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    Wailua River Guides

    4.7 (95 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    We made it!
    Johnell H.

    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!!

    Bailey P.

    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!

    Our kayaks
    Jenny l.

    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!

    On the hike to the waterfall!
    Jason T.

    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.

    Best day so far! Hi Keanna!
    Gloria H.

    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

    Jeff K.

    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.

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    9 years ago

    Ryan did a great job of leading us to Secret Falls through driving tropical rains. It was wonderful!

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    14 years ago

    Great day with Justin (our guide). Lunch was good and day was really laid back. We had a nice group, and I did not see any bugs(Mosquitos).

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    11 years ago

    What a great way to start the new year. We had an amazing time. Tour was awesome and so was Justin.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Wailua River Guides

    Review Highlights - Wailua River Guides

    Justin was the perfect combination of knowledgeable guide and comedien entertaining us each step of the way.

    Mentioned in 37 reviews

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    Wailua Kayak Adventures

    Wailua Kayak Adventures

    4.8
    (345 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Had a great time renting kayaks for a half day 12:30-5:30. Called in to make the reservation and…read morestaff was very accommodating. Wes met us at the river and went over very clear instructions and tips. It was great that they included wet bags to store your things. The river itself was beautiful, the waterfall 'hike' is generally very easy with a couple stream and river crossings that are slip hazards but overall not physically strenuous, and the waterfall is beautiful and the pool is swimmable. Plenty of time to check out both arms of the river. **WARNING - DO NOT park in the adjacent thrift store parking lot if the park parking is full. They slapped a huge sticker on our windshield and demanded $25 in payment when we got back to our car despite actually spending some time in the thrift shop and scheduling a donation time.

    This one I'm going to have to file under one of the hardest things I've done in my life! But I'm so…read moreproud we accomplished this and did this! So many people talk about kayaking the Wailua River and hiking to Secret Falls. We didn't get a chance to do this on our last trip, but my youngest and I tackled this on this trip! Our guide, Ronda, arrived a couple minutes after our tour start time at 1pm. The morning guide said she'd be along "in island time." Once she got there, she took the time to tell us a little about herself, went around our group and had us each introduce ourselves and share a few words. She took the time to memorize all of our names! She also explained to us as all the other tours were heading out, that she liked to hang back and let everyone go do their thing so we can experience the falls privately as just our group. This girl knows what she's doing! It was about a two mile kayaking journey up the Wailua River with stops intermittently along the way for our "kayak kisses" so Ronda could tell us about the history and other aspects of the island. We were almost in our own little version of Survivor, thinking up ways we could survive out there and what we would need. It was honestly very cool. Once we got the end of the kayaking journey, we were given walking sticks for the moderate 1 mile hike to Secret Falls. There are a couple of areas where you have to cross through water, but nothing higher than the knees, at that time. The hike was beautiful! Ronda pointed out the Hawaiian Woodrose, kukui nuts, which we got to crack open and have a small sample, we washed our hands with awapuhi from the awapuhi plant, etc. it was such a cool adventure. We met the local songbird and dug to find worms for him to eat. He ate right from our hands! He actually landed on my hand and looked at me for a couple seconds! We saw cows on the journey home as well. Secret Falls is amazing. We had a blast swimming around there and resting from the journey. We met a lot of great people in our tour. It was like we all became a little family. We packed up and hiked back to our kayaks and headed back down the Wailua for the journey home. This time the wind was against us, so it was literally like paddling upstream both ways lol! This was such an amazing experience. I'm sure I'm leaving some things out because there was so much! I would say, if you're doing the 1pm tour, don't have any other plans the rest of the day. You don't want to be in a rush to get out of there. Our 5 hour tour ended up being close to 7 hours. It was nice because on the way back the motorized vessels were no longer on the river, so we didn't have to worry about other traffic. I'd also recommend having dinner for that night figured out ahead of time because most places locally close at 8pm. We were able to grab dinner from a spot about 10 minutes prior to their closing. They recommend tennis shoes or hiking boots, but my daughter and I used our water socks/reef shoes and while there were a couple times when we were bouldering I would have liked to have better shoes, ultimately it wasn't an issue. Ronda gives you an opportunity to unplug from the world, get yourself on island time, and take in all the beauty Kauai has to offer. Take it!

