Shipwreck Beach

4.3 (108 reviews)

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Shipwreck Beach - Beaches Near Me - Poipu, Hawaii

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Jillian G.

My favorite beach in Kauai. Beautiful views, not as crowded as Poipu Beach, and parking available though can be a little trek if you're not lucky enough to grab a spot in the lot.

Gabriela C.

Absolutely love this beach!!!! End of the beach is perfect for kids! Shallow and tide pools

Em S.

I came here as a meeting spot for a bike tour but from what I could see it looked lovely. Smaller beach area but there are public restrooms. They don't open until 7/7:30a so if you're an early bird, ya may have to use the ocean :p or hold it! There's a parking lot that holds maybe 20 cars so keep that in mind. It's not a big beach! Some people were boogie boarding, others just swimming. There are palm trees by the restrooms so there is some shade for having a picnic. That's all I got for y'all! Enjoy! xo

Tiffany Y.

Shipwreck Beach is a gorgeous beach along the south coast of Kauai. Certainly it will depend on when you come, but the waves were pretty strong and the tides were rolling around rocks along the shore. There were some surfers but people were pretty careful swimming out too far (which was reasonable). No lifeguard. Absolutely beautiful scenery!

Kisses with a view. Lots of great trails to walk along the beach with our field trip pup.

Kimberly B.

Took our field trip pup from the humane society program here. Wonderful beach that splits into different trails that lead to amazing views. The trails off the beach made it easy to find shade.

Lance L.

What's better than saying you've visited paradise? My guess... Living in Paradise. And let me tell you, being blessed to have been able to visit the Hawaiian islands multiple times over my life, Kauai in particular in pretty much as close to Paradise as it gets. So if you are going to 'shipwreck' at any place in the pacific, shipwreck beach in Poipu, Kauai is definitely not a bad spot to wreck. your. ship. Located on the South Shore, Shipwreck beach is known to the tourists just as much as it is to the locals. Many come here to attempt the surf, or even to jump off the cliff into the ocean below. (Surf is very rough and the rocky shore below make it extremely dangerous) For those less adventurous, the short hike to the top of the cliff provides a beautiful panoramic view of the coastline, shipwreck beach below and Grand Hyatt hotel that has a front and center view of the beach itself. Also, highly recommended coming up here at sunrise and/or sunset to capture some IG (instagram) worthy shots.

Amy W.

Fun beach to tidepool at plus I believe there are hiking trails nearby. Bring water shoes as the rocks are rough and some are slippery. We saw crabs, hermits crabs, urchins and other sea creatures stuck to the rocks. We did family pictures here too the day before so beautiful! Flower lei would have been a nice touch against our white outfits.

Anthony P.

Beautiful place! Wouldn't recommend getting in water. Take the nearby trail hike. Recommend for early morning or late evening stroll.

Rou M.

Been here a few times. There's a hike on the eastern part of the beach. Climb the rocks and you'll be overlooking the cliffs onto the ocean. You can continue walking for a good bit if you would like. Lots of interesting vegetation and rocks to look at. The waves are pretty awesome for boogie boarding here. I've never been able to ride waves from so far out. Just be mindful of the rocks in the middle of the beach. The waves keep pushing you toward them so gotta keep making adjustments. Good spot to have a picnic... Quite a few tall shady trees. Parking seems a bit tight but you're allowed to park on the sides of the street.

Liza S.

