For long stretches of golden sand beaches, great snorkeling and monk seal spotting, you will want to head over to Poipu Beach.
Poipu Beach in Kauai
Poipu Beach is located on the South Side of the island. It was a five minute drive from our condo, which was wonderful because we visited this beach three times during our stay. It is rated as one of the top beaches in the country.
Poipu Beach in Kauai
The beach is divided into two areas by a sandbar that leads out to a small ‘island’ which is a popular spot for the monk seals to come ashore and nap. The curved area above is similar to a shallow wading pool and is protected from large waves by a natural wall of volcanic rock. This area is very popular with families and beginner snorkelers. My husband snorkeled on both sides and preferred the more open waters to the right of the sandbar (top picture). Hint: if you can find an area with a rock, like the one above, and you set up about three feet behind it, it will act as a natural deterrent from others setting up too close to you.
Monk Seal at Poipu Beach in Kauai
While my husband snorkeled, I went for a walk along the shore looking for monk seals. I saw two. The area is marked off with orange cones that you need to stay behind. They are protected by law. One of the lifeguard stands is located nearby and they are happy to yell through their megaphones at anyone who tries to get closer than allowed.
Snorkeling, swimming and paddle boarding were very popular here. Our visits here were in late October and early November, during mid-week, so the beach was not crowded at all.
Chickens on the Beach!
In fact, there were more chickens on the beach than people. On the Big Island, cats are all over the place; on Kauai, it’s chickens! I found them to be incredibly entertaining. They walk around looking for food and looking for people foolish enough to give them some. If you do not give them any food, they move along and do not pester you. If you make the mistake of feeding them, you will be surrounded by chickens in no time. This mama chicken was following her chick all over the beach. I made the mistake of leaving my backpack open and the baby chick popped right up on the bag to peer inside and look for a snack.
Brennecke’s Beach in Kauai
If you walk to the far west end of the park, you will come to Brennecke’s Beach. It is a small bay that is a great place for beginner boogie boarders. The water is too tumultuous from the waves to be good for snorkeling. We walked down to look at it, but we didn’t go in the water here.
Things to Know Before You Go
- A parking lot is available across the street and parking is allowed along the street in some areas.
- The beach has lifeguards, bathrooms and showers.
- The beach is fronted by a large park with picnic tables, pavilions and a playground.
- You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, snorkel gear and more, right across the street. You can rent by the day or by the week.
- Brennecke’s Beach Broiler and Puka Dog are located across the street (food was ok, service at Brennecke’s was great, drinks were strong, fresh squeezed lemonade at Puka Dog was amazing!)
- There are some trees edging the sand, but you will want to bring an umbrella if you want shade.
- Make sure your sunscreen is safe for reefs.
- Keep food sealed until you are ready to eat unless you want to be feeding chickens.
- Use the bag the umbrella comes with as a weight. Fill it with some sand and tie it to the umbrella so you do not end up having to chase your umbrella down the beach when the wind blows.
My husband said he saw the greatest number of fish and coral here and the water was very clear and easy to see. The water is also fairly shallow pretty far out, so it’s a good spot if you are a nervous, or beginner snorkeler. He said Anini Beach, on the North Shore, had a greater diversity of things to see (eels, stingrays, lots of turtles plus fish) but the water was turbulent and more difficult to see. It’s also deeper and you have to swim farther out to see the fish. He believes in the summer, Anini would probably be a better snorkeling spot.
Our next day was supposed to include a helicopter ride, but it had to be rescheduled due to weather. We decided to drive over to Waimea Canyon to check out the lookout points since we weren’t going to be able to see it from the air that day. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.
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My Favorite Beaches
The Green Sand Beach in Hawaii
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Poipu and Brennecke’s Beach
