Fern grotto kauai all you need to know before you go. Discover the kauai vacation rentals youve been dreaming of. Fern grotto the most romantic spot in kauai, hawaii. Directions to smiths tropical paradise and fern grotto tour. The fern grotto is a shallow cave near the base of a ferncovered volcanic mountain. The grotto acts like an amphitheatre, and musicians are drawn to the site for its incredible natural acoustics. Kauai is among the most beautiful and remote islands in the world. The idea of a private cottage with river access, kayaks, a stand up paddleboard, snorkel gear, and bicycles is what sold us on the fern grotto inn. The path to the fern grotto is not strenuous but a walk. This tour captures the very best of the garden isle of kauai visit waimea canyon state park and then enjoy a tranquil boat cruise up the wailua river to fern grotto.
The grotto was damaged in a hurricane 30 years ago and is growing back but close able to enter, is no longer available. We visited the fern grotto with smiths fern grotto tours. Fern grotto is a fern covered, lava rock grotto located on the south fork of the wailua river, which is on the eastern side of kauai in the hawaiian archipelago. It is actually a lava rock grotto located along the banks of the wailua river on the eastern side of the island. Only accessible by boat or kayak, the fern grotto is located about two miles up kauai s wailua river, the only navigable river in the state of hawaii.
Find downloadable kauai maps, travel information and more. Ferns grow upside down from the roof of the grotto, which was formed millions of years ago. Occupying 552 square miles, kauai is circular in shape with lush, mountainous regions in its center and beaches covering almost half its shoreline. Waimea canyon is one of kauai s top natural attractions. Wailua river cruise to fern grotto tour hawaii discount. Many dramatic ocean views will also delight you as. Operating a resort of wooden plantation cottages built in 1942 in a humid, tropical paradise is no easy task. We went upriver with the smith boatsa family business that has been on the wailua river for years and happily discounts seniors. Aug 06, 20 this introduction to kauai, the garden isle, features two of the areas most dramatic natural attractions. Kauai wailua river, fern grotto and luau excursion. Neighborhood east side transportation free shuttle from wailua area. The fern grotto was a wonderful excursion at the end of the day and featured the fern grotto with local entertainment playing hawaiian songs and performing the the hawaiian wedding dance. Hugging the rivers edge are a wealth of native hawaiian plants and a bounty of exotic plants and palmssnap photos and keep your eyes peeled for island.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible yearround. Kauai fern grotto and garden weddings smiths kauai. Fern grotto, kauai, hawaii kauai hawaii, kauai vacation. Kauai, hawaiis fourth largest island, is separated into five main regions.
Large kauai island maps for free download and print high. Wailua river state park consists mainly of the lush wailua river valley and the wailua river, which is the only navigable river in hawaii. In between we made various stops at interesting points along the way. There was a time when the grotto was offlimits to all but hawaiian royalty. During your allday tour, the lush vegetation, covering all altitudes, will surround you from towering eucalyptus trees projecting from the 3,500foot cliffs to waterfalls crashing down deep valleys and ferncovered grottos. This attraction is known primarily as the most romantic spot on the island of kauai, and the area can be rented for weddings. Take a journey of songs and legends on the wailua river with smiths motor boat company to kauais fern grotto. Discover some of the garden isles most enchanting landscapes and cultural attractions on a fullday kauai sightseeing tour by coach. Tucked on the east side of the island in historic kapaa town, fern grotto inn offers authentic oldstyle plantation cottages with islandinspired furnishings and modern amenities. During your allday tour, the lush vegetation, covering all altitudes, will surround you from towering eucalyptus trees projecting from the 3,500foot cliffs to waterfalls crashing down deep valleys and fern covered grottos. Fern grotto is an environmental wonderment on the east side of kaua. This area is protected and maintained as part of the wailua river state park, a treasure to the state of hawaii and its residents.
The explorer george vancouver stopped at waimea, kauais first port, in 1792. Several boat companies give river tours which lead to the grotto. Cruise kauais historical wailua river and visit the famous lush fern grotto in a flatbed boat. Fern grotto the most romantic spot in kauai, hawaii only. The 90 minute kauai fern grotto tour takes you along the fertile banks of the wailua river, an area that gets its water from one of the wettest spots on planet earth. Its a gentle boat ride down the river to the grotto.