Video of our hike- https://youtu.be/HkpLV5yEB8E One of the best trails for all ages on Kauai is the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail. This is a 2 mile point-to-point coastal trail that runs along side some of the most beautiful wave-crashing cliffs on South Kauai. The trail can be caught in two different places. We chose to watch the sunrise at Shipwreck Beach so started there. You can park in the beach parking or there is street parking a little further up the road leading to beach. It was an incredibly windy morning and the rain had just moved out, so the waves were in full swing. The surfers were taking advantage of this and we watched them for a while. I'm usually pretty good at singular sports, but surfing is the one thing that I continue to fail at, so I greatly admire those that have the agility and ability. So, instead, I whirled and played tag with the ocean waves on the shore and enjoyed the beautiful sand between my toes. Next, we started our trek. The trail starts between a grassy, picnic area and the beach; there is a small embankment to climb up, but nothing too hard, especially for Kauai. This hike is such a beautiful experience. There are areas where the trail is wide so you don't feel crowded by any others you may encounter. You can almost have your own journey, which is magical for a hike like this. By the way, we wore closed toed Keen sandals for the trek, but easily could've done it in sneakers. No poles are needed. The path takes you along cliffs, but if this makes you nervous, you can easily navigate more inland. It's the beauty of this hike. These cliffs are Lithified sand dunes- ancient sand dunes that have hardened into limestone and contain fossils of coral and algae. This process took over 125,000 years! The next part of the hike takes you to a Native Hawaiian temple or heiau. The cultural definition of heiau is a place of worship where mana (divine energy) is transferred and concentrated through ritual and prayer. Do not touch, play on or remove artifacts from this site. If you brought your family with you, please watch your children. This space is sacred and the whole area should be treated with respect. This is approximately half-way. If you decide to continue, the trail will take you along a golf course to Maha'ulepu Beach, also known as Gillin's Beach. The surf is pretty rough here usually; this beach is best known for windsurfing. Do not enter the water if you are not a strong and experienced swimmer. The beach is also known for monk seal sightings as well as sea turtles, so please do not disturb and keep your distance. You can also pop in to see the tortoises at the sanctuary near the beach, or duck to explore the Makauwahi Cave, but that wasn't on our agenda this day. This is the biggest limestone cave in the Hawaiian archipelago and includes an amazing sinkhole, where the cave ceiling collapsed. The cave is open for free guided tours (with a recommended donation) daily. You can park near CJM stables to access this side of the trail to start or to see the cave or tortoises. This trail should not be missed and is totally free! You can choose what side to begin at or how far to go. Even for a short jaunt, the views are worth it. I hope you enjoy my footage. It's some of my favorite from the trip.

Kickin it by the ocean on a beautiful day.

Steve O.

Sometimes you just need someplace pretty to sit and relax. It was nice to kick back and watch the waves. I could hear Otis Redding singing "Sittin On The Dock of the Bay" in my mind as I was "wasting time". Nothing like being able to unwind without a care in the world. Almost as peaceful as my time at Infinity Beach at sunset during a previous trip to Hawaii. Imagine that. No stress. Got to take those times when they come along. They are few and far between.

Kelly L.

It is a nice and quiet beach. There is no life guard here. The water is pretty rough though. There were used to have a wrecked wooden boat by the cliff but it is no longer here. The cliff at the end of the beach is 40 feet high. People do jump off the cliff times to times. I have not seen anyone diving off the cliff during our stay here at the Grand Hyatt. There are many local body surfers here daily and put on nice surfing show. It is a good place to see sunrise. For sunset, you can not see the sun going down from here. You can see sunset at Poipu beach park. Free parking is available next to the Hyatt. You can walk up to restaurants and shops at the Hyatt but will not be able to use their pool and lagoons. They have wrist bands for guests stayed at the hotel.

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Michael S.

44

325

1

14 years ago

This is a review of the cliffs. The beach itself looks nice, and you have to walk through it to get to the cliffs, so sandals are recommended in order to keep from collecting sand. Once you get through the beach and climb up to the cliffs, you'll be walking on what was once a coral reef. That's not as impressive as it sounds since the coral has been eroded down to the ground by wind and shoes. Since you're walking on top of the cliffs, the cliff face is not always visible, but the cliff face that you can see is pretty cool with layers of stone. Some people climb down the cliffs to sea level, which doesn't seem like a great idea since there are strong waves and a lot of rocks. I don't think parking's much of an issue since the limited parking at the beach is supplemented by the resorts next to it. read more

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James D.

0

60

7

9 years ago

I was wed here on 9/17/17 beautiful day and beautiful beach .. We were blessed by a short shower after .. Aloha

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Sara E.

0

46

29

10 years ago

This is a beautiful beach to watch the waves and surfers, but it's not a swimming or kid friendly beach. There are always a lot of surfers out, but the shore break is intense and dangerous. My kids enjoy playing in the sand here, but the shore break is such that they can't even get their feet wet without risk of getting knocked down by the waves. read more

Shipwreck Beach - Shipwreck Beach - Beaches Near Me - Poipu, Hawaii

Shipwreck Beach - View of Shipwreck from the Grand Hyatt - Beaches Near Me - Poipu, Hawaii

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Dez L.

0

15

3

8 years ago

Awesome waves and surfing! Amazing cliff jumping! Cannot beat it!

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Stephanie O.

3

35

7

7 years ago

We didn't go in the water but there were plenty of people in it. Water looked a bit rough for little ones but high tide was headed in. We were passing through doing the Heritage Trail hike. Big beach with shade from the trees if you don't have an umbrella. read more

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Liz P.

