When I finished my Utah guidebook, I celebrated with a girls’ trip to Kauai. This was my third trip to Kauai, which is pretty rare for a traveler with a travel bucket list that’s miles long. I loved Kauai so much on my first visit that I immediately booked a return trip for the following year. It happened to be 2020, so it got rescheduled a few times. I’ve now experienced the perfect four-day Kauai itinerary as a solo traveler, on a girl’s trip with my high school besties, and with my family. So far, I think Maui is my favorite of the Hawaiian islands, even though I’ve only visited Maui, the Big Island, and Oahu once each. It’s a nice balance of the nightlife of Oahu with the scenery of Kauai. For nature lovers, Kauai is probably the best island to visit!

Being a beach destination, I do think it’s important to allow for plenty of downtime in your Kauai itinerary. Still, there are also a lot of cool Kauai activities to do. That’s why I’m giving you a four-day itinerary for Kauai, so you can add in some pool days to rest and enjoy your resort! Keep in mind it’s a big island and the road doesn’t go all the way around, so if you’re staying on the North Shore, then Waimea Canyon is 2 hours each way. I recommend planning one full day to explore the opposite side of the island, and the rest spent near the area where you are staying. Otherwise, you’ll spend too much time in traffic.

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Four Days in Kauai Itinerary

Day 1: Kauai Kayaking & Luau

Wailua River & Secret Falls Kayak and Hiking Tour

I always book an early morning excursion for my first day in Hawaii. May as well take advantage of the time difference when it won’t be quite so painful to wake up early! I joined Kayak Kauai for the Wailua River and Secret Falls Kayak and Hiking Tour. We met at the harbor where the Wailua River meets the ocean to begin our paddle upriver. The meeting spot was about a 45-minute drive from my hotel at Poipu Beach. Under a beautiful rainbow, we received some basic paddling instructions and set off to enjoy our day.

After an hour or so of paddling, we beached our boats and set off on our hike to the Sacred Falls. They aren’t joking when they say this hike is muddy! The outfitter gave us all walking sticks, which were super helpful, but it was still a challenging hike. There are a few spots along the edge of the river where you really have to watch your step, but otherwise, it was kind of fun to get all muddy.

After about an hour’s hike, we reached the falls. The pool below was full of our fellow travelers enjoying a swim, and having lunch on the nearby rocks. The famous Kauai chickens were ready and waiting for any scraps to drop on the ground. When you make your reservation, you’ll choose which kind of sandwich you want; lunch was really yummy and we finished our meal with fresh pineapple and cookies before hiking back to our boats and paddling back downriver to the harbor again.

Kayak Kauai provides dry bags for any gear you want to keep dry. It did rain a bit on and off throughout the day, so it’s good to have a couple of layers of clothes and quick-dry clothes you can hike in and swim in. If you have sports sandals like Chacos, they are perfect for this kind of trip. I definitely wouldn’t bother with hiking boots as they’ll never dry out in this humid atmosphere.

Wailua Falls

Wailua Falls is just a short drive from the Wailua boat launch and it’s even not that far from the airport. So, if you’re looking for something to do on your last day in Kauai, this is a great little side trip. You may think this Kauai waterfall looks familiar and that’s because it was the opening scene of the 70s and 80s show “Fantasy Island.”

Kauai Luau

Of course, you can’t come to Hawaii without taking in a luau. Although this is one of the few activities I don’t enjoy as a solo traveler. You are generally grouped in tables, and it’s much more fun to come with friends. My family chose the Auli’i Luau at the Sheraton hotel in Poipu. At $180 per adult, it’s pretty pricy but worth it for the convenience of not having to pile into the car. The food was decent, but the performances were fantastic, and the beachside setting is gorgeous! This is also the first time I’ve been to a luau where you can get photos with the performers afterward. (This one sells out quickly, but luckily our concierge at the Sheraton was able to get us in even though the website showed it was sold out)

For a slightly more budget-friendly option, Smith Family Luau is a great choice, at $125 per person. Located along the Wailua River just north of Lihue, the grounds are beautifully landscaped. While this wasn’t quite as amazing as the best luau in Maui, we all enjoyed the performances, the food, and the open bar of yummy tropical drinks. I didn’t feel like this Kauai luau gave as much of the history of the islands as some other performances I’ve seen, which for me is a big highlight. For my friends who had never been to a luau before, they loved it. I guess I’m just spoiled!

