Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shipwreck Beach

    4.3 (108 reviews)

    Shipwreck Beach Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Shipwreck Beach

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jillian G.

    My favorite beach in Kauai. Beautiful views, not as crowded as Poipu Beach, and parking available though can be a little trek if you're not lucky enough to grab a spot in the lot.

    Beach
    Gabriela C.

    Absolutely love this beach!!!! End of the beach is perfect for kids! Shallow and tide pools

    Em S.

    I came here as a meeting spot for a bike tour but from what I could see it looked lovely. Smaller beach area but there are public restrooms. They don't open until 7/7:30a so if you're an early bird, ya may have to use the ocean :p or hold it! There's a parking lot that holds maybe 20 cars so keep that in mind. It's not a big beach! Some people were boogie boarding, others just swimming. There are palm trees by the restrooms so there is some shade for having a picnic. That's all I got for y'all! Enjoy! xo

    Tiffany Y.

    Shipwreck Beach is a gorgeous beach along the south coast of Kauai. Certainly it will depend on when you come, but the waves were pretty strong and the tides were rolling around rocks along the shore. There were some surfers but people were pretty careful swimming out too far (which was reasonable). No lifeguard. Absolutely beautiful scenery!

    Kisses with a view. Lots of great trails to walk along the beach with our field trip pup.
    Kimberly B.

    Took our field trip pup from the humane society program here. Wonderful beach that splits into different trails that lead to amazing views. The trails off the beach made it easy to find shade.

    Sunrise over shipwreck beach
    Lance L.

    What's better than saying you've visited paradise? My guess... Living in Paradise. And let me tell you, being blessed to have been able to visit the Hawaiian islands multiple times over my life, Kauai in particular in pretty much as close to Paradise as it gets. So if you are going to 'shipwreck' at any place in the pacific, shipwreck beach in Poipu, Kauai is definitely not a bad spot to wreck. your. ship. Located on the South Shore, Shipwreck beach is known to the tourists just as much as it is to the locals. Many come here to attempt the surf, or even to jump off the cliff into the ocean below. (Surf is very rough and the rocky shore below make it extremely dangerous) For those less adventurous, the short hike to the top of the cliff provides a beautiful panoramic view of the coastline, shipwreck beach below and Grand Hyatt hotel that has a front and center view of the beach itself. Also, highly recommended coming up here at sunrise and/or sunset to capture some IG (instagram) worthy shots.

    Anthony P.

    Beautiful place! Wouldn't recommend getting in water. Take the nearby trail hike. Recommend for early morning or late evening stroll.

    Amy W.

    Fun beach to tidepool at plus I believe there are hiking trails nearby. Bring water shoes as the rocks are rough and some are slippery. We saw crabs, hermits crabs, urchins and other sea creatures stuck to the rocks. We did family pictures here too the day before so beautiful! Flower lei would have been a nice touch against our white outfits.

    Liza S.

    Video of our hike- https://youtu.be/HkpLV5yEB8E One of the best trails for all ages on Kauai is the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail. This is a 2 mile point-to-point coastal trail that runs along side some of the most beautiful wave-crashing cliffs on South Kauai. The trail can be caught in two different places. We chose to watch the sunrise at Shipwreck Beach so started there. You can park in the beach parking or there is street parking a little further up the road leading to beach. It was an incredibly windy morning and the rain had just moved out, so the waves were in full swing. The surfers were taking advantage of this and we watched them for a while. I'm usually pretty good at singular sports, but surfing is the one thing that I continue to fail at, so I greatly admire those that have the agility and ability. So, instead, I whirled and played tag with the ocean waves on the shore and enjoyed the beautiful sand between my toes. Next, we started our trek. The trail starts between a grassy, picnic area and the beach; there is a small embankment to climb up, but nothing too hard, especially for Kauai. This hike is such a beautiful experience. There are areas where the trail is wide so you don't feel crowded by any others you may encounter. You can almost have your own journey, which is magical for a hike like this. By the way, we wore closed toed Keen sandals for the trek, but easily could've done it in sneakers. No poles are needed. The path takes you along cliffs, but if this makes you nervous, you can easily navigate more inland. It's the beauty of this hike. These cliffs are Lithified sand dunes- ancient sand dunes that have hardened into limestone and contain fossils of coral and algae. This process took over 125,000 years! The next part of the hike takes you to a Native Hawaiian temple or heiau. The cultural definition of heiau is a place of worship where mana (divine energy) is transferred and concentrated through ritual and prayer. Do not touch, play on or remove artifacts from this site. If you brought your family with you, please watch your children. This space is sacred and the whole area should be treated with respect. This is approximately half-way. If you decide to continue, the trail will take you along a golf course to Maha'ulepu Beach, also known as Gillin's Beach. The surf is pretty rough here usually; this beach is best known for windsurfing. Do not enter the water if you are not a strong and experienced swimmer. The beach is also known for monk seal sightings as well as sea turtles, so please do not disturb and keep your distance. You can also pop in to see the tortoises at the sanctuary near the beach, or duck to explore the Makauwahi Cave, but that wasn't on our agenda this day. This is the biggest limestone cave in the Hawaiian archipelago and includes an amazing sinkhole, where the cave ceiling collapsed. The cave is open for free guided tours (with a recommended donation) daily. You can park near CJM stables to access this side of the trail to start or to see the cave or tortoises. This trail should not be missed and is totally free! You can choose what side to begin at or how far to go. Even for a short jaunt, the views are worth it. I hope you enjoy my footage. It's some of my favorite from the trip.