33

17

33

12 years ago

Beautiful beach, spent a lot of time at this beach while in Kauai. My sister and bff jumped off the cliff here. I chickened out. Careful on swim back to shore. Sharp rocks on one end make sure to swim towards the sand part of the beach. Beautiful views from the cliff area. A must if in the area. read more

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A M.

Elite 16

886

1437

8

12 years ago

This was probably my favorite South Shore beach we visited. The snorkeling is not quite as good as Poipu Beach (although that depends on your perspective - there are probably more fish here but slightly less variety and they are deeper and not right in your face), but the beach is really beautiful, has excellent body surfing/boogie boarding, and we saw an endangered Hawaiian monk seal lying on the sand. (Note that although the Red "swimming not advised" flag was up the whole time we were there, there were plenty of people swimming & I didn't feel unsafe in the water at all although the current is definitely noticeable. In contrast, there were a lot of beaches, including south shore beaches such as Lawai'i and Gillin's where hardly anyone was in the water and it did actually look too rough to swim). read more

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Malissa P.

0

8

0

7 years ago

Most beautiful place too bad it rains practically every day. 9 out of ten days cloudy and damp. Never coming back during rainy season

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Lucas B.

0

4

7 years ago

Lots of fun things to do, like go to the rock, play in the sand. It was not that busy. No lifeguards there. Free parking. Also very rough waves. Wich are fun to play in. read more

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Alissa M.

54

19

3

16 years ago

Heard this was a good spot for bodyboarders. The day we went (April, after a big northwest swell) we found a nasty shorbreak that would only be suitable for skimboarding. The small parking lot for the beach is actually off of Ainako Road, to the right of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. We ended up going to Poipu Beach a little bit down the road instead and snorkeled. read more

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Finley A.

Elite 18

4

111

1

9 years ago

Do the hike from the grand Hyatt--it was short but beautiful. The hike provided gorgeous sea views, paths surrounded by flowers, and cliffs.

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Jeff R.

0

957

0

12 years ago

This beach lies in front of the Hyatt resort. On the plus side, there is a nice walking trail (portion in front of the resorts is paved, just past the Hyatt is is a true trail that runs for miles). This is a good beach for surfing and body boarding, definitely not recommended for small children - waves are high and there are dangerous conditions / rocks here. I'd only recommend here if you are a strong swimmer, otherwise you could get yourself into trouble here. read more

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Grace C.

167

129

6

12 years ago

Beautiful! Came here twice and both times I was too scared to go in. The waves were just too big and scary. The first time my bf went in for a swim and was almost swept out by the rip tide. He swam so hard to get back and he was exhausted. The second time, there were lots of body boarders, body surfers and surfers. I went hiking and it took me out to a cliff. There was a pretty rainbow. It was such a pretty beach. read more

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MeuLen E.

32

63

1

14 years ago

Awesome beach! I wont go in the water - i like to hang out in the shade with my cooler and watch the people eat it or catch a wave. More fun to watch em eat it! read more

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Deborah K.

2

64

4

12 years ago

Beautiful spot to watch big waves with surfers and boogie boarders--we heard the waves were unusually big today. We could only wade as tide was too strong. read more

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Alexis R.

Elite 19

460

674

1029

11 years ago

Nice local beach with fewer tourists. It's located right beside the Hyatt. Lots of surfers, so it's nice to chill on the beach & watch them catching waves. Lots of young locals were partying there on Saturday. Good hiking trails up to the rocky cliff that borders the beach to the north. Really pretty views. We enjoyed chilling on the beach without the crowds & watching the sky & cliffs change colors with the setting sun. read more

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Mare M.

Elite 13

178

205

19

13 years ago

A wonderful beach, somewhat off the beaten path. If you are not a strong swimmer, this is probably not the beach for you, as there is no life guard to save you if you get in over your head. A small parking lot, but you can off street park and walk the short distance to the beach. There is a cliff you can walk up to and jump off of, but the BF and i didn't try it. While I was born and raised on Kauai, this year was the first time I visited this beach during the daylight hours. If I return to Kauai by myself, I won't go out of my way to go to this beach, as I prefer to swim in calmer waters, but if I return with the BF, we will go back to visit, as he enjoyed swimming and riding the waves here read more

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Brett P.

60

69

25

13 years ago

Awesome beach! Bathrooms and a single shower are in the grassy area next to it. Hiking trail near the cliff. Free, but limited, parking. You can watch the local surfers tackle the waves and wade out to do some body surfing. Careful of the rocks, but it's beautiful! read more

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Celestine J.

