We enjoyed the tour overall but wish we had more time and one or two more stops around the Waimea Canyon. The tour takes in a few different spots across Kauai, but the real highlight is the Canyon. So it's a shame to only get a few different opportunities to stop and take photos. The tour picked us up and dropped us off promptly, and our guide Rosario told us a bit about the island and it's history, which we liked. The lunch provided was better than we expected. If we had the chance again, we would drive to the Waimea Canyon itself to explore it independently. If we had to take a tour again, we would consider this one as we felt overall it was good, if not perfect.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/05/14 |
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We thoroughly enjoyed this sightseeing tour, with driver & guide, Kaleo. He was helpful, informative and hilarious! Stories, quips and jokes all day long. We even learned how to pronounce "humuhumunukunukuapua`a"! We saw some highlights of the beautiful island of Kaua`i including the spouting horn blow hole and we were lucky enough to get a clear view of the waimea canyon, before the clouds rolled in! We had a tasty lunch at chicken in a barrell and sampled delicious coffee at the Kaua`i coffee plantation. The trail at the state park is very short and the order of the stops is different to that listed on the veltra site, but regardless we would 100% recommend this tour.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/05/12 |
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This excursion was amazing. I enjoyed every part of it. The kayaking was a serene adventure, the hiking was fun and the waterfall was a sight to behold. Our tour guide was awesome and engaging. I definitely recommend this tour.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/27 |
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We did the 7:30am tour and am glad we got out before it got too busy on the trail. I had never kayaked before but our guide, Garrett or "G" was able to answer any questions I had and I was quickly put at ease.
The kayaking up to the trail was good and the river not too busy. The trail was around a mile or so. We knew from the pictures that there's a crossing over water but we weren't aware there were about 4 each way and that one was about hip height. It was fine, we were just taken aback a bit.
Some of the trail was muddy, some was boarded walkways and some was literally clambering over jagged rocks. Wouldn't be suitable for anyone with mobility issues!
We only had around 40 minutes at the sacred falls, which was a shame. A little longer would've been better.
A highlight was meeting a little shama thrush that G had befriended.
The trail back seemed muddier due to the amount of folk on the trail.
The kayak back was a little harder as we were going against the flow of the river, but overall it was an incredible experience.
Aloha Lammy,
You should write a guide book. Great review and gives potential clients an idea of what to expect on the river and trail.
We ...you are lucky to have Garrick sharing his particular brand of aloha. Garrett is great water man with a real handle on the natural and cultural history of the area, while keeping it all safe and fun.
We try to spend an hour by the falls, but that is always dependent on group and weather dynamics.
Your only error is paddling back you are actually paddling with the slow current, but it is paddling into the wind that can at time test your mettle.
Stay well and active and thanks for taking the time to share.
A hui hou,
Micco
Head Guide
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/05/11 |
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We didn't want anything too strenuous and this was perfect. A relaxing easy kayak down a wide river with beautiful views along the way. The hike was a bit slick and muddy but was fine with water shoes. My wife used a stick we found along the way for balance. The hike was easy and very pretty. The swimming hole is not under the falls like I pictured in my mind. The swimming hole with rope swing is before the falls. The guides were super - as friendly as can be, knowledgeable about the history and nature, and very helpful with getting into and out of kayaks, directions etc etc. They also had fun personalities and attitudes. All in all a great tour!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/25 |
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I was excited to experience the natural beauty of Kauai by kayak and hike. What I wasn't expecting was to learn so much about the history and culture of the Wailua Valley, Wailua River, and Sacred Waterfalls. Our entire group felt like the tour was more a group of friends than a standard follow the leader tour. This was in no small part due to our fantastic tour guide, Izzy. I'd recommend asking for her.
Aloha Darrin,
We love our clients and I personally married one.
Izzy does a particularly good job of guiding singles and families alike and making them all feel part of an extended family while at the same time keeping you safe without loosing the sense of fun.
Leaving you "thoughtful" with the history and culture of the area is considered as important as any facet of our tours.
Thanks for you kind words and will make sure to share with Izzy.
A hui hou,
Micco/Head Guide
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/07 |
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This experience is well worth the time and effort. Sacred falls is beautiful and swimming under the falls is a once in a lifetime opportunity that should not be missed. Bring along some good wet shoes and be prepared for a fun kayak trip down the river, a beautiful hike to the falls and then the big payoff at the end. Steve did a great job, and this comes highly recommended.
