How long is kauai island

The North Shore is famous for the majestic emerald green cliffs that grace the mile shoreline of the Napali Coast. During summer months, you can take a boat tour of the Napali Coast; or adventure on a Kayak tour, available from Napali Makai on the West Side. But, the most thrilling way to experience the world-renowned Napali Coast is via a helicopter tour. When it comes to choosing the best area to stay while visiting Kauai, consider some important factors, such as whether you value being a short walk or drive to the island's most beautiful beaches and top rated attractions, or whether you're interested in a more remote region where you can hike, surf or explore to your heart's content, regardless of how close the nearest restaurant may be.

Popular choices include the high end, north shore resort area of Princeville, where travelers come to take in the view, play a round of golf, and lounge by resort pools or take a short walk on one the few surrounding beaches, as well as Poipu, which features a more local, authentic Hawaii feel, with an assortment of beautiful beaches, restaurants and shops, most of which fall within easy walking distance to the surrounding vacation rentals.

The east shores of Kapaa and Wailua are also popular choices for their easy convenience to other areas of the island, as well as easy snorkeling beaches and a quick drive to other notable attractions. For the die hard surfers, we suggest heading to the north shore during winter months!

Otherwise, you pretty much can't go wrong anywhere on this gorgeous Hawaiian island. This amazing vista provides dramatic views of Hanalei River which snakes through Taro fields and lush mountain spires. A "must not forget camera" spot! You'll find plenty of palm trees, white-sand beach and views of the Napali cliffs from Ke'e Beach. Along the winding road Route there are numerous lookout points, and vantage points for snapping pictures of the panoramic views.

Lawai Valley is well-known as a healing sanctuary, because of the rich archaeological and cultural treasures found there. In , early Japanese immigrants constructed 88 shrines to replicate the 88 temples in Shikoku, Japan, making it one of the oldest Buddhist temple sites in the United States.

Also located in Lawai Valley is the National Tropical Botanical Garden, which is home to the largest collection of native Hawaiian plants on the planet, and more than acres of lush gardens.

Be smarter. People have been swept away taking photos here. So do your due diligence and make sure conditions are safe. Kilauea Lighthouse —The Kilauea Lighthouse is located on Kilauea Point in the wildlife refuge here and makes a great photo stop with the deep blue ocean beyond. Are you all packed for Kauai? Look for red-footed boobyes, albatross, and others here.

I particularly loved exploring the canoe gardens here. They showcase the plants that Native Hawaiians brought with them originally from French Polynesia as they thought about how best to make life on a new island. If you have five days in Kauai, day 4 is the day to move your base to Poipu. If the north shore is wild and adventurous, the south shore is more flat and accessible.

Visit Waimea Canyon for epic views and beach time on the south end of the island. Stay oceanfront at Kuhio Shores in a corner condo with unsurpassed sunset views. Floor to ceiling windows, a glass balcony, and elevated views from the third floor give you an up-close view of parakeets that visit here…not to mention surfers, dolphins, turtles, and whales. Check price and availability of the Kuhio Shores condo here. Location is perfect with snorkeling and activities near by. Very clean and modern feel with a lot of amenities.

The stunning penthouse at the Villas at Poipu Kai offers a luxury residence with resort amenities. These include a beachfront restaurant, heated pool, and hot tub with a waterfall. Plus, you can walk through the manicured grounds to the white sand of Shipwreck Beach and Poipu Beach. Check price and availability at Villas at Poipu Kai here.

Keep going past Poipu and wind your way clockwise back around towards the top of the island. If the road went all the way through, it would be easy to zip over here from the north shore. Even non-hikers will be mesmerized by the view of the Na Pali Coast here. And you can see it from the parking lot. With more time, check out some of the hikes here for an even more spectacular view. Puu o Kila mile marker 19 is another lookout where you can get out of your car and hike to the lookout.

There are dozens of wonderful hikes here! For a big pay-off on a short hike, try the Cliff Trail. Serious hikers should head to the Canyon Trail, a three hour hike with waterfalls, the Black Pipe Trail 8 miles or the Kukui Trail down to the river challenging. With young children, try Baby Beach with its protective cove.

Or Popipu Beach Park for sheltered areas for swimming and snorkeling as well as a life guard. Think ocean views, sink holes, and limestone caves! With 7 days in Kauai, add a helicopter tour and a visit to epic waterfalls to your itinerary.

Or, return to your favorite beach! Have you ever done a helicopter tour? It took just nine minutes to ascend—practically straight up— from the valley floor to the top of a glacier.

To fully appreciate the splendor of Kauai, see the Na Pali coast from the air. The Eco-Star helicopter tour takes about 50 minutes and gets nearly reviews from happy customers. I could not imagine seeing these amazing views from a lookout down below.

A truly memorable experience!!! Other Kauai Suggestions. Safari Helicopters learn more. Poipu Beach Surf School learn more. South Kauai Region. Experience Kauai Hawaii Tours book now. Coconut Coast Accommodations learn more. Kauai Vacation Rentals by Kauai Exclusive learn more. Airplane and Helicopter Tours on Kauai learn more. Kauai Vacation Rentals learn more. Download our Hawaii Map Packet Includes most major attractions, all major routes, airports, and a chart with estimated driving times for each respective island.

Year of Trip - Select - Undecided. Email Required. Name Optional. Download Maps. Hawaii Visitor Information Lihue Airport. Kauai Rentals. Kauai Maps. Kauai Tips. Kauai Weather. Kauai Attractions. Travel Supplies. Our Mailing List. Hawaii Airlines. Vacation Planner. Vacation Packages. You can travel in a power boat, rubber zodiac, sea kayak, or smooth gliding catamarans.

Additional ocean activities include surfing, water skiing and windsurfing. The only navigable rivers in Hawaii flow through Kauai. Paddlers can explore placid river reaches by kayak. You'll be treated to Hawaiian music along with way and one of two hula dancers swaying. There are coastal hikes across high sand dunes, and rain forest treks among the oldest flora in Hawaii. Explorers can also choose mountain bike tours, explore the wilds riding all-terrain-vehicles or take a zipline adventure.

Horseback riding will take you into forests, canyons and mountains for picnics, waterfall swims and beautiful ocean vistas. Kauai is a movie lover's paradise. If you're going to take a helicopter tour of any of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is my top pick.

So much of the island's beauty can only been seen from the air. Check prices for your stay on Kauai with TripAdvisor. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.