Page 16) 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
Great sights lon trip
Activity Date: 2013/02/19 | Posted on: 2013/03/05

We loved the sights. The Waimea Canyon was stunning as was the fern grotto. What was wrong with this tour was the more than 6 hours travelling in the bus to see two sights which took less than 20 minutes each to see. Great tour if you enjoy seeing the hawaiian country side from a bus.

Packages: Standard (K1)
Attended as: Families
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Great Job
Posted on: 2013/02/14

Smith tours did a great Job with the boat ride.
The grotto.
The entertainment was a nice touch and very well done.
Would recomment this trip to all
One of the good values exploring Kauai

Attended as: Friends
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Disappointing
Posted on: 2012/11/05

My new husband and I went on this River cruise as recommended by our travel agent as the most romantic thing we could do for our honeymoon.

The only romantic thing about it was the Hawaiian wedding song while we stood on a deck with 100 other people. This would not be my idea of romantic. Maybe it used to be a romantic place to go when you could go inside the cave but now it just looks like a rock wall with some ferns in it.

We didn't get the best start to our boat ride but we were both disappointed when we arrived to our location. The entertainment was fun and were really the only reason the trip was worth it. I wouldn't recomend it to anyone as a place to see on their honeymoon. The only thing that redeemed it was that it was probably the cheapest thing we did while we were there.

Since this site won't let me pick wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I chose families.

Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Beautiful
Posted on: 2012/10/12

The Grotto is beautiful. A must see for all visitors.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Okay not great
Posted on: 2012/08/06

20 years ago this was a really great trip as you were able to go inside the cave and the water fall there was more than a trickle. Since the Iniki Hurricane in the 90's that is no longer possible. The landslide that happened ended the cave tour part and ended the waterfall being as it was.

I would recommend this to any one who has just landed in Kauai, older couples perhaps, who have never seen a fern grotto of any kind. For kids it is boring. Heard that a few times :)

As for a wedding... I would honestly not recommend this particular trip as it is average or just okay. The boat trip up and back in the boat was the best part. For wedding parties I would honestly recommend arranging something with the Smith Family or one of the local Resorts and doing it as part of a Luau. That would be better. Hawaii Activities can help you find many other events that would be better for a wedding. They rock!

This is a nice easy trip and okay to see. But if you have limited

Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Great fun
Posted on: 2012/07/21

We thoroughly enjoyed this informative and beautiful cruise. The Captain shared much information and was very entertaining. On the way back, the entertainment was excellent. Good time!

Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Fern Grotto - June 2012
Posted on: 2012/07/01

Loved the staff, they were great, fun, and informative. However, was not what I expected. I am not sure what would have made it a better experience. The Fern Grotto itself was beautiful, but there were too many people on the deck to enjoy it. Made it crowded and uncomfortable.

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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
Posted on: 2012/05/02

I participated in an activity on the afternoon of the day I flew from Japan to Hawaii, and then to Kauai. Since I was dealing with jet lag, a calm activity like this was just right for our first day in Hawaii with the kids.

It might have been nice to combine this with the "Hawaiian Traditional Feast Luau and Sacred Ceremony Imu! Smith Tropical Paradise Luau," which is located on the same grounds. Our family watched the luau on the last day in Kauai, but among those on the same boat, quite a few were planning to have dinner and see the luau show after this boat ride.

The Fern Grotto was beautiful, but everyone in the family got bitten by mosquitoes. I recommend applying insect repellent before participating.

日本からハワイへ、さらにカウアイ島へ飛んできたその日の午後に参加しました。時差ぼけの状態なので子どもも連れてのハワイ初日はこのぐらいの穏やかなアクティビティがちょうどよかったです。

同じ敷地内にある、「ハワイ伝統饗宴ルアウと神聖な儀式イム!スミス・トロピカル・パラダイス・ルアウ」と組み合わせてもよかったかもしれません。私たち家族はカウアイ島最終日にルアウを分けて見ましたが、同じ船に乗っている人の中では、この船の後に夕食とルアウのショーを見る予定である人が結構いました。

シダの洞窟はきれいでしたが、家族みんな蚊に刺されました。虫除けを塗っての参加をお奨めします。

Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
WE HAD A GREAT TIME !!!
Posted on: 2012/02/27

Six of us just returned from Oahu and Kauai!! Had a WONDERFUL time!!! And the Fern Grotto boat ride was just really nice!! The staff was WONDERFUL, and they made us all feel so welcomed!!! We just really had a GREAT TIME!!! I would recommend this to anyone!!!! The walk to the fern grotto was EASY, and the photo ops were priceless!!! Just alot of fun with my friends!!

