One of the best days we had on Kauai was spent on the trip to Secret Falls. Swimming in the water under the falls was magical. I would suggest doing the earliest trip possible. We did the 8am trip and by the time we were leaving the falls and the trail back to the boats was packed. In terms of the level of activity, we are fairly active people but in no way athletic. The other people on our tour we had children and everyone did fine with the trip. It's a few miles of kayaking on calm river waters, then about 1-2 mile walk through the jungle. The walk was all flat but the trail was a bit tricky since there are tons of tree roots. read more

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First choice when it comes to kayak/hiking adventures up the Wailua! Our guide was extremely knowledgable about the area, plant life, and kayaking safety. I am a beginner kayaker and i felt very safe and comfortable under her supervision. Overall this is the place to head to if you are looking for a great time/activity while visiting Kauai. TWO THUMBS WAY UP! read more

Wailua River Guides - Front of shop - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

We took the kayak tour and hike up to the falls tour today and Andrew was our guide. I will say this tour pushed my personal limits since I don't kayak often or ever... But we still enjoyed this very much. We went at 7:30am (I would recommend the sunrise tour) and my husband and I took our 10 year old and 6 year old. Eat a good protein breakfast before you go, this is a very physical trip and you will need the energy. Go ahead and apply your sunscreen before you show up as once we arrived on site to check in we were pretty much go,go, go for the next 4 hours. Wear your suit under some light (quick dry) clothes, bring a hat and wear shoes that are good for mud (water shoes are perfect IF the are really good fitted ones, not sock ones) they have water so you really don't need that. I brought some peanut butter crackers for the kids, that held them over till lunch. We were slowish with the 6 year old, but the guide was super helpful and kept us on pace and was nice about how slow we were... The 6 year old was a champ, but if your 6 year old isn't typically a champ I would say that this probably isn't for you... They really need to be up for a challenge. Overall it was a great adventure for our family, but be prepared to be pushed if you aren't an outdoor family (or outdoor mom)... It was rewarding that we all did it together and that at various points in the day we were challenged for different reasons and the waterfall was a big bonus/carrot to keep us pushing past our typical limits. Don't be a chicken, get out there and live!! read more

Wailua River Guides - We made it! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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We just got back from a week in Kauai and my husband keeps telling everyone this was the most fun thing we did. We love kayaking, and this did not disappoint. Annie was a fabulous guide, easy to talk to and made the hike very interesting... she even added fuel to a growing spark of an idea to come back and live for a couple months. The sandwiches were the best we had from a tour. I would recommend this in a heartbeat to anyone looking to have a little active fun in Kauai. read more

Wailua River Guides - Starting off on the Wailua River - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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This is a must do when in Kauai! Please note, this is subjective when I say this, but it was NOT an easy hike. I called a few days prior to ask about the hike (I had knee surgery 27 years ago) and was told it was pretty flat terrain and my knee should be ok since the surgery was so long ago. It wasn't too steep, but there are a lot of large exposed tree roots and unstable rocks in the stream. There were several inclines as well. I feel the hiking pace was a bit fast (definitely not a stroll) and I felt pressured to keep up (although there were very fit people in my group lol), but couldn't walk as fast as the others because of my knee and all the unstable terrain. This is a fun hike but I wouldn't consider it "easy"! This is a warning for those with previous ankle, hip, or knee surgeries... The kayak trip down the river was pretty fun. It was not a "slow pace" but had to go at a pretty moderate pace in order to keep up. We also had a little snafu mid-way which was totally my fault because I guess I leaned a little too far to the right as I was trying to dig my paddle deeper in order to go faster. Thankfully I was wearing my life jacket because I am not a strong swimmer. Anyway, Tyler (I think that's his name- the guy with the beard from San Diego) was super nice and patient with me. I can read people really well, and did not get the impression he was annoyed. He was was super nice and pleasant, knowledgeable of the area, patient, and most of all- he knew how to keep all of us safe. I can't even imagine trying to safely manage 10-11 people on a hike/kayak trip! Thank you Tyler! The waterfall was absolutely breathtaking! It was all worth it to see and swim in the waterfall area!!! Suggestions for the company: Slower hiking pace in order to sightsee the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps when people order this trip, a little warning about the terrain would be nice in case someone is out of shape or had previous joint surgeries. Better customer service from the gentleman who manages the phone. He was informative when describing the trip, but sounded annoyed when I started to ask questions (sighing, etc). I understand there is a time constraint; however, I wish there were more pre- kayak instructions, especially what NOT to do to avoid rolling the kayak (e.g. "Please do not lean too much to one side when paddling, as you can roll the kayak. If it does happen, this is what you do...") I also recommend that everyone should be encouraged to wear a life jacket because there are many fast boats flying through that narrow river! It is definitely possible to roll that kayak too! SORRY FOR THE LOOOOONG ESSAY! Overall, we had a great time, mainly because of our guide, it could have turned out worse, but he was really trying to stay positive even though we had a few snafus along the way lol. Thank you Tyler (I hope I have his name right)! read more

