Na Pali Coast Tours and Tickets

No, you cannot drive to the Na Pali Coast. There are no roads to the Na Pali Coast, but you can get good views of the coastline by driving to Polihale Beach or Kee Beach or by driving past Waimea Canyon in Kokee State Park and stopping at the Kalalau Lookout or the Pu'u o Kila overlook.

Yes, permits are required to hike along the Kalalau Trail beyond Hanakapiai Valley. To hike from Haena State Park to Hanakapiai Beach or Hanakapiai Falls, visitors need parking and entry tickets for Haena State Park. Visit the Hawaii DLNR reservation system online for Napali Coast State Wilderness Park. For Haena State Park, visit the park's website.

The Na Pali Coast is a spectacular work of sculpture, forged by the natural elements. The valleys were carved out of the side of Kauai five million years ago by massive amounts of water. Streams cut down, while ocean waves reached up, and sea caves, cliffs, and waterfalls were formed by waves cutting through the rock.

The challenging Kalalau Trail, which stretches 11 miles (18 kilometers) along the Na Pali Coast from Kee Beach to the Kalalau Valley, typically takes two days. Most visitors, however, are day hikers who just follow the popular 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) trail from Kee Beach to Hanakapiai Beach.

Tour options for seeing the Na Pali Coast include boat tours and sightseeing helicopter or airplane tours. Each option offers its own unique perspective. Many boat tours by catamaran or yacht include snorkeling experiences, while tours by smaller boats, such as Zodiacs, allow visitors to access sea caves and hidden beaches.

The length of your Na Pali Coast boat tour will depend on which tour you choose and whether the tour includes additional activities such as snorkeling or beach landing. A typical catamaran tour of the Na Pali Coast takes around five hours, and many include a meal.

Typically, Na Pali Coast ticketed excursions depart from Hanalei Bay, which is on Kauai's north shore and is the closest departure point to the Na Pali coastline. Some boat tours depart from Port Allen on the island's southwest side.

The summer months (from June through August) are the best months to visit the Na Pali Coast. This is when the ocean is typically calm, and the skies are clearest, offering excellent views from sightseeing flights. While it is possible to visit in the winter, air and boat tours are more likely to be canceled due to adverse conditions.

Yes, you can see the Na Pali Coast in a helicopter. Taking a helicopter tour is rated by many as the best way to see the coast, as it allows you to see the rugged interior (which you don't see on a boat tour) without the effort of embarking on a challenging hike.