Aloha Joe,
I am usually on top of our reviews, but yours fell through the cracks.
Anyway, better late than never to thank you for taking the time to share and give us a five star. 39 years later and we strive to keep improving and guides like Steve make the difference.
Thanks again…stay active and well.
Micco/Head Guide
…and yes bring good aqua shoes that you can afford to get muddy.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/13 |
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We had a great tour, and knowledgeable tour guide, Steve. The kayak and hike were beautiful and the water fall was sooo worth it! We did end up going ahead of our group when we were on our way back as we did have some slower paced people. But we found our way back easy. Would definitely go again!
Aloha Tenille,
Will let Steve know that you enjoyed the tour.
What is nice about our Wailua Rive tour to the falls is that by the time you might get tired paddling, there is the trail to the falls. Nice combination of paddling and hiking.
With the recent rains.the waterfall has been really gushing. Great picture.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Until then....keep chasing waterfalls.
A hui hou,
Micco/Head Guide
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/27 |
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This tour was exactly what we were looking for a full day of sight seeing, lunch and no effort on our part!!
What we experienced:
- Pick Up - we got picked up at 7:30 in the morning by the shuttle and then it went to many other hotels to pick up other passengers. Your time will vary depending on where your hotel is.
- Sights - we got to see all the sights listed on the itinerary including some extras at the beach. We saw the Monk Sealions and Turtles at the beach and that was a bonus treat! The pit stops were the perfect amount of time to hop out to take photos, enjoy the sight and then move on.
- Waimea Canyon - lots of different view points - we got to see it from all around. There was PLENTY of picture ops. This was really a hop on hop off photo tour. So don't expect any hikes or long walks. What I loved is I never had to worry about the parking situation, paying park fees, or the driving obviously. It's perfect for anyone without a car or for cruise go-ers. Even though we had a car rental, I didn't regret not having to do this drive myself. I got to nap on the way back because even though I didn't hike, it still was a long day.
- Lunch - The food exceeded my expectations after reading the reviews (I'm sure the bad experiences were during Covid times). We had huge chicken portions and it was seasoned well and cooked well. The plantation that we ate at was beautiful and relaxing so we enjoyed the lunch break a lot.
- Coffee plantation tour - nice pit stop that we wouldn't have made on our own but enjoyed the op to tag along on this tour.
Our tour guide (so sorry for not remembering his name-Italian man from NJ originally) was great. He gave good history, good info all while he was driving. He had so much knowledge and good recommendations and really funny!!
The tour was exactly what we wanted to explore a large chunk of the island - no stress and no worry on our part.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/08 |
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This was a great tour that I am really happy that I went on. Harrison was our guide and was informative and a super nice guy. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to combine kayaking and hiking. The trail to get to the falls was a bit muddy but not too bad. The falls are very impressive. Lots of fun!
Aloha Chris,
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with Harrison. Harrison continues be outstanding and we are all lucky
to have him share his “aloha”.
Stay well and active.
A hui hou,
Micco/Head Guide
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/23 |
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So glad we were able to do this! Would highly recommend! Harrison, our tour guide was awesome and made the tour that much better. He had a bunch of fun and interesting information that taught us about the island.
Aloha Andrew,
Thanks for the 5 stars. We are so lucky to have Harrison on board and is one of our top guides.
Glad you enjoyed his “aloha” and hope to see you back on our island.
Meanwhile….try to remember all you learned from Harrison.
A hui hou,
Micco/Head Guide
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/12 |
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Extremely enjoyable trip! Harrison was very knowledgeable, outgoing, and extra attentive to everyone's needs. He gave off a vibe that he loves what he's doing and is "living the life"! Would definitely do this trip again.
Aloha Donnie and Susan,
Thanks for taking the time to let us know that Harrison continues to excel and give 100%. Harrison is a keeper and he allows us all to “live the life”; hope you both continue as well.
