Poipu Beach Park Reviews

The turtles were so amazing - they come up to sleep every night. Any where from 1-50- not joking!!! Be respectful. Across the street is puka dogs, it was yummy

The beach is really nice. Turtles and seals were visiting while we were there. Plenty of the wild chickens around. A must stop, Puka Dog!

We spent a pleasant day at Poipu Beach Park where we saw several large turtles on the beach and a monk seal sleeping in the sand. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy the sunshine and walk along the beach. There were public restrooms but they were pretty gross and the showers outside did not work so it wasn't possible to wash off the sand. We were there on a Sunday and it was crowded.

A really good beach with lots of room. The sea turtles arrive around 6 p.m. each evening. We saw as many as 16. We also saw seals on the beach and dolphins.

There is a large grassy area and covered picnic tables.

We were fortunate that this beach was only a 5 minute walk from our rented condo so we would stroll down most evenings. Also a nice spot to watch the sunset.

Definitely have this on your to-do list.

Had a great time and this is a nice beach with parking, not much on Kauai offers parking. The floor has plenty of rocks so having shoes or flippers will be important. The sea turtles were on the beach and a fun feature.

magnificent place. ideal combination of a great beach for those in the family wanting to relax and a reef to explore for those more into adventure. we enjoyed both. top class beach

This beach area has two things going in its favor:
- the waters are really shallow - it's like knee or waist deep, so it's perfect for the kids. If you go closer to the rocks, the waters are so shallow that the toddlers can stand there. Yet, there are actually pretty big fish swimming around, so it's fine for beginner snorkeling. Plus, there are life guards.

- the turtles come and rest for the night. They will literally swim up to the beach and sun themselves. There are docents who make sure that the turtles are unharmed while on the beach, this is great. But there are those out there who literally stick their underwater cameras with selfie sticks right in front of them, and some of them follow the turtle around to the point that the turtle could not get on the beach. It was frustrating to watch such people disturbing nature.

This place is definitely a must for everyone, as long as they respect the space for the turtles and the seals (these animals have their designated safe zones on the beach, which interestingly seem to know).

Wonderful beach for swimming, surfing, & snorkeling. But the best part was seeing the turtles come up at dusk onto the beach. Amazing! There was also a monk seal taking a nap on the beach when we arrived. They do rope off the area to respect the seals and give space for the turtles. The sunset here was also beautiful.

One of the most beautiful beaches on Kauai!
We went there early in the morning and I recommend it because there are fewer people.
Suitable for both children and adults.
We found two very large turtles... truly incredible!!!
It is still possible to do a bit of snorkelling although as the water is shallow the coral reef has obviously been affected... what a shame!
There is ample free parking which is unique as it has never happened to me in the USA!

Beach with a shallow lagoon for snorkeling and a long strip of waves for surfing. There are camping tables, bathrooms and a restaurant with hot dogs and drinks. In the mornings a dozen large green turtles come out to sun themselves and rest.

Nice beach. Lots of sand and grass as well. Turtles visit every evening to nest.
Lifeguards stand
At one end as well as park rangers to tell about the turtles and keep them safe.

Extension happy hour time. Minimum 1900 hrs.
Good Drinking time for after 1830hrs. Normal office hours 1700 hrs.very difficulty to meet time for 1830hrs.

Everyone told us Poipou was beautiful, man were they right. Early morning drive from our condo and found parking around 10. Was about to snag a spot near the closest lifeguard tower. Made lunch and brought with us. Beautiful scenery, water was warm and crystal clear. Sand was soft but hot in the sun. A packed beach on a Sunday. Even watched our a visiting seal basque in the sun all day. What an experience.

Perfect place for Snorkeling. We also saw a sea turtle right on the beach. There is plenty of picnic tables, shade and kids playground. Restaurants within walking distance as well

Can be a bit crowded but very nice sand beach. Bathrooms are awful. Was able to see Monk Seals on the beach!

After having spent the first half of our trip on the more isolated North Shore (as a result of the restricted access via the Kuhio Highway), Poipu Beach was a let-down. Perhaps if it had been our first stop, we would have been more pleased. The area is made up of small coves with limited and steep beaches against a backdrop of corporate resorts.

We thoroughly enjoyed Poipu Beach Park, especially its turtles. This is a popular beach and for very good reason. I do hope to return.

Poipu beach was beautiful but VERY busy it is the go-to beach. The sea turtles and the sea lions come up on shore and you can snorkel with them too - just keep your distance. the day we were here it was very hot and very worth the beach day. We brought our snorkel gear and checked out all the underwater scenery. definately recommend!

Poipu beach is one of Kauai's south beaches! Dry and sunny all day. It's nestled with resorts and condos. Parking is fantastic and free, close to the beach. The park has showers to clean off the sand and bathroom. It also has picnic shelters. Thinner beaches with lifeguards, the beach drops off and has rocks all over. The current is dangerous so please listen to the lifeguards.

