Kauai Hawaii Travel Guide | Plan Your Ultimate Kauai Trip!
When we told everyone we were visiting the island of Kauai as our first trip to Hawaii, they all said we won’t need to visit any other Hawaiian island because Kauai is the best one. And they were not wrong! The island of Kauai is absolutely gorgeous, it’s luscious and green (and rightfully so, nicknamed The Garden Isle), there are tons of hibiscus flowers everywhere, and it’s actually known to be one of the wettest places on Earth!
Tons of blockbuster movies were filmed on the island of Kauai like the Jurassic Park movies, Avatar, Indiana Jones, and more because of the epic scenery. Also a lot of the island is still uninhabited rainforest, which makes it perfect for exploring and adventuring. We spent a week on the island of Kauai and we didn’t want to leave haha. So keep on reading to see our guide on how to plan your own ultimate trip to Kauai!
Where to Stay in Kauai
There are 4 main areas of the island that you can chose to stay in — there is the east side, the south, the north, and the west. Most people tend to stay on the East Side of the island since it’s where the airport is located, there are a ton of major hotels there. The main town area on the east side called Kapa’a and there you will find cute cafes, restaurants, and bars.
The other area of Kauai that most people tend to stay in is the south side near the town of Koloa. The south has gorgeous beaches like Poipu Beach where you can see sea turtles and monk seals! We stayed in Airbnbs in both of these areas and loved it. We were told since we visited in November that the north side of the island would be rainy and not to stay on that side during our trip. But the north side was absolutely beautiful as well and we didn’t encounter any rain when we visited.
Find your Kauai accommodation here!
How to Get Around Kauai
The best way to get around Kauai is by renting a car. But beware, there is a rental car shortage on the island so you’ll want to reserve one as soon as you can. Driving is the best way to get around the island because even though there is Uber & Lyft, sometimes there are no drivers or you will get stuck waiting 30+ minutes for one to arrive. Some of the roads out on the west side of the island are a little rough so if you want to explore that area, you will want to try and get a 4x4 if it’s available. We love renting cars with Expedia because they are trustworthy, easy to book, and we have never had an issue when we’ve used them!
Rent your car in Kauai with Expedia here!
Best Things to Do in Kauai
Kauai Coffee Company
Capt Andy’s Na Pali Coast Tour
Kauai ATV
Poipu Beach
Take a boat tour of the iconic Na Pali Coast. We went with Capt Andy’s and had an amazing experience! The Na Pali Coast is a must do while in Kauai and it’s honestly one of the most beautiful sites we have ever seen. Beware that the sea can get very rough so make sure to back sea-sickness medication if you need it.
Swim at Poipu Beach and make sure you arrive at sunrise if you want to see the sea turtles & monk seals!
Explore off the beaten path with Kauai ATV. Our tour with Kauai ATV was so much fun! We got to see parts of the island you can’t access by car, learn some Kauai history, and see a few places where they filmed movies on the island!
Explore the town of Hanalei on the north side — make sure you stop at Wishing Well Shave Ice, the best shaved ice on the island!
Hike to Ho’opi Falls — the falls are beautiful but beware the hike can get very muddy. Bring proper hiking shoes for this one.
Do a coffee tour at Kauai Coffee Company. It is a free self-guided tour where you can walk around the plantation and see how Kauai Coffee is made!
Explore the town of Hanapepe, a small town that was the basis of Lilo & Stitch! There are a few shops & restaurants as well as a swinging bridge that is cool to walk across.
Our favorite beaches we visited were Poipu Beach, Hideaway Beach, Donkey Beach, Secret Beach, and Hanalei Beach.
Book other Kauai tours & activities here!
Where to Eat & Drink in Kauai
Trilogy Coffee & Tea
Russell’s by Eat Healthy Kauai
Japanese Grandma’s
Wishing Well Shave Ice
Java Kai
Wishing Well Shave Ice
Russell’s by Eat Healthy Kauai (an amazing all vegan restaurant on the east side!)
Japanese Grandma’s
Scorpacciata (a food truck with Neapolitan-style pizza!)
Little Fish Coffee
Trilogy Coffee & Tea Bar
Bangkok Happy Bowl
Verde
Puka Dog
To see even more of what we did in Kauai, make sure you check out of Kauai YouTube video! Everything we did is in there as well as some crazy things that happened to us on our trip haha.
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