2

65

18

12 years ago

Great surfing spot. The wave is rough, not recommended if you don't know how to swim. Love the shipwreck though! Clean area but a bad parking! read more

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Jennifer G.

17

674

1

11 years ago

This is a nice beach, but we found better ones further up the coast - Gillin's was really excellent - just follow the dirt track :-)

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Raj K.

0

3

0

8 years ago

Do NOT go in the water; take note of the res flags and warning signs. Strong current. One local said that he does not even swim there. Go to Poipu if you want to get in the surf. Enjoy from the beach. Beautiful setting - when you're not in the water. read more

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Michael P.

0

4

0

11 years ago

Great for views but that's about it unless you're an expert boarder. Swimming here is dangerous for casual visitors as the surf is pounding and the bottom is reef/rock only a few feet in. If you want to hang out to watch the surfers and listen to the ocean, great, but there are way better beaches for swimming. Look but don't touch read more

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Richie O.

256

5

1

10 years ago

Visiting Kauai you must check out this beach. Locals selling coconuts in the parking lost for $5. Surf mainly boogie and body boarding. And definitely walk the fairly steep cliff and check out the views! You won't be disappointed. read more

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Finn W.

3

60

13

12 years ago

Beautiful beach that has a notable point/large rock. Waves break hard here, and there are surfers and boogie boarders in the water along with the swimmers so watch out. In front of the beautiful hiat hotel. Somewhat dangerous due to all the activity read more

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Susan H.

0

7

0

9 years ago

Gorgeous! A bit dangerous when the tide is coming in, but a great hike with awesome vistas

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Monica P.

182

109

5

10 years ago

This is a fun beach to watch the locals come out and surf. We stayed at the Hyatt but requested an ocean view. We constantly would look out our window when in our room but would also take a stroll down along the beach. Stumbled across some amazing local surfers, watched people cliff jump, and even saw a few weddings take place. Fun to see the locals all come and hang out and take on the waves! read more

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L T.

0

1

0

13 years ago

Ship wrecks was awesome. although I was only there for a short time I did jump off the 60ft cliff which was pretty scary but well worth it you have to be a excellent swimmer in order to do it. The locals are awesome and very friendly. The beach is nice although parking stinks nothing bad to say about this place though. I can not wait to come back. Aloha read more

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M N.

167

1037

129

12 years ago

One of the most beautiful beaches in Kauai. You have to drive past the Poipu beach sign. There is ample parking outside and also there is a rest area and a shower in case you get into the water. There is a small hike to get to the top of the rocks and we loved it. The walking path is covered by foliage so there is a nice shade on a hot summer day. Beach is surprisingly less crowded during day time and thats what makes it more attractive. Great pictures from atop the rocks. read more

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More info about Shipwreck Beach

To The Side Of The Grand Hyatt Hotel
Ainako Road
Poipu, HI 96756
Directions
Visit Website
http://www.to-hawaii.com/kauai/beaches/shipwreckbeach.php

Hours

What time does Shipwreck Beach open?

What time does Shipwreck Beach close?

Outdoor Amenities

Does Shipwreck Beach have bike parking?

Yes, Shipwreck Beach has bike parking.

Does Shipwreck Beach have parking?

Yes, Shipwreck Beach has parking options. Private Lot Parking, Street Parking

Review Highlights - Shipwreck Beach

“But if you're a surfer, great waves :) We saw folks jumping off the cliff on the left-hand side of the beach...”

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Poipu Beach

4.5

(498 reviews)

