Page 2) Sacred Falls Adventure - Wailua River Kayak, Hike & Waterfall Swim reviews, Kauai tours & activities, fun things to do in Kauai | HawaiiActivities.com

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Sacred Falls Adventure - Wailua River Kayak, Hike & Waterfall Swim

Overall Rating

4.81 4.81 / 5

Reviews

136 reviews
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Awesome day!

Reviewed by: Kristen , 2022/11/19

Great way to spent the day! Perfect for couples, everyone uses a double kayak. The included lunch was nice at the waterfall. Easy hike after the kayak route to the waterfall, any type of shoes or no shoes are doable. Our tour guide Izzy was super friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you !!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Kristen, Thanks for the 5 stars and for taking the time to share. I agree with all that you said, including that Izzy is great, but some sort of footwear is advisable. We have one seasoned guide that negotiates the rocky often slippery trail shoe less, but again we recommend some sort of aqua shoes or beater tennis shoes. Keep chasing waterfalls. Happy Holidays. Micco/Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/11/17
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Well worth the activity!

Reviewed by: Rebecca W, 2022/09/28

Even with the kayak and hiking involved, the time spent at the falls was wonderul.
Logan was a great guide who shared his learned knowledge of the island and past customs with us.
Highly recommend.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Rebecca,

Logan always mixes a good time while ensuring safety and leaving you "thoughtful" of all thins Hawaii/Kaua'i.

Thanks for your kind words: will share them with Logan.

Stay paddling and active.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/09/22
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worth the time and effort!

Reviewed by: Carolyn, 2022/09/24

First, our Guide "G" was fantastic! He made all the difference with his knowledge of Kauai history, and educating us all along the hike and kayaking portion of the trip. Would recommend the earliest departure time of 7:45 if you don't want a lot of crowds both on the water and at the falls. As we were leaving around 11am to hike back to the kayaks, the falls were very crowded and busy, as was trail and the river on our return. Overall, worth the little effort it takes to see this very pretty part of Kauai.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Carolyn, Or was it Mr T, who was your guide. Regardless, with all confidence I can tell you that all our guides on all our tours, keep it fun, safe and thoughtful. I love the morning departures but the after noon is a nice way to end the evening. Anyway, appreciate the 5 stars and that we are doing a good job. Your patronage makes it possible to work and share with others this very pretty part of Kaua'i. Stay active and well. Micco/Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/09/21
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Loved it

Reviewed by: Dalt, 2022/08/31

T was great and we loved it! Really enjoyed ourselves!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Dalt,

That's is what it's about, ...a little exercise and enjoyment.

Thanks and stay active.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/08/29
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Fantastic!

Reviewed by: Mike G, 2022/08/13

Our guide, Logan, was absolutely fantastic. The hike was great, and three generations of our family were able to do it, from 70 years old to 7 years old. The kayaking was calm and pleasant, and the waterfall was truly amazing. We got plenty of time at the waterfall, and it wasn’t too crowded- we got photos of just our family in the waterfall. This was a highlight of our entire Hawaii trip!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Mike, Logan with his stentorian voice...and enthusiasm shines both in the field + he is great to work with. Glad to hear that you enjoyed his particular brand of aloha and the falls.

Come back again and we can share with you some other beautiful aspects of our beautiful island.

Thanks for sharing.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2022/08/11
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My experience to the Sacred Water Falls

Reviewed by: Silvana Behrens, 2022/07/23

I enjoyed the location, but it is impossible to appreciate it during the hike or walk … it was very fast and unable to take pictures…. The description was the hike was by the “flat river bed”, but is was not .. it was walking on top of boulders, branches, wet ground, steep up and down….and Too many groups at the same time (crowded) or overlapping .. our group had 15 minutes at the waterfalls, not enough time to eat or get into the waterfalls…which also was very crowded with other groups….
Our tour guide was excellent…!!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Silvana, Allot has changed since we first marketed this tour 38 years ago as the "Secret Falls"; as you experienced, it it the best known secret. That said, even with the crowd at times, it is still a nice way to spend the day. Thanks for warning potential patrons that the road to the falls, is unpaved and uneven at times and can be challenging for some. Glad you enjoyed our guide and I guess excellent is good enough. Thanks again for you review. A hui hou, Micco/Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/06/30
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Amazing Kauai Experience!

