Kayak Tours on Kauai
 

I will be visiting Kauai in a week and would like recommendations on Kayak tours. Taking the family (husband and 2 teens). Trying to choose between Outfitters Kauai-Kipu Falls Safari, Paddle Jungle Streams and Waterfalls-Wailua River Valley,or Blue Lagoon tour of Hanalei River, and Secret Falls-tour of Wailua River.Want it to be fun for all. Thanks!

I did one of these tours in summer 2003 and had a wonderful time. I think it was the Kipu Falls Safari-it was written up in some magazine-where we did some hiking, kayaking, a tractor pull, ate lunch under a waterfall, swang on a rope swing, viewed some farm animals. It was a highlight of my trip. The guide was awesome and lots of fun. Definitely recommended.

Hate to sound cliche, but depends on what you are looking for. You can do the Wailua River/Secret Falls tour without a guide. You can rent kayaks from the end of the river (Wailua Kayak, I believe, ask for Jimmy) but make a reservation. They give you maps, and it is easy to find the hike to the secret falls and Fern Grotto. This one is small enough that it is easily done on a self tour.

At the highway crossing of the Wailua River there is a rental place right near a Shell station (gas, not CaCO3 :P ). They let you park at their station/store (parking can be an issue), and the rates seem reasonable (relative to other rates).

However, somebody I was talking to $-) said they are beginning to discourage non-guided individual kayaking trips, because people get in trouble paddling or are too tired after the paddle up the river and then get stuck in not wanting to return -- so, somebody has to go get them and help them paddle back. ((?))

A friend who was on Kauai at the end of March said they weren't allowing self guided tours anymore because of some lawsuit.