Great beach to snorkel and it was so cool to see the turtles and monk seal on shore, but not great for swimming. We did see quite a few different fish while snorkeling. This beach was so talked up about being one of the best, but I found it overcrowded and the rocks and coral made it uncomfortable to be in if you were not interested in snorkeling.

Love this beach, been coming since I was very little, very nice waves and swimming, but has gotten a lot busier over the years. Boogeyboarding at Brenneneckies next door is amazing, and make sure you check out the shave ice and deli! Saw lots of turtles too which was fantastic!

Way too crowded. Too many tourists. Which is why the turtles don’t come so if you want to see turtles don’t come here. Sunset here was very nice. Riptides snow cone or shredded ice place was super close but other than that not the best beach.

This is a busy but fun beach with good snorkel opportunity and the day we were there, a big sea turtle came to the shore to visit.

Too crowded for my personal taste. Clean beach. Lifeguard, showers, lots of parking spaces are available. There were about 10 sea turtles lying on the beach sunbathing.

Great beach, clean, busy.
Lots of attractions - sea lions and turtles up on shore resting/sleeping.
Lots of parking
Loved it

This beach was outstanding. Really good snorkeling and swimming. I would recommend bringing water shoes as there are some rocks in water. Both days there was saw Turtles and Hawaii Monk Seals come ashore. This is our favorite beach in Kauai.

We went at sunset. Beautiful beach, fun to see the sea turtles & monk seals. Too many clueless people crowding to really let the wildlife who inhabit the area come up. Would be better if people had the sense to back up and let the monk seals & turtles have the space they need & deserve.

We've eaten our Puka Dog twice here and it is a nice place to eat. There are plenty of tables tho weekend might be too busy.

Beautiful views of the lush green mountains and foliage and the roll of the waves. Enjoy the warm sand as you relax to the sound of the surf.

Relatively crowded but not overly so (mid-afternoon, midweek). While we were there, two monk seals came right up onto the beach! The lifeguard had to keep warning people that they were wild animals. So cool to see!

Very nice but busy beach. Turtles and monk seals abound. Don’t forget to admire from afar. And if near the seals be ready for them to switch positions. Wear good water shoes, rock abounds

Calm surf, good snorkeling, nice sunset. This is THE place to see turtles after sunset and early AM ( 6 am). Showers and picnic tables too!

The snorkeling and surfing were great but we also enjoyed viewing the wildlife on shore. Community volunteers were on duty each day and evening to create safety zones for the beached seals and turtles. They were still easily visible. One evening we counted more than 20 turtles.

We saw several turtles on the beach each day we came. There are bathrooms and a few places to eat. The ocean floor is very rocky and not sandy, but it makes for great snorkeling. We saw tons of fish

Great beach and nice boogie boarding. Stay until sunset and watch all the turtles come up on the beach. The best free experience on the island.

Quite a lovely place with grass, covered picnic area & water suitable for toddlers up to snorklers! We were staying almost next door at Waiohai Beach Club so it was a 5 minute beach stroll from our home base, often strewn with monk seals and green sea turtles every day of our stay. Visitors were respecting the resting wild life and the dedicated volunteers were kept busy by the frequently moving turtles and seals. The most turtles seen at one time by various family members were 72 sea turtles after sunset one evening! In the early hours after 7AM, usually only a few, but Brenneke’s coffee and bakery shop across the street is open early for pleasant beach snack at the picnic benches.

We have been here twice during our stay on Kauai and the beach gives nice opportunities to snorkel as well as see turtles live and up close.

This was by far the best beach we went to for snorkeling. We saw 6 turtles on the beach as well as a seal! They were all so cute!! There were also tons of fish iin the calm waters right off of shore!

Its a decent beach, its very crowded. We did see the monk sea basking on the beach and some turtles in the water. Its okay, but nothing special here.

Way crowded and rough waters. The rocky ocean floor tore up my kids' feet and knees. We literally left bloody. Apparently there are 2 sides to this beach - the one for surfing and the one for families. Yes, we were on the correct, calmer side. It was awful. The good thing about this beach is there are clean bathrooms and changing rooms.

couple different places to snorkel, we found the one just past the main beach, in front of the hotel the best spot, it was a little deeper so you could actually move around more without scraping your knees on the rocks and coral .

This beach was such a find for us! We started at the beach in front of the Sheraton and it was a bit rough for us to be honest! We were staying at the Koloa Landing Resort (check out my in depth review on that incredible Marriott Autograph Collection property) so we had access to umbrella rentals, etc. but we were looking for novice level seas, some snorkeling, swimming, that sort of thing. Our hotel recommended Poipu Beach and it was only a short, 4 minute drive by car and there is also a path to walk to it if you want.

First, get there early for parking! Second, bring shade if you need it unless you plan to sit under the canopy with picnic tables. It’s nice, but it’s a bit back from the beach. We rented an umbrella and although it got windy, our umbrella worked out great!

There is an active lifeguard tower and they are working hard to keep folks safe. Although there is a protected area to swim, there is also a section where the tides converge and they were constantly monitoring and using the megaphone to tell folks to come back in.