Reviewed by: Fred B, 2022/07/08

Our family of four had a fantastic time kayaking and hiking with Tyler. He was personable and extremely knowledgeable of all things Kauai. We would definitely recommend this experience to anyone seeking a little adventure and (more) beauty in their trip to Kauai. Mahalo!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Fred,

Thanks for 5 stars and letting us know, what we really already knew, i.e. that Tyler "rocks".

Tyler gives 100 % + does an excellent job managing our Wailua River programs from rentals to tours. We are very fortunate that he tolerates us.

Stay well and keep enjoying the many facets of beauty that this planet provides.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2022/07/06
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Great Time!

Reviewed by: Mike Nelson, 2022/05/18

We had a great time with the kayak to the sacred falls. Our tour guide T was phenomenal. He was very personable ( even learned all 12 of our names during the trip) and taught us many things along the trail. We are novice kayakers and felt that the trip was well suited to our abilities. The hike was very easy as well. Would highly recommend and would like to say a huge thank you to T for making the experience over the top.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Mike,

Thanks for your nice review.

That's impressive that Mr T had all your names down! We are very pleased to have Mr T, after he left us for a moment to the Big Island. We know him to always to give 100%.

Thanks for taking the time to share and giving folks an idea of what is tour is like.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/05/16
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Outstanding adventure

Reviewed by: Tara Haefner, 2022/04/28

Mike was a fantastic guide! He made it fun and was very knowledgeable about the area!!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Tara,

Keeping it fun, safe and leaving with some knowledge to help you understand the natural history is the aim in all our snorkel, waterfalls and Na Pali paddling tours.

Mike exemplifies this philosophy.

Thanks for sharing. Stay well and keep learning.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/04/26
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Must do excursion

Reviewed by: Brad, 2022/04/07

Great trip. A must do for outdoors people. Leisurely paddle , rain showers and hiking through mud. Uneven terrain. Wading across rivers and getting a refreshing swim in the waterfall pool. So much fun!!! Bring rain gear, wear good shoes……. we wore keen sandals, and wear a swimsuit for the waterfall swim.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Brad, We market this tour for the active family. We also tell folks to "embrace the mud" at times. Thanks for your review and letting others know
what gear to bring. Until then...thanks for making it possible. Stay active and safe.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/04/05
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Wonderful activity, fantastic guide, great time!

Reviewed by: J Slayton, 2022/03/24

Went on this kayak, hiking and swimming adventure with my sister. It did not disappoint at all.
Justice our guide was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, super friendly and made sure everyone was having fun and doing good. His dog precious girl Koi was such a treat to have as our companion, we just loved her.
The Kayaking was refreshing and captivating with beautiful surrounds for a hike. It was not a difficult or long hike so can be done by most and allowed us to just have a great time. I would highly recommend this activity and tour company Kayak Kauai / NaPali Outfitters, Inc.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha J,

Rumors are that Justice's dog is who is really guiding his tours.

Seriously, thanks for taking the time to share your experience and kind words. You make it possible for us to do what we do and to share the beauty of Kaua'i.

Stay paddling and active.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2022/03/15
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Excellent tour

Reviewed by: Connie, 2022/02/06

Excellent tour! Our guide Lizzie was super informative and helpful. We paddled our hearts out
and then loved the hike through the lush landscape. Lizzie pointed out all the native plants and birds. The waterfall was spectacular and worth the work.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Connie, Thanks for letting us know that Lizzy continues to excel. Lizzy brings a real love and professionalism to our tours and has raised the bar a wee bit. Thanks again and keep paying attention to our friends the, birds, bees and plants. A hui hou, Micco /Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/04
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Amazing trip!

Reviewed by: Cooper, 2021/11/27

Our guide was informative and friendly. The waterfalls were beautiful and my partner and I had a great time. There were sandwiches, chips and soda that was provided so bring water. They supply dry bags which is a must have. Our host cut up a pineapple at the end and gave us tips on some local areas and food spots to check out.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Cooper,

I guess we can't do better than amazing. Thanks for a very nice reviews. I believe we are the only company that offers lunches on the river.

Stay paddling, active and Happy Holidays.

Thanks for sharing.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/11/02
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Secret Falls tour was great!

