Kauai road trip itinerary: discovering Hawaii's Garden Isle in 9 days

This 9-day itinerary around the Hawaiian island of Kauai will sound like pure bliss if you love nature, enjoy trekking, and run away from crowds.

Is that you?

Well, you just found your Garden of Eden.

I've already told you in great detail how to organize a perfect trip to Kauai on your own, so I won't beat around the bush.

Here I'm going to share with you, day by day, the Kauai itinerary we did in November 2016.

Ready? Let's go.

Day 1: Arrival and heading to Poipu

We took a direct flight with Alaska Airlines from T1 at San Diego International Airport to Lihue, in Kauai.

The journey took just over 5 hours and they offered us complimentary drinks during the flight, including a daiquiri right before landing. Meals, on the other hand, were not included.

At Lihue Airport, a Dollar shuttle bus took us to the rental office where we had booked our car.

With almost no hiccups (we just had to get used to the automatic transmission), we left the airport and headed first to the Safeway supermarket to stock up on groceries. That's where we realized everything in Hawaii was pricier than what we were used to.

From there, and driving through the famous tree tunnel, we headed to Poipu, where our first accommodation was waiting for us.

At the Suite Paradise complex, they welcomed us with a complimentary juice and handed us the keys to a huge apartment. It had carpeted floors, plenty of room for a large family, every amenity you could think of, and a lanai (patio) overlooking an idyllic garden. Just perfect.

Any downsides?

The mattress was a bit on the soft side for my taste (not overly so) and you could hear the road a bit from the room. However, we arrived so tired every night that none of this kept us from sleeping like logs.

After lunch at home, we went out to scout the area: Poipu Beach, just an 8-minute walk away.

‘Moa’ roosters running all over the place and green sea turtles resting on the shore gave us a grand welcome. I can't think of a better greeting.

The sunset from Poipu Beach was the perfect finishing touch to the day.

Day 2: Waimea Canyon

We got up at first light and, after breakfast on the lanai—as we did every morning from then on—we set off for Waimea Canyon.

I promise you:

Our minds were completely blown

Reality far exceeded our expectations.

We stopped constantly, both at official lookouts and unmarked spots, whenever the road offered alternative viewpoints.

Here, a red waterfall right by the road.

Around this corner, you get a better view of Waipo’o Falls.

Stop, stop! I just saw wild boars by the shoulder.

Aw… what adorable Moa chicks.

And that goat over there, is it admiring the canyon like us, or just staring into the void?

Our favorite viewpoints: Waimea Canyon Lookout and Puu O Kila Lookout.

Every single inch of the drive and the views deserved to be stored in that mental box we all keep labeled as “the most beautiful moments of our lives”.

If you want to understand why I rave so much about this place, check out the post I dedicated to Waimea Canyon.

We ate our sandwiches inside the car by the Puu O Kila Lookout when it started to rain, and then drove back literally the same way we had come.

Yes, we stopped at all the viewpoints again…

I could never get tired of admiring those panoramic views!

From there, we drove to Eleele planning to take the boat tour we had booked with Captain Andy’s.

However, due to rough sea conditions, the tour was cancelled. Among the options they gave us, we went with the best one:

Postponing the activity for a couple of days, crossing our fingers for the tides and waves to calm down a bit.

With jet lag taking its toll, we decided to head back home, put on our swimsuits, and enjoy the waves and sunshine among surfers and bodyboarders at Shipwreck Beach, a 15-minute walk from our apartment.

Day 3: Awaawapuhi Trail

We had booked the helicopter experience for 11:30 am, so by 10:30 am we were already there…

Oh, no:

Rain and storms caused our flight to be cancelled.

Once again, we postponed it for 48 hours… thank goodness we still had several days left on the island!

Right after that, we headed to Waimea Canyon planning to hike the Awaawapuhi Trail.

When we started the trail it was raining quite a bit, but as we looked out over the Napali Coast…

What a stunner!

• The clouds gave way to the sun.
• The rainbow shone brighter and bolder than ever.
• Jagged cliffs plunged on both sides of the path.
• The deep blue of the sea contrasted against the green and red cliff.
• An endless, unforgettable panoramic view stole what little breath you had left after hiking the trail.

If you want to know what I'm talking about, check out the post I wrote about our trek along the Awaawapuhi Trail.

That night we had earned a good rest.

Day 4: Na Pali Coast by Boat

A little relaxing on the lanai and, after a phone call:

The Na Pali Coast boat tour is confirmed!