There is a cute little island just across the way and there were plenty of fish to see! We even saw them right up my close to the shore! And if you get lucky, you will see a turtle or two on the shore as it is mating season now and we saw 3 large turtles out there! Also, there is a place near the shaded picnic tables to spray yourself off, I just did not see any restrooms.

We enjoyed the snorkeling there. There are some rocks that have to be negotiated but well worth the effort. There are life guards and a shallow area ideal for children.

Calm enough durning the day to snorkel. Nice variety of fish to see but reef is quite grey.
Bring a beach chair and umbrella.
Some days you can find people placing volleyball.
Nice eateries close and free parking lot available.
Can be quite busy

Check it out first for snorkeling. There is just one less-rocky place to enter the water for snorkeling. But there are sea turrles hanging around at a big rock not far out.

Poipu Beach is our favorite beach to visit, only 5 minutes away from where we were staying. We visited Poipu Beach Park nightly to see the Turtles (Honu) swim up to rest, don't use flashlights, the most we saw in one night was 18. We laid on the beach, the Monk Seals caught some sun rays with us then we snorkeled and got to swim with different Turtles (Honu) on two different days for a minimum of 30 minutes. We saw so many different fish from Wrasses to Trigger Fish to Butterfly and Yellow Tangs to Snowflake Eels. It was the most exhilarating beach and snorkeling experience my girlfriend and I have ever experienced and the day ended with a gorgeous sunset. There's a grassy area with picnic benches to sit on if you don't want to sit on the beach.

Great spot for snorkeling. Lots of grass further back from the sand with a moderate amount of palm trees to offer some shade. Covered picnic tables. Showers. Rental shop across the street has snorkel gear, boogie boards, and surfboards. Deli shop with hot dogs and snow cones. Life guards.
Lots and lots of fish, I even saw a turtle.

This is the best beach! Very shallow- you can walk out and still be waist deep. It's good to have water shoes. Snorkel is amazing, AND after lunch, the turtles come in to take a nap on the beach! I could watch this all day long!

This is where green sea turtles come to sleep at night. They usually start coming in around sundown and leave at sunrise. We saw about 25 that day.

My wife and I sat here for over an hour watching the sunset and watching all the turtles come in. It was cool to see and the beach and water look nice for young families too as the water looked calmer. Started at 12 turtles and ended up with 28 before we left and I imagine more were coming in, they say they get up to 50 normally according to local volunteers there protecting the turtles so people don’t get too close.

With unreal snorkeling and an idyllic stretch of sand, we loved our morning here and wish we had time to return. We watched two large sea turtles laying in the sun and then later dragging themselves back into the ocean. Not very challenging to snorkel as the best spots are within the shallow, protected bay, where the fish are plentiful and the coral shows encouraging signs of color.

This was a recommendation & it did not disappoint. There was plenty of room for small & larger groups, including further down the beach.
At the time (a May weekday 2025), parking was getting sparse across the street, yet there wasn't a line on the street looking for a spot. We also found a business that rented umbrellas & chairs all day for a reasonable price. If you can't find a spot on the beach to sit, there is a grass area with picnic tables within close proximity to the water.
Aside from the black crabs on the rocks & the sea turtles coming ashore. snorkeling seemed popular with some decent results. Outside of the inlet was good surfing waves.
I can't guarantee what happens on the weekend, holidays, or during warmer weather with the crowds, but if you can be here on a weekday, it might be better

We sat at one of the picnic benches in this park to eat our Puka Dog, which I highly recommend. There is a big pavilion and picnic tables scattered around. Most have shade, so do not. We had no issue grabbing a table this time of year. We sat and ate and enjoyed the sounds of ocean for about 25 minutes. There is a playground for kids and a public restroom also available.

The beach itself was not to crowded considering to is in close proximity to lots of hotels & resorts. We were there early afternoon so we missed the turtles coming up onto the beach. You could see where they rope off for the turtles to try to keep tourist from getting to close.

We did find an old pay phone booth that still had the phones in the booth! I thought that was pretty fun! The park itself is nice, the beach is beautiful but busy. We did walk to the other side of the beach where it was very rocky. Also beautiful here.

Free parking directly across the street was convenient. Watching the many turtles crawl ashore to sunbathe was a delightful show.

We visited on a Saturday yet it was still peaceful. No loud music. Lots of families.

Worth a visit.

If I could offer one piece of advise, its to BRING WATER SHOES. I'm so glad we had them in the car. The entrance into the water is rocky with lots of divots. I observed lots of people entering the water with their arms spread, trying to balance themselves from falling. Once we put on the water shoes, it was a lot easier to get in. The water was crystal clear and the snorkeling is fantastic. I saw more fish here than I saw on our snorkeling expedition. There are 2 lifeguards who are continuously telling people to "not mess with the wildlife" and to move in closer". I felt super safe here. When we were here, there was a large turtle who was making its way to the beach.

May be good for snorkeling but NOT swimming. Very rocky. several kids got their legs cut up. Bathrooms are really disgusting.

