Na Pali Coast Super Raft Adventure: Sea Caves, Dolphins, and Snorkeling from Port Allen
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
4.5 hours
Fitness Level
Comfortable sitting and bracing on a moving boat, able to climb a ladder from the water after snorkeling.
Overview
Roar up Kauai’s legendary Na Pali Coast on a fast, stable super raft built to slip beneath sea arches and linger at cascading waterfalls. When the ocean cooperates, you’ll nose into caves and snorkel over living reef; when it doesn’t, dolphins, cliffs, and big-water energy deliver a show of their own.
Na Pali Coast Super Raft Adventure: Sea Caves, Dolphins, and Snorkeling from Port Allen
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The day starts in Eleele, where the harbor wakes before the sun fully burns off the trades. You check in at Port Allen, step aboard a 37-foot Naiad Super Raft, and the Pacific greets you with a nudge—waves tapping the hull, breeze lifting salt into the air. With 750 horsepower at your back, the boat sprints west, then north, skimming along Kauai’s rugged frame until the cliffs of Na Pali rise like a serrated horizon. The coast breathes—waterfalls thread down fluted ridgelines, blowholes exhale, and sea caves beckon like doorways cut from lava and time.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive early and eat light
Check in 45 minutes before departure and go easy on breakfast; a light, non-greasy meal helps if the seas get lively.
Reef-safe only
Use mineral-based, reef-safe sunscreen and apply 30 minutes before boarding to protect marine life and avoid slick decks.
Plan for spray and wind
Bring a light waterproof shell and secure hat—Na Pali likes to baptize everyone on board.
Motion management
If prone to seasickness, take non-drowsy medication 60 minutes prior; the fast run and open-ocean swell can be bumpy.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Hawaiian spinner dolphins
- Green sea turtles (honu)
History
Port Allen once served Kauai’s sugar era as a primary shipping hub; Na Pali’s valleys, including Kalalau and Nualolo, were home to Native Hawaiian communities with terraced agriculture and coastal fishing.
Conservation
Use reef-safe sunscreen and never touch coral or wildlife. Follow crew guidance on NOAA distance rules—give turtles and dolphins a wide berth and enjoy them without crowding.
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Adventure Hotspots in Poipu
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
UPF long-sleeve rash guard
Sun is relentless on the water; a rash guard protects better than sunscreen alone.
Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (SPF 30+)
Protects skin and the coral reef during prolonged sun exposure and snorkeling.
Light waterproof windbreaker
Spray and tradewinds can chill you between snorkel stops and while underway.
10L dry bag
Keeps phone, towel, and spare layer dry during fast, wet sections.