Reviewed by: Andrew, 2021/11/24

We loved our tour to the secret falls. The kayak was sturdy and we never felt like there was a risk of flipping. G was a great guide and the sandwich lunch was filling and tasty. We would recommend it to anyone.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Andre,

"G" must be our guide Garrick. Garrick brings a true love of the outdoors of Kaua'i, Alaska, etc. We are very fortunate, all of us, sharing his particular brand of Aloha and grasp of the cultural and natural history of the Wailua River complex.

Thanks for the 5 stars.

Happy Holidays,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/11/22
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Kauai Kayak was a great adventure!

Reviewed by: Dave, 2021/10/13

We had an awesome time. The adventure was a little strenuous at times but we got through it and the end rewards was well worth the effort! Our guide Devan was great and encouraged everyone along the way and was very knowledgeable of the area. The waterfall was amazing but the water cold! We really enjoyed the experience. We’ll worth it!

Reply from activity provider


Aloha Dave,
Glad that our guide enriched the experience and that you made it to the falls.
Reviews like yours helps match the tour to the right people and let them know what is in store.
Thanks for taking the time to share.
Keep chasing rainbows and waterfalls.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/10/11
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Awesome experience

Reviewed by: Anthony , 2021/09/25

The kayak Kauai company was awesome. We missed our original appointment and they were still able to accommodate us. Garrett was an awesome guide. Very informative

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Anthony,
Thanks for taking the time to compliment our awesome staff. We do rock and really try to hard to make everybody happy and go the extra yard.
Thanks for sharing.
Micco
Head Guide.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/09/23
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Best part of our trip to Kauai!

Reviewed by: J’Neal, 2021/09/24

This tour was by far our favorite part of our entire trip. The kayaking is beautiful and relaxing - easy enough for beginners (like some people in our group) but still very enjoyable for seasoned kayakers like my husband and me. The hike was also a lot of fun. A bit challenging at times - not so much in the way of fitness, but more-so because there are some places where it’s uneven and slippery. But as long as you wear good water shoes and step carefully, it’s a fairly easy hike even for someone that’s out of shape like me. The waterfall and swimming hole are stunning. Totally worth the muddy hike. Something we’ll never forget. And the guides are AMAZING! Our guide was Garrick - he was super knowledgeable, friendly, fun, and funny. He made the entire trip a blast. And at one point we met up with another group and their guide, Ty, was also super knowledgeable and funny - and played the ukulele on the hike back down. It was great! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone visiting Kauai and would definitely do it again.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha J’Neal,


What a nice review with some advice of how to negotiate the often muddy trail. As you shared good water shoes helps allot.


Thanks for taking the time to let us know, well I mean that Garrick, continues to do good if not great job. Glad that you got to meet one of our other guides Tyler as well.

I can honestly say we have a great group of guides who truly love what they do and are their to interpret and share their particular and unique form of aloha.

Thanks for making it possible. You both sound like you might be candidates for our day long Na Pali sea kayak tour.

Stay active.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide


Rating:
Attended as:Couples
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Challenging but worth it!

Reviewed by: Mary W, 2021/09/20

As a beginning kayaker, this was an energizing and satisfying ride. Make sure you have sturdy shoes for the hike. Our water ‘shoes’, more like socks, did not work as well as the closed toed more sturdy shoes would have been better and what most people had on. We made it though! That dip in the waterfall was worth the whole trip! J, our guide, was informative, attentive and amusing. Highly recommended.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Mary,

Yep…just the right amount of paddling and hiking. By the time your arms are getting tired…you are out and hiking to the falls.

Thanks for taking time to share and reflect on your tour with your guide Jay.

Sturdy hiking shoes makes it much more enjoyable; thanks for warning others.

Keep active and sharing aloha,

Thanks again for your nice review.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide



Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2021/09/18
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We made it!!

