Pros: You will definitely see Sea Turtles, potentially Seals and Fish if you go out to snorkel. There is also a rental shop with affordable prices and a small playground. Cons: Parking in the afternoon is full and you will have to wait to get a spot. Tourist heavy, sand spots are hard to come by later in the day. Recommendation: Come before 10am, read all the sign otherwise lifeguards will yell at you over intercom and respect the wildlife. read more

Probably the most famous beach on Kauai, Poipu was named 'Best Beach in America' in 2001 by "Dr. Beach", when such lists weren't so prevalent as they are now. My wife and I visited on Day 4 of our Kauai vacation in the early afternoon, and continued to understand why it is so popular with tourists. The area around the beach area is built up, with retail businesses within walking distance. There is usually plenty of free parking, but on this day, the past week's rains had flooded one of the parking lots, so there were not as many spots. My wife still found a good spot though, and we walked the short distance to the shoreline. There is a protected man-made wading area towards the east of the beach. It is easy to wade out to the lava rock retaining wall, with the water being maybe 3 feet there. There are facilities and lifeguards in the area. One of their jobs was to keep folks from getting too close to 4 sea turtles that were sunning on the sand near that area. read more

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This beach is nice and welcoming! The rocks don't close you in but I actually felt pretty safe going in about waist-deep. The water was calm and clear, perfect for snorkeling we saw a small school of fish. The highlight, though? We counted 30 turtles while we were there! It was such a beautiful and rare experience to see so many in their natural habitat. Highly recommend stopping by if you love peaceful views and wildlife! read more

Poipu Beach - Some of the turtles that swam up - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Turtles, turtles, and turtles oh my - no wonder this spot is so popular. Parking can be a challenge. Be patient. There are families & children everywhere. Puka dog is across the street - there will probably be a line, it's worth the wait. Shave ice is a separate line inside to the left. Bathrooms are there, no soap or drying though. read more

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Very beautiful beach. You will see large green sea turtles. Beach is calm and they have public restrooms. Seemed to be plenty of public parking. Very nice green areas for a picnic and relaxing. About 30 minute drive from port. Highly recommend visiting. read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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We were in the area so had to check out Poipu Beach. There is a large parking lot across the street which was quite full when we were there. It is a popular beach so a lot of people were there to swim and surf. It is a very hot and dry in the southern part of the island. read more

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One of my favorite beaches in Kauai. This is one of the best places to see the sunset if you're near the south or eastern side of Kauai. If you come during sunset, you'll get a chance to see the sea turtles come with the waves to rest for the evening. Although you can't get close to them, you can go snorkeling in the water just don't touch the animals. If you have any questions about them, there are local volunteers protecting and answering any questions people have about the turtles. Also, there is a parking lot across the street so come early to find the best parking. During sunset besides turtles, you'll see surfers, riding the waves. One of the best sunsets of my life. read more

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If you're an early riser and want to see some lovely turtles, this place is a great place to do so! Located in the south end of the island, it's super easy to find this beach. Parking isn't too bad if you come here before 8am. For the turtles, I came around 7:3am and there was a nice group of them on the beach! If you do see these lovely animals, please give them space and not be too loud. Other than the turtles, beach is pretty clean with soft sand. There are quite a few shallow areas of the water, making it perfect for the little ones to play and swim around. Personally didn't do snorkeling but this beach looks like a great place to practice! read more

Poipu Beach - Turtles! - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

On our last day in Kaua'i, we drove to Poipu beach just before sunrise in hopes to see some new friends and make everlasting memories. It was pitch black when we left the hotel and by the time we got to the beach the sun starting poking out. We parked and saw a group of people standing around taking photos. Then we saw them, 7 sea turtles resting along the shore. It was magical. As the sun started to rise, one by one the turtles began their journey back into the sea. Not too long after we arrived, a monk seal flopped itself onto the shore. An unexpected surprise that made it even better! He kept creeping up onto the shore more and more, and a woman was even telling us how rare it is for them to appear--I felt so lucky in that moment. And the cherry on top was we saw a rainbow as we were leaving. We didn't explore much of the beach but it's home to a park, many picnic benches, food spots, and resorts. There were people snorkeling and surfing as well. The beach seems like one of the most popular on the island. Overall this beach gave us the best ending to our trip and I'm forever thankful for it! read more

