Sight guide · Kauaʻi · United States
Visiting Wailua River kayak
Hawaiʻi's only navigable river is lined with jungle and ancient sacred sites.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bret Robertson, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Wailua River kayak is an experience in Kapaʻa and Wailua, Kauaʻi. Allow half a day; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Kapaʻa and Wailua
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- active, nature, outdoors and kids
- Best months
- February and April–May
Plan a trip to Kauaʻi
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
About Wailua River kayak
Hawaiʻi's only navigable river is lined with jungle and ancient sacred sites. Guided kayak trips paddle about 3 km upriver, then hike to the 30-metre Uluwehi, or Secret, Falls.
Tip: Go with a permitted outfitter, wear shoes you can get muddy, and start early to avoid the afternoon headwind on the way back.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: Half a day.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Kapaʻa and Wailua, east Side towns of the Coconut Coast, Wailua River and a coastal path.
Best time to visit Wailua River kayak
Wailua River kayak is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- February: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Kauaʻi has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Wailua River kayak is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon State Park.
- No. 11 of the 17 sights in our Kauaʻi things-to-do list.
- A family favourite in Kauaʻi with kids.
Near Wailua River kayak
Also in Kapaʻa and Wailua, so you can walk between them:
- Nounou (Sleeping Giant) Trail — 2–3 hours, free
If you like Wailua River kayak
- Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach — Hanalei, Half a day
- Kōkeʻe State Park and Kalalau Lookout — Kōkeʻe, 2–3 hours
- Poʻipū Beach Park — Poʻipū and Kōloa, Half a day
- Spouting Horn — Poʻipū and Kōloa, 30 minutes
Staying near Wailua River kayak
Stay in Kapaʻa and Wailua ($$$) to walk here: east Side towns of the Coconut Coast, Wailua River and a coastal path. All areas to stay in Kauaʻi.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Wailua River kayak?
Plan half a day. With Nounou (Sleeping Giant) Trail nearby, it fits a half-day in Kapaʻa and Wailua.
+Is Wailua River kayak free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Wailua River kayak?
February and April–May for the most comfortable weather. Go with a permitted outfitter, wear shoes you can get muddy, and start early to avoid the afternoon headwind on the way back.
+Do I need to book Wailua River kayak in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Wailua River kayak good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Kauaʻi. Kauaʻi is a gentle family destination with calm summer beaches, easy waterfall viewpoints, turtles and monk seals, and short adventures such as river kayaking.