Napali Coast Boat ToursHolo Holo Napali Snorkel Tour: 5-Hour Catamaran Sail
This Holo Holo napali snorkel tour is the editorial pick among Napali Coast boat tours on this site. It costs $274 per person and runs 5 hours on a custom-built sailing catamaran out of Port Allen. A continental breakfast, a gourmet deli lunch, snorkel gear and soft drinks come with the ticket, and beer and wine pour only after you get out of the water. The rating is 4.8 from 106 verified reviews. Read the fine print before you book: the cancellation window is stricter than most boats on the coast, and children under 5 are not allowed. This page covers what the price buys, what the day looks like and who should look elsewhere. Compare it against every other listing on Napali Coast boat tours before you commit.
About This Tour
Holo Holo Charters sails a custom-built catamaran from Port Allen up the Na Pali Coast, a 16-mile stretch of cliffs that rise to 4,000 feet. The crew tells stories of the ancient Hawaiians who lived in the valleys on the way north. At the stop, you slide or jump off the back of the boat and snorkel a tropical reef with gear, flotation and instruction provided.
The trip is a true trade-wind sail when the weather allows, and the sea decides the rest. Routes depend on ocean conditions and the captain may wait until check-in to pick the route for the day. Breakfast and lunch are served on board, and the price includes ocean-friendly sunscreen for the reefs.
$274 per person. Child rates apply to ages 5 to 12, adult rates to ages 13 and above. Gratuities are not included.
5 hours. The exact starting time is shown when you check availability.
Holo Holo Charters, 4353 Waialo Rd Suite 5A, Eleele, HI 96705, at Port Allen Marina Center. No hotel pickup.
A custom-built sailing catamaran with a live English-speaking guide. Group size is not stated.
Continental breakfast, gourmet deli lunch, soft drinks and water all day, beer and wine after snorkeling with ID checks.
Full refund only up to 7 days before departure. No refunds for seasickness.
Check Dates and Availability
Dates and starting times load below. Child rates cover ages 5 to 12 and the free-cancellation clock starts 7 days out.
Quick answer Price, duration and the catch
The Holo Holo napali snorkel tour costs $274 per person, runs 5 hours from Port Allen on a sailing catamaran and carries a 4.8 rating from 106 reviews. The catch is the 7-day cancellation window, stricter than the 24-hour windows on most boats here.
Key takeaways
- Gear, breakfast, deli lunch and soft drinks are in the price. Beer and wine come after snorkeling. See what the price covers.
- Children under 5, pregnant travelers and wheelchair users cannot board. Check who this rules out.
- Want 24-hour cancellation and the deepest review base? Compare the Amelia K Boat Tour, or the small-group Na Pali Raft Snorkel for sea caves.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $274 ticket covers the boat, two meals and the gear. A few things on the day sit outside it.
In the Ticket and Out of It
The listing is unusually complete on food. You get a 5-hour tour, a continental breakfast, a gourmet deli lunch, all snorkeling equipment and instruction, soft drinks and water all day, wine and beer after snorkeling, and ocean-friendly natural sunscreen. What is not included is short: gratuities, and nothing else is named.
There is no hotel pickup, so you drive yourself to the harbor.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5-hour tour | Yes | Route picked by the captain, possibly at check-in |
| Continental breakfast | Yes | Served on board |
| Gourmet deli lunch | Yes | Served on board |
| Snorkel gear and instruction | Yes | Full-face masks prohibited |
| Soft drinks and water | Yes | All day |
| Beer and wine | Yes | Only after snorkeling, ID checked |
| Ocean-friendly sunscreen | Yes | Provided on board |
| Gratuities | No | Tips are not included |
| Hotel pickup | No | Drive to Port Allen yourself |
| Photo package | Not stated | Not mentioned in the listing |
What You May Pay on the Day
The only named extra is gratuities, so bring cash or card for the crew. No photo package, drink upgrade or mandatory fee is stated for this tour. Parking at the harbor is not mentioned in the listing.
If you are prone to seasickness, medicate before boarding, because there is no refund for it on this boat.