    Good waves
    Rou M.

    Been here a few times. There's a hike on the eastern part of the beach. Climb the rocks and you'll be overlooking the cliffs onto the ocean. You can continue walking for a good bit if you would like. Lots of interesting vegetation and rocks to look at. The waves are pretty awesome for boogie boarding here. I've never been able to ride waves from so far out. Just be mindful of the rocks in the middle of the beach. The waves keep pushing you toward them so gotta keep making adjustments. Good spot to have a picnic... Quite a few tall shady trees. Parking seems a bit tight but you're allowed to park on the sides of the street.

    Kickin it by the ocean on a beautiful day.
    Steve O.

    Sometimes you just need someplace pretty to sit and relax. It was nice to kick back and watch the waves. I could hear Otis Redding singing "Sittin On The Dock of the Bay" in my mind as I was "wasting time". Nothing like being able to unwind without a care in the world. Almost as peaceful as my time at Infinity Beach at sunset during a previous trip to Hawaii. Imagine that. No stress. Got to take those times when they come along. They are few and far between.

    Sunset
    Kelly L.

    It is a nice and quiet beach. There is no life guard here. The water is pretty rough though. There were used to have a wrecked wooden boat by the cliff but it is no longer here. The cliff at the end of the beach is 40 feet high. People do jump off the cliff times to times. I have not seen anyone diving off the cliff during our stay here at the Grand Hyatt. There are many local body surfers here daily and put on nice surfing show. It is a good place to see sunrise. For sunset, you can not see the sun going down from here. You can see sunset at Poipu beach park. Free parking is available next to the Hyatt. You can walk up to restaurants and shops at the Hyatt but will not be able to use their pool and lagoons. They have wrist bands for guests stayed at the hotel.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim H.
    41
    82
    664

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Em S.
    297
    339
    2063

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex L.
    4363
    2469
    6756

    2 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 13
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony T.
    308
    1575
    3678

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Liza S.
    36
    39
    30

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R W.
    6
    7
    0

    2 years ago

    We followed the trails down coast and saw lots of turtles! It was awesome! Parking was easy to find.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 60
    Thanks 1
    Love this 59
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Naomi L.
    0
    322
    1552

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John T.
    144
    687
    2858

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Scott G.
    261
    71
    132

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of James T.
    1720
    772
    3543

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Shipwreck Beach

    We are looking for a nearby local restaurant for a group of 20 after a wedding on the beach. Any suggestions? A more local feel not so resort-ish. More casual less stuffy.

    I was in Poipo/Koloa all last week and tried numerous restaurants. Most were average. Our best find was 1849 restaurant . Excellent food. Open seating area but they can accommodate large parties up to 20-25 if you call them a week in advance.… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Shipwreck Beach

    But if you're a surfer, great waves :) We saw folks jumping off the cliff on the left-hand side of the beach...