We were there today and it was honestly kind of disgusting how people were acting around the beach. They seemed to be keeping an okay distance from the turtles and there were several volunteers answering questions. My main concern here is that we witnessed someone run over and kill a young chicken. They immediately left and it had seizures/convulsions(?) until it died. We told a shop owner and he said no one cares about the chickens. Our waiter at dinner told us not to mourn the chicken and that it didn’t matter at all. Probably 30 minutes later, we saw 4 people put a rooster into a garbage can and shake it until the rooster starting crying.

We were here in Feb 2022. This is a well-kept and popular beach. Protected waters are very safe for kids. Get here early in the day and go to the east end of the beach to find sea turtles snoozing. Covered picnic benches are available to bring your lunch.

Ample free parking just across from a beautiful Kauai beach. Lifeguard on duty and areas for small children to adventurous adults. A Hawaiian monk seal was sunbathing on the beach right in front of the lifeguard tower as if he owned the place. Snorkeling to the west we quickly found a variety of fish including moorish idol fish and a large female sea turtle munching along the rocks. Great place to enjoy all beach acetivities.

The shopping center is truly impressive. First, the location of the center is very convenient, located right in the middle of the city center, the location is favorable, but also the variety of stores and brands. From top fashion stores to brands. Product quality. The service staff is very friendly and enthusiastic. They are always willing to support and help customers in any situation

Highly over rated, too many people, too many people snorkeling that have no idea what they are doing. If you want a quiet beach or a good snorkeling beach drive around a fund a place to have your solitude.

The beach was super busy around sunset. I stopped by for dinner and to catch sunset. Amazing! I saw 10 sea turtles! Even though the beach was busy it was right out of a postcard!

Very nice beach to hang out. We saw (up close) a sea lion and turtle sun bathing which was an unexpected and unique experience. Right across the street is puka dog which was delicious.

Strong current in summer but still beautiful with monk seals laying on the beach. Always see a turtle or two here. Easy nearby parking and facilities.

I love it there. In fact, it’s my favorite beach! (Tip: it’s pronounced Poi-poo.
Altogether, Poipu! ;)

Lots of fish 🐠 for snorkeling. Kiddie area for the little guys. We had two monk seals come into the beach area and play for hours! So much fun to watch them- they were friendly and hammed it up for the tourists!

We wanted a beach with facilities. Here were toilets, showers, a beach but also grass to park on. Enough parking spaces. We also found shady spots under the palm trees. It's always a good idea to move with the sun haha.

Be sure to bring water shoes. You get out of the water a little more charming. The sea was a bit restless for us, but you can walk to a bay. Also safer for children.
When we were there, 50 meters from us were the turtles coming out of the water and 50 meters in the other direction the sea lions. Still very special. Sometimes you don't even notice that a turtle is swimming past you (if he/she comes from the sea) from the beach you just follow the herd of tourists. Fortunately, there are many volunteers who keep an eye on the animals and happily give some tourists a pat on the head. Wild animals remain. So this beach is definitely recommended. You can do some snorkeling but the sea can be a bit rougher.

This beach is a bit rocky - but absolutely delightful! Bathroom available for changing, too. Food and ample parking.

We drove down to Poipu Beach to have a bit more of a relaxed day after doing so many of the touristy sites prior, and this was so enjoyable as although there were many people out on the sand playing in the surf or lying on beach towels, there was plenty of room to walk and to see the water and sites. We loved seeing a large sea turtle making her way back into the water from a position on the beach where a tape "fence" kept people back from where she was so as not to disturb her at all. From there, we walked on a bit further where a young monk seal was sleeping on the warm sand! He, too, had a barrier to prevent anyone from getting too close and disturbing him. They had a sign up telling his sex as well as when he had come up on the sand to sleep. Every once in a while, he would raise a flipper or move so we knew he was still alive!
When my husband wanted to walk a little further, I went up to read at a covered picnic table, and watched as a rooster and a female chicken jumped up on the edge of a lined garbage can just a few feet from me to look for food. I broke out in laughter when the rooster fell INTO the can and I think falling in startled him so badly that there was a rush of fluffy feathers seen in the can before he was able to fly out! Funny that he didn't come back to try again! I got pictures of some cardinals with bright red heads as well as other birds coming to the tables to check me and a few other people out for any scraps from meals!
We were told not to feed any of the chickens, but while eating our food at a table, the wind blew our potato chips off the table and onto the ground!! And the roosters, mama chickens as well as their babies came running! They got free treats that day because we couldn't gather up the dropped pieces fast enough!

We came here because supposedly it is the safest for swimming during the winter. There is a lifeguard. It is too crowded. Even on Christmas Eve it was hard to find parking and hard to find a place to put our chairs that was not on top of others. Nasty chickens running all over the place. There were signs warning of man of war jellyfish. Two seals in a corded off area taking a nap. The swimming and snorkeling was not great as there are nothing but sad dead reefs and just a few colorful fish.

We stopped here twice, to see the sea turtles and monk seals. They are protected by volunteers but easy to see, and watch.