    Photos
    ALOHA
    ALOHA
    Wailua Kayak Adventures
    Falls before the Falls

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    Falls before the Falls
    Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures

    Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures

    4.9
    (4.6k reviews)
    5.0 mi

    We had a fantastic experience with Kauai Backcountry Adventure's Mountain Tubing Adventure and…read morewould highly recommend it! From the very beginning, their communication was excellent. We especially appreciated that they refunded our friends when they had to cancel for medical reasons, even though we hadn't purchased the optional booking insurance months earlier. That level of customer service really stood out. Our guide, Josh, was outstanding--personable, funny, engaging, and attentive throughout the entire tour. He made a great experience even better. A few tips for future visitors: definitely rent the water shoes (Crocs) and the wetsuit shirts. The water and tunnels can get a little chilly, and we were glad to have the extra warmth. Also, pre-purchasing the photo package was absolutely worth it. All of the photos were emailed to us afterward, which meant we didn't have to stay behind to review them, and we ended up with a collection of fun memories from the day. The tour itself was well organized and packed a lot into about three hours. We arrived 30 minutes early, then rode in an open-air truck up to the plantation. Along the way, we stopped at a beautiful volcano overlook before taking a short nature walk to the tubing launch point. We floated through five tunnels before finishing in a relaxing lazy-river section. There were two photo opportunities during the adventure, and afterward we enjoyed a simple but satisfying lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies before returning to the warehouse. Overall, it was a fun, unique, and memorable morning on Kauai. Great guides, beautiful scenery, excellent customer service, and plenty of laughs. We would absolutely do it again!

    Amazing team led by Rees, we also had two others helping, I believe, Nicole and Nova? 100% worth…read moreit, enjoyable ride, great adventure. Easy 5/5. Cost, expected time for adventure, and crowd size can all be explained on their website. The atmosphere was relaxing and exciting at different points of the tubing.

    Photos
    About to get on one of the zip lines.
    About to get on one of the zip lines.
    Wow what fun
    Wow what fun
    A laugh a minute!

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    A laugh a minute!
    Wailua Kayak & Canoe

    Wailua Kayak & Canoe

    3.8
    (139 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    We booked this experience with less than 48 hours' notice, which was super convenient. The check-in…read moreprocess was quick and smooth--just arrive at your scheduled time, get ready, and head out. You pull your kayak (on wheels) to the launch site and push off from there; it's definitely doable. We opted to go without a guide and simply followed the provided map, which was very straightforward. However, in my opinion, the activity wasn't worth the price. Paddling two miles each way was pretty strenuous, especially with kids. The hike to Secret Falls was extremely muddy, particularly after rain, and we saw lots of people slipping and falling. It's not a huge problem, but you'll definitely want to plan for a shower afterwards. They do provide a large wet bag, but ours smelled strongly of body odor from repeated use without proper cleaning--definitely unpleasant. If I could do it over again, I would have canceled and just explored the state park on foot. For the amount of effort required, I felt the experience was overpriced.

    We did the Guided Wailua River "Secret Fall" Adventure with Wailua Kayak & Canoe, and it was an…read moreabsolute blast! The scenery along the river and hike was stunning, and the whole experience felt like the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Our guide, Michael, really made the trip special. He shared so much interesting information about the river, the history of the area, the plants, and the wildlife--and kept us laughing the whole way with his endless supply of dad jokes (now upgraded with 10% more!). If you're looking for a unique way to experience the natural beauty of Kauai, this tour is it. Come for the adventure, stay for Michael's humor. Highly recommended!