    Mentioned in 23 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Beaches 1,402 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Poipu Beach

    Poipu Beach

    4.5(497 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    (Visited 05/26/26 SU @ 10:00am): There were definitely "crashing waves" albeit small ones along…read morePoipu Beach Located on Kaua'i's "sunny southside", I spent a lazy Sunday at Poipu Beach people-watching, reading, sleeping, snorkeling, sunning, and swimming. Right along The Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas where I was staying, I haven't had a day-long beach day for awhile, and I really needed a day just to recharge, refresh, and regenerate my body, mind, and soul. Having been ranked as one of the top beaches in the U.S. over the years, was there anything to poo-poo about Poipu Beach!? EXPERIENCE The word "poipu" in the Hawaiian language meant "crashing waves" and was actually two beaches in one. A "tombola" (known as Nukumoi Point) separated the two bays, and in this case it was a narrow sand spit that extended from the shore to an island. This particular area was a favorite spot for endangered napping Hawaiian monk seals. The area on the western side of the beach was a favorite for beginner bodyboarders while small waves broke gently on the shallow sandbar created a fun area for children to play. The area on the eastern side of the beach was a lava rock-protected and shallow spot for swimmers and another play area for families with small children. On this comfortable sunny day, what was initially a quiet beach progressively got crowded and noisy as the day wore on. I swam for hours back and forth past the shorebreak along the coast, took breaks to drink water and eat a snack, napped, read, and then went back out with snorkel gear in hand. An exhausting exhilarating stress-free day - perfection! SERVICE Specifically on this section of the beach, there weren't any bathrooms nor lifeguard stations. Generally speaking, there weren't any facilities whatsoever except for what the adjacent Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas may offer. It was a completely open public beach - 'nuff said. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) I had no vehicle, so I simply walked from my room. However, there was a nightly $40.00 fee for guests who stayed at the Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas if they parked on the property, and there might've been some free parking along the many nearby roads and streets. Make sure to carefully read any posted signs. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE I made a spot directly out past the middle opening from the resort's pool and the sand, the beach was clean and smooth, somewhat spacious, and fairly empty early-on but no shady trees to deflect the sunlight. There was a lone monk seal https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=120&select=xDFNXkdOMhOO9W7Nv7YtuA which was a protected specie, so people must please stay away. Sizable waves were much further out, this beach was perfect for light water activity (no real surf breaks while snorkeling was better once you got considerably past the shore break). No benches, chairs, or tables, so bring your own chairs or towels to lay or sit on. Obviously, there was plenty of natural lighting with only the glowing stars left to guide you when nighttime came. There were no TVs nor any background music except for any electronic device you brought along with you such as your mobile phone. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=120&select=GN-CeJWbv9VNt_FU7MhmDg ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Poipu Beach was another little piece of island heaven which I hoped would stay that way. Online research culled many articles and reviews of this beach that also alluded to what I experienced, so none of this was a secret. However, on this given weekend, I was thankful for the peacefulness and solitude. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, there was no need for funds of any kind which included my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

    Probably the most famous beach on Kauai, Poipu was named 'Best Beach in America' in 2001 by "Dr…read more 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.

    Photos
    Poipu Beach
    Poipu Beach - Unknown fruit on one of the trees. January 2023.

    Unknown fruit on one of the trees. January 2023.

    Poipu Beach

    See all

    Lawa'i Beach

    Lawa'i Beach

    4.4(55 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    This was probably my favorite beach we visited this time around. It's not a very large beach and…read morecan get crowded with those who are wanting to snorkel. Even surfers set out here to catch some waves. There are a lot of rocks, more rocks than sand, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I highly recommend water socks to protect your feet. There's a great entrance point that's pretty smooth and easy on your feet, but the waves can be choppy. The snorkeling reminded me a lot of Two Step Beach on the Big Island because you didn't have to swim out very far to see fish. There were a ton of fish out there! There were also a couple of turtles further out, but there were quite a few people hanging out around them. Remember not to get too close to them! :) We visited this beach several times because it was right outside our condo complex. At one point we were just sunbathing and playing in the water and ended up having the whole beach to ourselves late in the afternoon! It was awesome!