Reviewed by: Ke , 2021/08/23

If you've never Kayaked with your spouse. Practice yelling at each other before the tour. Once you figure it out, you'll be glad you did it. Amazing views and swimming in the grotto of the waterfall is an amazing experience!!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Ke, We often say about paddling with your spouse, "Families that paddle together...pray together"> Glad you figure out the paddling stroke and enjoyed this beautiful area that is the Wailua River complex. Keep yelling, paddling and enjoying each other. A hui hou, Micco

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/08/21
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Relaxing River Time

Reviewed by: Kelda & Jody Senyohl, 2021/08/11

Ty was an amazing guide! He was extremely knowledgeable about the flora and very fun to talk with throughout the entire trip! Thank you also Ty for the recommendations for the North Shore! We snorkeled Tunnels and had an amazing sunset too!! Thank you for a terrific day! Mahalo!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Kelda y/o Jody,

Thanks for taking the time to confirm what we already know, i.e. that Tyler is rockin in the field!

You may not know that in the background Tyler running our Wailua River program and scheduling and hiring our other excellent guides while keeping equipment in excellent shape.

Tyler make it all possible.

Thanks for taking the time...and keep hiking, paddling and snorkeling.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/08/09
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Kayaking Only

Reviewed by: Gina M., 2021/07/07

We went on a 2 hour kayaking trip. Unfortunately, the hike/sacred falls was cancelled due to inclement weather. It was a bummer, but we know it was for our safety. However, it did hurt a little when we were seeing others continuing to go past the fork in the river. We did get a partial refund. After concluding our kayaking trip, our tour guide Tyler did point us to the Nounou trail to hike which was great. So we were able to fill more of our day on this hike with spectacular views!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Gina,

Safety is no accident!

When in doubt we don't go out or up the North Fork that constricts and is more prone to flooding as consequence.

Having pioneered the tour we have safely been guiding folks to the falls for the last 37 years while other companies have lost clients in flood like conditions.

We love repeat business and believe "safety is no accident".

Glad to hear that Tyler was able to take curve and make it a plus.

Stay well and safe. Thanks for sharing.

A hui hou,

Micco

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/07/05
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Worth the work!

Reviewed by: Kim H, 2021/06/24

Ty was very patient and informative. We had a great time. The falls are definitely not a secret, got very crowded, I suggest taking the earliest tour possible. I would absolutely do this again!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Kim,

When we pioneered this tour to the Falls we called it the Secret Falls.

Victim of our own success...it quickly became the best known secret. Now we call it the Sacred Falls and inspite its popularity, as you observed and learned, it is still a terrific way to spend the day.

Thanks for sharing and for 5 star review and photo

Stay paddling and hiking.

A hui hou,

Micco

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/06/21
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Great trip

Reviewed by: Lee T, 2021/06/08

A good variety of activities with kayaking, hiking and the waterfall/swimming.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Lee,

Thanks for the 5 hokus/stars.

Feel our Wailua River Paddle and Hike is a nice combination of upper and lower body.

By the time your arms might be getting tired from paddling you are hitting the trail and working the legs to get to the falls.

Stay active and thanks for taking the time to share.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2021/05/12
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Fantastic way to spend a half day in Kauai

Reviewed by: Halls, 2021/05/15

Dustin was amazing. He was very patient and helpful in teaching everyone how to kayak. The hike was challenging through streams, rocks and mud but Dustin made sure everyone was safe and knew what to do. It is definitely a tour I would do again. The waterfall was beautiful. We learned a lot about Kauai history and the plants and trees we saw along the way.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Halls,

Thanks for letting us know that Dustin continues to "rock". Isn't it great to traverse a beautiful area like the Wailua River and appreciate its cultural and natural history.

We all fortunate to have Dustin share his knowledge, patience and brand of Aloha,

Thanks again for your kinds words.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2021/05/13
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Kauai Kayak - the best

Reviewed by: Mary SantaFe, 2021/03/05

I did a mid week kayak trip with Kauai Kayak. Instructor was excellent, gear provided was in good shape, and the lunch was fresh and delicious. The walk portion described as “along the river bank” was challenging as we walked over large river rock and then through streams, boulders, and mud to reach the falls. The company provides an excellent trip and I would easily recommend them to anyone interested in a fun and challenging half day.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Mary, Thanks for taking the time and sharing with others your impressions of our Wailua River Sacred Falls paddle & hike. We try to do a good job and have managed to retain staff through this pandemic. Thanks for making it possible and helping share the salutary and beautiful Kaua'i outdoors. Stay well...and outdoors. A hui hou, Micco

Rating:
Attended as:Solo Travelers
Activity Date:2021/03/03
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A knowledge guide with a great sense of humor made it such a great experience!

