read more

Loved these guys! Super easy to book and communication was great. Janelle in the office offered to meet us at our house on anini to sign paper work so we didn't have to go into town the morning of the boat ride since we lived so close to the launch. So helpful and sweet. We met her at the office the day before to sign the waiver that way we could just meet them at the boat since we were walking distance. We have wanted to see the coast from the water but always here in the winter when it's too rough. We were so lucky with the weather (July) and had a perfectly calm day. I would recommend going in the morning when it's super calm. Trip was great. Perfect amount of time to see the sights, go into the caves, learn some history of the island. (Both guides grew up on the island - nice to support the locals!) We headed back to Tunnels to snorkel. They had a great snorkels and masks - I used theirs instead of my own! After snorkeling we enjoyed sandwiches (delicious), chips, drinks, etc. Lee even shared some of own candy with my boys! Loved the size of the boat - you could move around and you could be protected from the wind and sun if you wanted. Highly recommend North Shore Charters! read more

A fantastic experience! Went on a boat tour with my wife 1.5 weeks back for my birthday and the staff were very friendly, we learned a lot about the Na Pali Coast, enjoyed the stunning scenery, and thought the sandwich lunch was delicious. In addition, snorkeling for 45 minutes, before lunch, at the end was fantastic experience worth doing. The only thing is I would recommend taking sea sickness tablets or wearing a patch since my stomach felt a little queasy at times. Otherwise this is an excellent experience worth doing when coming to Kauai! read more

See all

Great trip lots of info and history of the island and the views were amazing will definitely do it again

Wonderful cruise. The people in the office were great on the phone and in person. The captain and his mate were knowledgeable, funny and respectful. This was our third Na Pali cruise and it was by far the best. read more

If you are planning to depart from the Princeville area to see the Napali Coast I highly recommend North Shore Charters. The boat was perfect for the trip, a very comfortable ride and great viewing. I did not witness any other boats that would have been better suited for doing the job. The Captain (Gary) and his deckhand (Lee) were more than qualified, very impressive boat handling and knowledge of the Napali Coast. A lot of history was passed down through both of them to all of the passengers. Thank you gentlemen! read more

Fantastic experience! Gary was knowledgeable and friendly. Would highly recommend. Gorgeous views.

We just had a wonderful time with North Shore Charters on a boat trip to the Nepali Coast. They really know what they are doing and are a great local outfit! The views on the trip were spectacular and they provided us with a great history of the area. We enjoyed going in sea caves and had a great snorkeling stop where we got to see lots of fish and turtles. A dolphin pod happened to swim by as well. They provided a nice lunch and it wasn't a huge group-about 16 or 18 people-which was nice. We highly recommend them! read more

This would have gotten five stars if it was not for the upfront office desk lady (drives the white van). She was rude, misinformed, condescending, and not welcoming. She acted as if we were inconveniencing them the entire time we interacted. Recommended terrible places on the island. Rushed us the entire time. Told us not to bring drinking water on the boat, but all that was served was small 4 ounce plastic water bottles which our family does not use bc of the harm plastic has on the ocean. First hand Lee was soooo nice, informative, and friendly. Captain made it fun. There was a lady on board that was a friend of the captains who danced and took up the bow the whole time which was confusing and a little awkward. Since I was a paying customer it would have been nice to be able to access that part of the boat. There was a bathroom on the boat so that was nice. Small sandwiches with chips soda and cookies with soda we're served for lunch. Stopped at water falls, caves, and Tunnels for snorkeling. Would recommend if you are staying in Princeville. read more

We had an amazing time! Lee was really great, the caption was also really amazing. They both made sure we had a great time. The boat was perfect, we had a great ride. We loved the caves, saw dolphins and loved snorkeling off the boat. They provided lunch which was great, and they were able to accommodate vegan diets as well. We will def be booking again when we come back! 10/10 experience read more

See all

There are several options for Napali coast cruises. This locally owned company has just one boat and at 32 feet, is about the largest that can negotiate the sea caves. Other companies have larger boats that are better for a quieter experience outside the caves and still others have smaller rafts that provide an experience at the other extreme. In any case, your excursion will be strongly affected by the wind and water conditions. Our day out was about as quiet as it gets with great views of the caves and cliffs. We spent an hour in quiet water for snorkeling just off a reef. read more

North Shore Charters - One of several sea caves - Boating Near Me - Kilauea, Hawaii

excellent tour! knowledgeable and friendly staff. beautiful NaPali coast was well worth the time and money.