And it wasn't just any regular tour, nope.

We saw the Na Pali Coast from a luxury boat with Captain Andy’s.

Going all out…

And it was totally worth it.

Not only did we enjoy spectacular views of the Na Pali Coast, but we also spotted dolphins along the way, had by far the best dinner of our entire stay on the island, and watched a gorgeous sunset over the ocean to say goodbye.

Want to know if this activity is right for you? Check out the post where I tell you how to choose your Na Pali Coast boat tour and decide for yourself.

Day 5: Kauai by Helicopter

And finally,

The flight is confirmed!

In this case, words aren't enough to describe the experience of soaring over Kauai in a doors-off helicopter.

I could:

• Try to describe how I felt admiring its volcanic mountains from a bird's-eye view, shaped by eruptions, rain, rivers, waterfalls, and the passage of time.
• Make a comment about the color contrast between the Pacific, the lush greenery of its valleys, the deep open earth ridges along the canyon, and the rainbows dotting the island.
• Try to convince you, with all kinds of solid arguments, just how worth it this tour is, and tell you that you can't leave Kauai without seeing it from the air.

But this is one of those cases where a picture is worth a thousand words. Don't believe me?

Head over to the post where I tell you about our adventure flying over Kauai in a doors-off helicopter and take a look at the recap video I shot myself.

What? Are you really going to miss it?

Since the weather after the flight wasn't great for checking out the snorkeling spot at Poipu Beach—which was our initial plan—we decided to head back to Waimea Canyon and say goodbye to that unforgettable panorama.

It was our last night on the south of the island. Aww!

Day 6: Mahaulepu Trail

The sixth day also started out very rainy, so once again we couldn't take advantage of snorkeling at Poipu Beach.

We checked out, left our bags at the resort's front desk and our car in their public parking lot.

And so, brimming with optimism, we rented snorkel gear (just in case the bad weather let up), and set off for Mahaulepu Beach via the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail.

A very different landscape from what the island had used us to. Kauai is full of surprises…

If you're looking for an easy coastal hiking route with ancient Hawaiian temples, prehistoric caves, and pristine beaches, don't miss the post where I tell you all about our trek along the Mahaulepu Trail.

In case you haven't guessed yet… we didn't get to use the snorkel gear. 🙂

We got back to the car and headed up north!

Our second and final home base on Kauai was waiting for us: a studio in Princeville, in the residential area of Sandpiper.

Although much smaller than the previous one, without a washing machine and with a tiny outdoor kitchenette, the apartment was lovely. This time, no one greeted us. We had received self check-in instructions by email.

On the way, we took the opportunity to stock up on groceries at Foodland Princeville, very close to our place.

Day 7: North Shore and Queen’s Bath

We dedicated this day to exploring the north of the island.

We drove all the way to Kee Beach, passing by Hanalei Bay and Tunnels Beach, all of them stunning.

Too bad the weather kept us from swimming or sunbathing.

What we did do was:

• Drink fresh coconut water right on the shores of Tunnels Beach.
• Explore a volcanic cave right across from this beach.
• Take a stroll admiring the scenery along Hanalei Bay.
• And run back to the car every time the skies opened up. 🙂

We ate our sandwiches sheltered inside the car, as had become our routine.

In the afternoon, we visited the area around the Kilauea Lighthouse, with gorgeous views and dozens of ‘Nene’ geese wandering around.

Oh! I almost forgot!

We also went to the famous Queen’s Bath.

What a day we picked to hike down there…

And after that total mudfest, a shower, dinner on the lanai, and off to sleep because tomorrow…

Day 8: Kalalau Trail

Time for the most demanding trek on the island!

The Kalalau Trail.

Well… okay…

The first part of the Kalalau Trail. Specifically, the section that goes from Kee Beach to Hanakapiai Beach.

You wanted mud? Well, here is a double serving…

When you start walking along the Napali Coast, with its cliffs getting closer and closer to your field of vision with every single step, you understand why the Kalalau Trail is Kauai's most famous trail.

Want to see how you should NOT cross the Hanakapiai River?

Check out the video we recorded during our experience on the Kalalau Trail.

Day 9: Anini Beach

Our last day in Kauai, and we still hadn't tried snorkeling yet.

Unforgivable…

The currents up north had woken up way too strong. And, for our own safety, snorkeling wasn't allowed on any of the lifeguarded beaches.

