Kauai: Waimea Canyon, Wailua River Boat & Fern Grotto

Red cliffs, river songs, and coffee on the Garden Island

You board a boat down the Wailua River to Fern Grotto, where the Hawaiian Wedding Song echoes off the cave walls. You see Waimea Canyon's red cliffs from multiple viewpoints, walk to Opaekaa Falls, taste coffee at the largest US farm, and watch waves explode through lava at Spouting Horn. Lunch in Old Koloa Town is on your own. Hotel pickup and the boat ride are included. The driver handles the narration and route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Wailua River45m · entry included
2. Fern Grotto20m · entry included
3. Opaekaa Falls20m
4. Kauai Coffee Company35m
5. Waimea Falls1h

Wailua River, Waimea Canyon, and More

• Board open-air boat on Wailua River
• Cruise to Fern Grotto
• Enjoy Hawaiian Wedding Song at Fern Grotto
• View Opaekaa Falls waterfall
• Lunch in Old Koloa Town
• Stop at Pu‘uhinahina Lookout for canyon views
• Photo stops of Hanapepe valley and sugarcane
• Visit Kauai Coffee Estate and sample coffee
• See Spouting Horn blowhole

The experience

You're driving inland from the coast, climbing past sugarcane fields and into the valley where Waimea Canyon opens up: the red earth and green walls stretching wider than you expected. The canyon lookout (or Pu'uhinahina if the main one is closed for repairs, which it is through December) gives you the scale of it all, and the driver stops a few more times so you can actually stand with it instead of just glancing. Mark Twain called it the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and standing there you get why, even if you're skeptical of old travel writers.

Then you're back down to the river. The Wailua River boat ride is the centerpiece: an open-air boat, no roof, just you and maybe twenty other people and the captain telling stories about the heiau (temples) that used to line the water when this was the sacred heart of the island. The boat glides slow enough that you hear the water and the trees, and then you're at Fern Grotto, a cave hung with Boston ferns dripping from the rock ceiling, and someone on the boat sings the Hawaiian Wedding Song. It's not cheesy the way you worried it might be. It's just there, and it lands different when you're actually sitting in the boat looking up at a cavern.

After the river you stop at Opaekaa Falls (151 feet of water dropping into a pool, visible from a short walk), and then you're on your own for lunch in Old Koloa Town, which gives you time to breathe and eat without the group. The afternoon swings through the Kauai Coffee Estate, the largest coffee farm in the US, where you taste what they grow there, and then to Spouting Horn, where waves crash through holes in the lava rock and shoot salt water thirty feet into the air. It's one of the most photographed spots on the island, and you'll see why the moment you get there.

The whole day runs long. You're in an air-conditioned van with a driver who narrates the stops, and hotel pickup and drop-off are built in, so you don't have to rent a car or figure out timing. It's the kind of day that covers a lot of ground without feeling rushed, though you're definitely moving the whole time.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off at select Kauai hotels, an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver/guide, admission to the Wailua River boat ride to Fern Grotto, stops at Opaekaa Falls, Waimea Canyon (or Pu'uhinahina Lookout if the main lookout is closed), the Kauai Coffee Estate with a coffee tasting, and Spouting Horn. Lunch in Old Koloa Town is on your own.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and ThursdayDeparts at 07:45

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 24 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 47 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Polynesian Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see Kauai's main landmarks (canyon, river, waterfall, coffee farm, and blowhole) without renting a car or planning the route yourself. Expect a full day out with multiple stops and a boat ride. That's what lets you cover this much ground and still have time to absorb each place.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the whole tour?

A full day. The itinerary covers the Wailua River boat, Waimea Canyon, Opaekaa Falls, Kauai Coffee Estate, and Spouting Horn, with lunch on your own in Old Koloa Town.

Is the Wailua River boat ride included?

Yes. Wailua River Boat admission is part of the package.

What if Waimea Canyon Lookout is closed?

The tour substitutes Pu'uhinahina Lookout, which offers a different view of the canyon, plus additional photo stops to make up for it.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off at select Kauai hotels are included. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver/guide.

Is lunch included?

No. You have free time for lunch on your own in Old Koloa Town.

Can I bring an infant?

Yes. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. Contact the tour provider at least 7 days before your date if you have special requests or accessibility needs.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed. Contact the provider 7 days ahead for any ADA accommodations.

What's the physical fitness level required?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most stops involve short walks or boat rides, not strenuous hiking.