Na Pali Coast by Boat: Catamaran, Zodiac Raft or Sailboat?
6 min read
For most visitors, book the Na Pali Coast Deluxe Power Catamaran Tour. It runs 4.5 hours, has 4.9 from 170 reviews and costs €244.84. Take the Zodiac Raft Sea Caves tour if you want to go into the caves and can handle a rough ride, and one of the sunset sailing cruises if you would rather have dinner than speed.
Where these boats leave from
None of them starts in Lihue. The catamaran’s page gives Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha as the meeting point, and the Zodiac operator has you check in at its office in Waimea on Kauai’s west side, then make your own way to the same harbor. The sailing cruises are run by Holo Holo Charters from Port Allen in Eleele. From Lihue that is a drive across the island, so plan your day around it rather than treating the boat as a short hop from the airport.
The options side by side
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Power Catamaran | 4.5 hours | €244.84 | 4.9 from 170 reviews | Fast 35-foot catamaran, open bow with some shade, snorkelling as a bonus |
| Zodiac Raft Sea Caves + Snorkel Option | 3 to 4 hours | €200.38 | 4.9 from 298 reviews | 30-foot inflatable raft, sea caves, rough ride |
| Sunset Sailboat Tour with Dinner | 4.5 hours | €220.25 | 4.7 from 235 reviews | 50-foot catamaran, dinner, champagne toast |
| Napali Sunset Dinner Cruise | 3.5 hours | €220.25 | 4.7 from 107 reviews | 65-foot catamaran, dinner, drinks, champagne toast |
| Sail & Snorkel Tour from Port Allen | Listed as a day, described as a 5-hour tour | €244.19 | 4.8 from 106 reviews | Sailing catamaran, breakfast, lunch, snorkel stop |
The power catamaran
The operator calls it a high-speed power catamaran, not a slow sailing boat. The page says mornings generally have calmer seas and afternoons are windier and wetter, and that snorkelling should be treated as a bonus if conditions allow. Drinks, snacks, fruit and a dry bag are listed, and so are fold-down platforms and ladders for getting into the water. It excludes children under 4, pregnant women, non-swimmers and people prone to seasickness. Arrive 30 minutes before departure.
The Zodiac raft
This is the one for caves. The operator says it specialises in entering the sea caves along the coast, weather permitting, and compares the ride to white-water rafting on the ocean: “It is not a mai tai cruise.” It says not to come if you are prone to motion sickness. Children under 5, pregnant women, wheelchair users and people with back or heart problems are listed as excluded. The 4-hour option includes a snorkel stop with gear; the 3-hour one does not. Parking at the harbor is listed at $20 plus tax per vehicle for 8 hours, and a photo package with the crew’s photos and videos is sold at the end for $55 plus tax. Check-in is 45 minutes before departure, and a guest who has not checked in when the safety briefing starts 30 minutes before departure has missed the tour.
The sunset sails
Both sunset cruises are Holo Holo departures with a Hawaiian-style dinner and drinks. The longer one is a 50-foot catamaran with up to 41 guests; the dinner cruise uses a 65-foot catamaran for up to 49. Both list a champagne toast at sunset. Both exclude children under 5 and pregnant women, do not allow mobility aids such as wheelchairs on board, and state that routes depend on the sea on the day. Tips are not included, and the Holo Holo pages allow free cancellation up to 7 days before departure, not 24 hours. If you want to snorkel during the day, the Sail & Snorkel Tour adds a continental breakfast and deli lunch.
Who should stay ashore
Every boat above lists back problems, recent surgery or seasickness among reasons not to book, and the wording differs, so read your own page. Seasickness is a medical question: ask a pharmacist or doctor before the trip. The Holo Holo pages say there are no refunds for seasickness.
Our recommendation
Choose the Deluxe Power Catamaran for a daytime trip, and a morning departure if you have the choice. Choose the Zodiac only if the caves are the point. All departures are listed on our Na Pali Coast boat tours page.
