Best Catamaran Tour To See the Na Pali Coast: Kauai, Hawaii

Wondering what a Na Pali coast catamaran tour is like? This review talks about my experience sailing with Captain Andy’s, a popular boat tour excursion in Kauai, Hawaii.

OVERVIEW:

Looking for the best activity to do on the island of Kauai? Look no further! Captain Andy’s Catamaran tour of the Na Pali coast was one of my favorite things I’ve done on the island. It was such a beautiful day and the crew made it an unbelievable experience from start to end. We did the morning Catamaran tour just because in the winter months the mornings are more popular for ideal weather conditions.

THE EXPERIENCE:

Imagine a day packed with viewing wildlife, beautiful cliff landscapes, and turquoise water. That’s exactly what this experience is like. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to go to the coast because we went in January when the tours can sometimes be canceled going to the coast, but it was our lucky day! The day we went to the coast was one of the only days that week they went out, and I couldn’t have felt more lucky hearing that.

THE CREW: 10/10

The crew is one of the reasons why we loved this experience so much. They were so friendly and helpful in every way. The chef was so much fun and our captain was knowledgeable and made the experience so much fun. They always watched for wildlife sightings and made sure everyone was super safe during the entire catamaran ride.

ITINERARY: 10/10

The itinerary probably depends on the weather conditions and the day, but this is what our day looked like when we went in January of 2023.

The first stop was at a snorkeling spot with crystal clear, deep blue water. We saw a bunch of turtles from the boat and I also ended up swimming right next to one! There were some beautiful fish as well.

Then we saw a pod of about 50+ wild spinner dolphins, which was incredible. The captain knew the right spot to see these dolphins, and along the way to the coast, we also saw multiple whale sightings, including a baby and mom whale!

Then, of course, the Na Pali coast. We cruised by the coast and even got to get up close to one of the waterfalls coming off the cliff. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Overall, the itinerary was perfect and everything was timed out just right. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 10/10

I loved my experience with Captain Andy’s! It was a day I will never forget and I hope this blog post was helpful for anyone who comes across it.

Discover Paradise: The Top 10 Things To Do In Kauai, Hawaii

Why you should visit Kauai, Hawaii:

Kauai is one of my favorite places I have ever been to. The nature, waterfalls, and beaches are incredible, and the entire time I felt like I was in a rainforest paradise. It truly is a magical place to see nature in its truest form.

WHERE TO STAY IN KAUAI, HAWAII:

Depending on what area of the island you would like to be on and your budget, there are a great variety of options when staying on Kauai.

• Luxury: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. If you want to be on the north end of Kauai, this is the hotel for you. Just opened in 2023, the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is paradise!

• Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa: if you’re looking for a hotel that is located on the south side of the island, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has everything you could ask for and then some. The resort has a golf course, restaurants, tennis courts, pools, and a spa.

Top 10 Things To Do In Kauai, Hawaii:

Click here for a video that sums up the best things to do.

1) Hike the first portion of the Kalalau Trail to the beach where you will see amazing views and it will easily become one of your favorite hikes. This hike is rated as moderate and according to my Fitbit, was 6 miles long roundtrip.

Note- you need to make a reservation/permit on the website linked here to be able to enter the park. The reservation is super important because it also decides if you have to take a shuttle into the park or can park your car. I would suggest making your reservation 4 days in advance for the shuttle, and up to 30 days in advance for the car option.

2) Hike to Hanakapaii Falls (the tallest waterfall in Kauai… and the best one I have ever seen)—- you need the same permit/reservation for this hike as the one above, which I will link again here. Also disclaimer, this is a difficult hike where you have to cross multiple rivers and climb rocks, so make sure you are prepared. It’s around 11 miles roundtrip total as well, so bring lots of water, food, and shoes that can get wet.

3) Explore the scenic viewpoints and do the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls hike at Waimea Canyon (which is called the Grand Canyon of the pacific). This is a beautiful hike where you get to hike to the top of a waterfall that goes into the canyon. If you have time after your hike and are hungry, grab food at the historic Kōkeʻe Lodge which is a really cool spot that transports you out of Hawaii.