Attended as: Families
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Fern Grotto
Posted on: 2011/09/20

Enjoyed the cruise ... Thank you

Attended as: Couples
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
cruise
Posted on: 2011/05/21

Thanks.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
River Tour
Posted on: 2011/04/07

Great for kids.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
River Ride
Posted on: 2011/04/07

Good for families with small children.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Fern Grotto
Posted on: 2011/02/15

We loved the pace, entertainment and narration. Our entire family had a good time. Thank you!

Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
very enjoyable
Posted on: 2011/02/15

We totally enjoyed the river cruise and the fern grotto. We were a little disappointed we could not actually go into the grotto but totally understand. It will be good to come back and see it again after a few years and some more fern growth.

Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Slow paced enjoyment
Posted on: 2011/02/08

The wailua river cruise is very unique, we saw a lot of Kauai we didnt know was there, and learned a lot from our guide. The pace of the tour is slow and relaxed.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Even less than I expected
Posted on: 2011/01/14

The staff was very nice and the boat ride was relaxing but the Fern Grotto itself was less than I expected, and I wasn't expecting much.
You don't go inside the cave. You just look at it from a distance.
You can see ferns growing from the face of a rock cliff where the cave is located. You view it from a platform where weddings are performed these days. You can't go inside to see the area where 100 people can gather.

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シダの洞窟観光ツアー ワイメア渓谷&ポイプ潮吹岩&オパエカア滝 <英語ガイド>
There are plenty of highlights.
見どころたっぷりです
Posted on: 2010/12/14

You can visit all the highlights of Kauai Island in one day. I joined an English tour with participants from America, Australia, and Japan, and we all got along well and had a great time on the bus. It was nice that the guide played the ukulele and sang along at various points during the tour. For lunch, we went to a restaurant in a golf course. The view was great and the food was delicious.

1日でカウアイ島の見どころを回ってしまいます。
英語ツアーでアメリカ、オーストラリア、日本からの参加者でしたが、みなさんと仲良くなりバスの中でも盛り上がりました。途中途中でガイドさんがウクレレを弾きながら歌ってくくださるのもよかったです。
ランチは、ゴルフ場の中のレストラン。景色もよくおいしかったです。

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Perfect for first timers!
Posted on: 2010/08/23

Our first time to Kauai and we decided to try the Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto and we absolutely loved it! it was kinda slow but very relaxing, and such beauty surrounding you how could you not like it..
I know its got some bad reviews and I cant understand why, if you appreciate the beauty of Kauai then you will love this short and sweet experience and you can get some really great pictures too.

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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Fast but Nice
Posted on: 2010/07/27

The tour is a bit rushed as expected because of all the area covered. However, you get to see a lot, but for a small amount of time. Waimea Canyon is most definitely the highlight of the tour. The river trip and fern grotto weren't too exciting. The tour is a good way to get an overview if you just have one day on the island (like we did).

Attended as: Families
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Great time!
Posted on: 2010/06/04

Our group enjoyed the music as we cruised the river. The scenery was outstanding and the staff provided good service.

Attended as: Families with Young Children
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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
no comment
Posted on: 2010/02/11

no comment

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Author
Posted on: 2010/01/24

This was my second trip and I loved it as much the second time as I did the first. I will highly recommend it to anyone who is coming to Kauai.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Fern Grotto is beautiful!
Posted on: 2009/11/22

We thought the Fern Grotto was beautiful and the river cruise scenery was spectacular. Entertainment on board was so so.

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Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto
Untitled
Posted on: 2009/07/23

This is a great tour if you want to see the island and learn about the culture. This was our first trip to Kauai, so we took the all day tour (11 hours from the time we were picked up.) Very long day but it was EXCELLENT and well worth it.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Untitled
Posted on: 2009/07/21

A very informative excursion. Truly relaxing and the staff were insightful and fun. Would highly recommend this to anyone.

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
fern grotto
Posted on: 2009/07/11

The employees were very friendly. The Grotto was not all that I expected it to be in my imagination, but it was still very beautiful and I would recommend to check it out

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Splendid!
Posted on: 2009/06/26
Jen

The Smith family embraces you with their Hawaiian charm as soon as you meet them! The river trip to the Fern Grotto was a beautiful experience. We were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary so when the singers sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song it was very special! The Hula dancer on-board was not only beautiful, but very talented as well. Even my husband participated in the learning of the Hula dance - much to my delight! I would do this trip again if ever given the chance. Truly memorable!

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Untitled
Posted on: 2009/06/26

This was a relaxing river ride. Our guides were knowledgable. We enjoyed the singing and dancing on the boat. We rode this tour into the Luau. Overall It was a great 1st day on the island. We would all do it again!

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Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula
Untitled
Posted on: 2009/06/10

The Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto was enjoyable. I recommend taking the last cruise and then going to the Smith Luau.

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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.