Sea Kayak Whale Watching
What You Will Do
What's Included?
- Carbonated beverages
- Lunch
What's Not Included?
- Use of snorkeling equipment
Cancellation Policy
Itinerary
Meeting Point
WAILUA MARINA STORE LOCATION
Poipu
Whale Watch & Snorkel by Sea Kayak Check In: 8:30 a.m. During the winter the gently rolling South coast becomes a favorite for sea kayakers. You'll paddle the same canoe paths of old taken by early Polynesians and whaling captains. We will begin the day's journey on the Golden coast of Kaua'i at Po'ipu and paddle west along the rugged and scenic shoreline that is home to the Spouting Horn, the remote Lawai Valley, the unusual Nomilo Pond, and the cove of Wahi'awa. Winter is the season for Humpback Whales and often the highlight of the voyage. After their long journey from Alaska each year, these gentle giants delight themselves in the warm Hawaiian waters for a season of birthing and frolicking. Delight yourself likewise, as these whales breach before you , or more likely spot Spinning dolphins, Flying fish, and Green sea turtles. With luck we sometimes see the endangered Monk Seal in the water or a sunny beach. Bird watch for Boobies, Frigate , and Tropic birds from your cockpit. Get wet and snorkel off one of Kauai's finest shores, where the sea and bird life compliments a day of splendid paddling. At day's end we will have you back to your hotel or back to our shop late afternoon. 4 person minimum opens a tour —Check In Wailua River Marina: 8:30 a.m. —Shuttle to Koloa Landing (Po'ipu) —Tour staged in South shore area 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. —Lunch of Deli made Sandwiches, tropical juices and bottled water included —Shuttle back to Wailua River Marina: 3:30 p.m. *Times are variable, i.e., longer or shorter and subject to the vagaries of group and weather dynamics. Rating & Physical Requirements: A challenging adventure recommended for the more active couples a bit hardier families and others. This tour can be a workout. Participants should be comfortable in the water, in good physical condition and not prone to seasickness. This paddle involves about three to four hours of intermittent paddling. When & Where: October through April -- Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (with 4 persons any day of the week). Weather Permitting: unstable winter weather can cause periodic postponements, we recommend reserving up to a week in advance and early during your stay on Kaua'i. Check in at 8:30 a.m. at our Wailua Marina Shop. Our Guide to client ratio: One guide to seven clients. South Shore pick up: If staying on the south side of the island you can arrange to meet at the Koloa Landing launch area. There is no parking at the Koloa landing launch area. I
Additional Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Not for youth under age 16
Guide Options
- Guide - English
Customer Reviews
He guided us expertly through pretty high waves and was right there to help when we toppled twice (it wasn't scary at all).
Then there were the whales - what a spectacle to see 2 humpbacks surface, jump, go on deep dives for about 30 minutes in our vicinity!
Jay also took us to a reef for snorkeling with beautiful views of living corals and all sorts of fish.
Lunch on a secluded beach was fun and restorative and the pick-up by Elijah smooth.
Lots of really interesting detailed historical and botanical data from Jay on our trip back to Koloa.
A day to remember forever!
First, I thought the customer service was awesome. My tour date had to be rescheduled a few times due to winter storms. Shoutout to Jack who answers the phone for being so gentle and patient every time I called! I never had to wait on hold for more than a minute to get my concerns taken care of.
The tour pickup is at Wailua Marina but if you're staying on the south or west side of the island you can request to meet at Koloa Landing instead of having to retrace your steps.
Our guide Jay was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He did a great job setting us up for the day with a very thorough safety briefing. Luckily none of our kayaks capsized in deep water but I appreciated how Jay clearly walked us through all the steps to re-board the kayak so we felt prepared. He also did a great job filling the day with information about Hawaiian culture and history while we weren't seeing whales.
Our group was 3 solo travellers and 1 couple. There is no option for a single kayak, so if you're traveling solo like me you will be matched with another solo traveler or the guide. I felt like I got really lucky with my group - all the other travelers were super enthusiastic and engaged and it brought great energy to the tour.
In total there were about 4 hours of paddling and 1 hour of break for lunch (which was refreshingly delicious for a packed/tour lunch!). We were lucky to have a few wildlife encounters, but there was a lot of time spent just paddling and of course there's no guarantee when it comes to the wildlife. It's beautiful scenery though, so definitely worth the trip, but you should only book this tour if you're primarily excited about kayaking.
TIPS
If you're staying on the south or west side, ask if you can meet them at Koloa Landing.
Take Dramamine if at all in doubt. I don't get carsick or airsick and have never been sick on a kayak, but I took Dramamine and am glad I did. Especially when I wasn't paddling waiting to see what the whales might do, I started to feel the waves. I crashed hard after the trip when the sun and drug hit, but was fine while I was out on the water.