I have heard great things about the Kalamaku Luau at the Kilohana Plantation is also fantastic. There are several different packages, where you can add on a train ride and round-trip transportation from your Kauai hotel. This is a great option if you decide not to rent a car in Kauai, or if you don’t have a designated driver. (Luaus usually include free drinks and cocktails.)

Day 2: Waimea Canyon & Hanapepe Street Fair

If you want more downtime in your Kauai itinerary, you can combine this road trip with a Napali Coast cruise and spend an extra day enjoying the pool. If you want to spend some time hiking, then this can easily be an all-day trip. Whatever you do, you have to visit Waimea Canyon. It’s called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and it really is as breathtaking as Arizona’s Grand Canyon.

Start this Kauai excursion in the town of Waimea and take Highway 550 towards Waimea Canyon State Park. As you climb up the ridge into the mountains, there will be several pullouts on the right where you can start to get a glimpse of the landscape. Eventually, you will reach the state park, with a large parking area and some vendors set up with drinks and fresh fruit. Save your parking receipt as you’ll need it at other stops today.

Mai Travel Site has all the tips you need to hike the Waimea Canyon Trail!

After stopping at each Waimea Canyon lookout, keep heading north on 550 to Kōkeʻe State Park. If you want to spend a lot of time hiking up here, there are cabins in the state park that look pretty fun. (Although, I’m a bit terrified of the bugs in Hawaii!) Otherwise, go to the end of the road, where a trail takes you to several lookouts along the Na Pali Coast. I don’t know what’s more beautiful: Na Pali Coast or Waimea Canyon, but they are definitely the highlights of my Kauai itinerary. It’s pretty cool to see the dramatic cliffs from above and then again from the water when you take a Na Pali coast boat tour.

Hanapepe Friday Night Festival

If you happen to be on this side of the island on a Friday night, don’t miss the Hanapepe Friday Night Festival & Art Walk. All the stores stay open later, and tons of food and craft vendors are set up along the main road. There’s live music, locals, and tourists all out to enjoy this Friday night tradition. Hawaii is notoriously expensive, so it was nice to grab some street food for dinner rather than expensive resort food!

Day 3: Na Pali Coast Snorkel Tour

You cannot come to Hawaii without going on a boat cruise of some sort. It’s a rule! My Maui itinerary included a Lahaina whale-watching excursion, and in Kauai, it’s the Na Pali Coast. It’s seriously so beautiful that it looks fake. Even when you’re right up against the cliffs, it’s hard to believe they are real. The 11-mile Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast looks pretty awesome if you’re up for an overnight hike. If you really want to splurge, book a helicopter ride of the Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon. There are several types of Na Pali Coast snorkel tours, so do a bit of research on the best one for you. The first time, I opted for the Napali Snorkel Catamaran Cruise. On the 2nd trip, we chose a Zodiac Raft tour that included the sea caves. Kauai Sea Tours also offers a sunset dinner cruise along the Na Pali Coast. I bet it’s spectacular!

Browse Kauai Cruises at Viator

Kauai Sea Tours: Na Pali Snorkel Tour

Kauai Sea Tours departs from Waimea, which is only 20 minutes from the Poipu Beach resorts. It wasn’t long before we found a good snorkel spot and all went in to see what was underwater. I don’t find snorkeling in Hawaii to be as good as in the Caribbean, but we had a giant sea turtle come up and swim with us. There were about eight of us floating in a circle, and he came right up in the middle; I could have touched it. It was such a cool experience! I was really surprised at how warm the water was, too. I really didn’t need my neoprene pants, but I’ve always been cold snorkeling in Hawaii before.

