Nestled in the heart of the Pacific, Kauai is a dreamscape where dramatic cliffs meet lush rainforests and sparkling turquoise beaches are tucked into every corner. Known as the “Garden Isle,” this Hawaiian gem will draw you in with its essence of untouched beauty and its vibrant spirit. From the towering ridges of the Nā Pali Coast to the peaceful shores of Hanalei Bay, Kauai truly has a draw for everyone. Whether you’re hiking through emerald valleys, snorkeling with sea turtles, or simply savoring the island’s laid-back charm (local coffee in hand)— a trip to Kauai is an unforgettable journey into paradise.
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. Seven days is the perfect amount of time to hit all the island highlights, while still having some time to relax. A week in this lush, tropical haven, will fly by in a whirlwind of beauty.
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.
The Kauai Vibe
While Kauai is not immune to the heavy tourism the Hawaiian islands experience, you will find it less populated and a bit more rural than its neighboring islands, such as Oahu or Maui. This generally lends itself to less shopping and late night dining options and more steal-your-breath hikes and outdoor adventures, allowing for more natural, unmarred Hawaiian beauty.
Rental Car, Take Me Far
Due to the spread out nature of Kauai, a rental car or Turo is a must if you really want to see what the island has to offer. Last time we visited we used points to rent from Budget and had a great experience. In the past, Turo was significantly cheaper, so it’s at least worth checking out! Regardless who you rent from, don’t forget to lather on some sunscreen if you’re driving with the top down!
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 always 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.
When you’re driving on Maluhia Road, from Lihue, there’s a one mile stretch of overarching eucalyptus trees that have grown together, to make the Tree Tunnel. Not really a stopping destination— simply something beautiful to drive through on your way southwest.
The plan for the rest of the day? Beach time relaxation! In the Poipu/Koloa area there’s a few different easily accessible beaches to choose from: Shipwreck Beach, Brennecke’s Beach, Poipu Beach, and Kiahuna Beach. Tomorrow will be a more active day, so enjoy some beachy keen tranquility!
DAY TWO
Little Fish Coffee Co.
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.
Poipu BEach
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! [update: this is temporarily closed but will hopefully reopen soon]
Old Kōloa Town
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.
Chocolate & Coffee
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.
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!!
Nā pali 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 Nā Pali Coast is breathtaking and simply must be taken in… from every angle you can muster. There are a few companies that offer Nā Pali 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 Nā Pali Coast is the crown jewel of natural beauty in Kauai, so this is a must-do when you’re visit. The dinner and open bar doesn’t hurt either.
There are options for morning tours as well, and sometimes this is the better option in the winter months when the water gets choppier into the afternoon and evening. HOWEVER, if you are able to go in the afternoon, this is what we recommend. By mid-afternoon, the sun has swung to the west side of the island, pulling the Nā Pali Coast from the shadows and putting it on prominent display. It will assuredly be amazing either way, but if you can go in the afternoon, you won’t be disappointed.
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.
Packing tip: 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.
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.
Princeville bound
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.
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
Today’s big adventure? Hiking the gorgeous Nā Pali Coast via 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.
If you’re looking to muddy your boots, wander on over to the Kalalau Trail. The Kalalau Trail is a 22 mile round trip stretch of hiking through the Nā Pali Coast. Determined hikers and backpackers may conquer this in its entirety; however, due to limited time on the island, we only recommend tackling a 4-mile loop of the trail (you do need additional permits if you plan to hike farther than about 4 miles out). Avid hikers may consider a 4 mile hike easy peasy, but the elevation in conjunction with the muddy nature of the trail makes a 4 mile trek moderately difficult, even for experienced hikers.
Pro tip #1: A limited number of people are allowed into Haena State Park each day, so you must make reservations in advance to be admitted into the park. The tickets for daily admission go VERY quickly. They become available 30 days prior, so if you are hoping to visit Haena State Park, you should be ready to purchase your ticket early in the morning 30 days out. Spots go quickly! For more information, check out our blog post on The Kalalau Trail.
Pro tip #2: Don’t forget to screenshot your reservation before leaving your hotel/Airbnb. There is no cell service at the guard shack where you must show your reservation.
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 also 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.
DAY SIX
Queens Bath
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.
Hanalei Spirits
If you have any interest in craft distillery tours, stopping by Hanalei Spirits is an absolute MUST. You will be blown away by the heart and the history behind their spirits. You will not find a better Kauai souvenir than a bottle of their traditional Hawaiian Okolehao. Tours are done by appointment only with Vindi, who is as warm and kind as she is knowledgable about using the land to create their spirits. Be sure to schedule in advance if you’re hoping to hear their story and sample all their local spirits!
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
On the way back south, you’ll pass through the quaint town of Kapa’a. As you drive through, there’s a stretch of shops and restaurants, each more intriguing than the next. If you haven’t tried ‘lau lau’ yet, the Kahula pork lau lau at Pono Market is worth. pulling. over. for.
If you’re in the mood for some above-averagely-delicious juice, Kauai Juice Company sells a wide array of curated juices. While they are a little spendy, we tried four juices and a few different kombuchas while we were there, and wished we’d bought more! So refreshing and an amazing way to start your day!
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.
Pro tip #1: Try to snag the co-pilot seat if you can. This will have the best view as it’s the least obstructed and best for taking photographs.
Pro tip #2: While they have a handful of different time slots throughout the day, the mid-afternoon (winter) or late-afternoon (summer) is the most ideal for the perfect Nā Pali Coast views. The coastline is on the west side of the island, so if you go too early in the day, the breath-taking views are still illustrious but a little shadowed.
Kauai in Review
If you’re looking for staggering feats of nature and abounding luscious landscapes, Kauai should be at the top of your travel bucket list. We loved spending time outside, blown away by nature’s perfection. It’s also charming to explore different small towns, gaining a small appreciation for the Hawai’ian lifestyle and heritage.
When visiting the Hawaiian Islands, it’s not uncommon to try and fit in visits to more than one island. As such, this can mean figuring out how to allot your days. In our opinion, four days/three nights is the minimum you should set aside for Kauai. Curious to see what makes the top priorities list? Our four day Kauai itinerary can be found here.
Considering heading to Big Island? Check out our one week itinerary to maximize your time adventuring around this large, diverse isle.
A literal life saving queen, Kayla Grace is an Army nurse in southern California. She can be found patching patients up in the emergency department but is equally likely to be spotted out hiking or backpacking. She is also quite the coffee connoisseur, and she will go out of her way to find a local coffee shop when she visits somewhere new!
