We had the most amazing time visiting Kauai for our first time! I did a ton of research before our trip and really feel like we got to experience the best that this Hawaiian island has to offer. Here are my top 5 activities to do in Kauai.
On our trip to Kauai, Hawaii we were given the AMAZING opportunity to partner up with Kipu Ranch Adventures for a Waterfall Picnic Tour. This particular tour would take us to the site of perhaps the greatest action movie opening sequence ever shot - the first scene in "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark." In this scene, Indiana Jones is trying to escape from the indigenous peoples and flees to the banks of the Hule'ia River where he swings on a vine into the murky waters to swim to his plane, all while darting the arrows and blow darts being shot at him. Not only will you get to swim on the Indiana Jones rope swing, but you will also get to see the sets of Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, Tropic Thunder and more! The tour also includes a few swimming stops and a delicious picnic of a deli-style sandwich buffet, fresh fruits, and dessert.
Kauai's Nā Pali Coast is jaw-droppingly beautiful and we wanted to see it EVERY way we could. Thanks to Captain Andy's, we were able to experience the beauty of the coastline by sea! Captain Andy's has options for both catamaran tours and zodiac raft tours, and being the thrill-seekers that we are, we chose to do the 5.5-6 hour Nā Pali Day Expedition. The tour is exactly what Captain Andy's advertises - WET AND WILD! The type of raft Captain Andy's uses for their expeditions allows for exploring caves and landing on secluded beaches along the Nā Pali Coast, and it goes FAST!
If you have never been to the Hawaiian Islands and decide to go - a luau should DEFINITELY be on your list of things to do. Since it was our first time in Kauai (and in Hawaii in general) I knew I wanted to find an authentic luau experience, so when we were given the chance to partner up with Grand Hyatt and attend their Kauai Luau, I was SO excited! In case you don't know, the tradition of the luau began in 1819 when King Kamehameha II finally removed the religious laws that were in practice. All of the men and women came together to celebrate with a giant feast to commemorate this historic decision. What we have today is a traditional Hawaiian feast coupled with Hawaiian dances and an explanation of that history. The Luau at Grand Hyatt had ALL OF THE ABOVE AND MORE!
If you are ever going to do a helicopter tour, Kauai is the place to do it! Most of the island's waterfalls are inaccessible so seeing them by air is the ONLY way to see them! I have to say that the doors-off helicopter tour we took with Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours was one of the coolest experiences of my life! Not only was it so exhilirating, but it also gave us some of the most breathtaking views I have EVER seen! If you are going to splurge on anything on your trip, make this it!
The hiking in Kauai is UNREAL, so taking a hike (or twenty) is my last recommendation for a must-do activity. We opted to hike the first part of the Kalilau Trail to Hanakapiai Beach and then into the jungle to Hanakapiai Falls. It was absolutely magical! We also did a few hikes around Waimea Canyon while we were there, which they call the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The views are stunning! Definitely do your research and make sure you know what your getting yourself into when choosing your hikes - some require permits and are very difficult!
I hope you enjoyed my Top 5 Activities to do in Kauai! Let me know if you end up visiting the island and trying any of them out!
xoxo. Alexandra
Our excursions with Kipu Ranch Adventures and Captain Andy's and our Luau at the Grand Hyatt were comped in exchange for the blog and social media coverage we provided. However, I am not being compensated for this post. These activities are truly CAN NOT MISS!
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