What We'd Do With 5 Days on Kauai
Bounce between Waimea’s red-dirt canyon vistas and Hanalei’s reef-rimmed bay—with a Nāpali Coast catamaran, Wailua River paddle to Secret Falls, and nightly food-truck feasts in between—all while driving no more than 80 minutes a day. Reserve your morning Nāpali boat weeks ahead, pack a rain shell, reef-safe sunscreen, and small bills for roadside fruit, and you’ll knock out Kaua‘i’s canyons, cliffs, waterfalls, and turtle-filled sunsets in five easy days.
Five days is all you need to score Kaua‘i’s essential canyons, cliffs, waterfalls, and beaches without marathon drives. Spend two nights in Waimea for red-dirt vistas, then three in Hanalei for north-shore reefs and taro-valley views. One daylight drive a day—never longer than 80 minutes—keeps the steering to a minimum and the scenery to a maximum.
Trip Cheat Sheet
- Beds: Nights 1–2 Waimea town, Nights 3–5 Hanalei
- Total driving: ≈ 195 mi over five days
- Reserve early: Morning Nāpali Coast boats (smoothest seas; sell out 3–4 weeks out)
- State-park pass: Waimea Canyon & Kōkeʻe parking $10/vehicle + $5/person
- Pack: Rain shell, hiking shoes, snorkel set, reef-safe zinc, $1s for fruit stands
When to Visit (Discover-friendly season snapshot)
- Winter (Dec–Mar) – Greenest foliage, biggest north-shore surf, frequent sun showers; humpback whales often visible from Po‘ipū.
- Spring (Apr–May) – Shoulder-season sweet spot: roaring waterfalls, smaller crowds, mellow seas for Nāpali boats.
- Summer (Jun–Aug) – Hot, calm ocean on the north shore, south-shore surf naps. Great snorkel visibility; carry extra water on canyon hikes.
- Fall (Sep–Nov) – Warm water, mango stands everywhere, fewer visitors. Afternoon tradewinds stronger—book early-morning boat tours.
Smart-Bag Checklist
- Lightweight rain shell (mist rolls in fast)
- Broken-in trail shoes or sturdy sandals
- Dry bag & quick-dry towel for boat days
- Spare swimsuit + long-sleeve rash guard
- Reef-safe sunscreen & red-light headlamp (for stargazing)
- Plenty of $1 bills for coconut, lychee, banana-bread stands
Day 1 — Waimea Canyon Sunrise & Polihale Sunset
Edmund Lowe Photography/Shutterstock
5:30 AM: Drive the red-dirt switchbacks to Waimea Canyon overlook
8:00 AM: One-mile Iliau Nature Loop (tiny lot; beat the tour vans)
12:00 PM: Coconut-shrimp plate at Shrimp Station, Waimea town
3:00 PM: Sand-track cruise to Polihale; picnic until sunset
At 5:55 AM the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” flashes ember-orange while clouds drift like slow smoke 3,000 feet below. Iliau shrubs burst neon May–July; outside that window the loop still smells of white ginger. Polihale’s access road is soft sand—drop tire pressure a touch or park back from the drift line. Surf roars, no lifeguards; stay waist-deep.
Day 2 — Canyon Trail & Kalalau Stars
Edmund Lowe Photography/Shutterstock
6:45 AM: Hike the 3-mile Canyon Trail to 800 ft Waipo‘o Falls
11:30 AM: Chili & cornbread at Kōkeʻe Lodge
2:00 PM: Museum + Pu‘u o Kila & Kalalau ridge lookouts
7:00 PM: Gate closes—stargaze from Kalalau pull-off
Cool 60 °F air smells of pine; rust, olive, and brick-red cliffs layer like Neapolitan ice cream. White-tailed tropicbirds carve figure eights overhead. If afternoon clouds threaten the lookouts, flip the order—views first, hike later. After dark switch headlamps to red; the Milky Way unspools over knife-edge ridges.
Day 3 — Nāpali Catamaran & Hanalei Slow-Roll
Fominayaphoto/Shutterstock
7:00 AM: Catamaran departs Port Allen (spinner-dolphin escort)
12:30 PM: Fish tacos at Hanalei food-truck court
3:00 PM: Paddleboard glassy Hanalei Bay
6:30 PM: Slack-key guitar + mai tais at Tahiti Nui
Morning seas are flattest—nabbing the 7 AM boat helps dodge seasickness. Nāpali’s 3,000-ft spires look carved by dragons; no road will ever reach them. Back on shore, park at Wai‘oli Beach and walk to the truck court—taco queues move faster when you order online. SUP rentals include a dry bag; paddle to Hanalei Pier for Instagram-worthy backflips at golden hour.
Day 4 — Wailua River Jungle & North-Shore Reefs
Wailua, Kauai, Hawaii, USA. October 18, 2019. A couple spending time outdoors for exercise while floating down the Wailua River/Michael Barajas/Shutterstock
8:00 AM: Kayak Wailua River + muddy half-mile to 120 ft Secret Falls
1:00 PM: Lilikoi shave ice over mac-nut ice cream
3:30 PM: Kīlauea Lighthouse seabird refuge (Wed–Sat, book online)
6:45 PM: Reef snorkel + sunset at Tunnels Beach
Hau branches knit a tunnel above jade water; egrets launch soundlessly. Wear throwaway sneakers—the trail to Secret Falls turns to clay soup after rain. Mobile-order shave ice while still on the river. For Tunnels, the small dirt lot by mile 8 empties after 5 PM—perfect timing for a sunset snorkel.
Day 5 — Hidden Coves & South-Shore Finale
Sahani Photography/Shutterstock
6:30 AM: Sunrise stroll on Anini’s ankle-deep sandbar
10:00 AM: Queen’s Bath tide-pool dip (low tide < 1 ft only)
12:30 PM: Garlic shrimp & haupia pie in Kapa‘a truck court
4:00 PM: Rainbow plumes at Spouting Horn blowhole
6:30 PM: Po‘ipū Beach sunset—often with dozing honu
Anini’s lagoon warms like bathwater; perfect barefoot coffee walk. Skip Queen’s Bath if surf tops 3 ft—fatal rogue waves are a monthly headline. Spouting Horn’s rainbow plume peaks on sunny days just after 4 PM. End the trip on Po‘ipū’s gold sand: green sea turtles haul out at dusk, and conversations drop to whispers.
Responsible-Travel Checklist
- Apply reef-safe sunscreen 15 min before swimming.
- Stay behind railings at Queen’s Bath—rogue waves kill.
- Give monk seals & turtles 10 ft of space (state law).
- Stick to marked trails; rare Kōkeʻe plants root only inches deep.
Cost Snapshot 2025
- Nāpali catamaran (5 hr) ≈ $220 pp
- Wailua kayak + permit ≈ $65 pp
- Waimea Canyon parking/entry $10 vehicle + $5 pp
- Food-truck plate lunch $14 – 18
Kaua‘i Food-Truck Crawl
Hanalei, Hawaii US – July 25, 2024: Wishing Well, a cute small food truck store selling organic and traditional shave ice, acai, smoothies, coffee and more, Hanalei, north shore Kauai, Kuhio Hwy/Bluestork/Shutterstock
- Hanalei Food-Truck Court, Wailua Shave Ice, Kickshaws (Kapa‘a), Da Crack (Po‘ipū)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is five days really enough for Kauai?
Absolutely. Two nights west for canyons, three up north for cliffs and beaches cover Kaua‘i’s signature landscapes without marathon driving.
When does it rain the most on Kauai?
December–March bring the heaviest squalls, but brief showers can pop up any month—keep that rain shell from the smart-bag list close at hand.