Kauai Sailing Tours
Port Allen · Na Pali Coast · Nawiliwili · Huleia River

Kauai Sailing Tours

Morning snorkel sails, Na Pali dinners at sunset and a short evening on the bay

Kauai sailing tours leave Port Allen for the Na Pali cliffs, with a morning snorkel or dinner at sunset, or Nawiliwili for 90 minutes on the bay. Each card shows your harbour, your meals and whether the boat raises a sail, so you book the hour that suits you.

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Each boat shown here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book now and let the forecast decide.

From $114A 90-minute sunset on the bay
Nov–AprHumpback whale season
5:56 p.m.The earliest sunset, in November

Hours, prices and access verified by the Kauai Sailing Tours team — last checked 2026-09-28.

Kauai Sailing Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-28
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Top Kauai Sailing Tours for 2026

The best Kauai sailing tours start at the hour that suits you: a morning snorkel, dinner below the cliffs or a short evening on the bay. Pick your Kauai sailing tour from these three.

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (582 reviews · 6 hours)

Na Pali from Port AllenBreakfast and lunchSnorkel stopSailing catamaran

Check in at Port Allen for five hours on a 50-foot sailing catamaran, with breakfast on board as you head up the Na Pali Coast. The route passes the cliffs and the Polihale coastline before a snorkel stop, conditions permitting, with gear, instruction and flotation. Lunch follows, and beer and wine are poured only once the snorkelling is done. Children must be 5 or older and non-swimmers stay aboard on this Kauai morning trip.

  1. Check in at Port Allen Marina Center, Eleele
  2. Breakfast on board
  3. Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, from the water
  4. Polihale State Park coastline
  5. Snorkel stop with gear and instruction, conditions permitting
  6. Lunch, then beer and wine after snorkelling
  7. Back to Port Allen

From $292 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady

Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady

★★★★★ 4.7 (1,612 reviews · 5 hours)

Na Pali from Port AllenDinner on boardNo swimming

Meet the crew at Port Allen in the afternoon for five hours on a 60-foot catamaran with a sundeck, a cabin and an upper deck. The boat runs up the Na Pali Coast as the light goes, and dinner is served on board while the sun sets. Beer, wine, mai tais for over-21s and soft drinks last the whole way, and the crew tell the coast's geologic history and legends. There is no swimming, children from age 3 may board, and you pay the lowest Na Pali sunset fare here.

  1. Meet the crew at Port Allen in the afternoon
  2. Board the 60-foot catamaran: sundeck, cabin, upper deck
  3. Na Pali's peaks, valleys and white-sand beaches from the water
  4. Geologic history and legends from the crew
  5. Dinner on board as the sun goes down
  6. Beer, wine, mai tais and soft drinks throughout
  7. Back at Port Allen

From $222 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Best valueKauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Kauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise

★★★★★ 4.8 (82 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

Nawiliwili Bay, not Na PaliDrinks, no foodNo swimming

Board at slip 100 in Nawiliwili harbour, near the Coast Guard station, for 90 minutes on the water at sunset. The boat crosses Nawiliwili Bay past Kalapaki Beach and Ninini Point, then turns up the Huleia River past the Menehune fishpond and the wildlife refuge. The captain narrates the whole way, with juice, soda, wine, local beers and cocktails, but no food. Pick this Kauai evening if you want the shortest trip and the lowest fare rather than the Na Pali Coast.

  1. Board Kalapaki Kai II at Nawiliwili harbor, slip 100
  2. Nawiliwili Bay: Kalapaki Beach, Ninini Point and the Haupu range
  3. The Huleia River and the Alekoko (Menehune) Fishpond
  4. Views over the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge
  5. Sunset on the bay with drinks and narration
  6. Back to Nawiliwili harbor

From $114 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Why book with us

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

⚓

Best Guides

Kauai sailing tours here go out with captains and crews who know the coast, from the crew who fit your snorkel gear and show you how to use it to the captain who tells the coast's legends on the way home.

✓

Book With Confidence

Each boat shown here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and every card prints the fare, the harbour, the meals and whether the boat sails.

★

Experience of a Lifetime

Watch the cliffs turn gold from the deck at sunset, snorkel over a reef with turtles below you, and see humpback whales surface on a winter morning.

Tripadvisor

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours ahead on each boat shown here, so a rough sea never costs you the fare.

Everything available

All Kauai Sailing Tours and Tickets

Every boat side by side: morning snorkel trips to the Na Pali cliffs, dinner below them at sunset and a short evening on the bay. Each card shows your harbour and your meals.