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Definitely worth spending a few more dollars to stay within walking distance of Poipu Beach. This area is perfect for families as the swimming and snorkeling is in calm water and there are several lifeguards. Turtles are always on the beach. - there is a parking lot but it's always full. There is some steet parking. - short drive to Costco. - short drive to better dinner options. Expecially in Kaloa. read more

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Beautiful beach and there was so many turtles on the shore. The turtles were just sleeping and there were lines to indicate where people shouldn't cross. Worth checking out as the parking across was free! read more

Poipu Beach - Turtles - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Such a great beach to access! Easy parking, beautiful water, and in the evenings you can watch sea turtles come up to the shore! Sometimes there are dozens of them which is magical to see and honestly one of my favorite things about this beach. Please be respectful of sea life though and do not touch or disturb the turtles! Even at night you'll spot them resting on the sand. A must visit if you're in Poʻipū! read more

Poipu Beach - sea turtles! - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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This place is magical if you love turtles. We had heard about a beach where turtles swim up to the shore around sunset, so after dinner we headed over to check it out. Sure enough, as the sun began to set, the turtles emerged from the water and rested on the sand. About 50 people gathered quietly to watch, all in awe. It was a beautiful moment--watching the turtles and taking in the sunset. I didn't get a chance to snorkel here, but earlier in the day, a few people told us it's a great snorkeling spot, with calm water and plenty of turtles to see. I'd highly recommend this place, especially for families with young kids. read more

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First time snorkeling and this was a good area for beginners. The water didn't have too many waves, but the current was pretty strong making it hard to stay in place. You don't have to go deep before you start seeing a variety of fishes, which was really nice (even got to see a turtle and an eel!). However, BE CAREFUL! The rocks are rough and my guy and I both got cut up as the current would push us to the shallow rocks. I do feel like that prevented me from fully enjoying my snorkel experience. You can tell this is a popular tourist attraction as there wasn't a lot of space left on the beach for our stuff, but I'm glad the fishes weren't scared away by the foot traffic. read more

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Before I left the mainland a friend gave me a heads up when she knew I was going to Kauai. An island I've not been to in over 20 years. You need to see the turtles on the beach she said. Around sunset. I didn't want to wait until sunset as our resort was up north In Princeville. And no street lights on the highway on the entire island at night. Fortunately we had time after visiting Waimea Canyon in the morning. We found a parking space at the Poipu Beach lot. Then headed toward the beach. From the distance I noticed what looked like flat rocks. The closer we got it became evident that they weren't flat rocks. Yes, turtles a.k.a. honus. This was at 12:45pm. There were eight of them sunbathing. You can't get more than 10 feet as state and federal laws protect the turtles. Each Hawaiian island I've visited has honus but it's always exciting to see them on the beach. A bucket list item checked off during my week long visit. read more

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tl;dr Nice beach especially for toddlers with a small wading pool and adjacent small playground. It's a solid spot for those who want to see turtles and the parking lot is generous. Depending on the tide, wading pool would be fine for a 2-3yo to walk independently. There are a few fish and crabs, but not the ideal snorkeling spot for those without LOs. Nearby picnic tables and restrooms which changing areas. read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

When I told our friends we were headed to Kauai, everyone said we had to check out Poipu Beach. I was pretty excited to check it out, based on the responses I got from everyone. While it was beautiful and great, it was the most crowded beach we visited while in Kauai. It felt very touristy. Parking was a bit of a pain because of the large crowds. I lucked out finding a space near Puka Dog, which is where we grabbed lunch and headed to the beach to eat. There are lifeguards on duty here, which is good considering how many people come here. We heard seals, but didn't see any. The coolest thing was there were 2 turtles basking in the sun when we arrived and by the time we left, there were 8!!! They have them coned off in a section to keep them separated. Some tourists crossed the cones to get closer, but we all tried to hold them accountable. I find it so interesting the turtles come here even with all those people in the water and on the beach! The water felt amazing and the waves were calm enough for swimming peacefully. I even got to swim with a turtle (from a respectable distance) as he headed back out to the ocean. The beach was clean despite how crowded it was. Definitely stop by here to check out the turtles, but if you're trying to stay away from crowds, this isn't the place. read more

