Three ways to see the Na Pali Coast
The cliffs line the northwest shore. Highways reach the island's north and west sides through Līhuʻe, but no road connects them along the coast. So you choose between the sea, the air and a trail.
Current status (20 October 2026): Hāʻena State Park, where the trail starts, reopened on 15 October. The Kalalau Trail beyond the 2-mile point and overnight camping remain closed. State park notices list other Kauai state parks as closed, and operators still advertise beach landings, so confirm with your operator whether a landing is approved on your day. Check the current DLNR notices before you go.
Na Pali options compared
Single operator examples for adults in 2026. They show what each product costs, not a market range.
| Option | Starts | Time | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran (Lucky Lady) | ʻEleʻele (Port Allen) | 5 to 5.5 hours | $215, ages 3 to 12 $195 | Year-round, weather dependent |
| Boat trip (Na Pali Experience) | Kīkīaola Small Boat Harbor, Kekaha | – | $219 | Private lot, $20 per car |
| Raft with beach landing (Kauai Sea Tours) | ʻEleʻele (Port Allen) | 6.5 hours | $255, ages 7 and older | May to October, check-in 6:30 a.m. |
| Kalalau Trail to the beach | Kēʻē, Hāʻena | 3 to 4 hours | $5 entry plus parking or shuttle | 4 miles round trip (6.4 km) |
| Doors-off helicopter | Līhuʻe | 60 to 65 minutes | $460, ages 10 and older | Online booking fee extra |
These are different products, not the same trip at different prices. Taxes, reservation fees and tips may come on top, so check the total at checkout.
Our picks: seeing the Na Pali Coast
From the air in 65 minutes, or on the water by catamaran or raft.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Na Pali power catamaran, 4.5 hours
Juice, soft drinks, water, snacks, fruit and a dry bag are included. Snorkelling gear is provided if conditions allow it.
Check availability →
Na Pali raft tour with sea caves
The Na Pali Coast, waterfalls and, weather permitting, sea caves, with fruit, chips and drinks. Snorkelling gear is included only on the four-hour option; the drive to the harbour and harbour parking are extra.
Check availability →
65-minute air tour of Na Pali and the whole island
Commentary through a two-way headset, with landing fee, fuel surcharge and local taxes included. Tips are not included.
Check availability →Na Pali Coast tours
Catamaran and raft trips, snorkeling and helicopter flights along the coast, with live prices and availability.
By boat
Most visitors see the coast from the water. Two harbors serve the trips. Kauai Sea Tours leaves from ʻEleʻele (Port Allen). Na Pali Experience leaves from Kīkīaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha, west of Waimea. They are different places, so check the harbor before you drive.
Catamarans and rafts feel different. Rafts are bumpier and have no onboard toilet or shade, while catamarans differ by operator. Capt Andy's lists catamaran trips from age 3 and rafts from age 6, and runs every day except 25 December. It also offers a year-round morning raft with sea caves and snorkeling. Winter swell makes cave entry unlikely, and the Oct to April sea is generally rougher.
The raft landing product lists a stop at Nuʻalolo Kai under a special permit. The state names licensed raft operators for this, but that list is a general permission, not a promise for your date. Ask whether the landing is running.
On foot: the Kalalau Trail
The trail starts at Kēʻē in Hāʻena and follows the coast for 11 miles.
Day hike
Without a camping permit you can walk to Hanakāpīʻai Beach (4 miles round trip, 3 to 4 hours) and branch to the falls (8 miles round trip, 6 to 8 hours). Non-residents still need the Hāʻena reservation. Past Hanakāpīʻai a camping permit is required, even for a day hike.
Camping, when it reopens
Camping is closed right now. Normally non-residents pay $35 per person per night and Hawaii residents $25, for up to 5 nights, booked up to 90 days ahead. A permit is not an exception to a closure. Overnight parking needs its own booking.
Safety
The state warns of narrow, slippery paths with steep drops, rockfall near cliffs and waterfalls, and no cell service on the coast. Do not cross flooded streams. Surf and currents are dangerous even in summer and there are no lifeguards along the remote shore.
For distances, creek crossings and closures in detail, see the Kalalau Trail guide.
From the air
Helicopters leave from operator bases on Ahukini Road in Līhuʻe, not from the airline terminal. Jack Harter's doors-off flight takes 60 to 65 minutes and carries up to four guests aged 10 and older. It costs $460 including a $50 fuel surcharge, and the online fee is extra. A shorter flight starts at $221, with a different route and length.
On this flight, one person over 250 lb (113 kg), or a couple together over 400 lb (181 kg), needs a second paid seat. For routes and operators, see the helicopter tours guide.
Rules that protect the coast
The Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park has its own boating rules.
- Commercial boat transfers that drop passengers at Kalalau or Miloliʻi are illegal.
- Licensed motorized rafts may call at Nuʻalolo Kai. Private or rented kayaks may not land there.
- Sea kayaking inside the park is allowed only from 15 May to 7 September. A Kalalau landing needs a camping permit, and Miloliʻi is a day landing in that window.
- These are the normal rules. They do not tell you whether a landing is open after the storms.
Looking at boat trips on other islands? Compare with tours on Maui and tours on Oahu.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that go deeper.
Na Pali Coast: frequently asked questions
What is the best way to see the Na Pali Coast?
That depends on time, budget and fitness. A boat shows the cliffs and sea caves from below, a helicopter covers the most ground in about an hour, and the trail gives you the coast on foot but only as far as the 2-mile point at the moment.
Can I drive along the Na Pali Coast?
No. There is no road along the coast. The highways reach the north and west sides through Līhuʻe and do not connect along the shore.
When is the sea calmest for a boat trip?
Operators expect a rougher sea from October to April, and cave entry is unlikely in winter. Trips depend on the day's conditions, and no season guarantees calm water or a landing.
Do I need a permit to hike the Kalalau Trail?
Not for the day hike to Hanakāpīʻai Beach and the falls, but non-residents need the Hāʻena reservation. Beyond Hanakāpīʻai a camping permit is required, and the trail past the 2-mile point is closed right now.
Is there cell service on the coast?
The state says there is no cell service along the Na Pali Coast. Tell someone your plan and turn back if a stream is rising.