Kauai Travel Guide: Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon & the Garden Isle
- Kauai is the greenest, oldest and least developed of the main islands — nature first, nightlife last.
- The Na Pali Coast can't be reached by car; you see it by boat, helicopter or the Kalalau Trail.
- Begin with the Kauai travel guide or plan days with Kauai trip.
- Boat the coast with Captain Andy tours.
They call Kauai the Garden Isle and mean it. Waimea Canyon slices red and green through the west. Hanalei Bay curves under waterfall-streaked mountains up north. The Na Pali Coast — those fluted cliffs you've seen in films — guards a shoreline with no road. Kauai rewards slow travel. You come here to hike, paddle the Wailua River, and watch it rain then clear in the same hour.
Kauai TripThe ultimate guidebook picks and visitor information for planning days.
- Kauai Travel Guide
Beaches, regions and insider advice for the Garden Isle.
Travel Guide for Kauai HawaiiA newcomer's intro to where Kauai is and what to do first.
Kauai by region
| Area | Best for |
|---|---|
| North Shore (Hanalei, Princeville) | Dramatic scenery, surf, rain — lush and wet |
| East / Coconut Coast (Kapaa, Lihue) | Central base, value, Wailua River |
| South (Poipu) | Sunniest beaches, resorts, snorkeling |
| West (Waimea, Kekaha) | Waimea Canyon, Na Pali access, dry and remote |
Rain moves north to south, so many visitors sleep in sunny Poipu and day-trip north. Compare Kauai's guidebooks in Kauai Hawaii Lonely Planet, and sort your days and budget with the planning section. Official info: Go Hawaii — Kauai.