Port Allen Sail And Snorkel

Kauai: Napali Coast Sail & Snorkel Tour from Port Allen runs through Holo Holo Charters. Rated 4.8 across 106 reviews. Runs 1 day. From $274.2.

Overview

This Holo Holo Charters trip sails out of Port Allen on a custom-built catamaran and spends roughly five hours working along the Napali Coast, a stretch of cliffs, valleys and waterfalls whose name means 'the cliffs'. The crew narrates as the boat goes, sharing stories of the Hawaiians who once lived along the cliffs, and when conditions allow the sails go up for genuine trade-wind sailing.

The middle of the day is spent in the water. The boat stops at a tropical reef along the coast, and guests can jump or take the waterslide off the back, then snorkel with gear, flotation and instruction provided. Snorkeling is ocean-condition dependent, and full-face masks are banned, only traditional two-piece sets. Afterward there is a continental breakfast, a deli lunch, soft drinks, and beer and wine once swimming is done.

The listing bars expectant mothers and children under 5, and mobility aids are not allowed on board. The tour is not recommended for people with back problems, recent injuries or surgeries, or severe motion sickness, and no refunds are given for seasickness. Everyone who boards gets a full meal, reef-safe sunscreen, and a good chance at turtles, dolphins and, in season, whales.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Port AllenMeet at Holo Holo Charters, 4353 Waialo Rd Suite 5A, Eleele. Bring a passport or ID card, as IDs are checked at check-in.
2. Sail along Napali CoastBoard the catamaran and cruise the coast, viewing the 4,000-foot cliffs, valleys, waterfalls and beaches while the crew shares Hawaiian legends and history. Sailing under sail happens when weather permits.
3. Snorkel stopStop at a tropical reef along the coast, ocean conditions permitting. Gear, flotation and instruction are included, and guests can enter the water by jump or waterslide.
4. Meal and drinks on boardContinental breakfast, deli lunch and soft drinks are served, with beer and wine poured only after snorkeling.
5. Return to Port AllenSail back to the dock at Eleele. The full tour runs about five hours, route dependent on ocean and weather conditions.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape the day, from what to wear to how the boat handles open water.

• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers make their own way to the Holo Holo Charters office on Waialo Rd in Eleele. Bring a passport or ID card, since IDs are required for age verification and the bar service.
• Seas and weather. All routes depend on ocean and weather conditions, and the captain may not decide the day's route until check-in. One reviewer noted rough patches of water on the way to Napali and suggested a rain jacket.
• Snorkeling. Gear, flotation and instruction are included, and first-time snorkelers said the crew's tips made them comfortable in the water. Fish and turtle sightings came up in several reviews, though one found the water cloudy with few fish on their day, which shows conditions vary.
• Food and drink. Breakfast, a deli lunch and soft drinks are all included, with beer and wine served after snorkeling. Reviewers praised the homemade dishes and the variety, and the operator supplies reef-safe sunscreen.
• Who it suits. Children under 5 and expectant mothers cannot join, and people with back problems, recent injuries or severe motion sickness are advised against it. Mobility aids such as canes, walkers and wheelchairs are not allowed on board. Child rates cover ages 5 to 12.
• Barefoot boat. One reviewer pointed out this is a barefoot tour, so footwear is simple. Sunglasses, swimwear and a towel are the listed essentials.

Common issues. Weather decides a lot here. The route, the snorkel stop and whether the sails go up all depend on conditions the captain reads on the day, and the water toward Napali was rough in places for some reviewers, with seasickness on board. No refunds are given for seasickness. Snorkeling quality varies, one reviewer got cloudy water and few fish, and full-face masks are prohibited. There is no hotel pickup, and mobility aids such as canes, walkers and wheelchairs are not allowed on board. One reviewer also noted food waste from trays filled all at once.

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