The trip was magical! We saw the Napali coast and heard a lot of interesting stories of the area. The captain was amazing and the boat was comfortable. Leaving from the north shore makes for a quick trip and you see almost the entire Napali coast line, we went to the last corner by Polihale and turned back to snorkel at Tunnels as the water was better. Saw lots of sea caves, rouged coast line, spinner dolphins and some turtles. Lunch was better than I've had on other boat trips! One of the best parts was Lee or deck-right hand man! he kept us entertained, loved listening to his stories and he gave us a few tips on some quiet beaches and how to interact with the turtles to see a lot. It was a great end to our trip! read more

North Shore Charters - Boating Near Me - Kilauea, Hawaii

See all

You can't beat this for a fun, informative and awe inspiring time on the water. Great boat, great crew, the caves were amazing, much fun in the waves! read more

The gal that got everyone all checked in and was also the driver was very pleasant. It seemed kind of odd though to drive to the office only to get in the van and drive 10 mins back towards Princeville the area we came from. Would have made more sense to drive straight to the park where boat was but OK. The boat is very nice and even with the water a bit rough it drive though it pretty smoothly at fast speed. Yes it does get a bit choppy and your back will indeed take some pounding but overall not too bad. The bathroom on board wasn't offered so be sure you use at office or boat launch before the 4 hr. trip. The deck hand was very nice, helpful and friendly also giving interesting info along the way about the history of the beautiful land. With the weather conditions weren't ideal for snorkeling at the ideal spot so we we're taken to Tunnels beach area. The other tour boats were anchored there as well. Snorkel masks/fins were supplied on board. I personally didn't feel comfortable trying to fight the current to maneuver around so I got back out. Once I got up on the boat the captain asked what the problem was and told me I wasn't paddling my legs correctly and then started spraying me off without even asking or informing me which I didn't appreciate. Getting sprayed on the head/face unannounced wasn't cool. I put my hands up saying " ok ok I'm good " and he said " don't you want to get the salt water all off you?" And I said "do I need too, can't I shower later" and he kind of acted smug saying "well if you want the salt water to dry on you" so I said "ok then" so he continued to concentrate on my head for few seconds then turned it off. I really didn't see the point. Anyway, just rubbed me wrong and made me feel uncomfortable the remainder of the trip. When he was handing out fins asking people's sizes I heard him make the comment to one gal " you wear a bigger size then him, most guys wear the green size 8" it made her hesitant and feel the need to comment back that men's sizing is different than women's... it was just an unnecessary comment he made. Other than that the boat tour was enjoyable, it ended up being a beautiful day after the first hour. We were able to go inside the open-air cave which was disappointing but he did backup the boat to get a closer look. And the deck-hand was very nice in taking pics of couples at various beautiful cave/hillside areas. The lunch/sandwiches were really good. Kind of thought a snack or at least beverage would have been offered earlier but it was just the sandwich, chips and drink towards the end. A Mai Tai would have been a nice touch especially since each couple are paying $450 but maybe a legality. I'd advise everyone to bring a raincoat, you do get sprayed and in Kauai rain is a given at any time. Just wish the seats were more padded and that there were handles next to the seats. The person next to me on both sides lost their balance during a rough spot and landed on me. I don't advise getting up when boat is moving at higher speeds, can get dangerous. All in all it was a nice experience, pricey but one of those splurges you won't regret when in Kauai. read more

See all

We had an amazing Napali Coast tour with Gary and Lee -- both were very knowledgeable, professional and a lot of fun to guide us on our tour. The boat is new and custom for the adventure, nimble enough to get into the sea caves, but sturdy enough to handle some chop when the wind picked up. We saw beautiful views of the coast, two pods of dolphins and lots of fish and turtles when we stopped to snorkel. We were staying in Princeville, so their starting location was also quite convenient for us. Highly recommended! read more

My friend researched and figured out the best place to start out was the north shore. I wanted a boat that was medium sized and not a blow up raft type and found North Shore Charters to be the perfect fit for us. From check in to the end of the trip we had an awesome experience! The location was easy to find, they have a bathroom in the office so everyone can go before the trip, and the van that shuttled us to the boat was comfortable. The crew was fantastic. They told us a lot of history as the pointed out different locations along the coast, took us into caves, and made sure everyone got family pictures in the best spot. We snorkeled at Tunnels because of ocean conditions and it was a really good spot. I would definitely recommend North Shore Charters! It is worth the expense read more