This is trip is a must! We did the 7:30 tour (it's ok to get there at 7:30), which I would strongly recommend because there are less people on the river and at the falls and you don't have to kayak at the heat of the day. Our tour guide, Tyler was great. He was helpful, fun and very informative. He knew so much the local ecology and history. It was quite a joy to listen to during the hike to the falls. There were 9 total people on our group, which is common and made for a great experience since you didn't feel loss. It also lended itself building camaraderie among the group, which added to the overall enjoyable experience. The falls were beyond beautiful. When we got to it, we were pretty much the only group there and by the time we were ready to eat lunch (provided), many other tour groups arrived. Our timing was perfect! Overall, our experience was amazing, from the personal dry bags with bottle water to the beautiful kayaking trip, to Tyler to the falls. I would definitely book the excursion again and strongly encourage others to do the same! read more

What an incredible and unforgettable excursion! This was our favorite adventure on our honeymoon! We loved the leisurely pace of the kayak tour and loved the hike through the jungle to secret falls. What made it memorable was our tour guide Matt! He was awesome and so knowledgeable on literally every species of plant, tree, native history and wildlife we encountered. The 5.5 hour excursion was a beautifully told story of the Polynesian history. We loved loved loved this adventure! Pro tips: bring water shoes and hike in those; Keens are great too! We cannot thank the company and Matt enough for making our honeymoon special! We also greatly appreciated all of the local dining recommendations and hot bucket list items! We literally didn't have to think of anything, but show up! The tour company provided everything from water proof bags, to water, to a delicious lunch which Matt made extra special with his hot sauce and peppers! read more

This should be on everyone's must do list when visiting Kauai. Justin is an amazing guide and gave us a great adventure. No complaints here, everything from their equipment to lunch exceeded our expectations. Thank you Wailea River Guides, and especially Justin, for a fun and memorable experience! read more

Wailua River Guides - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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What a great way to spend half a day in paradise! Justin, our guide (a "refugee" from the Show Me state) was excellent. He is knowledgeable, gregarious, and clearly enjoys his work. I chose WRG based upon reviews on TripAdvisor. While I did see several other tour company staff with their groups, I found it hard to discern which company might be better. With that said, I feel good about my decision to choose WRG. This is a very good excursion, but should not be considered if you are not in at least moderately good physical condition. But if you are like me and believe that a vacation should be about new experiences, this tour is a must! read more

This sounded super fun and I have kayaked a couple times at home in Vancouver. I was travelling alone so was looking for some adventure. Annie, one of the guides picked me up from my resort, she was super friendly and fun to talk to on the way to the office. I was then introduced to my guide Justin (Jake gyllenhaal's twin?)who after reading all the reviews makes me wonder if he's the only guide. He was also friendly informative. I was paired with a odd person, which was ok but I kinda looked forward to kayaking solo. However it was a good idea since it was windy and tiring back. Lunch was good, waterfall was beautiful and time spent was a good amount of time. It was a bit pricey but worth the experience! read more

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Had a fantastic time! Ryan was an excellent guide and provided a fun atmosphere! He taught us how to kayak and shared great stories about the aina. read more

Wailua River Guides - On the hike to the waterfall! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Who would have thought that kayaking ~4 miles (roundtrip) and trekking through the tropical forest ~2 miles (roundtrip) would be such a blast?!? I was a little bit anxious about this excursion the morning of, simply because I'm not as fit as I use to be, plus I was taking my child, so it was on me to muscle through the paddling if it was too hard for her. But like a mighty girl trooper, she blazed through it! We made it to the landing to start the hike. Our guide, Billy, was awesome and kept the hike through the forest very interesting with fun facts about the vegetation and the island, in general, and answered all our random questions about Kauai. The trek had a few slightly treacherous moments, mainly the part where we had to cross through a river. But other than that, it was very doable. We reached the water fall, which was more like a natural shower than the powerful water fall I had remembered it to be a few years ago. I think there was a suspected fallen tree up above that was slowing the water or something. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful sight to see the Secret Falls. The excursion included a very satisfying lunch that was much needed an appreciated after the kayaking and hike, especially because we needed the energy to make it all the way back. One of the things that I think sets Wailua River Guides apart from the others is that their kayaks have rudders, so you can steer the kayak with foot pedals. I think this is unique to them, and as someone who has kayaked only 4 times ever (including this recent adventure), believe me when I say, the foot pedal rudders are well worth the few extra bucks to go with Wailua River Guides. But not only that, the knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining guides, like Billy, made it worthwhile. read more

