Page 13) Things to Do in Kauai in 2026 – Tours & Activities | HawaiiActivities.com

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Kauai

All Reviews for Fern Grotto & Wailua River Cruise

Overall rating

4.47

528 Reviews
Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Waimea Canyon lookout
Activity Date: 2016/06/03 | Posted on: 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.

Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Wailau river cruise to fern grotto with live entertainment
Activity Date: 2016/05/19 | Posted on: 2016/05/22

Relaxing, informative, and entertaining...great value

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Families
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Iz like performer
Activity Date: 2016/03/30 | Posted on: 2016/04/24

This 1 1/2 hr activity is really good for those who doesn't have upper body strength to do kayak to get to grotto which is a beautiful mystical place. The whole family enjoyed very much the ride and the entertainment whose voice is the future IZ. The staff were all awesome! Thank you all for making our day great!

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Families
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Fantastic Tour of Kauai!
Activity Date: 2016/04/19 | Posted on: 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!

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
So enjoyable!
Activity Date: 2016/04/17 | Posted on: 2016/04/20

We loved our afternoon river cruise! The entertainment was great and the fern grotto was breathtaking! Staff members were warm and very inviting! We will recommend this activity to others!

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
I would do this again!
Activity Date: 2016/04/17 | Posted on: 2016/04/20
Dru

I really feel like this river cruise is special, you get to see and hear how this culture has evolved.. The singing is fantastic and the commentary is great as well. Such a nice family!

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Canyon & River Cruise
Activity Date: 2016/04/03 | Posted on: 2016/04/17

Our guide - Rosario - was well informed and jovial. As there were only 7 of us on the trip Rosario was able to spend more time showing us interesting points on the island. The Canyon itself was beautiful although the River Cruise was a bit naff

Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Beautiful trip,very peaceful.
Activity Date: 2016/03/25 | Posted on: 2016/04/16

Wonderful time very peaceful. All the people were very friendly like family.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Wailua River Cruise
Activity Date: 2015/07/23 | Posted on: 2016/04/04
DHK

My wife and I took her mother on this scenic cruise. The were very friendly and attentive to all their guests. The pilot did a great job noting the points of interest. The singing and dancing during the cruise added a nice entertaining local flavor.

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Families
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Waited Canyon and Fern Grotto tour 30 Mar, 2016.
Activity Date: 2016/03/30 | Posted on: 2016/04/02

Our guide , Jacque Cousteau, (Jack Custer) was great! He was so knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy sharing with us. My grandson and I learned a lot and had fun. My only complaint was having to drive from Waimea Plantation Cottages to the Sheraton to meet the tour, while Princeville guests WERE picked up. When I signed up for the tour online, it said we would be picked up. The day before, I got a call saying we would have to get ourselves to the Sheraton.

Attended as: Families
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Delightful river trip
Activity Date: 2016/03/30 | Posted on: 2016/04/02

Was awesome to return to fern grotto after 44 years. Well done!

Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
AMAZING! If you haven't booked a luau this trip Do THE CRUISE!
Activity Date: 2015/05/26 | Posted on: 2016/03/14

When we booked our trip to HI my husband had been 3-4 times already. I hadn't been at all. He convinced me not to book a luau. We really like food and figured we'd save the money for something else. Once we got to HI I was really-really bummed we didn't have a luau on the docket, and it was too late to book anything.

This cruise was amazing and once we did it we weren't so bummed about missing the luau. The cruise is so peaceful. The guide is a smith family member and his family owns the land surrounding the river. He knows so much about the land and has tons of stories he tells while you cruise up and down the river.

You stop at the fern grotto, which is so cool. It's a must see on any trip to Kauai. The musicians on the cruise play songs and play a special song to people who have just gotten married or celebrating anniversaries.

Then on the ride back the musicians play native songs. It's the next best thing to a luau.

Already did it once but will do it again!

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Wonderful tour
Activity Date: 2016/03/09 | Posted on: 2016/03/10

A must if in Kauai... Beautiful sights and a wonderful staff!

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Couples
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
WAIMEA CANYON & WAILUA RIVER CRUISE TO FERN GROTTO TOUR....
Activity Date: 2016/01/23 | Posted on: 2016/02/14

WE ALL GIVE THIS TOUR ON KAUAI, A 10 PLUS. WE WERE PICKED UP AT OUR CONDO, DRIVEN UP THE WESTERN COAST. STOPS ALONG THE WAY...WAIMEA CANYON IS BREATH TAKING! OUR TOUR GUIDE, ROSERIO (misp?) WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND HAD A GREAT SENCE OF HUMOR. WE STOPPED FOR A WONDERFUL LUNCH,( RIGHT ACROSS FROM OUR CONO)..THEN HEADED EAST TO THE COAST AND OUR TOUR TO THE GROTTO. ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A WONDERFUL TOUR....WE WERE DROPPED OFF AT OUR CONDO IN THE EARLY EVENING...JUST IN TIME FOR A DRINK, SNACKS AND BED! MAHALO WE HAVE ALREADY RECOMMENDED THIS COMPANY ON FACEBOOK

Attended as: Friends
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Wonderful Day (Despite the Rain)
Activity Date: 2016/01/31 | Posted on: 2016/02/03

Enjoyed the Hawaiian show immensely which I was not expecting. Enjoyed the show despite the rain at the grotto. You should highlight the entertainment with such a pleasant show.

