Tours/Kauai/Kauai's South Side Whale and Dolphin Zodiac Boat Adventure
Viator · group up to 14 pax

Kauai's South Side Whale and Dolphin Zodiac Boat Adventure

4.5(167)Kauai1 hour
VIATOR4.4(69)TRIPADVISOR4.6(98)

Description

Experience the awe of Kauai’s whale watching season as you journey just off the island’s coast to witness the migration of Hawaii’s humpback whales. Each winter from December through May, these gentle giants make their way to Kauai’s warm waters, putting on an unforgettable show of breaching, tail slapping, and singing that delights visitors of all ages. There’s nothing like the thrill of spotting a spout on the horizon, hearing a massive splash, or catching the haunting notes of a whale’s song echoing through the ocean. Share this rare encounter with family and friends and return home with stories to last a lifetime, no snorkeling required, just pure adventure and the magic of the wild Pacific.

Tour Options

Whale & Dolphin Watch

Highlights

Guided whale and dolphin watching tour
Bottled water
Coast Guard certified captain and crew
Snacks
Dry Bag for personal belongings
Life jackets and all required safety gear

What's included

Included
Guided whale and dolphin watching tour
Bottled water
Coast Guard certified captain and crew
Snacks
Dry Bag for personal belongings
Life jackets and all required safety gear
Not included
Rain/Splash Jackets (Available for purchase)
Hotel pick-up and drop off
Gratuities
Towels
Trip Protection (No Refunds Within 24-Hour Cancellation Policy For Any Reason - No Exceptions)

Traveller Ratings

4.5
167 reviews
5
125
4
24
3
8
2
4
1
6

Important Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • All passengers must be 5 years of age or older
  • This is an ADVENTURE and not a leisure cruise.

Reviews(167)

H
Heather_H
March 25, 2026
David and Drew were great boat guides!!

David and Drew were great boat guides and captains. They were so personable, very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. We had such a great time. They pointed out wildlife, landmarks and told a lot of native, cultural facts along our tour. Great trip!

K
kerry_b
March 1, 2026
Shore to please! Best views.

We loved being close to the water and seeing the dolphins, whales, and turtles. We felt very safe and comfortable. Snacks and drinks were appreciated. The captain and crew were fabulous.

J
Julie-Dawn-Hamel
February 26, 2026
Best whale watch we’ve been on

We had the most amazing experience with Captain Drew and Keoni on our whale watch tour! They were focused on providing us with the type of adventure we were looking for, all while emphasizing safety. They were also very informative of island history. And the biggest bonus was the incredible amount of whales we encountered!! That is out of their control but we got lucky and saw lots of activity; it was so much fun!

A
allenh65
February 25, 2026
Zodiac Whale Watch Drew and Keoni

Awesome time with Drew and Keoni. Started out with some exhilarating boating, history of the coastline and island. Then the amazement started. Saw a group of whales and Drew got us setup for some spectacular watching as he followed beside them. Got some great photos of a group of 4-5 whales as they surfaced a number of times. Including some great tale shots. As the group would stay under Drew and Keoni would instinctively track the whales movement and we would see them do it all over again. As the tour continued we followed the group of whales, once they resurfaced extremely close to our zodiac. Drew kept our distance as the whales did their thing. Then one whale breached right in front of us at a close range. We were able to stay up with this group of whales the whole time we were out. As we concluded the tour, Drew and Keoni gave us one more thrill ride in. They did a great job with the history and background of Kauai. Definitely would try this tour again. Thanks Drew and Keoni.

U
U7739IAseanh
February 12, 2026
Excellent trip

Enjoyed our crew. Very knowledgeable and engaging.

N
Navigate739183
February 9, 2026
Had a Blast on the Zodiac Whale Watching tour!

We had a blast on our Whale Watching tour with our Captain, Rich, and first mate Ona. The boat ride was exciting and fun and we saw lots of whales. One, especially, put on quite a show for us! Rich and Ona were welcoming and friendly, and made sure everyone was happy and comfortable. Highly recommend!

M
Maria_C
February 6, 2026
Was an absolute high...

Was an absolute high point if our trip so far! Saw whales, turtles and sea birds. Will definitely do it again when we return and would strongly recommend for anyone who enjoys fast and bumpy! 😁

A
amandabF3041YN
February 5, 2026
BREATHTAKING

Captain Rich and Brett were AMAZING, just the best experience and best guys ever

C
Carla A
February 1, 2026
Awesome experience

Fantastic whale watching experience in a zodiac boat. Captain was attentive to safety and had a great eye for finding whales. Obviously there is no guarantee with going whale watching that you will see a whale. We were lucky. He was able to get us close to multiple whales and we had an amazing experience.

S
stevesQ4239EX
February 1, 2026
Saw Whales and Dolphins!!!!

Had a great trip this afternoon with Drew and David. Saw several whales as well as a couple large schools of spinner dolphins. Drew did a wonderful job of navigating the zodiac, positioning us for great views and photos and Dave provided interesting insights about the island, whales and dolphins. We had a 5 star afternoon!

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