See all

Loved this tour!! This tour of the Na Pali coast exceeded my expectations. Check in was simple, and on time. Our shuttle out to the boat site was quick and comfortable. They provided a dry bag and snorkeling gear so we were all set. The boat ride down the coast was very informative and entertaining. We got to see all of the great sights up close and go into caves. The highlight was when we saw a bunch of dolphins swimming close to us. The sea turtles were pretty awesome too! Lunch was provided after we snorkeled. And let me tell you, the sandwiches were pretty delicious! Not a sad little sandwich by any means. The ride back in the boat was a little bumpy and we definitely got wet, but that was all part of the fun. I highly recommended this tour and company! read more

See all

Unbelievable adventure! My friend signed us up and I went with it. I wouldn't normally sign up for an event like that. The whole adventure was better than I would've ever imagined! So much natural beauty and incredible boat ride that I would do it again in a heartbeat. read more

Worth every single cent! What a fun day we had seeing the breathtaking Na Pali coastline, peaking into sea caves and snorkeling. The captain and crew of the boat were super friendly and gave us lots of interesting facts along the way. One piece of feedback, the vegan lunch Option could have been a little better. E Euronext was raving about their yummy sandwiches and we were handed a pile of lettuce leaves with some cucumber and onion slices plus a little container of hummus. Kind of hard to eat. It wouldn't take too much extra effort to stick it between two slices of bread. To be fair, I did get an email warning it would be a veggie lettuce wrap, but for the same price, it would have made it extra perfect to have it on some bread or rolled into a tortilla. All in all though we loved our tour and would do it again in a heartbeat. read more

In August 2022 I booked a trip for 5 people, part of a family visit to Kauai to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. The night before our charter my husband tested positive for CoVID and was hospitalized at Wilcox Memorial. I Immediately notified the company that none of us would be coming because we didn't want to put anyone at risk. Indeed, within 24 hours my son and I both tested positive and spent time in the Wilcox ER. Had we gone on the charter we would have exposed customers and crew, which could have put the company out of business for a few weeks. Despite the fact that I acted responsibly and citing the company's 48 hour cancellation policy, I was charged the full cost of the trip, almost $1,100. We are returning to Kauai soon and I asked for credit for two seats on an upcoming charter, but was denied. Zero aloha spirit! read more

Capt. Amber, Josh, Matt, and Jane were very friendly, informative, and entertaining. They helped everyone have the best time!

Don't miss this unforgettable experience ! The tour of the Napoli coast is breathtakingly. The guides are fun and the tour is a small group which adds to a more intimate engaging experience . Highly recommend! read more

fantastic trip. Lee and Gary did great. everyone had a great time. 5 stars for sure

Really great tour loved that the boat was small enough to get into the caves. Gary and Mike were very informative and helpful. The views were spectacular and loved the snorkeling part. read more

See all

Loved the boat trip with Lee and Gary...Would highly recommend it! They were very personable, fun and knowledgeable about the history, culture and topography of the area! We saw some manta rays and turtles, went into several sea caves then snorkeled at Tunnels (more turtles) and had a nice lunch on the boat before heading back. Loved the music on the ride back too. Nobody got sea sick and even with the choppiness late morning, stayed (mostly) dry and did not find the ride too bumpy. Definitely the highlight of our visit! read more

We just got back from our trip to Kauai and North Shore Charters boat tour was one of the highlights of our trip. We were staying in Princeville and was looking for Na Pali boat tours closer to where we were going to be. Most of the tours I found started from the South. Luckily I came across North Shore Charters, read their rave reviews, and booked the tour. Janelle, who handles the bookings, is very quick in responding and very sweet. She made sure all our questions were answered. When we had to reschedule the tour, she was very understanding. Overall, the whole booking process was very very easy. Tips: - This is an adventurous ride, and when they say people with back pains should avoid, they really mean it. My butt and back hurt for two days after the ride. But I would do this over again without thinking. - Morning tour is calmer. On the way back, we were completely drenched and had to hold on to the ropes really tight. I knew I wouldn't fall, but the ocean waves were just crazy. Our captain told us that we experienced the afternoon waves on our way back, so not sure if the return is as bad as what we experienced for the morning tour. - Sit on the left side as you will get direct view of the sea caves (you'll have to tilt your body to the left). However, if you prefer to get a view while sitting straight, then sit on the right. - If you are a vegetarian, make sure you mention at the time of booking. They provide lunch, and you specifically have to request a vegetarian sandwich. You check-in at their office, and from there, Janelle drives you to Anini Beach. The boat ride is about 4.5 hours. The boat is small enough to enter all the different sea caves. Snorkeling was amazing. The captain gave me a snorkel vest as I was a bit scared. WE had a great lunch after snorkeling. For the ride back, make sure your cameras are in the dry bag they provide, as you will get totally soaked. The boat moves really fast and you definitely have to hold on. I was jumping up and down the boat several times. Overall - an amazing experience. Definitely take this tour as you get to experience the Na Pali coast and the different sea caves. I have heard that the tours that start from the South take a lot longer to reach the Na Pali Coast. With this tour, we were there in 20 minutes. Amazing experience and outstanding customer service. There is no reason to not take this tour (unless you are pregnant, have back issues, and are really scared of fast boats). Just DO IT!!!! read more

