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Kauai Waimea Canyon & South Shore Excursion. Small Group

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Kauai, USA
Great choice
20+ bookings last month.
  • 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Steven_A ·
Mar 2026
Coco is the best Tour Guide in Kauai. Fun, interesting stories, and safety. This is our second tour with Coco. Last was January 2020. Coco knows Kauai and always brings the tour to beautiful places.
· Michael_M ·
Nov 2025
This was a great tour, about 7 hours of sightseeing at a reasonable price. The guide's narration was not spectacular but very informative. The scenery was terrific and the ride was smooth with enough stops to make it comfortable. One caveat, although Viator sent a confirmation and a QR code for the tour, the tour operator indicated that it might not happen if not enough people signed up.

Overview

This full-day guided excursion takes you to 8 of Kauai’s gorgeous spots by air-conditioned vehicle, ideal for a shore excursion. Drive through the south and west sides of the island, taking in a mix of scenic views and an opportunity to try and buy local products. Your guide will share the legends and stories of the places you stop by, including the renowned Waimea Canyon, the powerful Spouting Horn, Kauai Coffee Company, and more. Take the day off from driving and let us show you Kauai through local eyes.
  • See the best of Kauai on this action packed day with 8 stops
  • Have an intimate experience, with a small group
  • Listen to fascinating legends, history, and geology
  • Contribute to the local economy on this family-run tour

What's Included

  • Entrance fee to Waimea State Park
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Map of Kauai
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
    Chicken in a Barrel at the Waimea Plantation Cottages
  • Wheelchair accessibility. Our vehicles have no room to stow a wheelchair or walkers.
  • Infant and toddler car seats. If you have one please bring it.
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

1

Spouting Horn

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Hanapepe Valley Lookout

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

3

Hanapepe

50 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

4

Waimea Canyon State Park

1 hour 40 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

5

Waimea

1 hour 15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

6

Kauai Coffee Company

40 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE A TEXT FROM US THE DAY BEFORE THE TOUR BY 5PM CONTACT US ASAP TO MAKE SURE THE TOUR IS CONFIRMED, SPECIALLY IF YOU ARE BOOKING LAST MINUTE, ARE AN INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER WITH NO US PHONE NUMBER, OR YOU BOOKED THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENCY. A VIATOR OR TRAVEL AGENT CONFIRMATION IS NOT ENOUGH, THEY DON'T OPERATE THE TOUR, WE DO. We are a very small family business and sometimes we need to change the start time or we might get sick, have vehicle problems or have weather issues that impede us to operate. It is your responsibility to make sure either you or your travel agent provides us with a good number to contact you in case of changes or tour cancellations. Booking through third parties can sometimes be problematic and cause e a delay in our communications. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR VACATIONS IS IMPORTANT AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF IT BUT PLEASE BE KIND AND UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL. We appreciate your understanding.
  • If you are coming via ship and the ship doesn’t dock due to weather or other unforeseen events, We will honor a 50% refund or a full credit to be used within 12 months. All others No refunds pass the 24 hours prior to the start of the tour.
  • If you weigh 280 lbs and up please contact us so we can make arrangements to give you an extra seat. There will be an additional fee for this.
  • No refunds pass the 24 hours prior to the start of the tour.
  • In consideration for on time guests and our after hours duties we are unable to wait for late arrivals.
  • We can drop off guest at the cruise port at 3:30-4pm, and the airport.
  • If you are attending Luau Kalamaku or Smith, we can drop you off after the tour.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9
based on 123 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Best Tour Guide in Kauai

Steven_A, Mar 2026
Coco is the best Tour Guide in Kauai. Fun, interesting stories, and safety. This is our second tour with Coco. Last was January 2020. Coco knows Kauai and always brings the tour to beautiful places.

Best time ever!