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Couples
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Oops
Activity Date: 2015/12/16 | Posted on: 2016/01/10

Not bad until the driver left us at the last stop. Think one could tell that 2 of a group of 8 were not in the van. At least it was only mile or so walk to hotel.

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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Kauai Adventure
Activity Date: 2015/12/16 | Posted on: 2016/01/09

Tour guide was great. Could have used more time at the canyon and blow hole.

Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Worth every penny spent!
Activity Date: 2015/12/04 | Posted on: 2015/12/20

Great value for your money. Got to experience a lot of the culture, food, boat ride and much more . Learned about the Island we were visiting as well! It was an excellent item to spend on.

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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Incredible Experience
Activity Date: 2015/12/07 | Posted on: 2015/12/13

We took the Waimea Canyon and Wailua River Cruise tour and what an experience. Our driver and tour guide, Juan, was amazing. His knowledge of the history of the island of Kauai together with his own experiences growing up on the Garden Isle really made the day beyond interesting. From the time we boarded the tour bus until the end of the day, Juan's personality, knowledge and wit made every minute enjoyable. We highly recommend this tour AND Juan to all who may consider it.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Wailua Cruise
Activity Date: 2015/11/13 | Posted on: 2015/12/06

We are newlyweds, so the cruise to the Fern Grotto was very cool since weddings used to be held there!

Packages: River Cruise & Tropical Luau Combo
Attended as: Couples
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Fantastic guide!
Activity Date: 2015/11/28 | Posted on: 2015/12/01

Our guide, Jack, having been raised in Hawaii was extremely knowledgeable about the history and local factoids. He even had a few good jokes. He kept us engaged and interested for the entire day. Everyone else we came into contact with regarding this tour was also very professional and nice

Overall I would recommend this as a great way to get introduced to Kauai

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Fern Grotto River Cruise
Activity Date: 2015/11/06 | Posted on: 2015/11/14

This was a great adventure, perfect for everyone! The guides were wonderful and the entertainment on the way back was fun. For $20 this is a great deal. I will definitely do it again!

Packages: River Cruise & Tropical Luau Combo
Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Fern Grotto
Activity Date: 2015/09/28 | Posted on: 2015/10/25

A great way to spend an afternoon. A slow relaxing ride up the river with a leisurely stroll through the tropical plants to the grotto. Once at the grotto the songs of Kauai serenade you while the beautiful and awe inspiring sites fill your senses.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Wailua River Cruise
Activity Date: 2015/09/10 | Posted on: 2015/10/04

Just as I remembered as a kid. Thank you for a great experience.

Packages: River Cruise & Tropical Luau Combo
Attended as: Families
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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Waimea Canyon & Wailua River Cruise
Activity Date: 2015/09/20 | Posted on: 2015/10/02

The Canyon was beautiful. The river cruise was very relaxing and enjoyable. All in all it was very nice. The road up to the Canyon reminded me of going to Kings Canyon in California. Very interesting!

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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Waimea Canyon tour
Activity Date: 2015/09/27 | Posted on: 2015/09/30

My friend and I had a great time. Jack was a great tour guide and was very informative and very entertaining .

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シダの洞窟 観光遊覧船 ハワイ唯一の航行可能な川を行く!<英語ガイド/半日>
Cave of the Ferns
シダの洞窟
Activity Date: 2015/06/20 | Posted on: 2015/09/28

I didn't have high expectations, but it turned out to be surprisingly good. I was able to relax in a laid-back atmosphere. Since it wasn't a hotel that offered shuttle service, I had to make my own way to the boarding area, but it was actually more convenient to move around by rental car afterward. If you're going to the boarding area on your own, you might as well buy the tickets there, but having the tickets purchased in advance gives you peace of mind.

あまり期待していなかったけど意外とよかったです。のんびりとした雰囲気の中でくつろげました。送迎対象のホテルではなかったから乗船場までは自力で行かないとですが、その後もレンタカーで移動するならそのほうが都合がよかったです。乗船場まで自分で行くならその場で普通にチケットを買ってもいいのかもしれませんが、事前にチケット購入しておけるのは安心感はあります。

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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Nice tour guide
Activity Date: 2015/09/06 | Posted on: 2015/09/26

The operator and all the crew was super nice , really enjoy the show , but I am kind of feel bad because most of people doesn't know how to tips ...hopefully in the future most tourist need to know how to take care the performance and the tour guide

Attended as: Solo Travelers
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Average boat tour
Activity Date: 2015/08/24 | Posted on: 2015/09/22

This was 2 hour boat tour to Fern Grotto and back with live music. The tour was average, nothing special.

Packages: River Cruise Package
Attended as: Solo Travelers
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Enjoyable but not as impressive as a trip 10 years ago
Activity Date: 2015/08/28 | Posted on: 2015/09/19

Everything on Kauai has a beautiful plant variety. It is awesome

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Things to Do in Kauai in 2026 – Tours & Activities | HawaiiActivities.com
Accessible only by boat on the Wailua River, Kauai’s Fern Grotto is a lava rock cave draped in lush ferns, moss, and tropical plants. This natural wonder has long captivated visitors with its beauty and cultural significance. Enjoy a scenic river cruise with live Hawaiian music and storytelling, and enhance your experience by combining it with Smith’s Luau—one of Kauai’s most popular traditional Hawaiian luaus—for a truly memorable evening.