6-Hour Snorkel And Sail

Kauai’s Na Pali Coast Snorkel and Sail Tour runs through Holo Holo Charters, Inc.. Rated 4.8 across 582 reviews. Runs 6 hours (approx.). From $292.48.

Overview

This Holo Holo Charters trip is a six-hour sail along Kauai's Na Pali Coast aboard a 50-foot catamaran, with a snorkel stop when conditions allow. You check in at Port Allen Marina Center on Waialo Road in Eleele, kick off your shoes before boarding, and head up the coast. Dolphins and, in season, humpback whales are possibilities, and reviewers describe sightings of pods of dolphins swimming alongside the boat.

The food is a real part of the day. Breakfast includes scrambled eggs, pastries, fresh fruit, coffee and oatmeal, and lunch is a deli-style spread with pasta salad, crudités, cookies and drinks. Beer, seltzers and wine open up only once snorkeling is finished, per the operator's liquor license. Gear, flotation and instruction are all provided.

It suits travellers in reasonable shape who want around six hours on open water. The ride can be bumpy, and the operator is blunt that ocean conditions vary and routes can change. Kids need to be at least 5, and the boat caps at 41 passengers. Not recommended for those with back, neck or joint problems, and no expectant mothers are permitted.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Port AllenMeet at 4353 Waialo Rd, Eleele, at the Port Allen Marina Center. Use the designated gravel parking lot and arrive ready to remove your shoes before boarding.
2. Board the catamaranStep aboard barefoot and meet the captain and crew. Captains let passengers know what to expect for the day, as reviewers describe.
3. Sail along Na Pali CoastCruise up the coast on a 50-foot catamaran with the crew watching for wildlife along the way. The exact route depends on weather and ocean conditions.
4. Snorkel stopAnchor at a spot the captain picks for the day, with gear, instruction and flotation provided. Snorkeling is conditional on conditions and may shift or be skipped if visibility is poor.
5. Lunch and drinks onboardHave lunch onboard with drinks available. Alcoholic drinks are served only after snorkeling has concluded.
6. Return sail to Port AllenCruise back to the marina, with the chance to see humpback whales when in season. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape how this day goes, from what you wear on your feet to how the ocean treats the ride.

• Go barefoot. All tours are barefoot and shoes come off before boarding, with orthopedic and diabetic exceptions at the captain's discretion. Bring a light jacket, towel, camera and reef-friendly lotion sunscreen. Spray sunscreen is banned as a safety hazard.
• Expect motion. This is open-ocean sailing, not a calm harbor cruise. The listing states ocean conditions vary and may be rough, and it suggests over-the-counter motion sickness remedies taken in advance. There are no refunds for seasickness.
• Moderate fitness. The listing asks for a moderate physical fitness level and bars non-swimmers from the water. Full-face snorkel masks are prohibited, so plan on the traditional two-piece mask and snorkel the crew provides.
• Plenty of food. Breakfast and lunch are both included, plus water, juices, soft drinks, and alcohol after snorkeling. One reviewer singled out the breakfast and lunch as outstanding. Bring a reusable water bottle, which the operator requests for sustainability reasons.
• Weather rules. Routes, destinations and snorkeling can change without notice based on conditions. Reviewers describe trips where the snorkel spot moved or the time went to whale watching instead.
• Small-boat feel. The boat carries a maximum of 41 travellers. One reviewer preferred it to larger catamaran tours for the smaller crowd. Crews are praised across many reviews for being attentive, friendly and knowledgeable.

Common issues. Pickup and drop-off are not included, so you drive yourself to Port Allen. Weather can cancel snorkeling entirely or turn the trip into more of a whale-watching run, and tours may be cancelled for poor weather or if a minimum number of travellers is not met, in which case a different date or a full refund is offered. Children under 5, expectant mothers, and travellers with back or joint problems or serious medical conditions are not permitted or not recommended. No-shows and cancellations within 24 hours are charged the full fare.

Which Tour Matches Your Plans