Gina_B, Feb 2026
This was a wonderful excursion for us. Coco was so personable. She was very knowledgeable about the whole area we were traveling. Her van was clean and comfortable. She and her daughter are the only ones that takes the groups around. They both are just precious! When we go back to Kaua'i we will use her company again to learn more about the area. You will not go wrong with Coco!

A truly wonderful first experience on Kauai!

Donna, Dec 2025
We traveled with Shasta, who was energetic, patient, informative, and flexible, and who excelled at bringing our group together. The itinerary was perfect, including the dining experience at the Plantations. Although it was a long day, the time flew by, and we learned so much about the island and its culture.

Kauai Waimea Canyon & South Shore

Terry_N, Dec 2025
Shasta was an awesome tour guide, very energetic and entertaining. The canyon, of course, was the best part of the tour and we were lucky enough to have great weather!

Great Tour of Kaua'i

Michael_M, Nov 2025
This was a great tour, about 7 hours of sightseeing at a reasonable price. The guide's narration was not spectacular but very informative. The scenery was terrific and the ride was smooth with enough stops to make it comfortable. One caveat, although Viator sent a confirmation and a QR code for the tour, the tour operator indicated that it might not happen if not enough people signed up.

Must do when you first arrive!

Shana_R, Nov 2025
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. This is time and money well spent to enhance the rest of your trip! We will be looking forward to seeing her again on our next visit to Kauai'i!

Wonderful tour

Scotty_M, Jun 2025
We had so much fun on this tour. Coco was the best. If we come back, we will try out another one of her tours

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Mahalo Scotty! I’m so grateful you came on this tour with me! Exploring with people like your family is what makes my work so rewarding. I’d love to see you all again on another tour in the future!

Small group bus tour of south & southwest including the canyon.

LauraA_C, Jan 2025
It’s a great small group bus tour. Coco is very knowledgeable of the history & fantastic hostess. Also a fantastic lunch stop during our tour. We highly recommend it.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Mahalo Laura! Your kind words mean so much. We’re thrilled you enjoyed your experience with Kauai Soul Travel and hope the memories stay with you always. 🌴

Malaho to Coco!

Marsha_F, Jan 2025
Coco made this the best excursion of the week. Even with the unpredictable weather, we did everything and more! The best part was taking a stop at Hanapepe, a treasured town where Lilo & Stitch took place. Coco was an excellent guide, very fun. knowledgeable, and hilarious. Wished I would have booked a second excursion with her, but if we ever return to Kauai, I will definitely book another excursion with her. A must for anyone who has never been to Kauai!!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Mahalo! We loved spending the day with you and are so happy you enjoyed the journey. Kauai Soul Travel is about connection, and you are now part of our ‘ohana. ❤️

Must Experience!

Danielle_T, Dec 2024
This tour was great! Coco did a fantastic job as our tour guide! She is very knowledgeable about the island, kept things fun and interesting the entire time.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Mahalo Danielle! It was such a joy having you on tour. We’re grateful you trusted us to guide your Kaua‘i adventure and share in the aloha spirit. 🌊

Fabulous day in Kauai

Karen_W, Oct 2023
Coco was the best guide, she was funny and very informative, and took us to great places all around Kauai. I highly recommend this excursion!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Karen Mahalo for supporting our family business and for taking the time to drop us a positive review. We are grateful that you chose us as your on island guides, and we are happy that you enjoyed your experience with us. We hope to host you in the future. Blessings and warmest Aloha

COCO MARIA is soooo much FUN!

CynthiaS_S, Oct 2023
Communicating with Coco was so easy! Instructions were clear and direct. The folks who shared the tour with us were lively and quick-witted... It's our impression that a FUN time was had by ALL! Coco has lived on Kauai for 25 years. The TOUR covered great sites of interest, such as the Tree Tunnel, Spouting Horn, and Waimea Canyon. Coco was quite knowledgeable about the area's history, and we loved her stories associated with the folklore of Kauai. My favorite stop was Hanapepe Town. The "step-back-in-time" was a refreshing reminder of simpler, more friendly days and customs. We also enjoyed our last stop at the Kauai Coffee Plantation. Mmmmmm... the smell and taste of freshly roasted coffee... YUMMY!! Thanks, Coco, for a wonderful, interesting, laugh-filled day. "Uncle" John was a HOOT! We hope to see you again...