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This beach is great for so many reasons, 1. The super duper awesome sea turtles!! The turtles come to shore to rest around 4/5 sunset hours, you can also come later but once it gets dark you can't take pictures with them Caz camera flashes are not allowed 2. The amazing sunset, wide open space for a beautiful sunset, it's so pretty. 3 family activity, the water are pretty shallow, great for little kids, it's very safe. The tides are peaceful and calm. The place does get packed, so prepare to take some time to find parking spots. Definitely worth visiting!!! read more

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Free parking lot and bathroom. Showers weren't working. Lifeguards are there. Afternoon snorkeling around 2pm review: No turtles were seen but wow the fish are right there! I couldn't believe it. The water is shallow and the fish are immediately right there when you get in. They will swim close to you, it was great. It was a little windy so there were waves, I'd recommend flippers but you'll be fine without them if you can swim. Water shoes would be great since there are some rocks as you walk out if you don't have flippers. read more

I came to this beach to see sea turtles and yes I did see them. However, the lifeguards here were very rude to us when we stepped just beside the cones. Another person was closer and inside the cones snapping photos but the lifeguard only approached us saying "hey! stay outside of the cones." Yep, we know how cones work. We respect the honu. It really killed our vibe and any place on the sand was completely overtaken with families. There were soooo many people swimming/snorkeling in the water and I could tell there were rocks as soon as you get in. It's advised to wear water shoes and respect the reef. We love empty and swimmable beaches and this beach was not doing it for us. It's right beside a resort so all the tourist families will be here. We left to Kiahuna beach which was much more swimmable and enjoyable. read more

Poipu Beach - Turtle - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Nice beach with plenty of space for sunbathing. Most of the area is shared by three hotels -- Marriott, Sheraton, and Koa Kea. We stayed at the third one, and right in front of it there's a big surf spot, perfect for learning and trying out surfing. If you're looking for something more relaxing, the area near the Marriott is calmer -- that's where we went swimming. Most of the waves there are softened by nearby breakwaters, making it a great spot to enjoy the water. read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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What's not to like about a Hawaiian beach and sunset, see my pics. I'll let my, other people's, pics do the selling of this beach. We spent many hours here, from watching sea turtles coming ashore to people watching. In the area of the sea turtles, we snorkeled a few times. There many colorful small fishes to see. The beach was clean and the breeze fresh. The parking was close, so we didn't walk from our hotel. There were a few restaurants that were incredibly close, but timing is important to avoid the lines. read more

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The Honu (green turtles) come to rest on this beach, so there are cones around the area to keep onlookers and swimmers from disturbing them: sadly, the day we were there, several people walked through the coned off area. A huge green turtle was resting along the shore seemingly observing the ocean and waves rolling in At sunset they go back to the ocean and you can watch them; please no flashlights or flash photography: it blurs their sense of direction and could pose a risk to them. (Docents use a red beam to show you the turtles as it gets darker). The beach itself is very nice, with a Lifeguard tower where the surf is higher and stronger, and a quieter side at the other end, near the turtles, more sandy areas past these too. The surf is gentler and better for snorkeling and kids. There's plenty of space but not much shade, if you want to have shade bring or rent an umbrella or canopy. There are nearby restaurants and such if you can't bring your lunch or just want to eat out. Sunsets are beautiful too so look at that as well as the Honu. I'll try to post beach pix when sorting all the ones taken. read more