Reviewed by: Libby V, 2020/12/26

The waterfall is beautiful, the river is stunning in its peaceful beauty. The guide was so knowledgeable, engaging and funny; the food was so tasty! (I need to get the name of the place they got it from;-). Great experience overall, strongly recommend!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Libby, Thanks for taking the time to let us all know we are doing a good job. Makes it all worth it. Shoot us all when/if we ever loose our sense humor. Moral of the story is you can have fun and also be safe. Our caterer is Passions Bakery: https://www.passionbakeries.com/?v=7516fd43adaa

Stay well...and keep laughing and soon we wil be up and about.

A hui hou.

Micco

Rating:
Attended as:Solo Travelers
Activity Date:2020/12/01
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Great knowledgable guided tour... amazing hike!

Reviewed by: Julia , 2020/11/18

We signed up for the kayaking but the hike and the waterfall was the best part of it!!
Our guide Jay was so knowledgeable about the nature, trees, plants and history of Kauai! we learnt so much and even had a taste of Kuala along the way
highly recommend this adventure, the 5 hours passed so fast!
Do it!! all get and skill levels!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Julia, So nice to be outdoors and sharing the beauty of Kaua'i with visitors and locals alike once again. Good to know that Jay has dusted his wares and sharing his knowledge of all things Kaua'i. We are very fortunate to have him out in the field. Thanks again for your kind words and keep enjoying the salutary outdoors. Stay well. Micco/Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2020/11/16
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Great Adventure!

Reviewed by: Staci, 2020/03/14

Jay was our guide and he couldn't have been more awesome. He's a local and a bit of a botanist so he was very knowledgeable and truly happy to take us on the tour. The kayak to the hike was fairly easy for two inexperienced kayakers as we were flowing down stream. The hike was fairly easy for non-experienced hikers. We went during the rainy season so it was very muddy, so it was a bit slick in spots, but that's part of what made it fun. The waterfall was astounding. So tall and powerful. Well worth the hike to see it's beauty. The lunch provided was enjoyable. The kayak trip back was a bit of a challenge as you're going upstream, but once you hit a nice flow, it becomes much easier. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone visiting the island looking for a little adventure!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Staci,

Glad you enjoyed your recent paddle and hike on our Wailua River Sacred/Secret Falls tours.

Jay is a local boy who has proudly been sharing the beauty of Kaua'i with friends, locals and visitors alike; he "walks the talk".

You're description of the tour is great. The more mud...translates for a more forceful waterfall.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us and others your experience.

Keep paddling and hiking.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2020/02/18
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Amazing time!

Reviewed by: lk , 2020/03/14

“Doc” was our guide and we had a great time kayaking and hiking to the sacred falls. It’s an all day trip so plan for it and it’s not for people who can’t handle the long bike and kayaking. Prepare to get muddy! Definitely unforgettable!

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Ik,

It is nice to have a "Doc" in the crowd when you are hiking to the Sacred/Secret Falls.

We are blessed to have Doc lead our Wailua River paddle and hike tour as he juggles other commitments in life.

Thanks for reminding folks that there will be mud. We are fond of saying, "embrace the mud"! More mud ...the stronger the falls is.

Thanks for you kind words and 5 star review and for making it possible for us all to share the beauty of Kaua'i with others.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2020/03/11
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Great time.

Reviewed by: Dan, 2020/02/14

Great time. Good solid adventure and not too much exertion for relatively fit mid-40s husband and wife. Water was cold in February but probably feels nice in summer. Josh was a great guide- lots of interesting history and knowledge along the way. Be sure to hike in the puddles, as odd as that sounds. It has the best footing and you are going to get muddy and wet anyway.

Reply from activity provider

Aloha Dan,

Glad you enjoyed your Wailua River Secret/Sacred Falls tour with your guide Josh. Thanks for your wise council on the trail. I think more folks have gotten injured trying to avoid puddles instead of just plowing through them and resigning themselves to wet shoes and mud.

Your guide, as all our excellent guides at Kayak Kaua'i, bring a real love to what they do and there to keep you informed, entertained and safe.

Stay paddling and hiking. Until our paths cross.

A hui hou,

Micco
Head Guide

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2020/02/10
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