4) Visit the famous Hanalei Bay and get Pink’s Hanalei original grilled cheese for lunch (pro tip- bring your lunch onto the beach and have a picnic when looking at the incredible views). Make sure to also walk around this cute surf town and stop at the famous Wishing Well for shave ice before leaving town.

5) Do a Na Pali Coast boat tour with Captain Andy’s (this is weather dependent, but if you go in the summer months you have a much better chance of being able to go out). I highly recommend the Catamaran tour for a smoother ride, but if you are up to the adventure, book a raft tour with Captain Andy’s!

6) Do an ATV tour with Kipu Ranch Adventures. I specifically did the Triple Trail Expedition and it was wonderful. The waterfall at the end was gorgeous too!

7) Visit Poipu Beach (to see the turtles and sometimes seals on the beach). Pro tip- near sunset is a great time to get a chance to see the turtles laying on the beach.

8) Do a kayak and hike tour on the Wailua River to Secret Falls with Kayak Wailua. This was such a wonderful activity and took about 5 hours total. The kayaking along the river is gorgeous and so is the hike to the waterfall.

9) Visit Kilauea Lighthouse (you might even see some whales and definitely will see some goats on the way!) You don’t need too much time here but it is a great place to learn about the different types of animals on Kauai!

10) Do a helicopter tour over the island to see waterfalls, valleys, and the Na Pali Coast by air. This is something I haven’t done yet but everyone says is amazing. I’ve heard Wings Over Kauai is a great option!

Overall, you can’t go wrong with what you do on Kauai. I highly recommend though spending less time laying on the beaches and more time exploring all of the different things that the island has to offer!

Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Hotel in Milos, Greece – Cave Suites Milos

Cave Suites Milos: Hotel Review

Looking for the best place to stay on Milos island in Greece?

Cave Suites Milos is a hotel on the island of Milos in the Greek Islands. It is considered a 5-star boutique hotel and is newly built. There are only 6 suites, which makes the attention to detail and service outstanding.

Linked here is a short video I created to showcase how beautiful Cave Suites Milos is.

STAY SUMMARY:

My stay at Cave Suites Milos was so incredible that I was even looking into booking more nights there because I never wanted to leave! If you ever go to Milos, staying at this place is an absolute must. I have never been treated like royalty… but here I was definitely treated like that! What made the staff so helpful and amazing is that they assisted us with setting everything up, from boat tours, to restaurant reservations, and more.

Location: 10/10

The location of this property is unmatched. Everything seemed like it was 10 minutes away via car which was so convenient. The most famous beach on the island (Sarankinko Beach) is a 2-minute drive away which was such a bonus!

Service: 10/10

The best thing about Cave Suites Milos was the service 100%. We fell in love with Kaliopi (pictured above), who was always there to help us with setting up reservations, helping with our special requests, and more. She also brought our breakfast every morning. We called her our fairy godmother because she was so helpful, attentive, and made all of our Milos wishes come true! Another amazing thing about this hotel is how often they clean and tidy the rooms. Whenever we would leave, they would immediately clean our room and even fold our laundry (pictured above). The attention to detail here is amazing!

Amenities: 10/10

All suites have a balcony with a private pool and panoramic sea view which makes the amenities here absolutely amazing. Having your own patio with a beautiful view of the ocean and a private pool area is all anyone can ask for. The accommodation of getting an amazing breakfast delivered right to your private patio was also amazing, and definitely added to the overall experience.

Value: 10/10

Although this hotel was fairly expensive (at the time I had booked it, it was around 500 euros a night) it was worth every penny. If you are looking for a splurge or are celebrating something special, I definitely recommend to book something here, even if it’s just for one night. Do remember that since there are only 6 suites total, you have to book very far in advance!

Overall Rating: 10/10

Easiest rating ever for this hotel would be a 10/10 rating. I don’t ever say this, but Cave Suites Milos is the best place I have ever stayed in. You must add it to your list to visit one day.