If you ever visit the magnificent island of Kauai, make sure that seeing the Ne Pali coast is high on your list of things to do.The sheer splendor of it will leave a lasting impression.
Nepali Pirates
I’m still a little sore from the boat ride, but boy was it worth it! Nepali Pirates offers a fun day cruise up the Na Pali coast that is full of thrills and spectacular beauty. The whole trip took about 5 hours and includes a bouncy ride on their Zodiac, snorkeling, and snacks.
The cliffs of the Ne Pali Coast
Paradise
Many famous films have been shot on the Ne Pali coast, including Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s easy to see why. The Ne Pali coast is simply paradise. Lush green valleys and huge waterfalls sit next to gorgeous sandy beaches and incredible coral reefs. Layers of colors fill the landscape, including red rock, various shades of green from the massive rain forest, black lava rock, soft beige sand and the clear turquoise sea water.
The boat tour can be a little rough, but the big swells are also a lot of fun! Our captain expertly maneuvered us inside of a number of cool and dark sea caves. We watched a couple pods of dolphins play in the waters around us and we spotted several sea turtles throughout the day. We also got to go snorkeling for about an hour in the shallow reef just off shore and we marvel at the schools of colorful fish. Our guide, Marty, was born and raised on the island of Kauai and taught us a bit about the aloha culture of the Hawaiian people.
Dolphins playing in the sea
Air Ventures Hawaii
The next day my daughter and I climbed aboard a small plane with four other people for a one hour flight over the entire island with Air Ventures Hawaii. Once we secured our seat belts and put on our earphones we were ready for takeoff. Again, parts of the flight were a little bumpy, due to the constantly changing weather of the island. One woman in our party got a little air sick, so if you are prone to motions sickness it might not be the tour for you.
One of the many valleys of the Ne Pali Coast
We flew over Waimea Canyon, sugarcane fields and a giant coffee plantation. We also watched a large field fire and enjoyed looking down on several magnificent rainbows. I was astonished at the sheer size of the island and the unexpected variety of the geography. One side of the island is very desert like, while the other side of the island is one of the wettest areas on the planet, averaging over a couple of inches of rain per day. Indeed, it did rain every day of my trip, but the showers moved through pretty quickly. Wait 10 minutes and it will probably be hot and sunny again soon.
The beautiful colors of the Na Pali Coast
It was fascinating to see the Ne Pali coast by both boat and airplane. Each perspective offers something unique. But one thing is for sure, regardless of how you see it, it is breathtakingly beautiful and looks like heaven on earth.