My husband, 20-year old son %26amp; I will be on Kauai mid March and want to go kayaking.
We may be interested in several kayaking adventures so...
1. Which one is best to do with a tour/outfitter? I am thinking it%26#39;s Hule%26#39;ia since it is through the National Wildlife Refuge... but tell me for sure ;-). Is it very scenic? Will we see birds?
2. Which one is easiest to do on our own?
By easiest, I mean paddling back %26amp; forth - as well as the renting of the kayaks - I am hoping there are places to rent from that have docks on the rivers to avoid the need of transporting them (we%26#39;ll need 2).
Of the ones to do on our own, which has the most exciting, breath-taking scenery? Best bird-watching? Pros and cons please :-)
3. If we only did one - which one has the most beautiful scenery - and most serene tranquility?
Thanks so much!!
Lisa
Kayaking: Best Guided River %26amp; Best Self-Guided River?
Lisa.
All of our rivers have beautiful scenery.
HANALEI river: KAYAK KAUAI...Probably the easiest entry. After checking in, you walk to the put in where your kayak is placed on a ramp leading down a wooden ways.
You get into the kayak, paddles ready, and the KAYAK KAUAI staff give a push , and your kayak trip has begun.
Sliding easly into the water, you paddle slowly along the narrow waterway to the river...very short distance.
Paddling up the serene river you will have placid views of Mt. Waialeale in the background, and possibly several waterfalls cascading a few thousand feet down.
During the summer, we like to paddle up the river, and then back down and out into Hanalei Bay for fabulous photos, and also to check out the various anchored boats, and sometimes get in a little kayak surfing on the way back into the river.
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Scenery: Please note that there have been posts by visitors who complain that you cannot see much due to the vegetation along the riverbanks. I guess they were expected an elevated river, or the likes of a monorail running thu disneyland. Not happening !
Rivers run thru natural scenery, which will be trees, vegetation and grass along the banks. We love paddling the rivers and just enjoying what mother nature has provided. Alwlays beautiful to us.
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Huleia River: This will be a guided tour, as well it should be. You will paddle easily up river, past the menehune fish pond, on up to the eddy out spot.
The guides will be stopping along the way, explaining what you are observing, both flora and fauna,and other interesting tidbits.
The lands are private, and Outfitters have a permit to take groups on shore for land explorations. You cannot do this on your own.
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Wailua River: You can do this solo, and the easiest way is thru Wailua Kayak who are located right on the river. Other companies haved guided tours, or if solo, strap those puppies to the roof of the rental car. Which you said you do not want to go thru.
We do not see much of that any more, as most of the other kayak outfits just do the guided trips. In days gone past, it was not ususual to see many cars with kayaks secured on the roofs...including us.
Oh, as far as traquility, you might find some on the wailua, but that river is extremely popular, and there are loads of guided tours, as well as Smiths barges that run up and back from the fern grotto.
The smiths tours will have singing and having a real fun party time. Great stuff, but tranquil does not come to mind.
However, not a real biggies, since you can take the right fork up to the eddy out and hike to secret falls....and that is really special.
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We have kayaked nearly every river and many of kauai%26#39;s streams, both guided and solo, and loved the dickens out of each and every one. Not a con in the bunch. Erica has also kayaked the 17 mile ocean kayak along the Napali. Kayaking is a great fun way to get out in natures wonderland, and just pleasantly enjoy.
So, have fun.
Denny and Erica
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