Best Way to see the Napali Coast in Kauai

A trip to Kauai Island is not complete without a visit to the Napali Coast. The Napali coast is a nature preserve that stretches 16 miles along the northwest side of the island. Uninhabited and unindustrialized, this stretch of coastal land illustrates Kauai’s beauty in its purest form. There are no real roads through the Napali coast, which can make it challenging to visit. However do not let this discourage you; this part of the island has undoubtedly the most spectacular views.

My first recommendation to view this tropical coast is by hiking. There are several different destinations that range in difficulty level along the Kalalau trail. For a day hike, visitors can either go to Hanakapiai Beach (2 miles) or if they have all day, I suggest to continue on to Hanakapiai falls (4 miles). If you want more information about Hanakapiai beach, check out my North Shore of Kauai post!

I myself am an experienced hiker, however it rained the night before I went which made the trail extremely muddy and difficult to hike. So with that being said, our intention to make  it to the falls faded, but the trail to the beach was nothing short of remarkable.

For experienced hikers, there is an 11 mile trail that follows along this remote coast line. This trail cannot be done in a day, and overnight passes require a permit so this hike needs to be planned in advanced.

Many people go on vacation to relax so hiking might not be their cup of tea. If you still want to see the Napali Coast without getting dirty, try a helicopter ride. The company I used was sunshine helicopters, and it was my favorite part of my entire vacation.

Not only did they take my group to all corners of the island, but they also gave us an aerial view of the entire stretch of the Napali Coast. They flew past enormous waterfalls and through deep lush canyons.

The last part of the ride was devoted entirely to the Napali Coast. From above, we could see hidden tucked-away beaches, groups of kayakers, and pods of dolphins. The Helicopter ride gave a unique view of not only the entire island, but also the vast stretch of the Napali Coast.

If you want to see the most beautiful area of land and sea in all of Kauai, then make sure to pay a visit to the Napali Coast. This local stop should be included on everyone’s travel plans when visiting Kauai.