Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto with Lunch reviews, Kauai tours & activities, fun things to do in Kauai

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more here

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto with Lunch

Informative tour for first timers in Kauai

Reviewed by: NMP, 2023/07/04

My family and I had never been to Kauai and I wanted to book this tour as it had some fun things to do. Rosario was a great tour driver, very funny and knowledgeable and safe driver. We went to Opaekaa Falls, then went on a river cruise on the wailua river to the fern grotto (while on the boat we learned how to hula and enjoyed listening to the smith family singing and dancing hula). Then we went to Waimea canyon aka the Grand Canyon of the pacific- pictures do not do it justice. Very breathtaking. Then we went to kauai coffee plantation where we sampled amazing coffee and finally went to see the spouting horn. Overall a great tour with Rosario

Rating:
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Activity Date:	2023/07/03
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Wonderful way to be introduced to Kauai!

Reviewed by: Susan in Boulder, 2020/02/27

As someone who had never been to Kauai before, I booked this tour as a way for my boyfriend and I to get acclimated to the island. We were so lucky to have Kana e, a wonderful native tour guide, as our driver and tour guide. She made the entire day so much fun, and extremely interesting. We both loved her stories of the island, of her family, and her enthusiasm. I greatly recommend this tour, especially if you can have a native guide as good as Kana e!!

Our fabulous guide, Kana e. Her first name is really 23 letters long!

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2020/02/12
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea and Wailua

Reviewed by: Sue, 2020/01/25

We enjoyed the Waimea Canyon Tour. The coach driver was friendly, funny, and informative.

The Wailua River Cruise was disappointing and boring. The driver of the boat had no enthusiasm in his voice and the visuals of the river were unimpressive. Since you can no longer enter the Fern Grotto cave, this stop is no longer amazing as it used to be.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2020/01/22
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

long day

Reviewed by: Dave , 2019/12/03

it was a long day with many stops. some were worth the stop and some were not. if the tour drove straight to the canyon and then to the river, then It may have been worth the cost.

Rating:
Attended as:	Families
Activity Date:	2019/10/08
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Not worth the price at all

Reviewed by: BKCC, 2019/08/18

Totally not worth it. Overpriced and overrated attraction and tour

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2019/08/15
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Beautiful!!!

Reviewed by: Bethany Matlock, 2019/08/11

First off let me say our tour guide Rosario was fantastic!!! He gave us such a great history lesson and for us that's everything because we love history. He also has a great sense of humor. The places we got to see were pretty great as well. Waimea Canyon is gorgeous and you must see in person as photos do not do it justice. All the little stops along the way were fun. We discovered Poipu on this trip and we love it there. We will stay there next time we are on Kauai. All in all a great time, highly recommend!!!

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2019/08/06
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

A must, if first time in Kawaii.

Reviewed by: Jerry T, 2019/07/20

Won was a greatbbus driver, who brought the Island to life. The canyon was a special picture taking opportunity. It is a long bus drive, but the island is bigger then you think. Great your.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2019/07/17
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Juan was a great driver and tour guide.

Reviewed by: Tom, 2019/03/02

Juan was a great driver and tour guide. I left a couple of shirts I purchased on the bus and Juan brought them to our hotel. Great guy!

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2019/02/27
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Amazing Tour Guide

Reviewed by: Jacky, 2018/12/24

We had a wonderful time. The tour guide is very knowledgeable and he took the effort to know everyone's name and show great customer service. The whole tour he was all smiles and friendly making you feel great throughout the tour.

Waimea Canyon

Rating:
Attended as:	Families
Activity Date:	2018/12/21
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Delightful Adventure Awaits

Reviewed by: Judy, 2018/10/23

Kevin was a delightful, knowledgeable tour guide! The bus was so comfortable and trip proved to give us new information and amazing views of the island. I highly recommend this tour!

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2018/10/19
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Amazing

Reviewed by: Leah, 2018/10/20

It was amazing experience .Waimea is gorgeous . I like the tour Kats our driver was such fun...

