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Most companies that service Na Pali coast will either close or re-route away from Na Pali in the winter months (Oct-April) due to consistently rough ocean conditions particularly on the Na Pali side of the island. It is true that some of the nicest water conditions of the year can occur mid-winter, but they are very few and far between. During the winter months, sea caves are not accessible and all of our favorite snorkel spots are unsafe. This is why we choose to operate seasonally.
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First and foremost, raft tours are not for everyone so we are glad you are reading into this. This is not a cruise but a “ride” and we need that to be very clear to all of our passengers. The advantages to touring Na Pali on a Zodiac raft are plentiful but make no mistake, this is for the adventuresome and physically fit/able only. A list of the physical restrictions/requirements/guidelines is shown below, and then again on the bookings page.
- No pregnant woman allowed onboard
- No children under 6 years old unless the tour is private, in which case please call us to discuss your options at (808) 635-7238
- No bad backs, necks, or joint issues
- No heart issues or recent surgeries of any type
- Need to have the core and arm strength to literally hold onto the side of the Zodiac raft and keep yourself from falling out
Also, if you are allergic to getting wet, please stay as far away from this tour as you can. We are a rafting adventure that jumps, skips, and splashes our way to the wettest spot in the world whilst driving through waterfalls into giant dark sea caverns with dripping spring water inside. There is nearly a 100% chance that you will get completely soaked from head to toe! (but donʻt worry, we have dry bags for your camera gear).
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Na Pali rafts arenʻt known for their comfort, but for their ability to enter and explore all of the Na Pali sea caves, which is regarded as the highlight of the Na Pali Coast. Almost everyone would agree that the experience gained from being inside the caves outweighs the sacrifice in comfort from being on one of the large, crowded, “cattle-marans”. If you are in good physical shape, pass our screening process, and love adventure, this should be the highlight of your vacation here on Kauaʻi.
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Check-in time for our tour is at 9 a.m. sharp. After the check-in process and safety briefings, we aim to pull off the dock by 9:30 a.m. We return to the harbor at roughly 2:30 p.m which concludes our five-hour Pirate rafting experience.
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Yes, and we like you! From ship to boat, you’re our kind of people!
Different ships arrive at different times so it will be up to you to choose one of our tours that fits into your ship’s schedule. Usually, the ships are only on Kaua’i for a day or two. With such a narrow window, we highly recommend reserving your tour far in advance.
Note: The small harbor that we use (Kikiaola) near Na Pali Coast is an hour’s drive away from the large harbor (Nawiliwili) used for the cruise ships. Taxis are usually readily available but we recommend prearranging your ride before your arrival to Kaua’i. Renting your own car is also an option which might be cheaper and more practical.
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Sorry, we do not offer transportation services.
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Adult price for the Na Pali Pirates Adventure Tour is $145 + tax and our child price is $125 + tax (12 and under).
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Yes we do. The cost of a private Zodiac tour is $1740 + tax and we can accept up to 14 passengers.
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Yes, we do. The cost for children (12 years or below) on our Na Pali Pirates Adventure Tour is $125 per child.
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Yes, we do. The lowest age we accept on our rafting tours is 6 years old. Any younger would require a buy out of the entire boat. The cost for a private tour is $1740 + tax. The lowest age we accept on private tours varies from situation to situation. Please call us at (808) 635 7238 to discuss your options.
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Many regard the sea caves as the highlight of their tour of Na Pali. The size of our boat allows us to navigate into each of the sea caves along Na Pali Coast (conditions permitting). Exploring the sea caves is a huge advantage of touring Na Pali in our small raft. Note: Quite a few companies will often “claim” that they also explore the sea caves. “Peeking” at the caves from a distance is not exploring them in our book. Beware of this faulty claim.
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All of our Na Pali Zodiac tours snorkel for at least an hour (conditions permitting). Due to the size of our Zodiac and limited passengers, the state has allowed us to snorkel at Nualolo Kai. Nualolo Kai is by far the best snorkel spot on the Na Pali Coast and is accessible by small raft/boat only. In the event that the conditions are not favorable for Nualolo Kai, our back up spots are both better than Makole, which is the only location on Na Pali that the large boats are able to go.
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Yes! Everything is included and provided onboard upon arrival at our snorkel spot for the day. We receive a lot of positive comments about our snorkel gear. You will be impressed with the quality and cleanliness of our equipment. Everything is onboard at your disposal. Masks with comfort straps, defogger, fins, life-vests, and even inflatable snorkel-vests.
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Due to the limited space on our rafts, we recommend bringing only what you can fit into the dry bags that we provide for you. With that said, your own mask/snorkel would be fine but fins should be left behind. Thank you in advance for understanding.