After snorkeling, we piled back on the boat to continue our cruise. We spent the day watching pods of spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins playing in our wake and enjoying the amazing scenery of the Na Pali coast. There are tons of cool “hidden” beaches along the coast and even a military base with cabin rentals right off the beach! I signed my sister’s family up for this one as well. It’s much more kid-friendly, although the baby stayed home with Auntie Leigh!

Na Pali Pirates Rafting Tours

On our girls’ trip, we opted for a rafting tour that included some of the sea caves along the Na Pali coast. This is definitely a more rugged option, but also much more intimate with a smaller group. The Zodiac rafts were purchased from the Navy SEALs and fit around 12-14 passengers seated on the rubber tubes. You have to hold on tight, and you’ll be sore the next day! We had a great snorkel spot with lots of fish and two sea turtles that came right up to us, plus lots of dolphins as well. We entered a few sea caves that reminded me of my kayak tour in Phuket. The big difference between this and the catamaran tour is NO BATHROOM, and you can only eat or drink at the snorkel stop. My friends prone to seasickness really only had trouble when we stopped moving and were bobbing around. This was definitely a more adventurous way to see the Na Pali coast!

No matter which Na Pali coast option you choose, it’s a full day in the sun. Even after applying and reapplying sunscreen, wearing long sleeves and a hat, I was pretty fried by the end of the day. It was fun but exhausting. I definitely would not make any big plans for the night or day after your Na Pali coast cruise. In fact, room service and a trip to the hot tub were about all I could manage!

Day 4: Kauai's East Coast

After a day on the boat in the sun and a couple of days at the pool, I couldn't take any more sun, so I set out to explore a couple of the towns on Kauai's East Coast. If you are looking for cheap things to do in Kauai, Hele On in Kapaʻa rents cruiser bikes for $5. They are just a few blocks from the coastal bike path, so this was a super awesome thing to do for an hour or two. The bikes come with a little basket and they sell water at the shop. I saw some fun local beaches that would be cool to check out another time.

After my bike ride, I decided to do some souvenir shopping, so I hit up my usual Hawaii stops: the ABC Store and Hilo Hattie's. I don't usually shop too much when traveling, but Hawaii always has fun souvenirs, so I make an exception. The ABC store always has great sundresses and coverups, plus every kind of Hawaii souvenir you could ever want! When we visited Oahu, I think my sister and I went to the ABC store every day.

Visiting Kauai with kids? Travelling Mom has all the best tips!

One other cool place to check out near Poipu Beach is the Spouting Horn Blowhole. It's a really pretty place to watch the sunset.

For higher-end shopping, I love The Shops at Kukui‘ula, which are right around the corner from Poipu Beach resorts. They have several restaurants, plus a lot of fun boutiques and souvenir shops. This was the closest thing I saw to Maui's Whalers Village while in Kauai.. In the opposite direction, but equally close is the Poipu Shopping Village. It's a bit smaller, but a fun place to browse for an hour or two.

Where to Eat in Kauai

There are some really good places to eat in Kauai, and I also ate at my hotel bar a lot. I couldn't resist the view and the food was pretty decent. Here are a few Kauai spots to check out when you get hungry:

