Na Pali Pirates — Attraction in Kauai

Ok lots to unpack here! It was an absolute blast and we loved it!

For anyone considering booking this tour, a few things to think about -

You start on the southwest side of the island and work your way up to the northwest side of the island and then back - so you get to see the entire NaPali coast on the West side. It takes about 30 minutes to get to your first stop once you are on the boat and leave the harbor. Definitely bring a rain jacket or at the very rash guard and consider protection for your face (wind burn) + sunglasses and a tight fitting hat (or skip the hat and pull up your raincoat hood). You go fast and it can be rough. Mornings tend to be calmer although it's not guaranteed. Ideally you have light winds, low swell, and low tide ❤️ the trifecta. If you do not have these, it's not a big deal but may make the round trip a bit more bumpy

Book EARLY AM - we did a morning tour and were able to see some really great marine life, wind was out of the SE around 5pmh and the swell was around 2-4 feet. It was calm and the water was like glass on the way up. A really amazing experience seeing the NaPali coast.

The benefit of being in a decommissioned Navy Seal boat is it is sturdy, powerful and can get into sea caves that other boats like a catamaran cannot due to size. While you are fairly exposed, we felt safe the entire time. Mother nature cooperated and we were able to drive into 3 sea caves and stop at another location and snorkel which is rare.

Our guides - the twins! - Erica and Shauna were AMAZING. They did a great job making it fun, Erica is a phenomenal captain and navigated the rough seas on the way back brilliantly. Shauna has a unique ability to keep guests happy, energized and keeps the mood light-hearted.

The website is not lying to you - THIS TOUR IS ROUGH. While our ride out was smooth and easy (which is uncommon), the way back with the wind shift led to about 3-5ft swells and the wind shift created pretty choppy water thus it was about an hour ride back. It was fun, but if you don't like boating on the busiest weekend of the year at 35mph in choppy water, I would not book this tour because the ocean is always stronger and more intense 🙂. I would book one of their other tours that is a little calmer. But if you like bouncing around on a boat, book it!

We loved this tour and are so thankful we got to go! Snacks and beverages provided were great! Thank you for an...

If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure on Kauai, I highly recommend the Na Pali Pirates boat tour! I went with my boyfriend, and it was truly the highlight of our week on the island.

What Made This Tour Special:

Breathtaking Views: The Na Pali coastline is even more stunning in person, and the boat provided panoramic views the whole way.

Exciting Wildlife Encounters: We were lucky enough to see dolphins and sea turtles during our trip, which made the day feel magical.

Unique Sights: From majestic sea caves to dramatic cliffs, every turn offered something exciting to see and photograph.

Exciting Boat Ride: The ride itself was such a thrill! Bouncing up and down on the waves and getting splashed with sea spray added even more excitement and fun to the adventure.

Snorkeling Adventures: The crew provided an awesome snorkeling stop so we could explore beneath the waves too.

Thoughtful Touches: Snacks and drinks were ready for us when we finished snorkeling, which was so appreciated after time in the water.

A Special Thanks to Shawna and Erica:

The twins, Shawna and Erica, were absolutely incredible guides. Their energy and knowledge made the experience fun and memorable. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable, safe, and having a blast. Their humor and enthusiasm truly set the tone for the whole ride. They also played great music! Well timed genres of music and everything

Overall Experience:

The tour was the perfect length (about four hours if i remember correctly), so we never felt rushed and could fully enjoy everything.

This boat tour was by far my favorite part of our Kauai trip, and it created memories I’ll cherish forever.

If you’re considering a boat tour on Kauai, don’t hesitate—book with Na Pali Pirates. You...

My partner and I were originally suppose to be on the 6 person catamaran trip with Na Pali Experience (Na Pali Pirates' sister company), but unfortunately the evening prior to our scheduled tour we were told they needed a minimum of 5 people to run the tour and we were the only people booked at the time. I do wish they would have contacted us earlier in the week and maybe we would have been rescheduled for our original tour? There were at least 3-4 Na Pali Experience tours the morning of our tour, so we know there was demand for it.

That being said, we didn't want to miss out on seeing the Na Pali coast by boat, so we signed up for the Na Pali Pirates tour, which was guaranteed to run. The boat was almost at capacity (13 out of 14 guests) and definitely was cramped. We've done a few other adventure boats before and besides having us in a raft, it wasn't that much of an adventure. There were other boats that were getting closer to the walls, which our captain responded that she would not take those kind of risk with us - which I understand, but kept saying that we were the fun boat. We did do 2 donuts at the end of the trip, but that about sums up the "adventure" portion of the trip. The ride was uncomfortable and the weather did not permit for us to be in the water except to use the bathroom. This is common as the Na Pali Coast is unpredictable and we were a-okay with it - the views are above you! It was definitely beautiful and we're very happy to have had the opportunity to visit, but I probably wouldn't select...