Attractions for Guests of Poipu Vacation Rentals
Poipu, Kauai is one of the most popular tourist spots in Hawaii. Located on the southern portion of the island, the soft waves make for excellent swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and boogie boarding. A day's fun for vacationers staying in a Poipu condominium can also include golf, tennis, horseback riding, helicopter tours, hiking, or lounging on one of the many gorgeous beaches in the area. Companies like Kauai Vacation Tours offer a variety of Discount Kauai Activities - Zipline, Helicopter and more!Vacationers staying in Poipu Beach Kauai vacation rentals are located just 45 minutes from the world-famous Kauai Fern Grotto. Visitors can travel up the Wailua River to this natural wonder, which features ferns growing upside down from the roof of the ancient grotto, cooled by the mists of a waterfall and surrounded by colorful tropical plants.
Smith's Wailua River Cruise is a great way to see the Kauai Fern Grotto. The journey includes Hawaiian songs and stories along with a short nature walk through the rainforest to the grotto. Smith's boat tours depart daily from the Wailua Marina State Park and take about 80 minutes. Call 808-821-6895 for a current tour schedule. Tickets are around $18 for adults and $9 for children ages 2-12. Vacationers staying in a Poipu vacation rental can also rent a kayak and paddle up the river on their own.
Just west of Poipu, Koloa vacation rentals make the perfect home base for enjoying Kauai's sunny southern shore. A broken chimney that sits beside the main road marks the location of the Koloa Sugar Plantation, the first such plant successful in refining sugar in the Islands. Today, Koloa has transformed itself into a thriving tourist haven. Guests of Poipu and Koloa condos will find boutiques and restaurants lining the wooden sidewalks of this charming town.
Hikers will want to check out the Koloa Heritage Trail, a self-guided tour covering thirteen historic sites in the Poipu/Koloa area within a radius of approximately four miles. A free brochure includes a map of the trail, noting driving, bicycling, and walking routes as well as detailed information on each of the designated points of interest.
Another popular attraction for guests of Poipu house rentals is the spectacular Allerton Gardens, a unit of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. Visits to the Allerton Gardens are by guided tour only and reservations secured by a credit card are required. The tour lasts about two and a half hours. Call 808-742-2623 for reservations as early as possible. Tickets for Allerton Gardens are $35 for adults and $20 for children ages 10-12; no children under 10 allowed.
The nearby McBryde Garden offers self-guided tours on a first-come basis. Allow about an hour and a half for your tour. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12; free for children 5 and under. Tours of both gardens depart from the Visitor Center on Lawai Road, a couple of miles west of Poipu. Don't miss the spectacular Spouting Horn blow hole on Lawai Road, near the Botanical Garden Visitor Center.
On the west side of Kauai is Waimea Canyon, a magnificent natural wonder known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." The canyon, which is ten miles long, a mile wide, and more than 3,600 feet deep, changes color as clouds drift in and out of its haunting crevices. Temperatures in the canyon are about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than those on the coast.
Waimea Canyon is about an hour's drive from vacation rentals in Poipu Kauai and can be access via Waimea Canyon Road from the small town of Waimea. Several vantage points along the road offer spectacular views. Continue all the way to the end of the road, past the Koke'e Natural History Museum, to reach the Pu'uo Kila Lookout, which offers incredible views of the Kalalau Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Guests of Poipu vacation homes will find a number of great hiking trails in Waimea Canyon; pick up a trail map at the museum.
A helicopter tour of Kauai is a great way to see the spectacular natural beauty of the island's coastline, lush mountains, and cascading waterfalls. Several companies offer helicopter tours from Lihue Airport, just half an hour's drive from vacation rentals in Poipu Hawaii. Operators include Air Kauai (800-972-4666), Jack Harter Helicopters (888-245-2001), Will Squyres Helicopters (888-245-HELI), Island Helicopters (800-829-5999), and Safari Helicopters (800-326-3356). A one-hour helicopter tour costs about $250 per person.
No visit to paradise would be complete without experiencing a Hawaiian luau. Visitors staying in a Poipu Beach rental can choose from several nearby luaus, featuring traditional Hawaiian foods along with an exciting show celebrating the song and dance of the various cultures that make up Hawaii. One of the most popular luaus on the island is Smith's Garden Luau, set in a lush 30-acre garden along the Wailua River. Call 808-821-6895 for current schedules and prices.
Another popular Kauai luau is the Coconut Beach Luau, named Hawaii's most authentic luau by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. Coconut Beach Luau is located at the Resort Quest Kauai Beach at Maka'iwa (formerly the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort) on the east side of Kauai. Call 808-946-1000 for prices and schedules.
Poipu has everything a person could want in a Hawaii vacation: sun, soft surf, spectacular views, and challenging trails. Reserve your Poipu accommodations today for a fabulous Kauai vacation!