Thanks and a hui hou,
Micco/Head Guide
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/12 |
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Lots to do on this one hike alone, the kayak start was awesome, into the gorgeous waterfall
Melé Kalikimaka Kara, Thanks for the 5 stars. The tour to the falls, as you learned was a nice combo of upper body and lower body exercise; when your arms are about to give out from kayaking…there is the trail to the fall. Happy Holidays. Micco/Head Guide
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/06 |
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Wow! Breathtaking views, and its awesome to get guided, you learn so much of the history.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/05 |
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Rosario(I might get his name wrong) was very friendly and informative. The bus was very nice and spacious. Perfect for my tall giant! Thank you for an awesome experience.
Mahalo for joining us Emma! We hope you enjoyed your vacation in Hawaii! Me ke aloha pumehana!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/19 |
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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 !!
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
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/17 |
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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.
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
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/22 |
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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.
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
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/21 |
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Miss K knows a lot about Kaua'i and the Hawaiian culture and history, she was a fantastic guide during the whole tour.
This tour was great, all the spots we visited are fantastic.
Aloha Laura - Mahalo for entrusting us to show you our beautiful Kauai! Yes, Ms K. is a gem! May we have the pleasure of hosting you and/or your friends and 'Ohana soon! the Poly Ad 'Ohana
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/29 |
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T was great and we loved it! Really enjoyed ourselves!
Aloha Dalt,
That's is what it's about, ...a little exercise and enjoyment.
Thanks and stay active.
A hui hou,
Micco
Head Guide
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/29 |
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What a fabulous time we had. The hike consists of a fairly steep but mild trek downhill with a highly knowledgeable and friendly guide pointing out the various types of foliage you are hiking through. You descend to two very beautiful waterfalls, the 2nd of which is around 60 feet cascading into a small swimmable pond. We saw a few prawns as well as fish there. We were given the choice of hiking back the same way we came in or to go back a shorter, more intense hike back up. We chose the more intense option and it was still very "doable" and enjoyable. I just wish I could remember our guides name, he was truly outstanding (I am just horrible with names tho, sorry).
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/24 |
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We were really pleased with the waterfall hike and our tour guide, Katie. She got us hooked up with good footwear ($10 each to rent, which is definitely worth it). The hike itself was short but sweet, and we learned a lot about local plants and animals. Katie found some white Hawaiian ginger and showed us how to suck nectar from the roots and demonstrated how one might make paper using the papyrus growing by the water.
The waterfalls were gorgeous and very private. We were a small group of about 8 and we saw no one else. The second waterfall, the one you swim in, was wonderful. The water was cool but refreshing and Katie guided us all (even younger kids) as we climbed up to walk behind it.
After the swim you do have a few minutes of pretty steep climbing, but the shoes and the guard ropes really help and no one had any issues (aside from being a tad winded).
I highly recommend this tour and will absolutely do it again.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/13 |
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The Waipoo Falls Hiking tour was outstanding.. great communication from start to finish. Our guide, Garrick, was outstanding and provided us with great information and a fantastic experience.
Jeff, Outstanding....is good enough for us!! Thanks for confirming that Garrick continues to shine. He is great in the field and a pleasure to work with. Glad you were
able to experience his "outdoor show". I have to visit him one day when he goes home to Alaska for a spell. Thanks for sharing. Micco
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/10 |
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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!
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
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/11 |
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The hike was definitely amazing our tour guy Lou was awesome.
We actually ended up going to the wrong location and they were great enough to give us a ride to the actual spot and they even gave us a ride back
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2022/07/29 |
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My teen g'kids said that this is a "must do" activity!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2022/07/25 |
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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…!!
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
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/06/30 |
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The tour was good. The tour guide was excellent! Less time shopping and more time at the sites to hike would make this an excellent tour. We did enjoy it and would recommend it, especially if you don't have transportation.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/07/11 |
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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!
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
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2022/07/06 |
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The guides were awesome and extremely personable. They were sure that all the participants were comfortable with the process. They cheered us on and made sure we have a great time. The waterfalls are on private land that you would never otherwise get to experience. While the idea of rappelling may sound crazy, with the help of the guides, anyone can enjoy this adventure. Definitely a highlight to our trip! When we are back on the island, we’ll do it again!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2022/06/24 |
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Aloha Kenisha and/or Chris,
Amazing is good enough for me. How can we do better?
Thanks for the kudos.
Hope to see you back again for more water falls and paddles.
A hui hou,
Micco/Head Guide