    Photos
    Wailua Kayak & Canoe
    Wailua Kayak & Canoe
    Crossing the final stream

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    Crossing the final stream
    Ali'i Kayaks

    Ali'i Kayaks

    4.7
    (594 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    We had a great adventure with Ali's Kayak Rental! Booking…read moreonline was easy, and since the guided tour was full, we did the self-guided kayak and hike to the secret waterfalls. Its a more budget friendly option but you don't need to drive your kayak to the river, its just a short walk. Before launching, the owner gave us a quick and helpful presentation on where to go and how to handle the kayaks. Just note there is an additional $5 per person river fee (or a state park fee). The trip involves about two miles of kayaking and a mile-long hike each way. Because the trail has lots of rocks, muddy areas, crossing a river and roots, I wouldn't recommend it for small kids or anyone who isn't relatively fit. Overall, the equipment was excellent, the staff was great and we highly recommend it!

    On May 5, 2026 my husband and I went on a Kayaking adventure with Ali'i Kayaks in Wailua, Kauai…read more This was our first kayaking experience and it did not disappoint! Our guide for the day was "K-man". He was awesome! He had a great personality, was very knowledgeable and was funny. He was also great with names; he remembered everyone's, and he made it a point to make conversation with everyone single one of us. Our adventure started off by meeting at the office/pick up location. Then we loaded up into a van and made the short drive to the slipway. There we selected kayaks and were given oars and life jackets. Once we got situated, we hit the water. The weather that day was perfect; the sun was out with some clouds, and there was a light, constant breeze. Our journey on the water was a beautiful one. The water was cool, the scenery was green. I'll admit, the kayaking distance was a bit challenging. Maybe a bit more so as my husband and I are competitive and we were nearly racing with another couple. LOL! Once we reached shore, we gathered up and made our way to the hiking path. Honestly, the hike itself is not hard, with the exception of a few spots that may require teamwork/assistance. (**READ TIPS BELOW) Once we reached the waterfall, most of us went into the water. We stayed there for about 20-30 minutes. Our guide never rushed us. He sat back and let us enjoy ourselves. It was only when we all gathered up again that we headed back, same hike in reverse back to the kayaks. Once in the kayaks it was the same way back as well. The scenery was VERY beautiful. Several pictures were taken. Overall we had a great day. We would definitely recommend to anyone who has never been to Kauai and to anyone who is interested in being surrounded by beautiful scenery. TIPS: - [ ] Wear good shoes! The terrain can be unstable due to river rocks, tree roots, mud, and uneven ground. Your feet WILL get soaked and the ground is unstable. My husband and I both opted to wear sneakers that we were ready to retire. When we were done we threw them away. Another couple wore aqua shoes and they said they were extremely uncomfortable: good for water, bad for the rough terrain. Another couple wore brand new hiking boots and they became water logged. - [ ] Wear sunscreen!! Even if it's overcast, the harsh island sun will magnify through the clouds. - [ ] Sunglasses and a hat/visor is a wise choice. **if you wear a hat or visor, it may create a blind spot. Keep your head up! One person in our group hit their head twice on the same tree branch! - [ ] Wear clothing you can get wet. You will get wet from the waist down from the kayaking and hike. - [ ] Wear swimwear underneath your clothing. When you get to the waterfall, there is a pool of water you are able to swim in. - [ ] Bring a backpack/secure bag with water and snacks! You will need it! - [ ] Bring towels and leave them in the car. At the end of the day, when stripping off your wet shoes and socks the towels come in handy. *** For reference, our groups ages ranged from 52 to approximately early 70's.

    Photos
    Amazing rivers. Be prepared to get your feet wet on this amazing experience.
    Amazing rivers. Be prepared to get your feet wet on this amazing experience.
    Mana putting the Aloha filter on our selfie!
    Mana putting the Aloha filter on our selfie!
    This grasshopper (coconut leaf) made it in Los Angeles. Thanks Kai for this remembrance.

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    This grasshopper (coconut leaf) made it in Los Angeles. Thanks Kai for this remembrance.

    Wailua River Guides - rafting - Updated July 2026

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