Private Tour: Kauai Waterfalls, Kilauea Lighthouse, Hanalei Bay, Makua Beach and Lava Tubes
Kauai, Hawaii
Rating: 
Trip Type: Private Sightseeing Tours
Duration: 7 hours
This full-day private tour of Kauai’s north shore starts with a visit to Wailua Falls, one of the Garden Isle's most famous natural sights. With an informative private guide, continue sightseeing around the coastal area, stopping for multiple photo ops at Opaeka’a Falls and the Wailua River Overlook, Kilauea Lighthouse, Hanalei Bay and Tunnels Beach, the Hanalei Valley Lookout and Ke'e Beach. Learn about Kauai's history and local culture along the way, and stop to buy lunch. Transport by private minivan from Lihue is included.
*Price displayed is based on a party of four to six passengers
*Price displayed is based on a party of four to six passengers
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This full-day private tour of Kauai’s north shore starts with a visit to Wailua Falls, one of the Garden Isle's most famous natural sights. With an informative private guide, continue sightseeing around the coastal area, stopping for multiple photo ops at Opaeka’a Falls and the Wailua River Overlook, Kilauea Lighthouse, Hanalei Bay and Tunnels Beach, the Hanalei Valley Lookout and Ke'e Beach. Learn about Kauai's history and local culture along the way, and stop to buy lunch. Transport by private minivan from Lihue is included.
*Price displayed is based on a party of four to six passengers
Back in the van, sweep by Julia Roberts’ $15 million home, stop for a picture of the historical Waioli Mission Church and take in the views from the Hanalei Valley Lookout. Then visit two places that are home to caves — first head to Haena Beach in Haena State Park to take a short walk inside the Dry Cave, a large lava tube with a sandy floor; then check out the Waikapalae Wet Cave, which was featured in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. A lava tube filled with cold fresh water, the Wet Cave is an approximate 5-minute hike from the parking lot and is pretty strenuous; you can discuss with your guide to decide if you're up to the challenge.
Your last stop is Ke'e Beach, the starting point of Kauai's famous hike along the Na Pali Coast. Walk along the beach for a few minutes to see the spectacular cliffs before making the drive back to Lihue, where your day trip ends.
*Price displayed is based on a party of four to six passengers
Departing Lihue by private minivan, listen to your guide’s narration about Kauai's history, culture and the natural sights that make up the beautiful Garden Isle. The benefit of a private tour is that information is tailored to your interests, and you can ask any questions you may have.
Make your first stop at Wailua Falls, made famous in the opening credits of the TV show Fantasy Island. Snap photos of the double cascade, which descends 80 feet (24 meters) into the stream below, before continuing on to another stunner: Opaeka’a Falls.
Located in Wailua River State Park, this 151-foot twin waterfall flows over basalt into a hidden pool. From the Wailua River Overlook, your private guide will point out a re-created ancient Hawaiian village below, used as a set in the movie Outbreak.
After a brief stop at a Hindu temple in a magnificent tropical setting, you’re driven through Kapaa Town, passing by 100-year-old coconut trees on the way north. Hop out of the van to view the Anahola Mountains, looking for formations that resemble a gorilla, a turtle, a hippo and an elephant.
When you reach Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, visit Kilauea Lighthouse (entry at own expense). From this cliffside vista point, you can observe seabirds and maybe even get an up-close look at the endangered Nene goose, the Hawaiian state bird. Keep your eyes open for humpback whales, too, during their migration from mid-December to mid-May.
On a drive through the historical sugar plantation town of Kilauea, note the buildings made from stones taken from the sugar fields. Then head to Hanalei Town for lunch at a local diner featuring Hawaiian barbecue (own expense). Afterward, visit the north shore’s Hanalei Bay and Makua Beach (Tunnels Beach), where South Pacific was filmed, and take a stroll on Hanalei Pier for more breathtaking mountain and waterfall views.
Back in the van, sweep by Julia Roberts’ $15 million home, stop for a picture of the historical Waioli Mission Church and take in the views from the Hanalei Valley Lookout. Then visit two places that are home to caves — first head to Haena Beach in Haena State Park to take a short walk inside the Dry Cave, a large lava tube with a sandy floor; then check out the Waikapalae Wet Cave, which was featured in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. A lava tube filled with cold fresh water, the Wet Cave is an approximate 5-minute hike from the parking lot and is pretty strenuous; you can discuss with your guide to decide if you're up to the challenge.
Your last stop is Ke'e Beach, the starting point of Kauai's famous hike along the Na Pali Coast. Walk along the beach for a few minutes to see the spectacular cliffs before making the drive back to Lihue, where your day trip ends.
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