1.2 mi

(Visited 05/26/26 SU @ 10:00am): There were definitely "crashing waves" albeit small ones along…read morePoipu Beach Located on Kaua'i's "sunny southside", I spent a lazy Sunday at Poipu Beach people-watching, reading, sleeping, snorkeling, sunning, and swimming. Right along The Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas where I was staying, I haven't had a day-long beach day for awhile, and I really needed a day just to recharge, refresh, and regenerate my body, mind, and soul. Having been ranked as one of the top beaches in the U.S. over the years, was there anything to poo-poo about Poipu Beach!? EXPERIENCE The word "poipu" in the Hawaiian language meant "crashing waves" and was actually two beaches in one. A "tombola" (known as Nukumoi Point) separated the two bays, and in this case it was a narrow sand spit that extended from the shore to an island. This particular area was a favorite spot for endangered napping Hawaiian monk seals. The area on the western side of the beach was a favorite for beginner bodyboarders while small waves broke gently on the shallow sandbar created a fun area for children to play. The area on the eastern side of the beach was a lava rock-protected and shallow spot for swimmers and another play area for families with small children. On this comfortable sunny day, what was initially a quiet beach progressively got crowded and noisy as the day wore on. I swam for hours back and forth past the shorebreak along the coast, took breaks to drink water and eat a snack, napped, read, and then went back out with snorkel gear in hand. An exhausting exhilarating stress-free day - perfection! SERVICE Specifically on this section of the beach, there weren't any bathrooms nor lifeguard stations. Generally speaking, there weren't any facilities whatsoever except for what the adjacent Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas may offer. It was a completely open public beach - 'nuff said. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) I had no vehicle, so I simply walked from my room. However, there was a nightly $40.00 fee for guests who stayed at the Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas if they parked on the property, and there might've been some free parking along the many nearby roads and streets. Make sure to carefully read any posted signs. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE I made a spot directly out past the middle opening from the resort's pool and the sand, the beach was clean and smooth, somewhat spacious, and fairly empty early-on but no shady trees to deflect the sunlight. There was a lone monk seal https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=120&select=xDFNXkdOMhOO9W7Nv7YtuA which was a protected specie, so people must please stay away. Sizable waves were much further out, this beach was perfect for light water activity (no real surf breaks while snorkeling was better once you got considerably past the shore break). No benches, chairs, or tables, so bring your own chairs or towels to lay or sit on. Obviously, there was plenty of natural lighting with only the glowing stars left to guide you when nighttime came. There were no TVs nor any background music except for any electronic device you brought along with you such as your mobile phone. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=120&select=GN-CeJWbv9VNt_FU7MhmDg ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Poipu Beach was another little piece of island heaven which I hoped would stay that way. Online research culled many articles and reviews of this beach that also alluded to what I experienced, so none of this was a secret. However, on this given weekend, I was thankful for the peacefulness and solitude. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, there was no need for funds of any kind which included my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

Probably the most famous beach on Kauai, Poipu was named 'Best Beach in America' in 2001 by "Dr…read more Beach", when such lists weren't so prevalent as they are now. My wife and I visited on Day 4 of our Kauai vacation in the early afternoon, and continued to understand why it is so popular with tourists. The area around the beach area is built up, with retail businesses within walking distance. There is usually plenty of free parking, but on this day, the past week's rains had flooded one of the parking lots, so there were not as many spots. My wife still found a good spot though, and we walked the short distance to the shoreline. There is a protected man-made wading area towards the east of the beach. It is easy to wade out to the lava rock retaining wall, with the water being maybe 3 feet there. There are facilities and lifeguards in the area. One of their jobs was to keep folks from getting too close to 4 sea turtles that were sunning on the sand near that area.

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Unknown fruit on one of the trees. January 2023.

Kiahuna Beach

4.4

(17 reviews)

1.4 mi

I came here after being sadly underwhelmed with the vibes at Poipu. We opted to set up a little…read morespot and jump in the ocean. The waves here are all shorebreak and the bottom drops out fairly quickly so prepare to tread water! We enjoyed our swim and worked up an appetite. The crowd can be a bit on the busier side since it's close to the resorts but Poipu was crazier in my opinion.

Amazing beautiful beach. Great waves, super close to the resorts, and the beach bar what else could…read moreyou ask for.

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Kiahuna beach

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Maha'ulepu Beach

4.3

(43 reviews)

1.8 mi

To get the right directions look for the beach parking lot on Google maps. When you get to the…read morestables keep left at the fork. Pretty rough road. Don't suggest if you have a low riding car. You park up top and walk down the trail to get to the beach. Didn't find the trail rough or slippery as others had mentioned. Interesting caves along the way. Long strip of beach good for walking and there are tide pools at the other end which have some interesting stuff to look at. This beach was listed online as good for body surfing and boogie boarding. Absolutely not! It's very very rocky. You would be thrown into rocks and very scraped up. Shipwreck beach nearby is a bit rocky but not this much... And much more suitable for boogie boarding.

I hesitate to give 5-stars (to hide it away from other) but this it fabulous. No showers and the…read morescenery is spectacular...

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Brennecke's Beach

4.4

(18 reviews)

1.0 mi

This is a great beach right across from the broiler. Good spot to walk after dining and drinks…read more We saw sea turtles and monk seals in a natural setting. Lots of picnic benches. And clean beach restrooms. Feral chickens abound.

I have old memories of this beach. Before hurricane Ewa, this beach was the bomb! Good size waves…read morefor bodyboarding and body surfing. After hurricane Ewa, the personality of the beach changed. Ewa brought in a lot of rocks. The waves had become timid. No more bodyboarding and bodysurfing. To my surprise, today I see decent size waves And a good amount of bodyboarding and body surfers! Perhaps hurricane Iniki returned back to its ole' self? Well something happened! Maybe one day I'll enter the water once more here... after 39 years:)

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My Sticker!