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Cynthia That day was so much fun!! what a great group of strangers coming together like good old friends. Mahalo for supporting our family business and for taking the time to drop such a wonderful and detailed review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. We hope to host you in the future. Blessings and warmest Aloha

Happy in Kauai

Janis_K, Sep 2023
Coco Maria was an excellent guide on the Kauai Highlights Small Group Tour.. Coco has a wealth of knowledgeable of the Kauai island, kept thing interesting, and gave us plenty of time to explore at each stop along the way. I would highly recommend this tour to get an overview of the island of Kauai and then come back to a particular area to explore further on your own.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Janis Mahalo for supporting our family business and for sharing your experience with us. We are super happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and hope to host you in the future. Blessings and warmest Aloha

Great tour and guide.

Jannine_B, Sep 2023
This tour is amazing. It packs so much in to a short time but we never felt rushed. Our guide Coco is a fountain of knowledge and so funny and sociable. She made our 13 year old son feel very welcome and involved. I highly recommend this your.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Jannine Mahalo for your lovely review and for supporting our family business. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and hope to host you in the future. Blessings and warmest Aloha

Awesome tour

Lorraine_M, Sep 2023
Had a fantastic time. Coco was a fantastic, knowledgeable, fun guide. Stopped at a bunch of beautiful locations. Packed so much into about 7 hours. Highly recommend! Two thumbs up.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Lorraine We think you were fantastic company. Mahalo for your business and for taking the time to review us. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and hope to host you in the future. Blessings and warmest Aloha

Great Kauai Van Tour !!

Winston_W, Aug 2023
Wonderful van tour of the Southern end of Kauai, the owner/driver Coco was a very good & funny tour guide with insightful facts about local tourist attractions (Spouting Horn Park, Hanapepe town, Waimea Canyon, Coffee farm, etc.), nice & comfortable Van with plenty of stops and time to explore with answers to many questions. Highly recommend and time well spent.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Winston Mahalo for your business and for taking the time to review us. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and hope to host you in the future. Blessings and warmest Aloha

Best tour guide ever!

GAVIN_T, Jun 2023
Our tour guide Coco Mary was amazing from start to end. Her warm and very friendly personality made the tour super fun and engaging! The fact that none of us dozed off during the tour shows how interesting it was. And it was a very rare tour that we actually mingled comfortably with the other travelers from other countries too. I highly recommend her if you want a personalized tour of Kauai.

Coco made this our favorite Island excursion.

Gary_Y, May 2023
Although our group had to contend with rain all day and traffic issues Coco adapted the tour to provide the best possible experience under the conditions. She is exceptionally knowledgeable of all facets of Island culture and history. She was great at meeting each individuals personal needs in this day long excursion of both hotel and cruise ship passengers. Coco was so personable we developed a friendship with her and will look her up if we ever return to the island. My wife and I highly recommend Coco and this excursion.

Coco is da best...

Emily_D, Apr 2023
Coco, our tour guide, was so personable (even got a heartfelt hug good-bye from her, so sweet) funny and knowledgeable about all things Hawaii! We learned so much and covered a lot of ground in our tour with her. The only thing keeping this from a five-star review were the cloudy conditions at the top of Wimea Canyon blocking any views, which of course is out of anyone's control, and the flies at the outside eating areas at the Chicken in a Barrel lunch stop.

Great

Carolyn_L, Apr 2023
Driver was caring, concerned about our welfare, knowledgeable, accommodating. Would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Carolyn L Mahalo for taking the time to review us. We are glad you enjoyed your day and appreciate your business. Travel safe and warmest Aloha :)

A pleasant relaxed small group tour.