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (582 reviews · 6 hours)

Na Pali from Port AllenBreakfast and lunchSnorkel stopSailing catamaran

Check in at Port Allen for five hours on a 50-foot sailing catamaran, with breakfast on board as you head up the Na Pali Coast. The route passes the cliffs and the Polihale coastline before a snorkel stop, conditions permitting, with gear, instruction and flotation. Lunch follows, and beer and wine are poured only once the snorkelling is done. Children must be 5 or older and non-swimmers stay aboard on this Kauai morning trip.

From $292 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady

Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady

★★★★★ 4.7 (1,612 reviews · 5 hours)

Na Pali from Port AllenDinner on boardNo swimming

Meet the crew at Port Allen in the afternoon for five hours on a 60-foot catamaran with a sundeck, a cabin and an upper deck. The boat runs up the Na Pali Coast as the light goes, and dinner is served on board while the sun sets. Beer, wine, mai tais for over-21s and soft drinks last the whole way, and the crew tell the coast's geologic history and legends. There is no swimming, children from age 3 may board, and you pay the lowest Na Pali sunset fare here.

From $222 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Best valueKauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Kauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise

★★★★★ 4.8 (82 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

Nawiliwili Bay, not Na PaliDrinks, no foodNo swimming

Board at slip 100 in Nawiliwili harbour, near the Coast Guard station, for 90 minutes on the water at sunset. The boat crosses Nawiliwili Bay past Kalapaki Beach and Ninini Point, then turns up the Huleia River past the Menehune fishpond and the wildlife refuge. The captain narrates the whole way, with juice, soda, wine, local beers and cocktails, but no food. Pick this Kauai evening if you want the shortest trip and the lowest fare rather than the Na Pali Coast.

From $114 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability
Best sellerKauai: Deluxe Na Pali Snorkel Cruise aboard Lucky Lady

Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Snorkel Cruise aboard Lucky Lady

★★★★★ 4.7 (1,640 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes)

Na Pali from Port AllenBreakfast and lunchSnorkel stop

Start with a 6:45 a.m. check-in at Port Allen for five and a half hours on a 60-foot catamaran bound for the Na Pali Coast. Breakfast treats come on the way out, then a swim stop with a waterslide and a reef snorkel with gear and instruction. Build-your-own sandwiches and an open bar with beer, wine and mai tais for over-21s follow on the way back. When the ocean is rough the route may switch to the south coast, and you can bring children from age 3.

From $233 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Kauai: Leila Na Pali Sunset Dinner Sail

Kauai: Leila Na Pali Sunset Dinner Sail

★★★★★ 4.7 (609 reviews · 4 to 5 hours)

Na Pali from Port AllenDinner on boardNo swimmingSails when the wind allows

Sip a mai tai on the way up the Na Pali Coast from Port Allen, on a 50-foot catamaran that raises its sails when the wind allows. Four to five hours on the water take in the cliffs, waterfalls and valleys, with dolphins, turtles and, in season, whales. Dinner is freshly prepared on board as the sun sets, and a champagne toast marks the moment. Up to 41 people come aboard, nobody under 5, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.

From $263 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The coast

About Sailing on Kauai

The Na Pali Coast runs along Kauai's north-west shore, where fluted green cliffs drop into the sea and most of the coast has no road and no trail. DLNR lets only permitted raft tours land, so on a catamaran you see it all from the water, with dolphins close by and humpback whales from November to April. Join us on the Kauai sailing guided tours that show this coast best, from a morning snorkel with two meals to dinner at sunset. Start with the cliffs, then the wildlife and the harbours below.

The Cliffs and Their Caves

Valleys and waterfalls cut the cliffs, and sea caves open at the waterline, the large ones formed along dikes in the rock. No catamaran here takes you in or puts you ashore: the permitted rafts are the boats that land at Nualolo Kai. From the deck you see the cliffs whole, and the morning boats stop to snorkel on a reef below them.

Whales, Dolphins and Turtles

Humpback whales arrive for the winter, and NOAA puts their season at November to April, with boats kept 100 yards away. Spinner dolphins often ride with the morning boats, and federal rules keep you 50 yards from them close to shore. Turtles and, now and then, a Hawaiian monk seal turn up at the snorkel stops.

Port Allen and Nawiliwili

Every Na Pali boat here leaves Port Allen Marina Center, where the operators keep their check-in offices side by side. The bay cruise boards at Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, slip 100, near the Coast Guard station. Port Allen sits at Hanapepe Bay, 20 nautical miles by sea from Nawiliwili, and no fare includes hotel pickup, so plan your drive.

