Top 5 Beaches in Kauai
The Best Places to Go for Fun in the Sun on Hawaii's Garden Isle
Mar 13, 2009
The island of Kauai has some of the most magnificent and diverse beaches in the world. The more tropical north shore beaches are framed by lush emerald mountains, while the beaches to the far southwest can be described as almost desert-like with golden sand.
There are miles and miles of glorious beaches on Kauai, and since it's a small island it's quite feasible to explore many of them in a short trip. The only problem is, once visiting the first beach on the list, visitors may feel that they've found paradise and could end up wanting to stay there for the whole trip.
Top 5 Beaches in Kauai
These are five of the best beaches to visit on the Garden Isle.
Kee Beach
At the end of the road, on the north shore of Kauai, lies this spectacular snorkeling lagoon of turquoise water teeming with colorful reef fish, an abundance of marine life and slow-moving sea turtles. On a calm day snorkelers can enjoy this gentle pool, however swimming out past the reef to the far left is not recommended due to the strong currents there.
Kee Beach is the place to go for gorgeous tropical scenery and incredible sunsets. Arrive early when visiting Kee because parking is limited and it can be crowded at times.
Hanalei Beach
Hanalei Beach is 2-miles of white sand, framed by lush green mountains adorned with waterfalls. It is situated on the largest bay on the island. Scuba divers love it here because there is a sunken ship, that belonged to a king, that divers can explore under the water.
Hanalei is also great for taking surfing lessons in the summer months, going on a nice, long walk or just about any beach activity. The area near the pier, known as black pot, is recommended for swimming and snorkeling.
Tunnels Beach
Tunnels beach, also known as Makua, is truly a tropical paradise. It has spectacular views of Bali Hai, colorful species of marine life and a shallow reef that's great for kids. This is a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving. The outer reefs are good for more advanced ocean-goers.
Tunnels is located at the 8-mile marker after Princeville. There is little parking available, so plan to get there early.
Poipu Beach
The most popular south shore beach in Kauai is Poipu. This is one of the safest beaches to swim, surf or snorkel. Poipu's sandy shore of calm, shallow water features a protected pool-like area that is perfect for kids or novice ocean-goers.
Poipu is the most resort-like beach in Kauai, and is good for families because of the availability of facilities and nearby restaurants.
Polihale Beach
This 17-mile stretch of white sand is Hawaii's biggest beach. It's long and wide with a sand bottom. Polihale has great views of sand dunes, amazing sunsets and fantastic stargazing. It's not the best place for ocean activities because of the dangerous currents and lack of rescue support available.
Polihale is remote, and is accessible by a dirt road. It has been closed at times due to storms that have damaged these access roads to the beach.
When visiting the beautiful beaches of Kauai, it's good to be aware that the ocean can be especially dangerous in the winter months, and many of the the beaches do not have lifeguards available. The surf is smaller and calmer in the summertime, but always be cautious when entering the water.
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