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Makua Beach • North Shore
23 places worth your time, grouped by shore, each one linked to a live map with bookable tours
Updated August 14, 2026 · Curated by hand from the places tour operators actually serve
Kauai has one coastal road that does not complete the circle: the Na Pali cliffs interrupt it on the north-west side. That geography splits the island into four distinct day-trip zones, and this page lists what is worth stopping for in each. Every attraction links into our interactive map, where you can see it positioned on the island and browse the tours that visit it.
Open the Full Interactive Map →Lush, wet, and dramatic. Home of Hanalei, the end-of-road beaches, and the Na Pali cliffs.
37 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.8
The 17-mile cathedral-cliff coastline on Kauai's north-west shore. Boat, helicopter, and (in summer) kayak only; there's no road. The single most-photographed stretch of the island.
See on map → Read the Na Pali tour guide →17 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.7
Two-mile crescent beach on Kauai's north shore, framed by the Makana mountain range. Surfing, paddleboarding, and the sunset most postcards print. Ten minutes east of Tunnels.
See on map → Best north-shore snorkel tours →1 bookable tour · avg ★ 5.0
The trailhead for the Kalalau Trail, Ke'e Beach lagoon, and Tunnels Beach (Makua): Kauai's premier reef snorkel site. Timed-entry permits and limited parking apply.
See on map → Parking and access guide →5 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.9
North-shore resort plateau above Hanalei. Hiking trails, golf, helicopter pad, sunset cliffs.
See on map →5 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.8
1913 lighthouse on the north-shore Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Best Kauai bird-watching: nene geese, frigate birds, red-footed boobies, monk seals offshore.
See on map →3 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.9
Calm, reef-protected beach on the north shore between Princeville and Kilauea. Snorkel-friendly, less crowded than Hanalei.
See on map → Best north-shore snorkel tours →The river side. Kayak country, roadside waterfalls, and the island's main towns.
24 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.4
Eastern-shore river system feeding the 80-ft twin Wailua Falls and the Fern Grotto. Kayak, riverboat, and standup-paddle access from Wailua Marina.
See on map →6 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.0
120-ft waterfall reached by a 2-mile kayak up the Wailua River followed by a 30-minute hike. Local name Uluwehi Falls.
See on map →6 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.5
151-ft east-shore double waterfall viewable from a roadside overlook on Kuamoo Road, just inland of Wailua. Often paired on tours with the Wailua River and Fern Grotto.
See on map →7 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.9
East-shore town and the Kauai Path multi-use trail running along the coast. Sunrise yoga, beach cafes, and the entrance to the inland Sleeping Giant trailhead.
See on map →20 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.7
Main town and cruise-ship port on the south-east coast. Airport, Kalapaki Beach, the Menehune Fishpond, and the launch point for many east-side tours.
See on map →5 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.8
5,148-ft volcanic peak at the centre of Kauai, one of the wettest spots on earth. Mostly accessible only by helicopter, including the 'Weeping Wall' inside the eroded crater.
See on map → Read the helicopter tour guide →Sunny and calm most of the year. Resort beaches, blowholes, and old plantation towns.
19 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.5
South-shore drier-side beach hub. Snorkel coves, monk seals on the sand, family-friendly water, and the launch point for many south-shore boat tours.
See on map →14 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.0
Lava-tube blowhole at Poipu's south-west headland. Ocean swell forces water 50 ft into the air on a 30-second cycle.
See on map →12 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.8
Historic plantation town a few miles inland from Poipu. Old Koloa Town shopping street, the Koloa Heritage Trail, and the Koloa Zipline.
See on map →2 bookable tours · avg ★ 2.3
1.5-mile eucalyptus canopy over Maluhia Road, the gateway to Koloa from Highway 50. A short drive-through photo stop on most south-side tours.
See on map →Dry, red-dirt country: the canyon, the cliff-top lookouts, and the longest beach in Hawaii.
33 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.3
Often nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. 14 miles long, up to 3,600 ft deep, ringed by lookout overlooks along Highway 550.
See on map → Read the Waimea Canyon tour guide →5 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.6
Upper-elevation forest park above Waimea Canyon, with the Pihea and Awaawapuhi trails, a small lodge cafe, and the Kalalau Lookout at its northern edge.
See on map →10 bookable tours · avg ★ 3.9
4,000-foot perch inside Koke'e State Park, looking down into Kalalau Valley and out to the Na Pali coast. The classic 'three islands' Na Pali photograph.
See on map → Kalalau Trail permits and access →2 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.8
17-mile-long beach on Kauai's far west, ending at the Na Pali sea cliffs. Reached by a rough 5-mile dirt road; high-clearance vehicle recommended.
See on map →13 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.4
Old plantation-era town on the south-west coast, famous for its Friday-night art walk and the swinging footbridge across Hanapepe River.
See on map →9 bookable tours · avg ★ 3.9
South-shore plantation outside Kalaheo, the largest coffee farm in the United States. Self-guided walking tour and tasting room with 20+ varieties.
See on map →4 bookable tours · avg ★ 4.9
Smaller, less-visited canyon south of Waimea Canyon. Access only via private helicopter-land tours; the canyon walls reach 2,500 ft.
See on map →Staying on the north shore? Our home base is Tunnels Beach: see how to park there, how Haena State Park reservations work, and what else to do island-wide.
Explore All 200+ Tours on the Map →By what travelers actually book: the Na Pali Coast (boat, helicopter, or summer kayak), Waimea Canyon, the Wailua River and its waterfalls, Poipu Beach, Hanalei Bay, and Tunnels Beach for snorkeling. The full list above covers 23 places across all four shores.
No. The Na Pali cliffs block the road on the north-west side, so the highway is one long arc from Ke'e Beach in the north to Polihale in the west. That is why the Na Pali Coast is only reachable by boat, helicopter, or on foot.
The north shore and the west side hold the marquee scenery (Na Pali, Hanalei, Waimea Canyon), the east side has the rivers and waterfalls, and the south shore has the most reliable beach weather. Most week-long visits split time between two bases, commonly Poipu and Princeville.