Fred_M, Mar 2023
We booked our excursion independent of our cruise ship and met our host ,Marie , at the Market Mall , a short stroll from the cruise port . As we got underway , Our host had us introduce ourselves to one another as a way to break the ice since some of us were from "Pride of America" and some not . Marie related local legends and history and kept us well informed . We always had time for photo opportunities, and made sure we made it to the bake shoppe in Hanapepe before they sold out. The main lookout at Waimea Canyon was closed due to being part of a crime scene investigation but our guide did not disappoint and took us to another vantage point . All told , our experience was very positive and having perfect weather was an added plus . We never felt rushed at any of our stops and were dropped off at the cruise port after our excursion .Well done !

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear Fred, Mahalo for taking the time to share your opinion and for supporting our small local business. We appreciate you and are happy that you enjoyed the day with us. we hope to serve you in the future. Safe travels and warmest aloha :)

Real Kuali

Ann_O, Feb 2023
Very outgoing and knowledgeable guide! Made sure we were comfortable and even took pictures for us! Got to see a nice variety too.

Simply Fantastic…and Coco is the BEST!

David_S, Feb 2023
Let me say…the tour was AWESOME! Coco is simply fantastic providing historical and social insight in a very entertaining style. Even more impressive, our ship arrived in port 2 1/2 hours late due to a medical emergency and somehow Coco arranged with the other passengers to wait for us! Our group of 6 people rated this tour 6 stars…better than the best. All we can say is BOOK THIS TOUR…you’ll be delighted!

This tour is one you will want to do!!

Peggy_M, Feb 2023
Loved the beautiful sights. Our day started out with rainbows, the middle a magnificent canyon, and fabulous waterfalls. Our guide Coco was a wealth of history and area culture. We loved it!!

Excellent small bus Kauai highlights tour.

Renae_H, Feb 2023
Waimea canyon and multiple stops to view was spectacular. Guide was awesome- knowledgeable and fun. The waterfall and lava tube spouting horn were great stops too as was the town with the swinging bridge. Did not like the pick up arrangement. Originally told we would be picked up at the pier by someone with a sign. That changed to 15 min walk to a location that was described, but unsettling as not really sure we were in the right spot.

A day well spent

Meifen_X, Feb 2023
Good selection of attractions, very nice vehicle, very friendly service. Small group. We have 13 people

Great tour.

Ellen_H, Feb 2023
Great experience! The tour was very comprehensive. Driver Coco was friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed it very much.

Very thorough, informative and enjoyable tour. Coco made the tour fun but remained professional and cognizant of safety

Angela_O, Jan 2023
History highlights and specific scheduled stops were excellent! Highly recommend for all age groups and island knowledge.

Coco Maria is a Spring of Joy, Coolness and Kauai Knowledge

Waraporn_L, Jan 2023
Coco Maria is our guide with the nice group of new friends. Coco Maria is very professional and very knowledgeable. She made our tour so much fun and memorable. I had so much joy and learnt so much about Kauai History and Cool Spots of the Sightseeing for the Southeast. I love Mini Canyon of Pacific, Old town, beaches, Swinging bridge, Sprouting Horn, Waterfalls, fresh coconut water from the local. The trip was very pleasant and memorable. It was relaxing and full of fun, joy, laugh. I highly recommend to book the tour with Kauai Soul Travel. Thank you Coco Maria for sharing your gifts. Best, Kathy 🌺⭐️💫

Great variety of things...

Daniel_H, Dec 2022
Great variety of things to see on this tour! Waimea canyon was breathtakingly beautiful. Also saw so many other things including a huge waterfall, blowhole and small town of hanapepe with lots of cool stores. Our guide was fun and interactive with lots of knowledge of the island and people.

From $235.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 62 days in advance.

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