Smiths fern grotto wailua river cruise sharing songs and legends of the wailua river. Kauai fern grotto wailua river cruise kauai vacation tours. Mar 27, 2016 once the sacred capital of ancient kauai and the birthplace of island royalty, the wailua river is a beautiful sight to behold. The river trip is nice and the boat comfortable for the 20 min. Fern grotto is one of kauai s signature attractions. The trail is primarily used for nature trips and bird watching. This attraction is known primarily as the most romantic spot on the island of kauai, and the area can be rented for. Detailed and highresolution maps of kauai island, usa for free download. A late afternoonevening combination that includes a cruise up the wailua river to the fern grotto and a polynesian dinner and south pacific experience at the islands most popular luau. The natural cave was formed millions of years ago, and it is now completely covered by ferns and exotic tropical flowers.
The fern grotto has a long history on kauai, and though its really not much to look at, visitors seem to like it. Best trails in wailua river state park kauai, hawaii alltrails. Fern grotto kauai 2020 all you need to know before you go. At the fern grotto landing, enjoy a short nature walk through the rainforest to the lush fern grotto, one of kauais top natural attractions. Accessible only by a short boat trip up the wailua river, the grotto is a natural lavarock grotto, lush with hanging ferns and tropical foliage, cooled by the mists of a waterfall. The worldfamous fern grotto and smiths family luau can be found upriver, and the river mouth empties into brilliant hanalei bay. Fern grotto kauai 2020 all you need to know before you. It is overgrown with a variety of ferns and other tropical vegetation and is truly a sight to behold. Explore kauai at your own pace with this audio tour app that uses gps to guide you to and around some of the islands top attractions. Luakini heiau no two heiau were constructed alike but there are certain features that are common to all luakini heiau. Kauai is truly an island of love, and wailuas fern grotto and our own tropical paradise offer two of the most unique wedding sites in the world. The results are cliffs thousands of feet high, complete with green valleys, towering waterfalls and hidden sea caves.
However, the boat we took to the grotto was full and we all had to queue up to walk to a deck to view the ferns and then follow each other back to the dock. Explore some of kauais most beautiful spots which will demonstrate why this island is known as the garden isle. Fern grotto, an overgrown, fernfringed lava cave, located on the wailua river on the eastern side of kauai near the town wailua. This lovely grotto draped with yardlong ferns and known for the acoustics in its natural amphitheater, has undergone a major facelift. Fern grotto inn offers you old style cottages in a tropical garden. Lihue, the east side coconut coast, the north shore, the south shore and the west side. Take a short nature walk to find a natural lava amphitheater, where the fern plants grow from the ceiling. The grotto forms a natural amphitheater with extraordinary acoustics. Native hawaiian plants and colorful exotic tropical plants provide a rainforest atmosphere.
Once offlimits to all but hawaiian royalty, the fern grotto is now accessible to visitors, but only by boat. And located off the river, at the base of mauna kapu also known as forbidden mountain is the magical fern grotto, known for its ferns that grow upside down from the roof of the grotto. Kayak to fern grotto closed kauai, hawaii alltrails. Fern grotto inn best kauai vacation rentals and cottages. Take a leisurely cruise up the wailua river, hawaiis only navigable river through ancient royal lands, to one of the islands most popular sites, the tropical fern grotto. We sat at the back of the boat and could not hear the narrative due to poor speaker angles and the noise of the engine. At the fern grotto landing, youll enjoy a short nature walk through the rainforest to the lush fern grotto. The fern grotto was the perfect place to stay for our trip. First off let me say our tour guide rosario was fantastic he gave. The naturallyformed lava cave is dripping in ferns and enveloped by lush plant life, creating a gorgeous vista. The grotto was damaged in a hurricane 30 years ago and is growing back but close able to enter, is no longer. Peer into the majestic, multicolored expanse of waimea canyon, be surrounded by the lush tropical paradise of the fern grotto and learn about sacred hawaiian legends on a cruise down the wailua river. Oct 30, 20 for many years, one kauais mustdo activities has been to take a guided boat trip up the wailua river to see the fern grotto.
Add to the mix a memorable boat ride on the wailua river and you have one of the oldest kauai activities on the island the fern grotto has been the site of 19,000 kauai weddings and a. Fern grotto is one of kauais signature attractions. Water has been restored to the grotto walls and the ferns are once again. This river boat tour is complete with entertainment, dancing and beautiful, lush forests which are great for photos. Visitors can take boat tours to see the rainforest. After a decade of neglect, one of kauais bestknown destinations has been restored to its original grandeur. Artists rendering of poliahu heiau as it may have looked as a luakini heiau in the 1700s. Poipu stretches around makahuena point and is a spectacle to any onlooker.