Poipu Beach - Honu on the beach at Poi'pu - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Best beach to see Honu (turtles) & sunsets. We counted 10 turtles & more were coming ashore as we were leaving. What a sight to see. The honu come every evening to rest til morning. Nice park & beach. Directly across from Puka dog & Brenekes. read more

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Nice bay beach for relaxing and snorkeling. It's really shallow everywhere and if you stay in a corner of the beach, the water is as calm as a pool, at least in September. It's a nice place to snorkel. It had the most fish out of the 4 beaches we went to. You'll see turtles and monk seals. Please stay away from the sea life and respect the blocked of areas. There was a family that only cared about their photos. Luckily, many were willing to scold them to back away. Respect nature, you can enjoy their beauty from afar. read more

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We spent a week in Kauai, traveled around the island via rental car and even took a flight around the island via AirVentures, but seeing the Hawaiian Green Turtles at poipu Beach was my wife's favorite! We ended up watching the Turtles come ashore to rest in the evenings, twice and returned a 3rd time so she could snorkel and watch the Turtles come one evening. Lots of parking, some covered picnic tables and a great beach to swim, snorkel (plenty of fish & and eel) and observe Hawaiian Green Turtles in their natural habitat. read more

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Came by just before 7am and there were 2 turtles on the beach. I heard the turtles come up to sleep at night and go back into the sea in the morning. These 2 were sleeping in. I also hear some people wake up before sunrise to see them go back into the ocean. Waves were calm. Parking was plentiful this morning. Only a few people watching. There are a couple of signs mentioning to stay behind them. Not the cleanest beach compared to the next door one at Kiahuna beach with rocks and twigs. There is a public bathroom near by. If you walk 5 minutes more you will reach Brennecke's beach. Returned at 7pm in time to catch the sunset. Parking wasn't too difficult to find with a little patience. There were already 5 turtles on the beach and then by sunset there was a total of 8! It was more crowded but still enough room to see them. read more

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Love this beach! My husband and I came here to snorkel and relax and although it can get pretty busy, it's really nice! We cane pretty much everyday since we stayed only down the street from this beach. We saw sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals at this beach. Snorkelling was really great! To the left of the life guard area is a beach where water shoes or flippers is highly recommended because it's all coral but to the right of the life guard is a sandy area and then coral. This is where my husband and I enjoyed snorkeling more! The water was really clear but since we came during mid-march it would get a little rough sometimes. I would recommend flippers if you have them to swim better. I had water shoes and wasn't able to swim out too far. Plenty of fish to see and I even saw an eel! Watch out where you step and try not to step on the coral or urchins. Makes me sad when I see people stepping on the coral. read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Beautiful busy beach with toilets and showers. Close to restaurants and lodging but also have picnic tables and pavilions. You're almost guaranteed to see turtles here. They have life guards and the surf isn't too rough for kids. Bring water shoes the rock can be rough on feet. read more

Very beautiful but super crowded! I do not recommend coming too late! It was very crowded! read more

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10/20/23 Poipu Beach, the perfect spot to swim, basque under the sun, snorkel, picnic, people watch, and watch nesting Hawaiian Green Turtles inch their way in & out of the shore. There's ample parking across the street but it could get pretty hairy especially during the summer months & weekends. A shower installation is out in the grassy area to wash off all that sand you've picked up & public restrooms as well. Life guard towers ate manned on certain hours. There is a shallow part on this beach that is suitable for children near the lava rocks used as a breaker wall. For food/beverages, there's Brennecke's a few yards away. I was listening to a city employee who ensures that the nesting Hawaiian Green Turtles are protected from humans touching them or getting in the way of their habitat. She said they're studying the behaviors of these spectacular creatures, such as, why do they only nest on these certain areas, what is so special about this area of Poipu Beach? They've noticed that each turtle has its own specific spot that it frequents. She states that she's seen turtles go over another turtle to get to its 'designated' spot. While it is a wonderful place to do & experience any of these beach/water activities, being such a popular & well sought after kind of beach might not be something you're looking for--but it is definitely worth seeing & visiting. read more

