Na Pali Coast Snorkeling Tours
One hour in the water at Nualolo Kai, a reef the south shore can’t touch, on boats that leave from the closest harbor to the coast on Kauai. Rated 4.9 stars by more than 10,000 guests on Google and TripAdvisor. A Native Hawaiian family business; our family has called this coastline home for over 100 years.
This is the Na Pali catamaran snorkel tour Makana Charters has run since Liko Kauai Cruises first put boats on this water: five boats leaving from Kikiaola Harbor in Kekaha, and one, Amelia K, running the same route from Port Allen for guests on the south shore.
Why Choose Our Na Pali Coast Snorkeling Tour
A Fleet That Covers Both Harbors
Every Na Pali Coast snorkeling tour on this island eventually reaches the same coastline. What changes is how much of your day you spend getting there, and how many ways you have to book it.
Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha, the closest launch point to the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, is where five of our six boats depart from, giving you up to a full hour more at the reef than a tour that starts farther away. That’s what makes this the closest Na Pali boat tour on the island if you want more of your morning at the reef instead of the harbor.
Our Amelia K covers the Port Allen side of the island too, so no matter which harbor is closer to where you’re staying, one of our boats is departing from it.
A Reef the South Shore Can’t Reach
Nualolo Kai sees a fraction of the daily boat traffic that south-shore snorkel sites handle, since it’s reachable only by boat and only when ocean conditions allow.
Less traffic means a reef that isn’t churned up by dozens of fins a day: clearer water, calmer fish behavior, and coral that hasn’t been kicked apart by crowds.
Small Groups, Room to Move
Our boats carry 12 to 36 guests, smaller than most operators on the island. A small group Nā Pali snorkel tour gets in the water faster and spends more of the hour actually snorkeling instead of standing around waiting for room at the reef to open up.
A Family Legacy That Goes Back Over 100 Years
Our family has called this island home for over 100 years, and every captain has lived on Kauai for years, most of their entire lives. The cultural narration you hear on board comes from guides whose own family history is part of this coast.
Choose Your Boat
A Nāpali Coast boat and snorkel tour with Makana Charters runs on one of six catamarans, and all but one depart from Kikiaola. Full specs and photos for every boat are on our fleet page if you want to compare before booking.
Na Pali Kai III
Na Pali Kai III is the boat for photographers and families. Its 360° walk-around deck — the only one in our fleet — lets you move freely for unobstructed shots of the cliffs, waterfalls, and sea caves from every angle. After snorkeling, rinse off at the open-air freshwater shower, with a spacious onboard restroom for the trip. Ideal for larger families and groups traveling together. Welcomes children ages 4 and up. For additional information, please visit our FAQ.
Amenities Included:
Marine Facility (onboard restroom) Deli Lunch Snacks & Mixed Soft Drinks Snorkel Gear Snorkeling Easy Access BoardingPricing: (tax not included in price):
Adults: $199 Children: $169
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Seiko 1 & 2
The Seiko is a 34′ power catamaran built for a small-group Na Pali Coast tour. Coast Guard certified for 20, we hold each trip to 16 so there’s always room to move around, snorkel, and take in the sea caves without the crowd — up to 18 for private charters. Ages 9 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
Amenities Included:
Marine Facility (onboard restroom) Deli Lunch Snacks & Mixed Soft Drinks Snorkel Gear Snorkeling Easy Access BoardingPricing: (tax not included in price):
Adults: $219 Children: $189
Check Availability
Leialoha
Leialoha is the newest boat in our fleet — a 36′ power catamaran that seats up to 18 on a regular small-group departure, so a slightly larger family or friend group can ride together. Comfortable seating, an onboard restroom, and open views the whole way as you snorkel the reef and explore the sea caves. Ages 9 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
Amenities Included:
1 Marine Facility (onboard restroom) Deli Lunch Snacks & Mixed Soft Drinks Snorkel Gear Snorkeling Easy Access BoardingPricing: (tax not included in price):
Adult: $219 Children: $189
Check Availability
Makana
With just 12 guests aboard, the Makana is the most intimate way to see the Na Pali Coast. This 32′ custom-built catamaran was designed for room to spread out — every seat has space and a clear view as you snorkel the reef and glide past the sea caves. The smallest group on the water. Ages 9 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
Amenities Included:
Marine Facility (onboard restroom) Deli Lunch Snacks & Mixed Soft Drinks Snorkel Gear Snorkeling Easy Access BoardingPricing: (tax not included in price):
Adults: $219 Children: $189
Check Availability
Amelia K
At 47′ and seating up to 36, the Amelia K is our largest and most luxurious catamaran — plush seating throughout and a smooth, stable ride that makes for the most comfortable day on the coast. She carries two onboard restrooms and an open-air freshwater shower for after you snorkel the reef and drift past the sea caves. Welcomes children ages 4 and up. For additional information please visit our FAQ.
Amenities Included:
2 Marine Facility (onboard restroom) Deli Lunch Snacks & Mixed Soft Drinks Snorkel Gear Snorkeling Easy Access BoardingPricing: (tax not included in price):
Adults: $199 Children: $169
Check Availability
Private Na Pali Coast Boat Tours
Discover the ultimate way to experience Kauai’s iconic coast with our private Na Pali Coast boat tour. Tailored just for you, these intimate adventures let you explore hidden sea caves, pristine waters, and breathtaking cliffs at your own pace, creating memories that are truly yours to treasure.
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Prefer a Private Charter?
Book the Makana boat (up to 12 guests) as a private charter: same route, same snorkel stop, no shared-boat strangers.