We chose Wailua because they would let a 5yo go on the kayak/hike trip. We headed out on the early trip - with husband and kids 8 and 5 - 8 year old was surprisingly helpful getting us up the river - 5 year old, in his defense, did his best. The kayak paddle was looong but doable - some people on our trip were probably 70 yo and they managed, though they had 2 adults per kayak. Our guide was Andrew. He was very patient with our 5 year old that was ravenous upon landing at the base of our hike after an hour of paddling. This was followed shortly by whining and yelling. Of course, we had left our snacks in the car (doh!) - so Andrew got the 5yo's sandwich out early and problem was solved! And with sandwich in hand, the 5yo gladly started out on the hike with the rest of the group - we were the slowest of the group since the 5yo had the shortest legs, and the hike was not quite treacherous, but did require attention to your steps. Our guide told us stories on the way (half of which I missed because we were last and slow) but my husband and 8yo relayed the important parts - and the guide and customers were patient with us. The path was clear and easy to follow, and Andrew conveniently stopped and told us information about flowers and trees and such, which allowed the slowest to catch up without really annoying the quick ones! (I think!) We reached the secret falls - lovely - like you are in heaven - and while there are quite a few people up there, people are respectful and not partying! although you sometimes can't help but give a "whooop!" when you are up close to the falls, water falling all around your head! (guilty!) Andrew pulled out Safeway sandwiches, which by the way were delicious - not sure if it was the exertion or just better sandwiches that those from Safeway at home, but we thoroughly enjoyed them - and special Kaua'i chips and cookies and pineapple - the chickens were fierce! watch out! don't put your food down unless you are done with it! The hike out was a little more treacherous as it had a bit of downhill to it - I would suggest making sure that your sandals have some tread, though our guide was wearing flip flops... the kayak back was hard! it was theoretically downstream, but we had a headwind - boy oh boy did we enjoy and deserve our maitais that afternoon! (real, delicious and strong ones, from Hukilau Lanai!) Fabulous trip, fabulous leadership with personality and character - thanks so much! Would definitely recommend! read more

Had tons of fun with kayaking up Wailua River and hiking up to the Secret Fall. Our guide, Justin was very knowledgeable. Not sure why this tour is more expensive than other Wailua River Kayak tours but we had so much fun the higher cost didn't matter. Tip: the trail does get muddy and the water in the water fall / pool is frigid! Wear hiking shoes u don't mind getting dirty and wet (I wore reef shoes), and make sure u pack a towel! read more

Best day in Kauai! This tour was a ton of fun And we even got some exercise out of it, a huge plus! Justin our guide was awesome, friendly, knowledgeable & just over all a nice guy! Hey justin, thanks for the passion fruit too btw! We luvd it! The whole day was great family fun for us read more

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My group of seven had a wonderful time on our trip with Justin! Our original date was canceled due to unfavorable conditions but we rescheduled and had an ideal experience. The water was still and beautiful and made for easy kayaking. The hike was definitely challenging and slippery but the ultimate destination, the waterfall, was breathtaking. We loved swimming under the falls and throwing scraps of our sandwiches to the feral chickens before hiking back to the kayaks. Some quick tips: 1) Wear shoes you don't mind getting soaking wet. You will walk into the water to get into your kayak and ford waist deep water several times. My GoRun Skechers were perfect. The company provides dirty shoes if you didn't bring any. 2) Book your trip early just in case you need to reschedule due to weather. The water we crossed was raging and they actually had to cancel the tour after ours. 3) Bring cash to tip your guide! He's your chauffeur, doctor, tour guide, and waiter. Justin was great and highly recommended! read more

Lots of fun! Ryan was a knowledgeable ( and hilarious) guide. They outfit you with a drybag, and you get lunch! Wohoo! read more

Justin was our guide and he made this muddy, I mean super muddy slog into the falls a great time. Worth the hike but make sure you dress for it, no flip flops or clothes you are attached to because you will get messy. We had a wonderful time and would totally recommend this to any non-prissy adventurers. The kayaking was great too! We had several kids in our group from about 7 years old to 12. They loved the mud! Thanks Justin for a fun time. read more