Fluted cliffs above a strip of beach and turquoise waterA layered sea cliff dropping straight into clear waterA green sea turtle over the reef, with snorkellers at the surface above
What you will see

Named Highlights of the Kauai Coast

What a day on the water holds, from the cliffs you sail below to the river behind the bay.

The fluted cliffs

Knife-edge green ridges drop straight into the sea, and between Kalalau Beach and Polihale they stand where no trail reaches, so a boat is how you see them.

Caves at the waterline

Sea caves open at the foot of the cliffs, formed along dikes in the rock, and you see them from the deck as the boat runs past.

A reef where only rafts land

At Nualolo Kai, DLNR lets only the permitted raft tours put people ashore, so every catamaran here keeps you on the water.

Humpbacks in winter

From November to April humpback whales winter in these waters, and boats must keep 100 yards away from them.

Dolphins off the bow

Spinner dolphins often run with the morning boats, and federal rules keep people and vessels 50 yards from them within 2 nautical miles of shore.

A river behind the harbour

The bay cruise turns up the Huleia River past the Alekoko Fishpond, whose stone wall runs about 900 feet.

Things to do on Kauai

Plan your visit

Everything You Need Before You Sail

No fare includes hotel pickup, so you drive to the harbour. The Na Pali boats share one marina building at Port Allen, each with its own check-in office, and the Leila trips use a designated gravel parking lot. The bay cruise boards at slip 100 in Nawiliwili, 20 nautical miles away by sea.

The harbours on the map

The water has no gate and no ticket. Fares start at $114 a person for the 90-minute bay cruise, the Na Pali snorkel boats run $233 to $292, and the Na Pali sunset dinner boats $222 to $263. Gratuities are never in the fare, so budget for a tip to the crew.

The visitors guide

Humpback whales winter here from November to April. The sun sets earliest in November, at 5:56 p.m., and latest in July, at 7:24 p.m., so the dinner boats leave at a different hour through the year. DLNR advises that mornings are calmer on this coast.

Best time to sail

Lihue's 1991-2020 normals make March the wettest month and July the driest. Every boat can turn back or reroute when the sea is rough, and each one shown here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can let the forecast decide.

Weather by month

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour to See the Na Pali Coast?

For most of it, yes, because most of the coast has no road and no trail. By land you can walk the first 2 miles of the Kalalau Trail, look into a valley from the lookouts above, or see the western cliffs from Polihale State Park, and a kayak may run the coast only from 15 May to 7 September. For now DLNR has shut the land routes: on 28 September 2026, Kokee Road was closed until further notice, all camping on Kauai was closed, and every Kauai state park except part of Wailua River State Park was closed.

Kauai sailing tickets, in the sense of a gate ticket, do not exist: the water has no gate, and the fare on each card is the whole price of the trip, bar gratuities. Kauai sailing ticket prices run from $114 a person for the bay cruise to $292 for the morning snorkel sail with two meals. What a boat adds is what the land cannot: the cliffs no trail reaches, a snorkel on the reef and dinner as the sun sets. Make your Kauai sailing booking for the day you want; a Kauai sailing reservation on each boat shown here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and the guide to what each fare buys sets out what each fare buys.

See Top Tours  Which one suits you?

Book with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead on each boat shown here, and a change of plan costs you nothing.

Which one is me

Choosing the Right Day for You

Start from the hour you want on the water, and whether you want to swim, and the right trip follows.

A morning on the reef

Leila’s morning day leaves Port Allen at $292 with breakfast, lunch and a snorkel stop; the Na Pali snorkel tours page sets it beside the Lucky Lady morning boat.

Dinner below the cliffs

Lucky Lady’s evening run is the lowest Na Pali dinner fare at $222. The Kauai sunset cruises page sets it beside Leila, which raises its sails when the wind allows.

A short evening on the bay

The 90-minute evening from Nawiliwili costs $114 and stays on the bay and the river, with drinks but no food.

Children aboard

The Lucky Lady boats take children from age 3, while Leila takes no one under 5; sailing with children covers the age limits and the right boat.

A stomach that fears the sea

The ride out can be rough, and the guide to seasickness and rough water sets out the medication, the seats and the calmer trips.

No boat at all

The trail, the lookouts and a summer kayak are set out in the guide to the coast without a boat.

Compare

Which Kauai Sailing Tour Is Right for You?

Every Kauai boat gathered here, most reviewed first. Read where it leaves and what the fare covers before the price: a morning snorkel with two meals, a sunset dinner below the cliffs and an evening on the bay are different days.