Very large beach area with good restrooms. This is a. Ery busy beach though so get there early for a decent parking spot and location. There were two sea turtles beached on the sand that we got to see make there way to the sea. Plenty of restaurants and shaved ice nearby.

If you're staying on the south side of Kaua'i, you will be familiar with Poipu Beach Park by day one. It's a public beach with many places to relax, rocky points to search for sea life, and all around incredible views (especially those sunsets).

If you're looking for a more private beach, this won't be it as it's a public beach for locals and tourists alike.

Our family stayed in the nearby Ocean facing condo. Poipu beach park was excellent. To our surprise, when we went to watch sunset we saw Sea Lions and Turtles crawling all over the beach. Wonderful place to watch sunset and amphibians.

We stopped here several times (3-4) and each time we were rewarded with the sight of sea turtles lounging on the beach. Day and night, there were turtles around. That alone made it worth the visit.

There are two areas to snorkel in...to the left is a secluded area which looked great for the kids and was full of families. To the right was a more open area where we went. The only caution is that there is a reef to the right fairly close to shore which we did not know was there until we went out. It was sharp and hard to cross over without damaging the reef or cutting yourself. I suggest entering on the secluded side and swimming around the reef if you want to move to the right. We saw quite an assortment of fish and then waited for the sunset. Great day!

Must see beach! I saw tons of turtle on the sand and seals! You can snorkeling in this area but BRING WATER SHOES and your snorkel gear. You can also rent equipment across the street from beach. Give yourself some time here!

Super easy to walk to. Plenty of space to set your chair down and enjoy a morning, afternoon or day at the beach. Surf is good for young kids to play and more than good enough for great boogy boarding or body surfing. Spot the sea turtles in the surf or at sunset check them and seals out on the beach. If you have patience, scan the ocean horizon, you will definitely see whale activity ... Spouts, tails and breeching. Enjoy!!!

Great views here. We didn't try the swimming here, but had a nice relaxing afternoon. There are picnic tables, restrooms and restaurants nearby - which was great to grab some shaved ice by the beach! There is both sand and grass here. There are some shady areas and some not shady areas. Plenty of people brought their own tents, chairs, etc to enjoy the scenery

Parking can get a little tricky here depending on the time that you go, but we did find spots each time.

We visited many beaches and Poipu was by far the best to snorkel and swim. Wear swim shoes to get past the rocks at the entrance, but then so many beautiful fish can be seen! You may also see Sea turtles and monk seals resting on the shore during the day, carefully watched over by volunteers who set up the ropes and signs to protect them. We stayed at a Suite Paradise condo and could walk to the beach from there. What a treat!

An easy access beach with fantastic snorkeling and boogey-boarding right off the beach. The fish were colorful and plentiful. You can rent snorkel gear right across the road.

Excellent beach for snorkeling albeit very shallow in spots. Great beach for small children since it has a very protected and shallow water area on the left.

This beach is spacious, friendly and a superb place to cool off. The water in the bay only goes to your knees...if that far. You'll have to sit down to get wet which is what most visitors do. They just sit in the water and cool off. It's a great place for younger kids to play and be safe.
If you want to snorkel, you can snorkel in the shallow area. Just go out to the lava rocks and put your face in the water. You will be many fish around the rocks. If you want more adventure, venture into the deeper water to the right and join the other snorkelers. Best thing about this beach...the green sea turtles sunbathing on the shore. They come and go as they please and everyone makes room for them as they do. So much fun to watch. Waiting for them to move though is like watching pain dry.

Had a nice time snorkling here. It was pretty busy, lots of families. There are bathrooms and lifeguards. There was one main area that schools of fish were congregating and they got pretty close to you. It was pretty shallow. I saw a turtle swimming. Some areas are harder to swim since it can be rocky and shallow. There is another cove with a beach on the right side of the island that I did not walk down.

I went out to the island, but it is very rocky so walk carefully and wear water shoes. Once on the island, there was a seal and 2 turtles sunbathing! Someone had put up rocks as a barrier to allow them some space. There is sand in the middle of the island, and rocks around the edges. You can watch the waves crashing on the rocks. Very few people go to the island because it is slightly difficult to walk to. I did scrape my knee slightly on a rock when heading back to shore but it was worth it.

There is plenty of space at this beach. We sat under one of the trees to the far left near some picnic tables. There are lots of chickens and baby chicks running around losing their mothers.

Yes, I’m giving this a 5 star for this reason. After 5 days in Kauai this was the only beach that was sunny (East and North shores were windy and overcast the entire time. Additionally, we saw many turtles and a monk seal. You could actually swim here and snorkel. Probably the most calm waters we saw and this was June. They have multiple bathrooms and picnic tables. We got to the beach at 10am two different days and there was plenty of parking. Even when we left at 2pm there were a couple spots. Yes, it got very crowded on the beach but you can find a place. There is a restaurant across the street that opened for lunch at 11am. Decent food. They also had a deli with smoothies and other items. This beach saved out visit to Kauai after dealing with overcast skies and big waves on the East and North side of the island.