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My husband and I had a great time at this beach. It's located near Puka Dog, which I was very excited to try. It was shallow, which made it great for kids to hang out in as well as beginner swimmers like myself to enjoy and snorkel the day away. I even saw turtles, which was amazing! Parking was relatively easy for us, and free, and we were even able to find a spot on the beach where we could lay our stuff down, sunbathe, and head to the water! Be sure to bring your snorkeling gear, as you'll definitely find life under the sea here :) read more

Poipu Beach - Turtleeee! - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Perfect for everyone. Parking lot? Check. Bathrooms? Check. Turtles? Check. Food? Check. Playground? Check. Random chickens? Check. Amazing water and some good snorkeling? Check. Just go. You won't regret it. A Kauai must visit. (Photo of 13 turtles chilling on the beach) read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Nice little beach with a kids playground. The most notable are the turtles! They are protected and swim and beach in the area. According to the lifeguard, the best time to see the turtles would be evening (after 6pm), you can sometimes see 40-50 turtles on the beach resting. I came around 5ish and saw 7-8. Pay attention to the cone zone, the lifeguards will get on the speaker and ask you to stand back. read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Great beach, especially for the family. This beach is protected by a rock formation thus creating a safer area to swim and see fish without being tossed by the waves. Multiple life guard stands were present to keep an eye out for problems. On the day I visited there were five large sea turtles relaxing on the beach. There was a quasi perimeter we could not pass and the life guards were watching closely but what a great experience. There is free parking across the street. A bus stop is about a quarter mile away if you wanted to go that route (check scheduled closely, have exact change and remember they are currently not running on Sundays). There is also a restaurant and the must-try Puka Dog across the street as well. Plenty of grass areas and picnic tables to use. Perfect beach for vacationing! read more

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The sea turtles come in around sunset to rest on the beach, so there was always a big crowd around sunset time -- people sitting and standing around to get a glimpse of the sea turtles arriving and slowly climbing up the beach to find their overnight resting spot. You can also see the sunset from the western side of the beach (not the eastern side because there are too many turtle viewers standing in the way blocking the view of the sunset). There is a little bit of shade on this beach (from palm trees and like a couple of regular trees). The snorkeling here was pretty good! Not quite as much to see as Lawai Beach but almost as good. Puka Dog is just across the street Parking can be a little difficult around sunset as it's crowded from all the turtle-viewing people and also shared parking with the restaurants right in the area. read more

Calling all sea turtles! Have you been swimming your heart out all day and just need a place to dig into the cool sand and sleep for the night? Stop by Poipu Beach for your perfect accommodations! Between 6:30-7:30 is the ideal time to arrive as you'll have a beautiful sunset to light your way to the shore and then provide a serene atmosphere as you drift off into blissful slumber. Are you concerned about humans getting in your way? Rest assured that they thought of you! There's a roped off area where you can nap without the hassle of people getting too close and flashing camera lights at you. If someone does try to interrupt your relaxation vibe, there are dedicated volunteers there to remind tourists of the rules and keep them back. So you can rest comfortably. read more

Poipu Beach is always sunny and a great destination for a family trip to the beach. Although it can be crowded, there are opportunities to spot wildlife like Hawaiian green sea turtles or monk seals that nap on the sand during the sunny hours. With close proximity to restaurants, shopping centers, and Spouting Horn, Poipu Beach is always entertaining. read more

Poipu Beach - View of the beach with some locals lounging on the beach after a swim - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

It's a great beach to visit with family. Easy to do snorkeling for all ages since the water is pretty shallow. Lots of fish everywhere to see. There are a restaurant and hot dogs/snow cones place right across the street to pick up to do picnic at the beach. Lots and lots of turtles throughout the day! A must visit beach in Poipu for sure! read more

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This is an extremely nice beach. We got to see the sea turtles and the. Monk seals there are several bathrooms there sheltered picnic table areas a lifeguard I take that back. There were two lifeguard stations got to watch some people surfing and we got to eat at a restaurant across the street the upstairs one. read more

Poipu Beach - Sea turtles - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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