Sources: Hawaii DLNR, Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Go Hawaii, Napali Coast
A sailing catamaran below the Na Pali cliffs. Illustration.
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives the shape of the day rather than fixed clock times, since the starting time varies.
Check-in and the Run North
You check in at Holo Holo Charters, Suite 5A, 4353 Waialo Road in Eleele, at the Port Allen Marina Center. Remove your shoes, because this is a barefoot boat. After boarding, the catamaran heads out of Hanapepe Bay and turns up the coast.
The crew entertains you with legends and stories of the ancient Hawaiians who lived along the cliffs while you make for the first destination.
The Cliffs and the Snorkel Stop
The boat sails the Na Pali Coast, whose 4,000-foot cliffs, lush valleys, waterfalls and hidden beaches give the coastline its Hawaiian name, the cliffs. Under sail, the crew hoists canvas for true trade-wind sailing when the weather allows. Once stopped at the reef, you jump or take the waterslide off the back into warm water.
Snorkeling is ocean-conditions dependent, and the operator says snorkelers typically spend 30 to 60 minutes in the water at 5 to 40 feet depth.
Food, Drinks and the Ride Home
Breakfast and a gourmet deli lunch are served on board during the trip, with soft drinks and water available throughout. Beer and wine wait until after snorkeling, and staff check IDs. The last stretch is the run back down the coast to Port Allen in Eleele, where the tour ends at the same harbor it left.
Wildlife such as fish, turtles, dolphins, seals and whales in season may appear, but no sighting is promised.
Napali Snorkel Sail - Kauai Boat Tour
Holoholo Charters shows its own Napali snorkel sail from Port Allen. Third-party video by Holoholo Charters. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This boat has hard exclusions and one strict booking rule. Check them before you pay.
Who Cannot Board
Children under 5, pregnant women and wheelchair users are not permitted, and mobility aids including canes, walkers and crutches are banned on board. The tour is not recommended for people with back problems, recent injuries or surgeries, or severe motion sickness, and no refunds are given for seasickness. Families with toddlers should look at the Lucky Lady Snorkel Cruise, which takes children from age 3.
The 7-day Cancellation
A full refund requires cancelling 7 days before departure, 168 hours. Most boats on this coast offer 24-hour windows, so if your plans might shift, book the Amelia K Boat Tour, which has a 24-hour policy, 2,065 reviews and a 4.9 rating. On the other hand, if you want the same operator's sunset format, the Sunset Sail with Dinner carries the same 7-day rule on a shorter run.
Sea State and the Fine Print
Routes depend on ocean and weather, and the captain may wait until check-in to choose the day's route, so a specific cave or cove is never guaranteed. Winter swell can reroute or cancel trips, and the platform refunds a trip the operator cancels. Bring a passport or ID card, sunglasses, swimwear and a towel, and do not snorkel within 24 hours of a flight over 5 hours.
Pets are not allowed. For context on every boat side by side, see the Napali Coast boat tour.
The fluted green cliffs of the Na Pali Coast rise straight out of the sea. Photo: Jim Bahn, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
The tour leaves from the south side of Kauai, which pairs naturally with a winter whale watch.
Finding Port Allen
Check in at 4353 Waialo Road, Suite 5A, in Eleele. Port Allen Small Boat Harbor sits on the eastern shore of Hanapepe Bay on Kauai's south coast, with restrooms at the harbor. From Lihue, Hanapepe lies 17 miles west by Route 50.
Arrive early enough to park, remove your shoes at the door and check in with ID in hand. More detail is on the Port Allen Kauai page.
Adding a Canyon, a Trail or Whales
Polihale State Park marks the southwestern end of the Na Pali coast if you want sand before or after your sail. On the north side, the 11-mile Kalalau Trail starts at Kee Beach at the end of Highway 560 in Haena, though the coast between Polihale and Kalalau is reachable only by boat or helicopter. In humpback season, roughly December to April, a dedicated Kauai whale watching trip stacks well with this sail.
The Day, Stop by Stop
Clock times are not fixed in the listing, so steps are given as phases of the 5-hour trip.