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Front turtle: 3 Fins ; Rear, Right Turtle: Tagged Turtle

Baby Beach

4.2

(25 reviews)

2.3 mi

This was a fun, chill beach that we checked out during our stay. It was within walking distance of…read moreour condo. It wasn't really crowded and the waters were really calm. There were a couple families with younger kids which was understandable because it was so chill. My girls and I enjoyed our time here playing in the water, sunbathing and beach bumming. The waters are super shallow even pretty far out, so it wasn't super conducive for snorkeling. I did a small amount of snorkeling, but noticed there were a TON of aha needlefish just hanging out right below the surface of the water. They were all looking straight at me while I was swimming around and were kind of freaking me out! It was then I decided to stick closer to shore and no longer snorkel lol!

Baby beach is a really great beach next to the road with homes across the street…read more This is a great beach to bring young children where they can play and swim in shallow pools. Another beautiful beach hardly anyone there and it was easy to find parking. They had 1 picnic table, but no restroom area. On Kauai you will see the occasional Rooster or Chicken running around where ever you might go too.

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Lawa'i Beach

4.4

(55 reviews)

2.5 mi

This was probably my favorite beach we visited this time around. It's not a very large beach and…read morecan get crowded with those who are wanting to snorkel. Even surfers set out here to catch some waves. There are a lot of rocks, more rocks than sand, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I highly recommend water socks to protect your feet. There's a great entrance point that's pretty smooth and easy on your feet, but the waves can be choppy. The snorkeling reminded me a lot of Two Step Beach on the Big Island because you didn't have to swim out very far to see fish. There were a ton of fish out there! There were also a couple of turtles further out, but there were quite a few people hanging out around them. Remember not to get too close to them! :) We visited this beach several times because it was right outside our condo complex. At one point we were just sunbathing and playing in the water and ended up having the whole beach to ourselves late in the afternoon! It was awesome!

This beach is perfect to watch the sunset at, & is right next to the nice restaurant The Beach…read moreHouse. There is a very small sand area, but the ground is leveled so that it's very easy to sit & watch the sunset. The water is full of rocks, which actually made it very good for snorkeling. There were lots of fish around, eating off of the rocks. It was also in a little cove, so the waves were a bit smaller & easier to snorkel around in. This was one of the best beaches to snorkel at to see fish of the ones I went to (Anini Beach, Poipu Beach, & here).

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Sunset

Waiohai Beach

4.3

(7 reviews)

1.5 mi

Such an amazing beach. Beautiful, great tides keep the waves rolling in. Grab a cabana and have a…read moreday of it.

A beautiful beach that has great snorkeling in shallow waters. Expansive view and adjacent to the…read moreMarriott and Sheraton. Nearby concessions for lessons in surfboarding and other water sports.

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Maha'ulepu Trail

4.6

(70 reviews)

1.5 mi

Anything regarding nature in Kauai is an automatic 5 stars. That being said,I don't spend a lot of…read moretime on this side of the island. It's beautiful but, arrid compared to the tropical " wet" side. However,I've put my time in exploring this side and as with the entire garden isle, beautiful. This trail can get hot but the cliff side views and multiple color blues of the ocean make it worth it. One of the things making Kauai my favorite island is the diversity. I a single day you can experience several unique ecosystems. If you do Maha'ulepu trail,make sure your sunscreened and hydrated. Shaka Brah

Beautiful trail along the hike that is fairly easy to moderate. A few bumpy parts, but no major…read moreelevation. Easy parking by Shipwreck Beach at the starting point. Took us a little over 2 hours with some photo opps.

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Spouting Horn

3.9

(286 reviews)

3.7 mi

If you find yourself near Poipu Beach and fancy a little natural theatrics, the Spouting Horn is…read moreyour go-to spot. Picture this: water shooting dramatically through blowholes, like Mother Nature showing off her party tricks. The ocean's hue is so stunning it might make your Instagram followers weep with envy. Parking? Plenty. Stress? None. There's even a picnic area if you feel like making a day of it--though, let's be honest, this is more of a quick-stop kind of gig. Legend has it, a giant lizard got trapped there and now moans dramatically every time the blowhole erupts. Talk about holding a grudge! We swung by during a casual drive from our condo, and while there's some nearby construction, it's nothing that'll ruin the vibe. Bonus: you can even catch a glimpse of the action from a mile away at the Sheraton Kauai Resort, if you're feeling lazy. So, is it life-changing? Nah. But is it worth a pit stop for some cool photos and a bit of local lore? Absolutely. Consider it nature's way of saying, Ta-da!