TourRatingWhere it leavesWhat the fare coversFareBest for
Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Snorkel Cruise aboard Lucky Lady4.7 (1,640)Port AllenBreakfast, lunch, drinks and snorkel gearFrom $233 per personFamilies with children from age 3 who snorkelBook
Kauai: Deluxe Na Pali Sunset Cruise aboard Lucky Lady4.7 (1,612)Port AllenDinner and drinksFrom $222 per personCouples who want dinner below the cliffs at sunsetBook
Kauai: Leila Na Pali Sunset Dinner Sail4.7 (609)Port AllenDinner and drinksFrom $263 per personCouples hoping to sail when the wind allowsBook
Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour4.8 (582)Port AllenBreakfast, lunch, drinks and snorkel gearFrom $292 per personSnorkellers who want two meals and the cliffsBook
Kauai: Catamaran Sunset Cruise4.8 (82)NawiliwiliDrinksFrom $114 per personTravellers short on time who want a 90-minute eveningBook
Whales, dolphins and seals as well as the coast itself, with good food and drinks the whole way.Sean K. · The morning snorkel and sail
You will get wet, so wear swimwear or quick-dry clothes and leave behind any bag you need dry. A sunset, dinner on board, and beer, wine and mai tais.Shari S. · The sunset dinner cruise, Lucky Lady
The boat was not the catamaran they pictured, and it motored up the river instead of out to sea. With the seas at six to seven feet, that suited everyone.Kirsten · The 90-minute bay sunset cruise
What to expect

How a Kauai Sailing Day Runs

1

Pick your hour

A morning snorkel with two meals, dinner below the cliffs at sunset, or 90 minutes on the bay.

2

Choose your harbour

Port Allen for the Na Pali Coast, Nawiliwili for the bay and the river.

3

Check in early

The morning snorkel cruise checks in at 6:45 a.m., before sunrise from November to March.

4

Pack for spray

Bring a towel and a dry bag, and wear something that can get wet.

5

Let the sea decide

Each boat shown here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so the forecast can choose your day.

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Traveller reviews

Kauai Sailing Tours Reviews

Travellers' own words about the morning snorkel boats, the sunset dinners and the evening on the bay, with the stars each gave, three- and four-star days included, because they help you choose.

★★★★★

Kauai morning snorkel and sail

Breakfast and lunch were outstanding. The boat is smaller than some catamarans and carries fewer people, which suited them better than the larger tours they had tried.

Kevin M. · Family · March 2026

★★★★★

Kauai morning snorkel and sail

A first time snorkelling, and the crew's tips made it feel easy. The waves were very rough that day, and the crew kept safety first and looked after everyone who was seasick.

Emily · First-time snorkeller · November 2024

★★★★☆

Kauai morning reef trip, Lucky Lady

A sea turtle and plenty of dolphins. As a non-swimmer, though, snorkelling was off limits even in a life vest.

Cindy C. · July 2026

★★★★★

Kauai morning reef trip, Lucky Lady

Great weather, good food and two kinds of dolphins. The sea was choppy and several people were seasick, so taking something beforehand was a wise move. When the speaker was hard to hear, a guide came over to share the commentary.

Lori K. · Couple · September 2026

★★★★★

Kauai morning reef trip, Lucky Lady

Worth the price, with views that stay with you. The crew were kind and made everyone feel welcome, and the whole party of friends enjoyed every minute.

Anastasiia G. · Friends · July 2026

★★★★★

Kauai evening dinner trip, Lucky Lady

Still amazed, even on a second trip. The staff were great and friendly.

AerielGrace D. · Repeat visitor · May 2026

★★★★★

Kauai dinner sail, Leila

A crew who knew the history of the area, good sailing and good service. It is a barefoot boat, so wear shoes that come off easily.

Julie B. · Family · June 2026

★★★☆☆

Kauai dinner sail, Leila

Good views, food and service, but the ride out was so fast that everyone at the front was soaked again and again. The ride back, over dinner, was slower and pleasant.

Swati S. · July 2026

★★★★★

Kauai dinner sail, Leila

A bit of swell, and a crew who looked after everyone. The captain stopped several times for whales.

Ralf · January 2026

★★★★★

Kauai bay and river evening

Not the open-sea sunset they expected. For more than 45 minutes the boat went up a river through lush green country, with the guide explaining it all, and only then turned into the bay for the sunset.

