Waimea Canyon Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Waimea Canyon. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Kauai Deluxe Sightseeing Flight

• Kauai Eco Adventure Helicopter Tour

• Kauai Airplane Tour: Na Pali Coast, Waterfalls & Window Seats

• Kauai: Hughes 500 4-Passenger Doors-Off Helicopters

• Kauai Private Doors-Off Helicopter: Ultimate Waterfalls & Canyons

The entrance fee for Waimea Canyon State Park is US$5 for non-residents, while residents of Hawaii and all children under 3 years old enter free of charge. There is a parking fee of US$10 per vehicle for non-residents—residents park for free. There are also plenty of tours that explore Waimea Canyon: plane rides over Kauai cost from around US$160, and full-day sightseeing tours start around US$190.

Yes, Waimea Canyon is worth visiting—it's known as the Grand Canyon of Hawaii, and it boasts the views that many visitors travel to Kauai to find, including cascading waterfalls, dramatic cliffs, and valleys. One of the best ways to see the canyon is from a bird's-eye view; consider booking a helicopter tour to see this unique geological landscape from above. 

Per one customer who booked the Kauai Waimea Canyon & South Shore Excursion. Small Group, "We booked this tour for our first day on the island, and I would highly recommend you do the same. It's great way to get a general layout of where everything is and to plan for places you want to go back to while on your trip. Coco Maria was fantastic and gave us so many tips and ideas for how to spend the remainder of our trip. Her extensive knowledge living on the island for so long, was truly helpful to us. Her love and knowledge of the island's history also enriched our time there and inspired us to plan another Polynesian adventure."

Visitors typically spend two or three hours exploring Waimea Canyon. However, the length of time you spend here depends on your interests and what activities you want to do. You could easily spend a whole day exploring the hiking trails and scenic viewpoints.

The best time to go to Waimea Canyon is early in the morning. The temperatures are more comfortable earlier in the day and the views are clearer before clouds obscure the valley and peaks. Seasonally, it is best to visit Kauai during the dry season from April to October. You do not need to purchase Waimea Canyon tickets to visit the area any time of year.

Tours of Waimea Canyon typically visit the state park's lookouts to take in the views of the canyon and waterfalls. Some tours also include a short walk on a nature trail toward the canyon's edge. Specialty tours on offer include biking excursions around the canyon with a tour guide.

It depends on which trail you take. One of the most popular trails is the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls, a moderately challenging trail that typically takes around three hours to complete. There are also shorter trails that take under an hour and longer, more challenging trails that take all day.

Yes. At each main lookout in Waimea Canyon, you will find accessible public restrooms that the State Parks manage. There are also typically a few food vendors set up at the main Waimea Canyon Lookout, serving small snacks, cut fruit, water, and soft drinks.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Waimea Canyon. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Kauai:

• Na Pali Coast

• Mt. Waialeale

• Hanalei Bay

• Lihue

• Wailua River

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Kauai.