Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in Kauai
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.
Kauai's South Side Whale and Dolphin Zodiac Boat Adventure lasts about 2h 30min.
Prices start at $158 per person for this Kauai experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Please refer to the detailed confirmation email that WE will send you once you provide all of the necessary details to finalize your reservation. **WE CANNOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS PRIOR TO GETTING TO ISLAND**. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN, ES.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 14 participants.
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 168 verified reviews; it is run by Z Tourz. Most-mentioned highlights: Guided whale and dolphin watching tour; Bottled water; Coast Guard certified captain and crew.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Enjoyed our crew. Very knowledgeable and engaging.
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!
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! 😁
Captain Rich and Brett were AMAZING, just the best experience and best guys ever
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.
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!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai's South Side Whale and Dolphin Zodiac Boat Adventure | 2h 30min | 4.5 (168) | $158 | |
 Kauai Private Doors Off Helicopter Tour: Ultimate Waterfalls | 1h 15min | 5.0 (1,784) | $425 | View |
 Kauai: NaPali Boat Tour on the Amelia K | 5 hours | 4.9 (2,034) | $227 | View |
 Kauai: Na Pali Coast Super Raft Snorkel Adventure | 4h 30min | 4.8 (1,723) | $235 | View |
 Kauai: Luxury Na Pali Snorkel Experience aboard Lady Kailani | 5 hours | 4.8 (115) | $261 | View |
 Private Kauaʻi Helicopter Experience: Doors-Off ALL WINDOW SEATS | 55 min | 4.8 (499) | $384 | View |
 Kauai: Secret Falls Kayak and Hike | 4h 30min | 4.8 (1,649) | $135 | View |