Fantastic Experience. Our guide, Zac, was amazing. He knew all about the archeological history, plants and wildlife. Very friendly and knowledgeable. He added so much more to the hike than if we had done it on our own. Zac was great with the younger children as well! We came across people on the trail who never found the waterfall - of course, that was not a problem for us! Also, they packed in a very nice lunch. I highly recommend these guys! read more

Was given faulty kayak that veered left and could not be fixed. Finally caught up with guide and reported that my daughter and I had to row double time to catch up with group an hour later and guide's response was "well, it got you here". Then I requested to trade kayaks with guide and he said "no sorry cannot trade". I removed faulty rudder on my own with no help or sympathy from guide. I was not going to write a review and just swallowed the whole unprofessional handling of our experience but next day, I get a call early morning a.m.hours with a rude guy from this outfit wondering why I took off the rudder from his kayak. Obviously the guide did not report our unhappy experience and just said we took off rudder for no reason. Also company does not tell you how much they are charging your card they just swipe your card and give back silently. Hardly any briefings on where you're going or what to expect. You are better off just renting a kayak on own for 1/3 the price and just following the stream of kayaker. There is only one path after all. read more

If you're looking for a good way to burn off those Mai Tai's, this is the place. Justin our river guide was outstanding and knowledgable. My husband and I enjoyed this tour very much. Thanks again Justin! -Tami and Kevin read more

My wife and I went on an excursion up the Wailua River and hike. Justin was our guide and he was very knowledgable. Trip was great. I would highly recommend taking this tour. read more

Wailua River Guides - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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We went on the morning tour with Justin as our guide and had a blast. It was so beautiful and so much fun. I highly recommend this tour!! Just be sure to bring bug spray for the mosquitos! Thanks Justin for a great time and for all the beach/restaurant recommendations, they were all awesome! read more

Wailua River Guides - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

This was by far my favorite activity and best adventure during our honeymoon in Kauai. Our guide , Billy, was awesome. Overall it was about a 5+ hour chunk out of our day, but absolutely worth the time commitment. We chose the 12:30 time slot which made the river gleaming with golden sunshine on the way back and so peaceful. You're going to need some arm strength, especially if it's windy, but it is something I think EVERYONE should do on their visit. Billy told us the history of the trees, plants, waterfalls and wildlife. Fascinating. He also was a sweetheart with the children on our trip and made sure everyone was having a great time. These guys are awesome and the attention to detail is perfect. Thank you Billy and Kevin ! read more

Wailua River Guides - Spectacular views! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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We went with a large group and they were so accommodating! The hike was great; waterfall amazing and our guide, Doc, was top-notch! Do this!! read more

The kayak/ hike was the highlight of our trip. Justin, our guide, really made the experience memorable. He was knowledgable, funny and shared some great local dining tips! (go see Olympic cafe). Thanks again guys for the experience. When we come back, and we will, we will look you guys up again. read more

I always worry when a tour is 'too commercial' when I am on vacation. That being said, Wailua River Guides is the right amount of 'commercial' ! I think our tour guide Justin was very down to earth and provided knowledge as well as some fun times! I never thought I'd be so happy exercising on vacation as I was during this Kayaking tour! During the tour, we even received ideas of where to go have dinner, go shopping, etc. Totally unexpected, but it was very helpful information from 'the locals'. read more

Great guided tour with beyond beautiful views of the Wailua river, lush jungle and epic waterfall. Our guide was so knowledgeable and it made for a very interactive and fun tour. A must see when in Kauai. read more

We can't say enough about how much my husband and I loved our kayak and hike experience. My husband and I were on our honeymoon and did many of the typical tourist activities while in Kauai. This tour was by far our absolutely favorite! Justin was our guide and was so great. He never rushed us, never made us feel like tourists, and made us feel almost like we were just one of his friends. If you are considering doing any of these tours, there are a few things you should know. My husband and I are in good shape and didn't have any problem hiking or kayaking. We did see others who were not in such good shape and seemed to be struggling. Also, you will get muddy. Really muddy depending on how much it has rained. Wear good shoes but know they will get really dirty. Wear old socks because you will probably throw them away. And, be sure to take a walking stick - they REALLY help! Thanks again, Justin. We are coming back to see you in a few years!!! read more

Wailua River Guides - Justin - Best guide ever! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Loved this kayaking tour! Me and my husband did the afternoon tour, which was a little hot in the beginning but after we started kayaking in the jungle parts and then the hike it cooled off really nicely! Ryan our tour guide was super nice and was really patient with people on the tour who had a harder time figuring out how to kayak or getting through the muddy parts of this hike. Definitely bring bug spray and hiking shoes if you have them. The hiking part is muddy, but it's so worth the amazing views and waterfall! Can't wait to come visit Kauai again! read more