Rating:
Attended as:	Families
Activity Date:	2018/10/17
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Two Places NOT To Be Missed on Kauai

Reviewed by: KathyK, 2018/05/11

The trip to Waimea Canyon was made so much better because of our tour guide, Kevin, and his narration / history of Kauai. The canyon itself rivals Grand Canyon in beauty. The trip across the island to Wailua was also full of history and Kevin made it fun; lots of movie trivia and fun facts. The river cruise was entertaining and the Fern Grotto is breathtaking. We were also lucky enough to see a baby wild pig while walking back to the riverboat. This is one tour well worth the time and money.

Rating:
Attended as:	Friends
Activity Date:	2018/05/08
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea Canyon Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

Reviewed by: Kay , 2018/02/11

Outstanding tour and we had a really great guide. I highly recommend. We were island hopping and this was a perfect tour.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2018/01/19
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

A Beautiful day in Kauai

Reviewed by: Ron, 2018/01/27

We were amazed by the beautiful view at the Waimea Canyon.
I'm not sure what it is about the fern grotto, it is a place you have to see if you come to Kauai. It's not as breathtaking as other sights in Hawaii, but still it is moving in it's own way.
The tour guide was great and we got to see and hear about a myriad of things along the way that you wouldn't appreciate if you didn't have a guide. They know the places to stop and see, and the ones to pass by.
We would recommend this tour for anyone coming to Kauai.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2018/01/26
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Our day with Sam

Reviewed by: Richard Bradford, 2018/01/11

Our tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable about Kauai. He added personal insights in not being a native but a resident for 30 years. He was also funny and helpful to all passengers. I would recommend him and his company to anyone wanting a good time.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2018/01/08
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Good, but long

Reviewed by: Kathy, 2018/01/07

A more detailed itinerary would be helpful. For those staying in princeville, it is a 2 hour ride to Waimea canyon. The time at the canyon lookout point is 20 minutes. The fern grotto is another hour's ride. Boat ride and music were great, but hike and visit to fern grotto from boat was 20-30 minutes. Though there a couple of other small stops, you have to understand most of 11 hours is riding in a mini-bus. Driver was great and preferred small bus to large one.

Rating:
Attended as:	Friends
Activity Date:	2018/01/04
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

We had a perfect day, the driver was friendly and very informative and professional. The views of the canyon were spectacular. The cruise and entertainment was more "laid back" and very worthwhile.

Reviewed by: John and Nadine , 2018/01/06

We liked the attention to detail from the pick up at our resort to the background knowledge during the driving portion. We had plenty of time to get out of the bus to stretch and take pictures. We seemed to be able to see and do more due to a smaller bus. This tour, like most, is depended on clear and non rainy weather; check ahead to pick a good weather day for this adventure. To combine both parts is a full day; we were picked up at 7am delivered back at 6pm. I would strongly recommend these stops as a "must see". You could drive up and down the canyon, but you would miss a lot of sights and information. The boat ride is also something not to be missed.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2017/12/11
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea Canyon tour is a gem!

Reviewed by: Steve M, 2017/10/27

The Waimea Canyon & Fern Grotto tour is a signature tour when visiting Kauai! Polynesian tours does a good job of connecting you with the core highlights of this most remarkable experience. Truly a memorable experience.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2017/10/24
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Canyon tour and river cruise

Reviewed by: Bobbie, 2017/10/14

Guide and tour was excellent however being dropped at a mall for lunch was extremely disappointing. I would have paid more to get a local experience

Rating:
Attended as:	Friends
Activity Date:	2017/09/21
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Happy

Reviewed by: Colin & Jo, 2017/10/07

Fern grotto was a lovely trip down the river ending up at fern grotto was like a rain forest the whole experience was great the people were very knowledgeable and the boat cruise ack they sang all the way back and taught us to hula which was interesting

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2017/09/15
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea, Fern Grotto tour

Reviewed by: Evangelista, N, 2017/10/02

We were in Awe when we saw Waimea Canyon, most unforgettable sight so far and for the record we have seen Grand Canyon as well. the tour package itself is great, our driver is awesome forgot his name already ( sorry) he makes sure that each and everyone needs are met. Love the fact that we were picked up right in front of our hotel. I just wished tho that the Fern Grotto is as nice as in the pictureExtra treat that we also enjoy is the short hula performance...

