Kauai Waimea Canyon, Wailua River Boat and Fern Grotto Tour

518 Reviews 4.58 out of 5 stars Based on 518 traveler reviews collected by Cool Hawaii and TripAdvisor |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Kauai, USA

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 12 (2) days in advance.

10 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Enjoy a day brimming with scenic beauty, legends and history of the Garden Island. Journey down the meandering, tranquil Wailua River on an open air boat ride culminating at exquisite Fern Grotto where you'll be serenaded by the Hawaiian Wedding Song. Gaze at the vast expanse of Waimea Canyon from key lookout points on the ascent. The deep red cliffs were described by Mark Twain as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Visit sprawling Kauai Coffee Plantation and Spouting Horn Blowhole where sea water spectacularly jettisons through openings in lava rock.

What's Included

  • Pick-up and drop-off at specific Kauai Hotels
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Wailua River Boat Admission
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Port pick-up and drop-off
See 1 moreSee 3 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

For guests staying at a North Shore or Princeville hotel, the meeting point is at the Outrigger Waipouli Hotel in Kapa'a. Parking is available at the municipal parking lot near the Outrigger Waipouli Hotel.The tour times provided reflect the start and end of the tour, but not your exact pickup location and pickup time. Whether or not you've provided your hotel/lodging at the time of booking, you are required to contact the tour provider no less than (2) days prior to your tour date to receive your exact pickup time and location. The tour provider will advise you of the specific area at the hotel/lodging you should wait; for example, "at the front entrance." Please be there at least 5 minutes before your pickup time. Please allow a 10-15 minute grace period, as the driver will be picking up other guests in your area. If your hotel/lodging is not included on our pickup schedule, you'll be advised to meet at nearby location. Please note that we are prohibited by certain properties to pick up non-hotel guests and we do not pick-up at private properties such as Airbnb’s and residential areas.

What To Expect

Wailua River State Park

Board a spacious, open-air boat and cruise down Kauai's Wailua River encircled by miles of lush trees and tropical plants. Cool breezes lull you as the captain shares stories of ancient Hawaii when the river was flanked by multiple Hawaiian heiau (temples).
Read more

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Fern Grotto

Take a leisurely boat ride down the Wailua River to the famed "Fern Grotto" aptly named for the Boston Ferns dripping from the roof of a verdant cavern carved out of the mountain side.
Read more

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Opaekaa Falls

Cascading down into a hidden pool, this 151-foot-tall, 40-foot-wide waterfall is one of the island's most accessible major waterfalls.
Read more

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Old Koloa Town

Enjoy lunch on your own in historic Old Koloa Town, surrounded by its charming atmosphere.
Read more

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Waimea Canyon State Park

Scenic views of the deep valley gorges with it's striking red soil covered in greenery...nicknamed the "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Waimea Canyon Lookout will be closed from 4/14/25 through approximately 12/8/25 for slope and foundation repairs. We will substitute the closed lookout with a stop at Pu‘uhinahina Lookout, which offers a different but impressive view of Waimea Canyon. We’ll also make a few additional photo stops to give guests more time to enjoy the scenery.
Read more

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Hanapepe Valley Lookout (Pass By)

Panoramic views of a valley covered in trees and wild green sugarcane. Hanapepe was one of the locations visited by famous explored Charles Wilkes in 1840.
Read more

Kauai Coffee Company

The largest coffee farm in the United States, visit the Kauai Coffee Estate and sample a rich cup of famous Kauai coffee.
Read more

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Spouting Horn

Crashing waves propel majestic jets of salt water through lava rock. One of the most photographed sites on Kauai.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 6 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Please contact the tour provider at minimum of 7 days prior to the tour date for ADA and all special requests.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(8)

Q: What should I wear on tour?

A: Many portions of the tour traverse uneven walking surfaces. Please wear comfortable attire and shoes. Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are recommended. Bring a light sweater or jacket. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the activity for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-2360KAUAI

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.58
518 reviews

Average 4.58 out of 5 stars based on 518 traveler reviews collected by Cool Hawaii and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
386
4 stars
75
3 stars
36
2 stars
13
1 star
8

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 12 (2) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Brand modeling on Kauai
1 hour Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$500

Ultimate Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of Kauai (Na Pali, Waimea), Hawaii
3 to 4 hours Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$16.99

Kauai Scuba Diving for Beginners
4 hours 30 minutes Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$202.75

Private Hana Highway Highlights
6 hours Hotel pickup offered Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$1,200

Travelers Who Bought This Activity Also Bought

Kauai: Hughes 500 4-Passenger Doors-Off Helicopters
1 hour Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$369

Kauai Waimea Canyon and Koke'e Tour
10 hours Hotel pickup offered Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$220.07

Kauai Airplane Tour: Na Pali Coast, Waterfalls & Window Seats
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out
1 hour 5 minutes Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$159

Luau Kalamaku on Kauai with Buffet Dinner and Show
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out
4 to 6 hours Hotel pickup offered Free Cancellation Instant Confirmation
from
$179.06

What's Included

Activity name

  • Pick-up and drop-off at specific Kauai Hotels
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Wailua River Boat Admission
  • Tour narration by a professional driver/guide
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Port pick-up and drop-off

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Please contact the tour provider at minimum of 7 days prior to the tour date for ADA and all special requests.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the activity for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the activity start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the activity start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the activity local time (HST).
  • This activity requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This activity requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Hawaii wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Hawaii over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.