Deb and the crew were accommodating, personable and overall seemed genuinely interested and engaged in showing us the beauty of the north coast. Thanks for a great ride. read more

Five star service all around. Sales communicated with me via return call and email. Front desk was very friendly and sensitive to the needs if my elderly uncle. On our boat - Scott and Kai(sp?) were amazing. From Scott's local knowledge to funny puns. He also zipped in and out through the different caves. He even took the time for my kids to enjoy a pod of dolphins following us! Kai was friendly and respectfully served. I was really touched by the helpfulness that they showed my uncle (btw who is 83 years old!). The crew watched my uncle float near the boat so I could watch the kids snorkel. The front office lady/van driver helped with keeping my uncle stable on his feet. I have been coming to Kauai for 4 years and this is the best sight seeing adventure we have been on since. read more

AWESOME. Hands down the highlight of our Kauai experience. We entered caves, saw dolphins and snorkeled. This is a small family operation, and all the people working there give the best service. I felt incredibly well taken care of. From the first phone call you make there, you will feel that they are incredibly helpful and patient. The boat captain who is the owner of the business is just an awesome guy. Knowledgeable, caring, taking great care to give us the full experience. You go out on a small boat (14 people in the boat) with 2 guides. One of our favorites was entering the giant caves which is something you cannot do on a bigger boat. We saw a few of those pass by, and I really felt bad for those folks. read more

See all

A great trip to see the Napali Coast. Loved how they stopped along the way to talk about History and point out points of interest. They did a great job. Fun trip. read more

This is the way to go! Zodiac ride on the ocean with a professional captain. They gave a wonderful tour of the Napoli Coast from the boat before snorkeling in a reef. My whole family thought this was the week's highlight. Riding a Zodiac is a no frills option in one sense, but it is small enough to get in sea caves the bigger ships can't. The snorkeling was in a reef and we got to see much sea life, including a sea turtle up close. The captain was wonderful and would highly recommend them. The ride back was a fast ride and the captain drove through a waterfall 'by accident' to the delight of everyone. read more

What a great afternoon! Gary and Lee are locals who truly love where they live. We were on the Na Pali tour that began at noon. A super friendly driver, Deb, took the group to the beach to board the boat (and on the return, a lovely woman, whose name I did not get). Gary and Lee told us about local history, and showed us the beautiful coastline and mountains. We saw caves, sea turtles and then went snorkeling. And, yes, we saw colorful fish on the reef - it was great. Lunch was a delicious sandwich, chips and a variety of sodas (you can call ahead if you have dietary restrictions). A bunch of strangers soon became friends for the afternoon. One of the best tours I have ever taken. Thanks all at North Shore Charters. read more

Of all the fun things that we've done this week, my family all agreed that the sea cave, waterfall, and snorkeling tour of Napali Coast was the best. We had a great time, and our captain was a lot of fun. We chose the smaller boat (Zodiac), which allowed us to fit inside sea caves that the bigger ones couldn't go in. We also saw sea turtles, dolphins, and many cool fish. If we were to come back to Kauai, we'd do this tour again with North Shore Charters hands down. read more

We had such a great experience on our Napali Coast tour. We were a group of 12, ages ranging from 4 to 70 and every single one of us had a great time! Loved that they stopped along the way to point out sights and tell stories of what we were seeing. Just an absolute great time. Highly recommend them! read more

Incredible experience! This is a must-do excursion on Kauai. First, a big thanks to Sean and Matty. These guys were amazing. They made us feel like family, were extremely knowledgeable locals and a blast to be around. I can't thank them (and the office staff) enough for making our trip so memorable. As for the tour, it was beautiful, exciting, fun and adventurous. The sea caves were awesome (our kids favorite), the boat ride was fun and snorkeling was wonderful. I'd recommend skipping the larger charter boats...they can't get into the sea caves (nor snorkeling spot we were in). Thanks to the entire North Shore Charters crew! You guys are the best! read more

North Shore Charters - Boating Near Me - Kilauea, Hawaii