Fern Grotto Tour

The Fern Grotto, accessible only by a short boat trip up the Wailua River, is one of Kauai's signature attractions. Here you will see a cave cloaked with ferns and cooled by the mists of a waterfall. There was a time when the Grotto was off-limits to all but Hawaiian royalty. But for more than 50 years, riverboats have provided tours of the site. The Grotto and nearby Paradise Gardens are a popular place for wedding ceremonies. Arrangements can be made with Smith's Tropical Paradise Weddings. Another way to see Fern Grotto is to rent a kayak and paddle up the river on your own.

The trip up this historic and sacred Kauai river takes about 40 minutes via a long flat bottom riverboat. Boats depart from the south side of the river every 30 minutes. Kauai’s Wailua River is the only navigable river in Hawaii and, along with the cruise boats, kayakers, motor boats and water skiers "go with the flow". On the way to the Fern Grotto, you will encounter numerous photo opportunities of Kauai’s tropical grasslands lining the river and cloud-capped Mt. Waialeale looming in the background.

Points of interest:

• Opaekaa Falls Lookout* (No stop on February 1st & 2nd)
• Kauai Wailua River boat cruise*
• Holo-holo Ku Heiau
• Fern Grotto*

* denotes stops made

Tour operates daily. Pick-up between 2:30pm and 3:00pm and returns approximately between 5:45pm and 6:40pm, depending on hotel location.

Fern Grotto Tour

                     Regular Price     Your Online Special

Adult:            $55.50 USD      $47.17 USD
Child (4-11): $41.50 USD      $35.27 USD

Wear walking shoes, dress comfortably and have fun!

Children under the age of 4 are free and must be seated on an adult's lap. If you require a seat for a child under 4, you must purchase a child's admission.

Above prices are subject to change due to additional transportation fee depending on your hotel pickup location.

Tour may not run if closure due to repair work to Fern Grotto is scheduled.

Other tours available:
Kauai Waimea Canyon tour
Kauai Waimea Canyon & Fern Grotto tour
Kauai Hanalei Valley tour