    This beach is perfect to watch the sunset at, & is right next to the nice restaurant The Beach…read moreHouse. There is a very small sand area, but the ground is leveled so that it's very easy to sit & watch the sunset. The water is full of rocks, which actually made it very good for snorkeling. There were lots of fish around, eating off of the rocks. It was also in a little cove, so the waves were a bit smaller & easier to snorkel around in. This was one of the best beaches to snorkel at to see fish of the ones I went to (Anini Beach, Poipu Beach, & here).

    Photos
    Lawa'i Beach
    Lawa'i Beach
    Lawa'i Beach - Sunset

    See all

    Sunset

    Spouting Horn - Large Spouting  - Spouting Horn Park. Sunday, 8/3/2025.

    Spouting Horn

    3.9(286 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    If you find yourself near Poipu Beach and fancy a little natural theatrics, the Spouting Horn is…read moreyour go-to spot. Picture this: water shooting dramatically through blowholes, like Mother Nature showing off her party tricks. The ocean's hue is so stunning it might make your Instagram followers weep with envy. Parking? Plenty. Stress? None. There's even a picnic area if you feel like making a day of it--though, let's be honest, this is more of a quick-stop kind of gig. Legend has it, a giant lizard got trapped there and now moans dramatically every time the blowhole erupts. Talk about holding a grudge! We swung by during a casual drive from our condo, and while there's some nearby construction, it's nothing that'll ruin the vibe. Bonus: you can even catch a glimpse of the action from a mile away at the Sheraton Kauai Resort, if you're feeling lazy. So, is it life-changing? Nah. But is it worth a pit stop for some cool photos and a bit of local lore? Absolutely. Consider it nature's way of saying, Ta-da!

    Located on the southern coast of Kauai, this natural lava tube blowhole has been known to shoot…read moreseawater as high as 50ft into the air. According to local folklore, a giant lizard which once protected this portion of the island got stuck in the lava tube. And the lizard's roar is now heard every time the Spouting Horn Blowhole blasts water into the air. There is a paved parking lot here, so parking is not an issue. While the actual blowhole is not accessible, you can still get a great view and awesome pictures at the fenced viewing area. There's not much else to do here so it never gets too crowded. As people come and go after about 10mins. Bathrooms facilities are also available here if you need a restroom break.

    Photos
    Spouting Horn - Goodbye Spouting Horn Park, until we meet again.

    Goodbye Spouting Horn Park, until we meet again.

    Spouting Horn
    Spouting Horn

    See all

    Brennecke Beach - Living Aloha

    Brennecke Beach

    4.1(26 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    I was last here during the early pandemic and it was a beautiful, peaceful beach that was perfect…read morefor families with little kids. Now, spring of 2026, it's a bit of a mad house. Ironically, we got here early around 9:30-10am, staked out a good spot a solid several yards away from a turtle sunning himself on the beach - and then 15+ turtles joined him over the next 3-4 hours (clearly the pandemic and social distancing is also a thing of the past for the turtles). Ironically, because of this (I'm presuming), the beach quickly became hectic and crowded with dozens of tourists coming over to take pictures and forming a seemingly solid wall of butts of all shapes, sizes, and coverage now between us and the ocean. Lots of butts right in front of us. Meanwhile the well-meaning conservation folks "protecting" the turtles (the turtles, who seemed like they couldn't care less about people) were SHRIEKING at kids and adults who absent-mindedly stepped between the Cone Guardians and the turtles. Got a special treat of a huge monk seal floating by and peaking at all the daytime soap drama too; that was fun. Snorkeling here is meh if you find a zigzag line to get through the turtle brigade to the water without being tasered by the Turtle Keepers (jk, sorta). I'm all for experiencing nature but honestly this beach is too much for me. Peek at the turtles for the turtle experience, but don't come here for the beach itself.

    Come early to score a parking spot in the crowded public lot…read more Easy swim & snorkel beach. Small waves, no dangerous currents. Lifeguard on duty. Reef has many colorful fish to see. Monk seals often snooze on beach. Saw several sea turtles within 4 feet of shore today. Often is overcrowded with people. This is not a peace & solitude beach. Hence this 3 star rating.

    Photos
    Brennecke Beach
    Brennecke Beach - Good waves to the right, but be prepared to pull out before the rocks.

    Good waves to the right, but be prepared to pull out before the rocks.

    Brennecke Beach - BEAUTIFUL

    See all

    BEAUTIFUL

    Shipwreck Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...