Underwhelming Snorkeling at Poipu Beach Park

Poipu Beach Park is a lovely spot for relaxing by the water, but the snorkeling experience left a lot to be desired. The water here is incredibly shallow, making it difficult to move around without worrying about hitting the coral or stirring up sand. This really took away from the enjoyment of exploring the underwater scenery.

Additionally, the area was extremely crowded, with swimmers and snorkelers everywhere. It was hard to find space to enjoy the experience without bumping into others. The congestion made it feel more chaotic than relaxing.

While the park itself is beautiful, I wouldn’t recommend it if your primary goal is snorkeling. There are definitely better spots on the island for a more enjoyable and peaceful underwater adventure.

We went here and got to see the Monk Seals. There were 3 sea turtles on the beach also. Go to Puka Dogs for lunch.

Nice enough beach but way too crowded for me. Not as pretty as many other beaches but it appears to be a good place to snorkel. Not too deep and well protected little Bay Area.

Seeing the Sea Turtles at Popiu Beach at Sunset is a Must!

Every night a crowd gathers to see them coming ashore.

We saw lots of seals here, one laying up on the beach. It's a large beach, good parking. The Sheraton is nearby, so it had more people on the beach than some of the others that we visited, but it was still a great beach to go to. Multiple life guards, too. Great for kids.

It is true that you will see fish while snorkeling here. So, in that respect it is worthwhile.
However, under the water it is nothing but rocks (which apparently pass as coral in Hawaii). There is a strip of sand on the beach to lay on but it becomes rocks instantly as the water begins. Don't go expecting family friendly frolicking in the sand because the water will dash you on the rocks below. Also, the rip current was very strong and the lifeguards kept yelling at people to leave and move from the west half moon part of the beach to the east half. Worth a short visit for snorkeling but not much else. Go to Kiahuna beach just to the west and you'll have a much better time. It has a sandy bottom to please your toes while wading, is a pretty beach and also a few places to snorkel.

But wonderful beach. It’s close to th main road. There’s parking; picnic tables. Across the street there’s a restaurant; surf; n a MUST hv Puka Dog.

This was a beautiful walk down the beach. We saw 30+ turtles in the evening at the park. I recommend going about 30 minutes before sunrise to maximize turtle life.

Such a great beach! We didn't get to go snorkeling because we arrived just barely before sunset, but the drive was worth it when we saw the sunset and the turtles beaching themselves. It got dark very quickly, so if you don't arrive early enough you'll not be able to see them very well. We heard there would also be seals down the beach a ways, but we never saw any when we walked down. Nonetheless, the turtles were worth it - there was probably 30+ that evening and the docent said that the average is anywhere between 30-70!!

Turtles, waves, sun, sand, boogie boarding, and all within walking distance of several hotels and condominiums available for rent.

Nice beach with protected bay (no large surfs) great for swimming, snorkeling, floating. Well-maintained grass area with picnic tables, jungle-gym; across the street from Puka Dog

Poipu Beach offers something for everyone! There was amazing snorkeling area, a small beach shielded from the waves for the little ones, and surfing all within a short distance of each other. The day we visited, we saw a Hawaiian Green Turtle, and a Monk Seal sunning themselves on the beach!

This is a great beach to come with kids. We arrived about 6:30pm (in Feb) to come see the turtles and would highly recommend this. We also saw a monk seal on the beach and whales in the distance. Bring snorkel gear - it's much calmer in this area.

Poipu is a great beach, with lifeguard, picnic tables, restrooms, and lots of fish. Good place for easy snorkeling, although the rocks make it somewhat difficult to get into water deep enough to float and observe. Best bet is to get a setup of water shoes and fins without a bottom that strap around the back of your heel. While I didn’t see turtles swimming, there were three of them sunning on the beach.

Lovely site for swimming-lots of turtles. Great grassy park, too. Brennecke's restaurant across the street.

Good beach, has showers, restrooms and foot washing stations. Like most of the beaches here it is clean. Decent snorkeling overall.

It seemed this beach was not as natural as the others on the island. For sure more people and reminded me of a beach in the states. Maybe because of all the grassy area before the beach. There were two turtles sleeping, which was neat to see.

Perhaps because of the shutdown we were greeted by the most turtles we have ever seen on Poipu Beach. Only a few humans on the beach and everyone was socially distant, except the turtles

The beach was beautiful. It’s a park with amenities, so expect more of a crowd than other beaches in Kauai. We tried snorkeling but there were others who had the same idea. We enjoyed lounging on the beach and listening to the waves.

Look for the green turtles who are sunbathing. They are in a protected area and easy to find.

One of my favorite beaches in Kauai. This is one of the best places to see the sunset if you’re near the south or eastern side of Kauai.

If you come during sunset, you’ll get a chance to see the sea turtles come with the waves to rest for the evening. Although you can’t get close to them, you can go snorkeling in the water just don’t touch the animals. If you have any questions about them, there are local volunteers protecting and answering any questions people have about the turtles.

Also, there is a parking lot across the street so come early to find the best parking. During sunset besides turtles, you’ll see surfers, riding the waves. One of the best sunsets of my life.