Book online with one ticket per guest if your group is 12 or fewer. Above that, call (808) 338-9980, and we’ll arrange the Na Pali Kai III as a buyout instead.
Experience Makana Charters in Action
What's Included on Your Nā Pali Coast Snorkeling Tour
Every tour includes snorkel gear, flotation devices, a deli-style lunch (turkey, ham, roast beef, or vegetarian), soft drinks, and local juices.
The snorkel stop runs about one hour at Makole, Ke’e Beach (Tunnels), or Nualolo Kai, depending on the day’s ocean conditions. You’re free to snorkel, float with flotation devices, or stay on board and watch: nothing is required.
Along the way, this Na Pali Coast sea caves tour passes Pirates Cave (Waiahuakua) and Honopū Arch, entered as long as ocean conditions allow safe access.
Spinner dolphins, Pacific Bottlenose dolphins, and honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) are commonly seen along the route on what’s as much a Na Pali Coast dolphin tour as a snorkeling trip, alongside reef fish and coral, though sightings are never guaranteed since ocean conditions and animal behavior vary day to day.
Why Guests Keep Booking With Us
More than 10,000 combined reviews on Google and TripAdvisor add up to a 4.9-star average, built one snorkel tour at a time by a family that’s called this coastline home for over 100 years.
10,430 Reviews
4,968 Reviews
We were grateful to support local businesses during our time on Kauai after Lowell and everything they've endured since. We would definitely book with Makana Charters again!
Shawn and Lionel were attentive, did their best to make the ride comfortable. it was a fun experience.
We had the best conditions the ocean was calm it was warm & the water was clear. We stopped to snorkel & eat lunch for 1 hour. Most other tours I’ve been on only stop for a half hour. It felt very relaxing. We were not rushed. On other tours, I felt like I only had time to snorkel and then have to eat my lunch when we’re underway on the way back.
The sandwiches were delicious. They had a cooler full of ice, cold drinks, and water.
They stopped several times to allow guests to take photographs of iconic areas.
I felt very well taken care of and safe.
Captain Rhiannon and Jay were engaging with the guests, but not too much. They were informative in a casual friendly way.
I highly recommend Makana Charters. Even if you have to drive a little further, it’s totally worth it. I live in Kilauea and left my house at 6:00am. I arrived 10 minutes before the 7:30 check in.
They are very organized and professional. Everything went very smoothly.
I typically go out on a tour 1 to 3 times a year. I’ve been out with 3 of the most popular tour companies on island. I go every year for my birthday in July.
And I always take friends & family when they visit. Makana Charters makes you feel like Ohana.
After the amazing tour I usually go to the beach house for sunset.
Sadly the beach house was destroyed by Lowell but I hear they are rebuilding. I can’t wait to go out with Makana Charters again & go to the new Beach House.
Mahalo nui loa Makana Charters! I have so many fun memories with friends & family on your tours!
On the way to the Nā Pali Coast, they even slowed down when we spotted dolphins so we could enjoy the moment. They also went back to retrieve someone’s hat that had blown away — little things like that really showed how much they cared about everyone on the boat.
The entire experience was fun, relaxing, and memorable. Captain Dave and Elijah were fantastic hosts, and we couldn’t have asked for a better crew.
We would definitely use them again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a Nā Pali Coast boat tour! 🌊🐬🤙
We felt safe the entire time. Lila was super helpful and she was so cute! She kindly offered to take our photos every time she is trying to take photos. (She knew the good angles lol)
Great experience overall and I highly recommend this tour and request for captain A’a and Lila if you can!
I’d like to send my prayers and thoughts to the ones affected by the hurricane. Sending lots of Aloha 🤙🏽
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Na Pali Coast Snorkeling Tour
Do I need to know how to swim to join?
No. Flotation devices are included and available for every guest. You don’t need to be a confident swimmer to participate, and if you’d rather stay on board during the snorkel stop, that’s fine: the crew never requires anyone to enter the water.
Is this a good snorkeling tour for kids?
Yes, though the minimum age depends on the boat. Guests ages 4 and older can join on the Na Pali Kai III or Amelia K, both stocked with flotation devices and crew used to handling kids of every comfort level in the water. Seiko 1, Seiko 2, Leialoha, and Makana require guests to be at least 9. Any child who’d rather not get in can stay on board through the whole snorkel stop.
Where exactly does the snorkeling take place?
The site varies by ocean conditions on the day of your tour. We most often stop at Makole, Ke’e Beach (Tunnels), or Nualolo Kai, all along the Na Pali Coast, and Nualolo Kai sees far less boat traffic than south-shore locations. Our crew picks the site that morning based on conditions.
What if my snorkel gear doesn’t fit properly once we’re on the water?
Tell the crew right away. We carry backup gear on board and can swap out a mask or snorkel that isn’t sealing correctly. The crew checks fit before anyone enters the water specifically to catch this early.
Can I book a private charter instead of a shared tour?
Yes. The Makana boat can be booked as a private charter online for groups of 12 or fewer, one ticket per guest. For anything larger, call (808) 338-9980 and we’ll set up the Na Pali Kai III as a buyout.
How is this different from a general Kauai snorkeling tour?
A Na Pali Coast snorkeling tour is specific to the reef sites along Kauai’s north and northwest shore, a stretch no road or shoreline trail actually touches. Our tours depart from Kikiaola Harbor, the closest point to this stretch of coast, so more of your day is at the reef and less in transit. A general Kauai snorkeling search also turns up shore-based spots elsewhere on the island, which don’t require a boat at all but don’t reach Nualolo Kai either.
More questions? Our full FAQ page covers booking, cancellation, seasickness, and what to bring in more depth.