-
Check-in
Arrive at Port Allen
Check in at Holo Holo Charters, 4353 Waialo Rd Suite 5A, Eleele. Bring a passport or ID card. Shoes come off for the barefoot sail.
-
Start
Board and depart
Board the custom-built sailing catamaran at Port Allen Marina Center and head for the Na Pali Coast.
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Early in the trip
Sail the cliff line
The crew shares legends of the ancient Hawaiians who lived along the cliffs as the boat works up the coast under trade-wind sail when conditions allow.
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Mid-tour
Snorkel stop
Jump or ride the waterslide off the back. Snorkel a tropical reef with gear, flotation and instruction, typically 30 to 60 minutes in the water, sea conditions permitting.
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After snorkeling
Lunch on board
A continental breakfast and gourmet deli lunch are served during the trip, with soft drinks and water all day. Beer and wine open up after snorkeling, IDs checked.
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Last stretch
Sail back to Port Allen
The catamaran runs back down the coast and returns to the harbor at Eleele, ending the 5-hour tour where it started.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of the listing, including the parts that catch people out.
What we genuinely like
- True sailing catamaran with trade-wind sailing when weather permits
- Waterslide or jump platform at the snorkel stop
- Continental breakfast and gourmet deli lunch both included
- Soft drinks all day, beer and wine after snorkeling
- Ocean-friendly sunscreen provided, good for Hawaii's reef law
- 4.8 rating from 106 verified bookings
The honest downsides
- Full refund only up to 7 days before, stricter than most boats here
- No refund for seasickness, ever
- Children under 5, pregnant travelers and wheelchair users cannot board
- No hotel pickup, you drive to Port Allen yourself
- Snorkel stop and route both depend on the sea, and the captain may decide at check-in
- Gratuities are not included and no group size is stated
Who it's NOT for: Anyone who needs a flexible cancellation, a toddler on board, wheelchair access or hotel pickup should book a different boat.
Questions About This Tour
How much does the Holo Holo napali snorkel tour cost?
The price is $274 per person, with child rates for ages 5 to 12 and adult rates from 13. Gratuities are extra. Compare it with the other listings on Napali Coast boat tours at Napali Coast boat tour.
What is the cancellation policy?
You get a full refund only if you cancel 7 days before departure, and there is no refund for seasickness. If that window is too tight, the Amelia K Boat Tour offers a 24-hour policy.
Where does the boat leave from?
Check-in is at Holo Holo Charters, 4353 Waialo Rd Suite 5A, Eleele, at Port Allen Marina Center on Kauai's south coast. There is no hotel pickup. The Port Allen Kauai page has more on the harbor.
Is snorkeling guaranteed?
No. The stop is ocean-conditions dependent and the captain may wait until check-in to pick the route. Full-face masks are banned, only two-piece masks are allowed. See how other boats handle this in what the price covers.
Can I bring my young children?
Children under 5 are not permitted, and pregnant travelers and wheelchair users are also excluded. The Lucky Lady Snorkel Cruise takes children from age 3 with a 300 lb weight limit.
Is alcohol served on board?
Beer and wine are included but served only after snorkeling, and IDs are checked. Soft drinks and water flow all day. The same operator runs an evening version, the Sunset Sail with Dinner, on a 4.5-hour format.
Will I see whales or dolphins?
The listing names fish, turtles, dolphins, seals and whales in season as possible sights but promises none of them. Humpback season runs roughly December to April, and federal rules bar approaching whales within 100 yards. More on the rules at Kauai whale watching.
What Travelers Said
A wonderful tour, with an extremely knowledgeable and professional crew. A truly unique experience! Just one note: I noticed a significant amount of food waste, as food that isn’t consumed is eventually thrown away. It would be great to reduce this waste, perhaps by replenishing the trays as needed rather than filling them all at once.
An excellent fun day! Kelly the captain was an impressive sailor getting us the best view. Snorkeling was made easy with good gear and warm water I’d recommend this day to everyone
Excellent tour. Crew were brilliant. Captain Kevin was great. Food was beautifully presented and tasted good. Saw turtles and a pod of spinner dolphins. The coast line was stunning.
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