Thanks to a volunteer at the beach who had a flashlight with a red light, saw 50 turtles sleeping on the beach and rocks one night (volunteers count the turtles about every hour). Went back for sunrise two days later and saw turtles wake up and slowly crawl back into the water. Also saw a monk seal swim ashore to sleep.

This was my favorite beach of the ones we visited in Kauai. We went snorkeling and I was amazed at the clarity of the water and the variety of marine life so close to shore. Definitely wear water shoes - I cut my foot coming back to the beach from the water on a rock. There were many people boogie boarding and it seemed like they enjoyed themselves as well.

Amazing beach, so many turtles and even a sea lion. Beautiful sand and sunset and a great, safe spot for snorkeling or for kids to swim!

We were able to witness several turtles on the beach - a very impressive sight. Please obey the cones that are setup and give some distance to the wildlife.

Very rocky bottom which is great for snorkeling but not as great for swimming. Easy to bang your feet and ankles and cut them. But great for snorkeling.

A seal rolled up and situated himself on the beach while we were there and behaved very much as though the rest of the world ought to accommodate his 20 feet distance rule. And the rest of the world did indeed accommodate. He chilled for long enough that when we went back in the water he was still there relaxing on the beach. Beautiful moment.

Did not snorkel at the beach since we ended up on the wrong beach down the road. But we made it in enough time at Dusk when the Turtles come ashore to bask overnight. Turtles are swimming just offshore along with other fish. You're not allowed to touch or get near the turtle, but you can get very close to you.

Stopped by here for a short day visit and we were so glad we did! Great snorkel spot, nice sandy beach, and seals!! Watching the seals lounge on the beach was a true highlight of our trip.

The titles says it all. Decent swimming (a few rocks to worry about) and not to rough. Great home base Beach for our stay.

Poipu Beach is a lovely beach that many honu call home. Be mindful that they are sometimes hard to see when you are entering the water. Don't step an these beautiful turtles. In fact , you must give them space where ever they are on the beach or in the water. This is their home and laws protect them not the tourist in this case. Do not ever touch these beautiful creatures. Your Zoom lense works beautifully to get upclose and personal. Its the only way.

Super rocky
It's looks beautiful with an amazing sandbar so we took the time to come back to swim and found its all rocks except for the little pool to the left. Be careful!

We did not get a chance to visit at sunset - but early morning (10-15 minutes after sunrise) there were 10-15 turtles and got to watch them one by one head back into the ocean! Easy to walk to from various resorts with nice paved path coming from both directions

Poipu Beach is a must do on your Kauai vacation!!! The beach is very large and clean. There is a great area to surf, snorkel, and swim, and the area is a wonderful place to watch the sunset.

But, best of all are the turtles. Every evening, sea turtles make their way up onto the sand to sleep for the night. There will be volunteers there roping off the area to to protect them. The volunteers are friendly and love to answer all of our sea turtle questions. Early in the morning, the sea turtles will then scoot back into the water to play in the surf. This beach is also a great place to watch the turtles swim in the water all day. On our last night there, we also saw 2 monk seals playing in the water and make their way onto the sand at the same time the turtles were coming in.

Once in a lifetime experience, and Poipu Beach will always be on my must-do list when I return to Kauai.

Snorkeling on this beach is one of the best. Little rocky getting in but worth it. Usually see turtles resting on the sand.

This is a great beach to hit the waves. Super clear water and awesome waves. Saw a few giant turtles. Bring a chair, food and drink as the lines are long at the shop

This beach was nice however it was pretty crowded. Lifeguards only allow you to swim out a very short distance . A lot of coral so you definitely need proper swim shoes. You can get drinks from the Marriott bar next door.

Great pier but busy location. We swung by mid-day on Monday during the holidays and the place was packed. There is a parking lot across the street but it fills up quickly, we followed the crowd and parallel parked on the side of a road. Then we walked down the pier and got some great photos.

Absolutely incredible place to snorkel, see the sea turtles and seals come onto the beach and watch beautiful sunsets.

Love this beach. Great soft sand. A great place to see turtles and monk seals. There is nothing better than getting your beach chairs and parasol and relaxing on the beach. Great to watch the surfers. The ocean is so warm and a great place to cool off. However the best for me is Charlotte’s water aerobics class in the ocean held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 9am.

We visited Poipu after our ATV tour in Koloa. There was plenty of parking and the beach access was easy. This beach is great for snorkeling. This beach was definitely child friendly. We didn't get a chance to see turtles but we heard from others that turtles line up on the shore between6:30-8:00 A.M. every morning. This beach was beautiful with clear waters and lots of colorful fish to see.

This is a beautiful beach, but not for swimming. There were warning signs everywhere and no lifeguards, This was a great place to see Monk Seals, and sea turtles as they beach themselves just before sunset. There were lots of turtle conservationists who kept the people 10 feet away and answered all our questions about these creatures. The sunset was beautiful here too. Definitely worth visiting even though we didn't go in the water.