Don't waste your money, you can drive over to the falls and hike down and go right in the water. Customer service sucks especially Joe, they rip people off. read more

This was my favorite tour! Chris, our tour guide was awesome! He was very laid back and made the tour enjoyable. The kayaking was a bit strenuous for me but was worth it. The hike was not difficult to get to the waterfall. Definitely recommend this tour. read more

We did the morning kayaking tour recently and had a great experience. Pros *Informative, friendly tour guide who made us feel safe. Our guide as AJ and he was knowledge about plant life and able to answer random questions we had about the island. *Great kayaks. These kayaks even have pedals, which make steering much easier. *Great scenery on the kayak trip--lush plants, calm scenery. Even though motor boats are permitted on the river, we only passed a few on our return trip. *Great shoulder workout! *Easy hike following the kayak upstream. Mostly walking along a trail, very few difficult spots. *Hike ends at Secret Falls--definitely go in for a dip, even if the water is cold. While Secret Falls isn't as awesomely majestic as Wailua Falls, it was still a nice pleasant scenery. *Great lunch spread--the best we had on a guided tour in Kauai. *Efficient, well-organized tour Tips *Apply bug spray! Reapply bug spray before the hike! Reapply bug spray after the swim. *Rest your shoulders the day before and after. We went stand up paddle boarding the day before our tour, and our shoulders could feel it! read more

Used a few weeks ago. Disappointed. Was not informed ahead of time that the hike and waterfall portion of the tour were closed off for safety reasons. Was not informed that the advertised free bicycle rentals when booking a tour were not available. My understanding once talking to our guide about it after the tour, is that they gave us a discounted price because of the afore mentioned complaints. The price was $70 per person for a 2 hour river tour. In San Diego, you can go on a 3 hr open ocean tour with caves and sea lions for $45-65. You learn about the area and it's really cool. This tour was more like a solo tour with occasional info on plants. Very unimpressed. Save your money. I am not blaming anyone for the flooding and change in the type of tour. My complaint is the misguidance on what the tour consisted of. Definitely not what was advertised on their website. We literally booked the tour 2 days prior via email. Not one word on their website or via email was said that the waterfall, hike and bikes were no longer part of the tour. I consider it bad business to not be upfront on the changes to the tour. Very misleading. And the "discount"... I don't even want to know the price of the typical tour. read more

Justin, our tour guide was awesome! He was knowledgeable about the history of the island and Hawaiian culture in general. Loved the rainforest hike! The picnic lunch was delicious. Definitely worth the trip. read more

This place totally rocks! Everyone there is so friendly. I guess I would be too, they are truly living the dream. We got there on a Monday at 11:45, Annie told us that there were no reservations for the next tour at 12:30 so we would basically have a private tour if we decided to go then. Of course we were so excited to do so and we didn't regret it. Annie was a real pro and know exactly how to explain best technique for piloting the 2 man kayak. She made sure that we stopped at all of the best picture spots and took our photo. It was just a really great time and we got to go swim under a waterfall, SOO COOL!! read more

A beautiful and educational adventure up a river to a waterfall! We took the afternoon kayak trip up the river to the waterfall. The journey began with a little exercise kayaking up the river with beautiful sites all around. The kayaks were in great condition and the guides were interesting and thorough. We got to shore and were told we were 40 minutes from a waterfall. On the way we learned exciting facts about trees that walk (actually move themselves) to get to a sunny spot, edible flowers and so much more. It wasn't until the next day that I realized how much I learned when I began restating all sorts of interesting facts to friends that weren't with us. On the way to the waterfall we got to do a rope swing into the river. Much fun had by all. The guide was always willing to snap great photos of us. Once at the waterfall we enjoyed a swim and delicious lunch of pineapple, sandwiches, maui wowie chips, and cookies. We then took the fast track back. It was an all around perfect day! read more

These guys are funny, upbeat and informative. I had a great time. The guide Justin was super laid back and friendly. The river and trails were slightly crowded but I guess this is a popular spot. Standing under the falls and getting a cold massage was my favorite part. The sandwich and fruit were tasty for lunch. I got bitten like crazy so might be worth some bug spray. This would be a great way to start your trip to Kauai. (we did it in the middle which was also nice) read more

Great river kayaking and hiking adventure! Justin was a great guide and very entertaining and informative on the trip. The kayak excursion was comfortable and the hike was very manageable for our family of four. And, Cabo the Boxer is a very cute sidekick particularly the way he holds a frisbee in his mouth. Recommend highly. read more

Justin was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable about the area and willing to share that knowledge. He was also very patient with us novice kayakers. read more