Smiths luau and fern grotto tours hawaii activities. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The history of the main plantation cottage ohana house is incredibly interesting. At the fern grotto landing, enjoy a short nature walk through the rainforest to the lush fern grotto, one of kauai s top natural attractions. The area has been a famous wedding site due to its natural, cathedrallike setting and acoustics. On kauais east side, the fern grotto is one of kauais signature attractions.
Ive stayed in plenty of hotels and its nice to simply have your own homeawayfromhome and not pay resort fees or tip people when you want something simple. The highlight of this tour is fern grotto, a fern covered lava cave situated in the middle of a tropical rainforest. The excursion took a boat ride up the wailua river to the fern grotto. The fern grotto river boat tour is a fantastic option for kauai sightseeing. We had not returned to the fern grotto for 36 years, and with so many visitors, pollution, etc, did not know if we would still find it beautiful. Lihue lihue is kauai s main hub what you could call. Jun 25, 2018 the kauai fern grotto is one of our top things to do in kauai.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, and nature trips and is accessible yearround. We were not able to book a cottage for our entire day stay on kauai however, so we sacrificed day 9 as moving day, and spent our last 4 days on the island in the coco c cottage. For easy island living, look no further than fern grotto inns vacation rentals on kauais coconut. The kauai fern grotto is one of our top things to do in kauai. The biggest attractions here are the perfect beaches around the poipu area and spouting horn, a blowhole that releases a spout of water up to 20 feet into the air. Fern grotto, kauai, hawaii for my honeymoon fern grotto kauai beautiful boat cruise havent done this yet but kayaked past the river cruise fern grotto, kauaiwe got married here in candle light in 1991 fern grotto kauai beautiful boat cruise, hawaiian music, and then a hike to the fern grotto.
Dear valued customers, to prevent the spread of the covid19 virus, hawaiis state parks have closed indefinitely. The fern grotto is a large natural amphitheater with hundreds of ferns draped from it. Our kauai island map outlines some of the beautiful places on the garden isle. Fern grotto, an overgrown, fern fringed lava cave, located on the wailua river on the eastern side of kauai near the town wailua. Here you will find some of the most popular natural wonders in all hawaii. This area is sacred to hawaiians as the birthplace of ancient kauai s alii royalty. The fern grotto has been the site of 19,000 kauai weddings and a performance of the hawaiian wedding song remains a highlight on the guided tour. Add to the mix a memorable boat ride on the wailua river and you have one of the oldest kauai activities on the island.
Choosing the island of kauai for your destination wedding is the perfect way to start the planning of your special day. Adventure seekers can opt out of the tour for a self guided kauai kayaking. Kauai attractions and places to explore give you a brief summary, photos and directions to places to see on kauai. It was great riding on the boat, going up the river, seeing the scenery. A historic cave with ferns cascading from its ceiling, tucked inside a lush rain forest laden with tropical plants, are just two of the pleasures our kauai vacation rental guests can enjoy at the fern grotto. The walk from the river to the grotto goes through rain forest and is very scenic. On kauais eastern shore, this park has everything to offer lush forests. Only accessible by boat or kayak, the fern grotto is located about two miles up kauais wailua river, the only navigable river in the state of hawaii. Perhaps its the serenity of just cruising up and down the river accompanied by. Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy unique sights of kauai and surrounding area.
The grotto is a cave of lush ferns growing on the cave walls as a result of moisture seeping from the irrigation of sugarcane growing on the cliff plateau. Kauai fern grotto tour smiths adventures, wailua river. Two scenic waterfalls, opaekaa falls and wailua falls, reside within the park. Web site fern grotto other tours via smiths motor boats 8088216895 depart at 9. Once youve turned off the highway, just follow the drive all the way back to the parking area. Fern grotto and wailua river two kauai activities kauai. Kauai wailua river and fern grotto excursion nawiliwili. Smiths tropical paradise and the fern grotto tour are located in the wailua marina state park on the east side of the island. Once an exclusive destination for hawaiian royalty, the only way you can reach the grotto is via boat up the wailua river, which is the only navigable river in the state of hawaii. Please see the following pdf for a detailed list of pickup times and locations.
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