Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Hike: Kauai

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.76 (823 reviews) 87% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/6

Duration5h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Paddle upriver, then walk to water you can swim in

Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike is a 5-hour activity on Kauai combining river paddling in a double kayak, a rainforest hike with stream crossings, and swimming at the base of a 120-foot waterfall, with lunch and all gear provided. The guide is state-certified in water safety. Children from age 6 are welcome, and the pace is unhurried—you set the paddle speed and the hike follows the trail at your own rhythm.

The Experience

You start on the Wailua River, one of Hawaii's two most sacred places, paddling a sit-on-top kayak upstream at whatever pace suits you. The river is calm and the paddling is the kind that lets you look around—at the rainforest closing in on both sides, at the water itself. After the paddle, you beach the kayak and begin the hike to the waterfall. The trail is a greenhouse of flowers, ferns and brooks, but the ground is uneven and muddy in places, with stream crossings where the water moves. Walking sticks help with balance. The hike is not long, but it demands steady footing and a moderate level of fitness.

The waterfall appears as a bridal-veil drop of 120 feet into a pool deep enough to swim in. You get time in the water before heading back down the trail. The whole outing takes five hours from start to finish. Your guide is state-certified and trained in water safety; they carry a radio and know the river and trail by season and by weather. You wear a personal flotation device on the water. A water-resistant bag keeps your phone and keys dry.

Lunch is a fresh deli sandwich—turkey, ham, salami, veggie or peanut butter and jelly, chosen when you book—plus Hawaiian chips, a fresh-baked cookie and cut pineapple. Cold filtered water is available at the store before you depart, and you can bring your own bottle to refill. Bring sun protection, a light shirt, bathing suit, towel and a change of clothes. Footwear matters: aqua shoes, teva sandals or tennis shoes work; flip-flops and crocs do not. The guide reserves the right to refuse service to anyone with obvious physical limitations that would make the paddle or hike unsafe.

What’s included

Double sit-on-top kayak and paddle.
personal flotation device.
water-resistant bag for your gear.
state-certified guide trained in water safety.
walking sticks for the rainforest hike.
fresh deli sandwich in your choice of turkey, ham, salami, veggie or PBJ.
Hawaiian chips, fresh-baked cookie and cut pineapple.
cold filtered water at the store location before departure.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by DBA: Kayak Kauai

Is this one for you?The 5-hour commitment and moderate physical demands—paddling, hiking on muddy uneven ground with stream crossings, and swimming—suit active travelers comfortable in water and on a trail. The fixed departure times mean you choose the morning or afternoon slot that works for your Kauai itinerary, and the guide handles the route and safety so you focus on paddling and hiking.