I'm debating whether I should do a snorkel excursion out to Na Pali Coast or should I hike the Na Pali Coast. how different are the two? Of course the latter would save me $120 per person as hiking is free? If I do the latter, would I still be able to snorkel? Thanks!

Aloha -

There is good snorkeling at Ke'e Beach, which is where the Kalalau Trail hike begins (and ends, if you do the 2 mile R/T hike to the beach or the 4 mile R/T hike to the falls). Might be a nice and refreshing way to end your hike!

margot55 gave some good advice. I would also recommend snorkeling at Tunnels Beach, I can honestly say my best snorkel experience to date -- and I have taken expensive boat snorkel trips to Molokini and NaPali coast/Ni'hau and been to Great Barrier Reef -- and it was free! Only during the summer, though, as it's too rough during winter.

There's a huge, amazing reef at Tunnels and there was a huge variety and quantity of colorful fish on the day we went 2 summers ago. I guess we went on a day when all conditions (weather, water clarity) were perfect, so it beat out my previous snorkel experiences.

You pass Tunnels before reaching Ke'e and Kalalau, which is the end of the road, so to speak.

Have fun.

Ni'ihau, sorry.

Thanks guys. but here's more help that I need, I have 5 days in Kauai, with only 3 in princeville and 2 poipu. I was planning to spend one day zip lining with Princeville Ranch Adventures (someone on this forum recommended it), the second day open to maybe spending $120+ on an excursion out to Na Pali and Ni'ihau or should I just do the hike up the Na Pali Coast, and the third day I was planning to visit Queens Bath, relax, and then head over to my hotel in Poipu. I also want to do a luau, initially i was gonna do the luau at princeville, but since we'll be going to the friday night seafood buffet at cafe hanalei, maybe i can skip their luau. maybe the luau at courtyard marriot? does anyone know if the drive from their is far from the drive to the hyatt in poipu. should i do it when i'm staying at princeville, or when i'm staying at the hyatt? thanks, i know this is alot of questions, but this is much appreciated.