We dropped by a dive gear rental shop and asked what they'd recommend so we wouldn't leave the island without enjoying its underwater world.

• [Shop assistant]: You should head south, Poipu, or something like that.
• [Celi]: No, no, no… We want to stay in the north…
• [SA]: Well… Maybe Anini Beach, if you're experienced divers, might be doable.
• [C]: We're very experienced, but the lifeguards won't let us get into the water…
• [SA]: Anini Beach doesn't have lifeguards. It's unmonitored
• [C]: Give me two full snorkel sets. Quick!

The conversation went more or less like that, although in English. 🙂

And that's how we said goodbye to Kauai:

Chilling at beautiful Anini Beach and exploring its reef.

And on top of that, it (almost) didn't rain the entire day.

What a great way to wrap things up!

Day 10: Heading to Maui

Bright and early, we said goodbye to our adventure in Kauai and headed to Lihue Airport to kick off the next stage of our trip:

Maui.

Yes, indeed!

The vacation wasn't over yet. We still had… the most romantic island in Hawaii ahead of us.

Budget

Not counting flights, which I break down in more detail in this post, here is a breakdown, in euros, of all the expenses we had during our 9-day road trip around Kauai:

• Accommodation ->  570.7€ (5 nights-south) + 433.5€ (4 nights-north): 1004.2€ in total, or in other words, 55.8€ per person per day.
• Car -> 291.5€ (rental) + 30.3€ (fuel): 321.8€.
• Organized activities -> 270€ (boat) + 554€ (helicopter): 824€ in total, 412€ per person.
• Food -> 226€, 12,5€ per person per day.
• Travel insurance (21 days) -> 110€, 55€ per person.
• Extras -> 114€ (snorkel rental, US data SIM card, boat and helicopter tips…).

In total, on our 9-day road trip around Kauai we spent 2600€, 1300€ per person, or in other words, 145€ a day per person.

Quite a chunk of change, but I assure you it's well worth saving up to see these wonders.

Our next trip

If I could, I'd go back to Kauai over and over again.

What would I do?

1. I'd hike other trails starting from Waimea Canyon, like the Nualolo Trail.
2. I'd try to complete the Kalalau Trail (keep dreaming, you sure have faith, you've got a long way to go, Celi… and on and on, to infinity).
3. I'd fly over the island again in a doors-off helicopter.
4. I'd take one of the boat tours that offer snorkeling and visits inside the sea caves along the Napali Coast.
5. I'd try to see the prehistoric cave and Hawaiian monk seals at the end of Mahaulepu Trail.
6. I'd do a lot more snorkeling on Kauai's beaches.

Videos

If you're still not sure whether Kauai is your ideal destination, check out this playlist featuring our best moments on the island:

So? Totally worth it, don't you think?

If you're sold, check out the guide with all the tips and tricks on how to plan a trip to Kauai on your own without missing a thing.

Above all, don't forget to get your travel insurance to enjoy the experience with zero worries. Here's a 5% discount with IATI, the insurance company I always travel with.

And all that's left for me is to wish you…

Aloha!

Enjoy this Garden of Eden on Earth!

Useful links

• International flight deals to Hawaii: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
• Car rental AlohaRent and DiscountHawaiiCarRental.
• Booking deals in Kauai.
• Apartment rental website VRBO.
• Our studio in Princeville.
• Poipu Suite Paradise.
• ESTA application.
• 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.

And now, if you need more details, here are all the articles I've written about our experience in Kauai:

• Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
• Kalalau Trail, Kauai's most demanding trek.
• Kauai's most beautiful beaches: what are you in the mood for today?
• Awaawapuhi Trail, the Napali Coast at your feet.
• Fly over Kauai in a helicopter… with no doors!
• Discover the Napali Coast on a luxury boat.
• Queen’s Bath, forbidden beauty in the Garden of Eden.
• Mahaulepu Trail, hiking, temples, and pristine beaches in Kauai.
• Practical guide to organizing your own trip to Kauai.

Want to explore another Hawaiian island? Check out our experience in Maui:

• Guide to planning a DIY trip to Maui.
• 7-day Maui road trip.
• The best snorkeling beaches in South Maui.
• Humpback whale watching off the coast of Maui.
• A nightmare before dawn at Haleakala.
• The full description of our experience at O’hoe Gulch and Pipiway Trail.
• 3 days and 2 nights exploring the Road to Hana.

Still have questions? Leave me a comment down below and I'll be happy to help you with whatever I can.

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