Located on the southern coast of Kauai, this natural lava tube blowhole has been known to shoot…read moreseawater as high as 50ft into the air. According to local folklore, a giant lizard which once protected this portion of the island got stuck in the lava tube. And the lizard's roar is now heard every time the Spouting Horn Blowhole blasts water into the air. There is a paved parking lot here, so parking is not an issue. While the actual blowhole is not accessible, you can still get a great view and awesome pictures at the fenced viewing area. There's not much else to do here so it never gets too crowded. As people come and go after about 10mins. Bathrooms facilities are also available here if you need a restroom break.

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Goodbye Spouting Horn Park, until we meet again.

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Brennecke Beach

4.1

(26 reviews)

1.0 mi

Come early to score a parking spot in the crowded public lot…read more Easy swim & snorkel beach. Small waves, no dangerous currents. Lifeguard on duty. Reef has many colorful fish to see. Monk seals often snooze on beach. Saw several sea turtles within 4 feet of shore today. Often is overcrowded with people. This is not a peace & solitude beach. Hence this 3 star rating.

I was last here during the early pandemic and it was a beautiful, peaceful beach that was perfect…read morefor families with little kids. Now, spring of 2026, it's a bit of a mad house. Ironically, we got here early around 9:30-10am, staked out a good spot a solid several yards away from a turtle sunning himself on the beach - and then 15+ turtles joined him over the next 3-4 hours (clearly the pandemic and social distancing is also a thing of the past for the turtles). Ironically, because of this (I'm presuming), the beach quickly became hectic and crowded with dozens of tourists coming over to take pictures and forming a seemingly solid wall of butts of all shapes, sizes, and coverage now between us and the ocean. Lots of butts right in front of us. Meanwhile the well-meaning conservation folks "protecting" the turtles (the turtles, who seemed like they couldn't care less about people) were SHRIEKING at kids and adults who absent-mindedly stepped between the Cone Guardians and the turtles. Got a special treat of a huge monk seal floating by and peaking at all the daytime soap drama too; that was fun. Snorkeling here is meh if you find a zigzag line to get through the turtle brigade to the water without being tasered by the Turtle Keepers (jk, sorta). I'm all for experiencing nature but honestly this beach is too much for me. Peek at the turtles for the turtle experience, but don't come here for the beach itself.

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Good waves to the right, but be prepared to pull out before the rocks.

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BEAUTIFUL

Poipu Beach

4.5

(498 reviews)

1.2 mi

(Visited 05/26/26 SU @ 10:00am): There were definitely "crashing waves" albeit small ones along…read morePoipu Beach Located on Kaua'i's "sunny southside", I spent a lazy Sunday at Poipu Beach people-watching, reading, sleeping, snorkeling, sunning, and swimming. Right along The Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas where I was staying, I haven't had a day-long beach day for awhile, and I really needed a day just to recharge, refresh, and regenerate my body, mind, and soul. Having been ranked as one of the top beaches in the U.S. over the years, was there anything to poo-poo about Poipu Beach!? EXPERIENCE The word "poipu" in the Hawaiian language meant "crashing waves" and was actually two beaches in one. A "tombola" (known as Nukumoi Point) separated the two bays, and in this case it was a narrow sand spit that extended from the shore to an island. This particular area was a favorite spot for endangered napping Hawaiian monk seals. The area on the western side of the beach was a favorite for beginner bodyboarders while small waves broke gently on the shallow sandbar created a fun area for children to play. The area on the eastern side of the beach was a lava rock-protected and shallow spot for swimmers and another play area for families with small children. On this comfortable sunny day, what was initially a quiet beach progressively got crowded and noisy as the day wore on. I swam for hours back and forth past the shorebreak along the coast, took breaks to drink water and eat a snack, napped, read, and then went back out with snorkel gear in hand. An exhausting exhilarating stress-free day - perfection! SERVICE Specifically on this section of the beach, there weren't any bathrooms nor lifeguard stations. Generally speaking, there weren't any facilities whatsoever except for what the adjacent Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas may offer. It was a completely open public beach - 'nuff said. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance) I had no vehicle, so I simply walked from my room. However, there was a nightly $40.00 fee for guests who stayed at the Sheraton Kaua'i Resort Villas if they parked on the property, and there might've been some free parking along the many nearby roads and streets. Make sure to carefully read any posted signs. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE I made a spot directly out past the middle opening from the resort's pool and the sand, the beach was clean and smooth, somewhat spacious, and fairly empty early-on but no shady trees to deflect the sunlight. There was a lone monk seal https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=120&select=xDFNXkdOMhOO9W7Nv7YtuA which was a protected specie, so people must please stay away. Sizable waves were much further out, this beach was perfect for light water activity (no real surf breaks while snorkeling was better once you got considerably past the shore break). No benches, chairs, or tables, so bring your own chairs or towels to lay or sit on. Obviously, there was plenty of natural lighting with only the glowing stars left to guide you when nighttime came. There were no TVs nor any background music except for any electronic device you brought along with you such as your mobile phone. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=120&select=GN-CeJWbv9VNt_FU7MhmDg ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL Poipu Beach was another little piece of island heaven which I hoped would stay that way. Online research culled many articles and reviews of this beach that also alluded to what I experienced, so none of this was a secret. However, on this given weekend, I was thankful for the peacefulness and solitude. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, there was no need for funds of any kind which included my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

