Top Kauai Wildlife Watching in 2026

Avoid crowds and embark on a small-group Kauai snorkeling tour that departs from the shore, without a boat. Head for Kauai’s pristine southshore reefs to see tropical fish, sea urchins, and sea mammals. You may also see a Hawaiian green sea turtle nesting on the beach or a Hawaiian monk seal basking in the sun.

Enjoy a traditional Hawaiian experience and get unique insight into island life with this dining experience at Luau Kalamaku. Savor a buffet of classic Hawaiian favorites, beginning with an imu roast. Then watch a talented troupe of dancers and musicians as they enact legends from Hawaii’s history. The entertainment includes Polynesian hula dancers, flame throwers, and a parade of colorful costumes for a night out in Kauai you won’t soon forget.

See the Na Pali Coast, an enchanting stretch of Kauai that is only accessible by boat, hiking trail, or helicopter, with this express tour. You'll hop aboard a speedy boat and head out to sea, where you'll take in views of the coastline and surrounding waters--you may even spot a dolphin. As an added bonus, beer, wine, and mai tais will be served on board.

Fly across the ocean on an exhilarating guided Zodiac raft ride along the gorgeous Na Pali coast. The raft’s small size allows you to get into hard-to-reach sea caves, plus you’ll ogle pristine beaches, gushing waterfalls, and sheer cliffs. This ocean adventure isn’t for the light-hearted, but the Zodiac rafts provide a thrilling and memorable way to explore this magnificent coastline from the water, as your captain and crew ensure your safety.

See the waterfalls of Kauai’s Hule'ia River from a whole new perspective on this exciting rappel experience. One for adventure lovers, guests are first led through a safety lesson and practice run before being guided down two waterfalls. After the adrenaline rush, take in the beauty of Hule'ia National Wildlife Refuge and Ha'upu Mountain range for a snack break before heading back.

Head out on an epic adventure along one of the world's most magnificent coastlines. From your comfortable vantage point on a 37-foot (11 meter) Naiad Super Raft, enjoy spectacular views of the 17-mile-long Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. Explore sea caves and private beaches—accessible only by raft—and snap photos of majestic cathedrals (the cliffs that tower over Kalalau Valley). As you journey along the water, keep an eye out for the marine life that inhabits the area, including dolphins and whales. Each trip (weather permitting) includes time to take a dip and snorkel amongst tropical fish and sea turtles.

With 17 miles of pure shoreline splendor—4,000-foot cliffs, emerald valleys, cathedral spires—Kauai’s Na Pali coast claims some of the country’s best sailing and snorkeling. On this tour, you’ll cross both off your list, hopping aboard a sailing catamaran for an unforgettable adventure. Between sitting down to breakfast and lunch, you’ll spot whales, snorkel amongst turtles and rays, and see one of the most spectacular coastlines on the planet.

This small-group Zodiac tour, limited to 14 guests, offers an adventurous front-row seat aboard twin 25-foot Hurricane boats trusted by Navy SEALs. Glide across Kauai’s pristine waters for exceptional whale and dolphin viewing, while guides share insights about marine life and ecosystems. Ideal for adventure-loving families and wildlife enthusiasts, this tour provides an up-close experience of Kauai’s winter visitors.

Explore the natural beauty of Kauai on a 5-hour tour that combines a lovely kayaking trip with an moderately easy hike to Uluwehi Falls, also known as Secret Falls. Your experienced guide provides a paddling lesson and guided kayak tour in the Wailua River Valley, following gorgeous waterways through the lush Kauai landscape. Then hop out of your kayaks and take a 45-minute hike to Secret Falls where you can cool off in the clear waters before returning to the Wailua marina the way you came.

The Na Pali Coast is one of the world's most spectacular coastlines, and one of the best ways to see it is by cruising along the coastline as the sun goes down. This sunset cruise takes you out onto the ocean in a comfortable catamaran. As you glide past Na Pali's jagged peaks and emerald valleys, enjoy a complimentary Hawaiian-style dinner and toast the sunset with a Mai Tai.

Indulge a passion for both nature and chocolate on this tropical tasting tour of Princeville Botanical Gardens in Kauai. Explore the plants and flowers on a tour of the garden’s terraces, creek beds, and valley floor, stopping along the way to taste fresh Hawaiian fruit and honey. Rest your feet in a shady outdoor tasting area as you sample single-origin gourmet chocolates from around the world and learn how cocoa beans are transformed into delicious chocolate products.

Experience Kauai nature at its finest on this kayaking and waterfall hiking tour. Paddle the majestic Wailua River, original home of the first Hawaiians, as your guide shares stories about the flora and fauna of Kauai's most sacred area. Then, hike through the rainforest to Secret Falls where you can enjoy a refreshing dip before a delicious lunch. This challenging tour requires participants to meet health and age guidelines to ensure safety.

Explore Kauai’s stunning landscapes at your own pace with this private self-guided audio driving tour using the Shaka Guide app. Navigate Waimea Canyon, the Nā Pali Coast, and hidden gems like Hanapēpē’s swinging bridge while listening to immersive stories about the island’s history, culture, and legends. With offline GPS navigation and lifetime access, start anytime, pause to hike, or stop for local treats like shave ice and Kauai coffee.

The Na Pali coast is one of the most spectacular sights in Kauai. The best way to see it is from the water, so join this catamaran cruise for unbeatable views of lush green valleys, towering spires, jagged sea cliffs, and wildlife such as dolphins and sea turtles, as well as time for snorkeling and swimming.

Explore the dramatic cliffs and crystalline waters of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast with this small-group snorkeling adventure. Cruise along the spectacular coastline aboard a motorized raft, stopping to snorkel among native marine life at one of Kauai’s best coral reefs. Fuel up for the physically-demanding day with an included meal and drinks.

Explore Kauai’s legendary Napali coast up close on an inflatable raft that can access sea caves, waterfalls, and hidden beaches. While most Napali boat tours stay far from the shore, this one includes landing at an ancient Hawaiian fishing village on Nualolo Kai beach, a site only accessible with a special permit. Walk around this sacred site, look for sea turtles while snorkeling, and enjoy lunch on a secluded beach on this adventure that earns rave reviews. Rafting excursions can be physically demanding, bouncy, bumpy & lot's of fun. Participants should be in above average physical shape. You need to be able to climb a sturdy vertical ladder to get back on the raft after snorkeling. This tour is very adventurous, Wet, Wild & Wow! Be prepared for an exhilarating day!

Every year, humpback whales travel up to 3,000 miles from their polar feeding grounds to their warm tropical breeding grounds here in Hawai’i! While the whales are in Hawai’i we get to see a variety of breeding related behaviors! Have you ever seen a 30 ton whale breach completely out of the water? It’s an unbelievable sight to see! We can also see behaviors like tail or pec slapping, spy hopping (yes, they can look at you!) and even heat runs (males competing to mate with a female)! We meet at the harbor at 7:30 am and get back to the dock around 12:30 pm. Because it is a private tour, we can split up the time whale watching and snorkeling whichever way you like. Generally we spend a few hours watching whales and when the sun comes out, and it’s a little warmer, we can go snorkeling!