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2017/09/09
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea Canyon Tour & ABORTED Cruise to Fern Grotto

Reviewed by: Bruce Cariker, 2017/09/20

Great tour as far as it went. The river cruise to Fern Grotto was cancelled due to high river levels. When people asked the driver about reimbursement for the cancelled cruise, he responded with some thing like, "You can phone the company and ask for a partial reimbursement, but don't get your hopes up if it doesn't happen." I think it indicates that the driver just wasn't properly informed about how to deal with the situation, Great driver otherwise, and full of lots of info. It would have been fun to talk with him in an informal setting.

Reply from activity provider

Warm Aloha,

Thank you very much for taking the time to post about your experience. Your feedback has been shared with the activity provider to better serve future guests.
A separate email will be sent to you in regards to the river cruise cancellation.

Mahalo Nui Loa,
VELTRA Customer Support

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2017/09/14
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Terrible trip

Reviewed by: Unhappy customer , 2017/07/11

This trip was terrible, expensive, and boring. With false advertisement. We were on time waiting for the bus, but it came an hour and thirty minutes later. It was ridiculous they called 3 times saying to be on time, but they were late themselves! Our guide was very bad. All he told us was the name of the attraction not the history. The bus was huge but his mic didn't work. All he had to do was change the batteries but even at a stop he didn't take the time to change them. He just was talking with other people. We could have done this with our own car and taken our time! PLEASE don't waste your money and time on this trip!!! Explore your self and take your time!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Activity Date:	2017/07/08
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Beautiful scenery and boat ride!

Reviewed by: Mark, 2017/05/21

We enjoyed the tour, however it was distracting to have the driver singing over the music video and playlist. No one in our group enjoyed that at all and would have rather heard local commentary, island history, or just the recorded artist's voice.
The canyon scenery, boat ride, and fern grotto were beautiful and amazing.

Rating:
Attended as:	Families
Activity Date:	2017/05/11
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Worth the time and money

Reviewed by: SKSamy, 2016/10/22

The bus went with broke down when we were at Waimea canyon that gave us more time to spend at the beautiful Waimea canyon at the expense of missing the lunch. In spite of this we enjoyed every bit of it. The guide/driver did a nice job of keeping us engaged all the time.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2016/10/19
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Average Trip

Reviewed by: DebW, 2016/08/12

The Fern Grotto was a guided tour, which I did not realize when we signed up. The boat ride up the river was nice. The guide pointed out various places along the river. Your time is very limited at the Grotto. The guides there rush you along to the site, explain the grotto, sing, and then you are rushed out. I wanted to explore the trail a bit and take photos so that was disappointing.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2016/07/31
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Great tour!

Reviewed by: Vikki M., 2016/08/09

Our tour guide was Jonna. She was friendly,,knowledgeable of Hawaiian history and folklore. She drove safely while she shared about the sights we visited. Her sense of humor and kindness was evident as she inquired about how each of us was doing. My husband and I finished our tour having learned about Kaua'i and the sights. We loved our tour and will recommend to friends to make time for this tour!

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2016/08/06
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea Canyon and Wailua River Cruise

Reviewed by: Teacher82, 2016/07/06

Jack was a great tour guide and the day passed very quickly with jokes, historical information, and a beautiful cruise to the Fern Grotto. The singers were beautiful in sentiment and voice, showing us the beauty of the Hawaiian culture . I recommend this as it is a great way to be engulfed in culture and see most of the island , including great picture spots.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2016/07/03
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Waimea Canyon lookout

Reviewed by: Michelle, 2016/06/09

The Waimea Canyon was beautiful! However, I feel I could have done this activity on my own. We spent most of our day picking up people from hotels and I felt I could have used that time exploring more of the canyon.

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2016/06/03
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Fantastic Tour of Kauai!

Reviewed by: Cheryl M, 2016/04/22

We had a great time! Juan, our tour guide, was fabulous! What a wonderful time. Everyone on the bus was entertained as well as having a good time. We were exhausted by the end of the day and it was worth it!
Highly recommended. Everyone in your party will get to be a sightseer and have a driver to do the work!

Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Activity Date:	2016/04/19
0 people find this helpful! Was this comment helpful? [Yes] Thank you for your feedback! You have already done!

Page 1 | 2 | 3 | Next

Hawaiian Islands

Browse by date

Select a date

Today (Nov. 30) Tomorrow (Dec. 1)

Today (Nov. 30)
Tomorrow (Dec. 1)
Specific date

Kauai Categories

Reviewed by