Probably the most famous beach on Kauai, Poipu was named 'Best Beach in America' in 2001 by "Dr…read more Beach", when such lists weren't so prevalent as they are now. My wife and I visited on Day 4 of our Kauai vacation in the early afternoon, and continued to understand why it is so popular with tourists. The area around the beach area is built up, with retail businesses within walking distance. There is usually plenty of free parking, but on this day, the past week's rains had flooded one of the parking lots, so there were not as many spots. My wife still found a good spot though, and we walked the short distance to the shoreline. There is a protected man-made wading area towards the east of the beach. It is easy to wade out to the lava rock retaining wall, with the water being maybe 3 feet there. There are facilities and lifeguards in the area. One of their jobs was to keep folks from getting too close to 4 sea turtles that were sunning on the sand near that area.

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Unknown fruit on one of the trees. January 2023.

Poipu Bay Golf Course

4.0

(77 reviews)

0.2 mi

Had a 12pm tee time, just flew in from the Big Island , the staff was amazing never played there…read morebut they treated you like you're part of the family. It was a beautiful day and I gotta say the greens looked and responded amazing. The view was stunning and I played a great game being that it's the first time playing there. Took so much pictures and shot an 84

There are 2 parking lots. One smaller in front and a larger one if you continue down the driveway…read more Be sure to drop your clubs towards the center so you don't have to hike up a small hill with them if you park in the lower lot. They provide a cooler with ice and water on both sides of cart. At the end of the round they wipe your clubs down so be prepared with some cash to show your appreciation. The check in process was as expected and the facilities are clean and well maintained. The refreshment cart made regular rounds.

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Celebrating our game on 16th hole

Na Pali Experience

5.0

(596 reviews)

17.4 mi

Very fun time with family on the coast! Drew and Corbin were awesome and knew what they were doing…read more I recommend them for anyone looking for good tour guides. We got a lot of good photos and memories on this tour!

Seana and Jane were amazing! One of the most beautiful places in the world and got to see a lot of…read morebird life! Great activity with 9 and 11 year old grandkids!

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Captain Colin!

Happy couple on the tour!

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Suzanne F.

1

4

0

14 years ago

Beautiful beach, amazing views, never seen anything like it, the sea breaks out over the rocks about 100 yards out to see and looks like its boiling!! Could sit there all day and watch it. Too scared to swim as I am not a strong swimmer, but sat in the sand by the edge and got a jolly hard smack in the face by a wave before being dragged a few feet as the water pulled me along! Ended up with a bikini full of sand and felt like I was wearing a nappie ( or dypers as they call them over there !). Very amusing to watch but not so funny being clouted by a wet surf ! The sand is so hot it even burns your flip flops. Super place to watch the surfers and body boarders who make it all look so easy !! Too much sun ? Just pull your towel under one of the trees and sleep a while .............bliss xx read more

Zenith R.

1

49

83

2 years ago

Shipwreck Beach and the cliffs in Kauai were absolutely stunning! The scenery was epic, with jaw-dropping views that made the perfect backdrop for the couples taking wedding and proposal photos. It was an unforgettable experience and a must-visit spot for anyone seeking adventure and beauty in Kauai! read more

La Quinta L.

0

125

52

10 years ago

Drugs about! Here is where you get your hook up druggies. The waves are great if you are experienced. It is pretty rough for a family with small kids. Locals hang out here. Not the best beach unless you surf. read more