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Yes, we do! We have child-size masks, snorkels, life-vests, and fins on board at all times.
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We do have some prescription masks on board but it is hard to stock every corrective lens for every different face. Our advice is if you know you will be needing a special lens mask, go to a snorkel shop like Seasport Divers and try on a few different options until you find the perfect mask. Consider our onboard prescription masks as more of a backup.
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We absolutely have life-vests on board at all times. In fact, we have life-vests for all shapes and sizes in three different styles. We have the commonly known orange Type 1 life-vests that the US Coast Guard requires us to have onboard in the event of an unlikely emergency. Fortunately, the Coast Guard does not require us to wear them. For those of us who do want to wear a life-vest, we have a more comfortable style vest similar to a waterski life-jacket. For the good swimmers that want a little extra flotation, we also have inflatable snorkel-vests to wear while in the water.
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Before boarding our boat you will be given a dry bag for all of your electronics and towels. These bags are air and water tight so long as they are sealed properly. Your captain will make announcements throughout the tour when it is safe to remove your electronics from your bag. It is important to understand that whenever your camera is out of the bag it is at risk. Ideally, we recommend playing it safe and bringing a waterproof camera. A waterproof camera will also be beneficial for your snorkel experience.
Dry Bag = A sealable bag that is completely waterproof submergible if closed and sealed properly. Each bag is large enough for a couple of towels and a camera.
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Absolutely, we do. Follow these simple steps to greatly reduce your odds of motion sickness. One of the most important tips is to get a good nightʻs sleep before your tour. Also, be careful of what you eat 24 hours before your tour. Ideally, you want to be on a lighter stomach, eating only simple and bland foods. If you are known for having motion sickness issues, pick up a box of Bonine over the counter at any local grocery store. Be sure to take a Bonine pill the night before as well as the morning of your tour. This will ensure the medication is well activated within your system. Some people also like to wear the wristbands. Once onboard, we have a few more tips if needed, however, at that point itʻs best to not think about becoming seasick and just enjoy the ride.
For your information, contrary to common belief, smaller, faster, exciting rides drastically decrease your chances of becoming seasick. Slower, larger, smooth rolling vessels are much more likely to induce motion sickness. This is why you probably never heard of anyone getting seasick on a jetski. With that said, the boat Na Pali Pirates uses is probably the least likely boat on the coast to get someone sick.
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We accept credit cards and cash only.
Note: A credit card is needed to place a reservation. Your card will be charged immediately after you reserve. Your email confirmation will be your receipt. If you decide to pay cash, please bring the cash on the day of your tour and we will refund your card on the spot. If your plans change, our cancellation policy is very lenient. Cancel anytime up to 48 hours before your tour departure and there is absolutely zero penalty. However, cancel within 48 hours of your tour departure for any reason and there is a 100% penalty charge including tax. In other words, please don’t back out on us at the last minute. Travel insurance is highly recommended in case of the event of a last minute cancellation. Travel insurance covers airfare as well as tours like ours. Mahalo!
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Yes, of course, we can do that for you. If you have already reserved a tour with us, please call us at (808) 635-7238 and we can split payment in your reservation. If you are yet to reserve a tour with us, often times the easiest way is to reserve independently online for the same tour at the same time. However, you may also call us at 808 635 7238 with all the credit cards in hand and reserve as a group.
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The moment you reserve a tour with us your card will be charged. Our cancellation policy is very lenient. Cancel anytime up to 48 hours before your tour departure and there is absolutely zero penalty. However, cancel within 48 hours of your tour departure for any reason and there is a 100% penalty charge including tax. In other words, please don’t back out on us at the last minute. Travel insurance is highly recommended in case of the event of a last minute cancellation. Travel insurance covers airfare as well as tours like ours. Mahalo!
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Our customer cancellation policy is 48 hours. You may cancel your reservation with us anytime up to 48 hours from your scheduled tour departure time with ZERO penalty; once within 48 hours of your scheduled departure time, there is a 100% penalty charge including tax. If you are the type to make last minute cancellations, we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance so that you are covered regardless. Travel insurance covers airfare as well as tours like ours. Mahalo for understanding.
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If we cancel for any reason, there is no charge to anyone. Full refunds are issued on the spot without the need to call us. Emails with all the refund details will be sent out for your records. As always, feel free to call us if you have any questions or concerns. (808)635-7238.
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Na Pali Pirates does offer Gift Cards, the perfect gift for those visiting Kauai. Click on the button below to purchase a Na Pali Pirates gift card.