• Lava Lava Beach Club is a great spot on the beach in Kapa'a
• D Greens BBQ - this food truck in Old Koloa Town has legit amazing BBQ. Don't miss it! Grab some famous shave ice for dessert!
• Duke's Kauai - when in Hawaii...you must have Duke's Hula Pie! If you want to have dinner, make sure you have reservations! Most of us opted for the prime rib buffet. At $55, you get to have several courses and try lots of different food, including Hawaiian staples like sweet bread, poke, and macaroni salad.
• Hanapepe Friday Night Festival & Art Walk - this was a fun break from restaurants, as there are lots of vendors selling different food.
• Savage Shrimp - pretty good shrimp menu with counter service in The Shops at Kukui‘ula
• Puka Dog - some guests at my Tucson hotel recommended this place. It's a fun novelty, with all kinds of sauces you add to your hot dog. Located in the Poipu Shopping Village.
• Lava's at Poipu Beach - this is the casual restaurant at the Sheraton I stayed at. They have a nice menu, good happy hour prices, and some really yummy tropical drinks. I ate there at least three times during one week in Kauai!
• Mariachi's in Kapaa has good Mexican food and tropical cocktails
• The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant has a nice menu of seafood and sushi. The outside tables were a bit rustic and buggy, I think I would sit inside next time!
• Chicken in a Barrel is a Hawaii chain, but a great place to stop for a quick bite. They are known for BBQ but also serve up pizzas. We came straight here from our Na Pali coast cruise, as we were starving! Even the pickiest kids I know found something to eat here.
• For ice cream, Lappert's is a Hawaii staple. There's one at the shops at Kukui'Lua, but there's usually a line.

One thing I noticed about the more casual Kauai restaurants is that they were only open for lunch, so I had to choose between Koloa Fish Market and the food trucks nearby because none of them served dinner. So if there's a Kauai restaurant you really want to try, make sure you check their hours and work it into your Kauai itinerary, or you might miss out.

Where to Stay in Kauai

There are a few resort areas to choose from when deciding where to stay in Kauai. Choosing your Kauai resort can also depend on the season, as the north shore area can be pretty rough in the winter. The best places to stay in Kauai, with the largest selection of resort areas include the North Shore (Princeville, Hanalei Bay, and Kilauea,) the South Shore (Poipu, Koloa, and Lawai,) and the East Shore (Kapa'a, Wailua, and Lihue.) There are some smaller towns on the West Coast, like Hanapepe and Waimea, but they don't have as many resorts to choose from.

Booking.com

Similar to my trip to Maui, I was invited to preview a Sheraton Vacation Club unit and received five nights at the Sheraton Kauai Resort, plus a car rental and a $75 resort credit for $629. If you get these types of offers, I would seriously consider them as it's a great deal, and you only have to sit through a one-hour presentation. I loved the Sheraton Kauai and would recommend it even without the package deal I received. In fact, we stayed here again on our family trip, and it was perfect for our multigenerational Kauai vacation. We took full advantage of the pools, the restaurants, and the location on Kauai's southern shore.

Check prices at Sheraton Kauai Resort Villas

On my second trip to Kauai, we stayed in Princeville at the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. While the villas were nice, and we had a great ocean view, I prefer staying in Poipu. The road between Hanalei and Princeville was washed out at the time, so it was only open at certain times. We missed out on things like the Hanalei Valley Lookout. A lot of people I know love staying in this part of Kauai, but for me, it just felt more remote, and I like being near more shopping and dining options. It's also worth noting that the North Shore beaches are a bit more rugged. Our Princeville hotel did not even have a beach, although we did hike to one from the hotel.

Check Prices at the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Now that I work for Hyatt, I may seriously consider coming back just to experience the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. I have heard it's amazing, and if I ever see comp rooms, I'm there!

Other Things to See in Kauai

If you have more time (or energy) to spare on your Kauai vacation, check out some of these other spots. Most flights leave Kauai in the evening, leaving a lot of time to kill on your last day.

• Tunnel of Trees: if you stay in Poipu, you'll drive through this often. There are a few spots to pull over and take a photo.
• There's a glass beach near Hanapepe with lots of sea glass; you can also buy sea glass jewelry in some of the boutiques in Hanapepe.
• Polihale State Park is a remote beach on the Western Shore; if your car can make it, it's absolutely worth checking out!
• Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a protected seabird habitat, and the Kilauea Lighthouse is nearby
• Hike the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail in the Poipu area; it's a four-mile hike along the cliffs of the South coast
• Ha'ena State Park has hiking trails, beaches, and caves. Don't miss Tunnels Beach when you're up here!