Excited to spend 7 days exploring Kauai? Between the five of us sisters, we’ve visited a handful of times, and throughout our explorations, we’ve curated the perfect itinerary. From can’t miss sights to splurge-worthy treats to niched local stops, our one week itinerary is the perfect way to maximize your time on Kauai.
Kauai, fondly referred to as the Garden Island, is a lush, tropical haven, with breathtaking views everywhere you look. If you live for outdoor adventures, the bounty of nature’s beauty, and delicious local snacks, we have the perfect week long agenda for you. From the Nāpali Coast to Shipwreck Beach, your seven day jaunt in Kauai will fly by in a whirlwind of beauty.
If you’re looking for staggering feats of nature and abounding luscious landscapes, Kauai should be at the top of your travel bucket list. That being said, you will not find extensive nightlife or high-end shopping here. Kauai is not immune to the reflections of tourism; however, Kauai is inviting to visitors so enthralled by her natural beauty, the tawdry of mainstream tourism isn’t found here.
Despite Kauai being relatively small, there is no circumferential road around the island. This is due to the immense topography of the northwest region. Efforts have been made in the past to try and connect the loop, but they have all been in vain. Some areas are just meant to remain untouched! While this might mean a little extra driving time, the views in Kauai are nothing short of spectacular, so get excited for a little extra time in the car taking in the scenery.
You wouldn’t have amazing canyons, emerald cliff coastlines, and astounding waterfalls without the terrain Kauai is known for. The island is our favorite because of its rugged charm, not in spite of! At the end of the week, you’ll already be trying to plan your next trip back!
DAY ONE
Depending on when you arrive, your first day isn’t usually a full first day. Once your wheels touch down, grab your bags and scoot on out of the airport. Where to first? We’re headed to the southern part of the island to start our adventure… but first coffee!
The Aloha Roastery is pretty close to the airport and makes for a nice pick-me up, especially if you’re feeling a little jet-lagged. They do close at 3pm though, so don’t plan on stopping by day one if you have a later afternoon or evening flight.
The Ninini Point Lighthouse is a simple, peaceful stop, with a beach access point close by. It makes for a nice day-one sunset view, with your toes in the water.
You can’t go wrong with dinner at Duke’s Barefoot Bar. You get both a view of the beach AND tasty food (shoutout to the tasty tacos)!
Unless you’re island hopping to Kauai from elsewhere in the archipelago, it’s not a bad idea to plan for an early bedtime, because chances are, you’re going to be tired.
Jet-lag pro tip: If you’re worried about jet-lag affecting your sleep/wake cycles, it’s never a bad idea to take a Zquil before bed to help make sure you don’t wake up at 2am ready to start your day. Not for everyone but sometimes it’s a helpful travel tip.
DAY TWO
Salty Air, Wind in Your Hair
Nothing like starting the day with a nice little walk or run. The fresh air on Kauai is the perfect kick-start to get you going, but if you need a little more oomph, Little Fish Coffee Co. has coffee and all kinds of breakfast goodies to start the day off right. The lines will be long in the 8 o’clock to 9 o’clock hours, so plan to swing by earlier rather than later. The food and drinks are really good though, so they’re worth waiting in a bit of a line for.
If you’re looking for max Hawaii vibes, you can take your breakfast on the less-than-10-minute walk down to the beach, to enjoy with your toes in the sand.
Next up Poipu Beach! Stop by Spouting Horn on your way there to check out a unique oceanic plume. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend largely driving out of your way to see it, but it’s a fun 10-15 minute stop to check out.
What is a Hawaiian vacation without big chillin’ on the beach?? Bring a book and your sunnies and just take in paradise on Poipu Beach. Rather unique, this beach has a small sandbar island not too far out from the sand. The tide can affect how safe it is to venture out to this little adventure point, so check with the lifeguard before you head out!
Once you’ve sufficiently enjoyed the beach bum life for a couple hours, head on over to Makauwahi Cave to check out this historic sinkhole area. As a plus, there’s a tortoise sanctuary nearby. Some of the turtles were relocated to the sanctuary because they outlived their original owner!