Renato · September 2025

Read all reviews

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Kauai sailing tours use their sails?
Only some promise to. Holo Holo's Leila trips put up the sails when the wind is right, weather permitting, and other listings describe a sailing catamaran without promising time under sail. The Lucky Lady listings say catamaran and nothing about sails, and the Nawiliwili bay cruise does not sail.
Where do Kauai sailing tours leave from?
Every Na Pali trip leaves Port Allen Marina Center in Eleele, on the south-west shore. The 90-minute sunset cruise leaves Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, next to Lihue, on the other side of the island.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. Every listing meets you at the harbour, and several list hotel pickup as not included. Drive yourself and allow time to park and check in.
How much is a Kauai sailing tour?
From $114 a person for the 90-minute sunset cruise on Nawiliwili Bay. The Na Pali sunset dinner cruises run from $222 to $263, and the morning snorkel sails from $233 to $292. Tips are extra on every one.
How long is a Na Pali snorkel sail?
Five to six hours at the harbour and on the water. Holo Holo sells a five-hour trip, and the Lucky Lady snorkel cruise runs five and a half hours from a 6:45 a.m. start.
How long is a Kauai sunset cruise?
Four to five hours to the Na Pali Coast and back, dinner included. The sunset cruise on Nawiliwili Bay lasts 90 minutes and does not go to Na Pali.
What is the minimum age?
Five on Holo Holo's boats, where children aged 5 to 12 pay a child rate. The Lucky Lady cruises take children from age 3 with an adult, and the bay cruise listing states no minimum.
Can I go if I am pregnant?
Not on a Na Pali trip: both operators turn away expectant mothers. The listings also warn off anyone with back, neck, hip or knee problems or recent surgery, because the ride can be rough.
What if I get seasick?
Take a remedy before you board, because no listing refunds for seasickness and the boats do not turn back early. Holo Holo sells remedies at check-in, and the crews look after anyone who is sick. The 90-minute bay cruise is the shortest time on the water.
Are food and drinks included?
On the Na Pali trips, yes: breakfast and lunch on the morning snorkel sails, dinner on the sunset cruises, with beer, wine and soft drinks, and mai tais on all but Holo Holo's morning sail. The bay cruise pours drinks but lists no food.
Can I cancel my booking?
Most listings refund in full if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. Holo Holo's trips sold at the lower fare need 7 days' notice instead, and each card says which window applies.
Will I see whales on a Kauai sail?
Humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters from November to April, and the crews stop when they see them. No listing guarantees a sighting, and the Leila listing names dolphins and turtles as well as whales in season.
Do the catamarans land on the beach?
No. Only the permitted raft tours may land passengers on the Na Pali Coast, at Nualolo Kai, and Holo Holo says plainly that it does not land on shore. On a catamaran you see the beaches from the water.
Can a catamaran take me inside the caves?
No. The sea caves are entered only by the small rafts: Captain Andy's says its 24-foot rafts are the boats that go in, and Kauai Sea Tours sells its cave trips as raft rides. From a catamaran you see the cave mouths from outside.
Are tips included on a Kauai boat tour?
No. Every listing leaves gratuities out of the fare, so bring cash or a card for the crew.

See all FAQs

Photographs

Kauai Gallery

A small boat off a beach below green cliffs and a thin waterfallA humpback whale's head breaking the surface of a deep blue seaPassengers in silhouette at a boat's rail against an orange sunset skyA catamaran at rest in deep blue water below a dark headlandA river winding through a wide green valley below the mountainsRidged green cliffs rising from the sea under cloud

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Beyond the boat

Beyond the Harbour

More ways to fill the rest of your stay, set out with the rest in things to do on Kauai.

The canyon road

Kokee Road climbs to the lookouts above the canyon and the Kalalau Valley, and DLNR closed it until further notice on 28 September 2026, so check before you drive.

The north-shore trailhead

Haena State Park, at the end of the road, needs a reservation for visitors: US$5 a person or US$10 a vehicle, opening 30 days ahead, once DLNR reopens it.

The town beside the harbour

Hanapepe sits beside Port Allen on Route 50, six miles from Waimea, and fills the hour before an afternoon check-in.

Read before you go

Kauai Sailing Guides and Advice

Read all posts  Planning guides

Where it is

Visitor Information for Kauai Sailing

The Port Allen harbour
Where the Na Pali boats check in, on the island's south-west shore

Nothing is loaded from Google until you press it.

Name

Holo Holo Charters (Port Allen Marina Center), the check-in office for the Leila trips.

Address

4353 Waialo Road, Suite 5A, Eleele, HI 96705. Phone 808-335-0815.

Hours

Staff available every day, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. HST. Check-in times come with your booking, and the morning snorkel cruise next door checks in at 6:45 a.m.

Getting there

Port Allen sits beside Hanapepe on Route 50, and the bay cruise leaves from Nawiliwili; both harbours and every check-in office are on the Kauai map.

Book Your Kauai Sailing Tour

Choose your hour and your harbour, then pick your date. Trips start at $114 a person, you book at the fare shown on each card, and each boat shown here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.

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