Kauai… The Snack Island
On to Old Kōloa Town for some food! You have options! We bought a couple different things and split them, which is, in our opinion, the best way to go. Koloa Fishmarket sells some delicious poke (a traditional Hawaiian cuisine). Perfect to fill you up if you’re hungry from your morning adventures. Shaved ice is also popular in Hawaii and we LOVED The Fresh Shave! The PERFECT treat on a warm day. We recommend the coconut pineapple one!! After your belly is full, Old Kōloa Town has some fun shops to wander around and check out.
If you have any interest in coffee, the Kauai Coffee Co should be your next stop! They have a free self-guided walking tour that is pretty interesting— especially if you don’t know much about the process that goes into coffee making.
What pairs better with coffee than chocolate? Your next stop should be the Kauai Chocolate Company. If you love a tasty chocolate snack, they have chocolate for you!
To finish a full day with a full meal, head to Da Crack for some amazing Mexican food. Large, reasonably priced bowls will hit the spot. With your belly full, there’s nothing left to do but hit the hay.
A couple notes:
Kauai is not known to have much of a nightlife scene, so if you go to bed early, you won’t be missing out on much.
When you’re driving around on Maluhia Road, there’s a one mile stretch of overarching eucalyptus trees that have grown together, to make the Tree Tunnel. Keep your eyes peeled… if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you could drive right through it, without realizing it!
DAY THREE
Breakfast options for every kind of morning person. If you need a little kickstart to get you moving in the morning, head to the Eden Coffee food truck in Old Kōloa. A fantastic cup of coffee to start your day! If you rise with the sun and are looking for something a bit more refreshing, stop by Kauai Juice Co. It’s so hard to pick a juice with all their tasty combinations, but I can personally shout-out the Akala… it’s I-could-drink-five-no-problem delicious.
Shipwreck Beach
Shipwreck Beach has it all… sand, waves, hiking, and cliff jumping! The Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail starts near Shipwreck Beach, so if you’re the hiking type, you can start your day with this beautifully scenic hike. It clocks in at just under 4 miles— the perfect morning walk distance. It’s a lovely way to combine a little morning exercise with Hawaii coastline views.
When you’re ready to cool off, you can do it with big style points by cliff diving down into the ocean from a cliff mere steps from the beach. Time of year can affect the conditions of the water, so jump carefully, but generally speaking, this is one of the most popular cliff diving spots on Kauai.
Once you’ve settled down from your adrenaline rush, you can take a fat nap on the beach. There’s nothing like drifting off to the sound of waves.
If you visit Shipwreck in the winter, it’s not terribly uncommon to spot whales from the shore. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled!!
Nāpali Coast Views
For a late afternoon and early evening adventure, throw on your cutest I-don’t-mind-if-this-gets-a-little-wet outfit and get excited for the best views of your trip. The Nāpali Coast is breathtaking and simply must be taken in. There are a few companies that offer Nāpali Coast tours, and while I am sure the view is stunning from any boat, we were rather impressed with Captain Andy’s sunset tour. The Nāpali Coast is the crown jewel of natural beauty in Kauai, so this is a must-do when you’re visit. The open bar doesn’t hurt either. Options include a sneaky tiki cocktail, a couple white and red wines, and some assorted canned beers. Worth every penny!!
If you find you went hard on the open bar during your sunset cruise, everyone can grab some appetizers and all but the designated driver can enjoy some libations at the Kauai Island Brewing Company. The garlic fries were good, but especially delicious with some guava ketchup.
DAY FOUR
Waimea Canyon
Exploring Waimea Canyon, fondly referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is the mission objective for day four. Before you hit the road to head out there, you won’t regret stopping by Kalaheo Cafe and Coffee Co. Not only was their coffee good, but they had some excellent gluten free options…. if you eat carrot cake for breakfast, can you call it a carrot muffin??
When you arrive at Waimea Canyon, we recommend you drive all the way to the Pu’u o Kila Lookout. We found it was a bit easier to drive to the end and stop at various lookouts (the Kalalau Lookout is a must-stop!) as you back-track. Your camera is not ready for all the action it’s about to get.
We had hoped to hike the Awa’awapuhi Trail, and if a 6 miles hike is up your alley, it looks like the view is certainly worth the hike. The weather at the higher elevation was a little rainy when we visited, so we backtracked all the way to 6b on the map (red arrow) and took the Cliff Trail to Canyon trail to find a mystical waterfall. Really beautiful for a plan B hike.
Good Eats
When your camera is chock-a-block full with pictures, and you feel the views of Waimea canyon are sufficiently immortalized in your brain forever, it’s time to head to the farmer’s market in Waimea. Don’t leave until you’ve tasted some Li Hing dried mango (Li Hing means it’s been dusted with some plum powder)! I now understand the term “nature’s candy”.
A firm believer that there’s not such a thing as too many treats, a stop by Jojo’s Shave Ice will be the perfect final stop before you hit the road. We’re not saying Berry Berry is the best one, but we’re not, not saying it either.
Once your legs are tuckered out, and your car is full of snacks, get ready for the drive up to Princeville. It should take about 2 hours to get from Waimea Canyon to Princeville, on the northern side of the island. When you arrive into town, head to Hideaways Pizza Pub for a slice of ‘za’. Their salads are good too! One of the only places to find pizza in Princeville, this restaurant also maintains later hours if you happen to roll into town a bit later.
As a note: You’ll want to bring a rain jacket or windbreaker when you’re in Waimea Canyon. It can get chilly up at higher elevation, and it’s not uncommon for transient light rains to roll through.
DAY FIVE
Start your day with breakfast at The Spot with their mouth-watering assortment of breakfast bowls. A great way to power start your day!
Ha’ena State Park
Once you have been filled with sustenance, throw on your bathing suit and head to Ha’ena State Park. The drive here may take a bit longer than anticipated due to one way bridges and island time pace of life, so don’t let this surprise you. Once you’re there, you won’t have to wander far to find Ke’e beach. If you’re not looking for back-to-back hiking adventure days, this is a choose your own adventure kind of park. Chilling on the beach is a definite option.
If you’re looking to muddy your boots, wander on over to the Kalalau Trail. The trail goes for 22 miles and you do need additional permits if you plan to hike farther than about 4 miles out, but if you go 2 miles into the trail, you will find a second, even more beautiful beach (pictured below)! The hike does get a bit muddy, but the views along the way make it WELL worth it.
Once you’re back at Ke’e Beach, there are showers and hoses you can use to return your shoes to their original color. While the nature scenes are picturesque, the cell service is spotty. If your group decides to split up, ensure you have a plan for when and where you plan to meet back up.
Just Keep Swimming
Snorkeling is the next ocean exploration on the list. For this, you head to Tunnels Beach. In order to get here, park at Ha’ena Beach (this is a different spot than Ha’ena State Park) and enjoy the ten minute walk to Tunnels Beach. You pass the Maniniholo Dry Cave on your way there, which is fun to check out. Once you’re at the beach, strap your snorkel on and get to swimming!
If you’re not too pooped, wander on over to Hanalei Bay next. There’s lots of shops to explore. There’s the usual tourist traps you’d expect, but there’s some local artists worth checking out as well. Not to mention lots of tasty looking dinner options. We chowed down at Chicken in a Barrel, and we can confirm it was finger-licking good.
On your way home, drive by the Wai’oli Hui’ia Church. Not necessarily something you need to get out of the car for, but it’s charming to see.
Important note: If you plan on visiting Ha’ena State Park, they currently require you to have a permit for the day and window of time you wish to visit. We recommend you set a reminder on your phone for exactly one month prior to the day you plan on going, so you can ensure you are able to purchase passes. They can be found here.
DAY SIX
Power Start
Vibe check for the last full day in Kauai? A little bit of everything! Start your day at Queens Bath to explore this tidal pool surrounded by igneous rock. Mentally prepare yourself to get a little or a lot muddy, but the view is powerfully beautiful. Beware! This spot can be a little dangerous in the more wintery months, so if there’s any signs warning you not to venture this way, it’s likely in your best interest to head their warnings.
For some breakfast and beach snacks, Healthy Hut Market and Cafe is your next stop. The cafe sells all sorts of tasty smoothies and juices, but they also sell groceries as well. I would liken it to a local Whole Foods. If you end up starting your day a bit late and it’s closer to lunchtime by the time you’re in Kilauea, Paco’s Tacos is right next door to Healthy Nut and is also a delectable stop.
Secret Beach
Kauapea Beach or Secret Beach is an amazing, not-terribly-secret spot 10-15 minutes east of Princeville. This beach features some fantastic views as well as some fun tide pools to see crabs and small fish in. Full disclosure, the short but steep path to this beach is best suited for able bodied persons. Some people have difficulty finding the trailhead, but this should help. The things that make it harder to access help keep this spot a bit more secluded. While there’s much to enjoy here, this is not a recommended spot for swimmers. The surf can get pretty rough, and there’s no lifeguard on duty here.
Sweet Sunset
What to do for your last night in Hawaii? One last beach experience, taking in your final Hawaii sunset at the Hanalei Pier. Once the image has been sufficiently saved into your memory forever, head to Ama Restaurant for oodles of noodles. Also, if you haven’t had a Mai Tai yet, this is a must as it is the classic Hawaiian cocktail! The ramen is delicious and if you make it there before the sunlight slips away completely, the views are perfect for a last night spot.
DAY SEVEN
Saving the Best for Last
Departure day has arrived, but do not dismay! Depending on when your flight is, you just might have time to sneak in one last lifelong memory. Since you will already need to drive back down to Lihue, arrive a couple hours early and do the Big Kahuna Kauai Air Tour with Air Ventures. With only six passengers per plane, no middle seats, and an extra large viewing window for everyone aboard, this hour long flight is the perfect way to reflect on the week you just had, while taking the whole island in one last time.
As a note: If you are renting a Turo or car that requires a pre-return cleaning, check out Sudz Car Wash in Lihue. They offer a reasonably priced exterior wash as well as quick do-it-yourself vacuums to make a quick cleaning job easy.
The Nitty Gritty of Paradise City
Transportation
We used this Turo (Turo is a service similar to Airbnb, except for cars) for our wheels. We rather enjoyed having a truck, because the bed afforded us abundant space for luggage. Plus we felt a bit more like locals in this ride.
Sleeps
Southern Kauai: This Airbnb was centrally located as was a perfect spot for three of us to comfortably share. They provided beach gear, which was super convenient.
Northern Kauai: We stayed at this Airbnb in Princeville, and we were also pleased with how close we were to everything. They also provided beach and snorkel gear, which was clutch— especially since we’d planned to go snorkeling at Tunnels beach.
A Word to the Wise
The north side of the island was far rainier than the south when we visited, so definitely don’t forget to pack a rain jacket. If you’re not big on toughing it out in the rain, you might want to consider a large portion, if not all of your stay being on the souther region of Kauai. This week-long agenda was mapped out to best hit all the best highlights for a week-long stay, but one’s deference to the weather must be accounted for when planning. That being said, even if your hotel/Airbnb is in the south, the Kalalau Trail at Ha’ena State Park is worth driving up and enduring a bit of muddiness for.
The farmers market scene in Kauai is definitely worth checking out— especially if it’s Saturday! If you see a farmer’s market while you’re driving around, I promise you won’t regret stopping.
If you’re island hopping to Big Island, be sure to check out Hawai’i Volcano National Park. It’s a completely different topography than that of Kauai, but amazingly beautiful nonetheless!
written by Kayla
A literal life saving queen, Kayla Grace is an Army nurse in Tacoma, Washington. When she’s not fixing up tiny humans on the peds floor, she is likely to be found running, walking, or hiking outside— or crushing a home improvement project, as she has very recently purchased her first home! Since moving to Washington, Kayla has maintained a plant-based diet— a feat largely unattainable by any other sister, but she makes it look *almost* possible with her I-can’t-believe-these-are-vegan chocolate chip cookies.