It was a delight to see so many giant sea turtles coming ashore to sleep! They kept coming and coming! Once they plopped down, they went to sleep! The crowd kept at least 10 feet away.

I was there around noon. I didn't see any sea turtles, but I saw one big monk seal was sleeping on the beach.
A lot of people were at the beach, even though the wave was high, some people were swimming, snorkeling and surfing. There were two life guards on site.

Our favorite place to snorkel as beginners. Saw sea turtles, variety of fish, water was sometimes rough, but good protected areas to snorkel. Follow lifeguards' instructions

Nice beach, maybe 20 mins off the main road, tree tunnel.

There were 3 green sea turtles resting on the sand and one active it the water at the time. They’re about 2 ft long so pretty big.

Lots of people in the water as it might be the only beach nearby. The beach is sheltered by some rocks so looked like a good place for kids.

We didn’t go in as it was just a quick detour

This is a clean well maintained beach and park. Snorkeling was easy. There were large turtles and monk seals resting on the sand and were roped off for their safety. This seemed to be popular with families since it is well protected. Parking was easy and a shirt walk across a path.

With rain in the northern part of Kauai, we were told it was drier in the south so we made our way to Poipu Beach. Nice quiet area and it was fascinating to see at least 10 sea turtles on the beach.

This is a great beach--wonderful snorkeling, nice bathrooms, nice grass area, palm trees for shade, good showers. The snorkeling is pretty good, and we had luck with monk seals and turtles.

We enjoyed this beach to see the turtles & seals and the one further down by the Beach House resturant where we rented snorkels, chairs and umbrellas for 24 hours. It was rocky & we needed water shoes, but we saw lots of fish. Free parking and clean restrooms. Places to eat close by. A wonderful beach to put your feet in the sand. We all said next time we'd like to stay close to here & be able to walk down everyday.

This was an amazing beach where the turtles are just chilling! Well worth seeing and getting up early in the morning to enjoy.

This is a good beach for young children because the island/natural jetty creates a sheltered cover from waves that is very shallow. Snorkeling is okay not great. The beach is the most overcrowded beach on the island and not totally sure why.

Our favorite beach on south Kauai, hands down. We observed monk seals & talked to the volunteers. The sea turtles come ashore. We counted dozens. Just beautiful! Sunset our last night in Kauai was top notch at Poipu Beach.

I spent almost an entire day here: sunbathing on the sand, watching giant turtles crawl in and out of the surf, poking into tide pools, and snorkeling a bit in the “kiddie pool” area. There are plenty of tables and trees for folks who’d prefer a little less sun and heat, and the shops nearby offer tasty treats. The shuttle drops you off just a short (~8 min) walk from the beach and is much easier than parking.

Fun beach, we saw lots of turtles
Snorkeling is good
The only thing is, rocks at the bottom could be uncomfortable, I would suggest water shoes

Really nice beach, great to surf, swim or snorkel. On the day we were there, we were joined by a Monk Seal, so it was very memorable. The reason for 4 and not 5, is that at mid day it felt over-crowded and finding a parking spot took about half hour. Plan accordingly.

• Go early in the morning to see the turtles. On overcast days they are there for longer (on an overcast morning they were out until around 8:30am). At dusk, there were also turtles within the waves.

• You can also probably see monk seals there as well—either sleeping on shore, or playing around in the water.

• While there were a lot of people, there was ample space for everyone and didn't feel crowded.

Poipu Beach is a relatively small and crowded beach on the south coast of Kauai. There are two parts to the beach and you can easily walk to the beaches on either side of it. There are lifeguards during the day. In the evening many Hawaiian Green Turtles come to the east end of the beach to rest for the night. We saw upwards of 40 turtles. Hawaiian Monk Seals also sometimes spend the day sleeping and sunning on the beach.

Snorkeling was decent though limited. The lifeguards limited where we could snorkel due to water currents and high waves during our visit. The water was shallow which made for some challenges. There were actually a surprising number and variety of fish despite all of the people thrashing around in the water. Portions of the beach have rocks which make entry more difficult, but there are sandy areas as well. Stay to the left for the best snorkeling.

An excellent beach! I highly recommend going at sunset and you will see the sea turtles come onto the beach. It is very magical and something you will not be able to experience other places.

Beautiful beach- was able to
Sit comfortably from mid afternoon til sundown watching the waves, surfers, seals, turtles, and whales! It was clean, lifeguards made it safe, and a time well-spent, snorkeling, swimming, sunning and sun-setting!

We walked down to the beach at the park each morning - beautiful spot. Turtles on the beach each morning - cool to see.

Loved this beach! It has bathrooms, lifeguards, and is right across the street from shopping/food/shave ice. The 4 year old could play in the sand & calm water, while the rest of us snorkeled. It was my first time snorkeling so I can't compare it to anywhere else, but a sea turtle swam right in front of me, and there were so many fish and sea urchins to look at it. And a huge highlight - watching the sea turtle that was still on the beach slowly walk/swim away when he was ready! We returned that night for shave ice and to watch the turtles come back. Felt like a true Hawaiian experience for us.

It’s a great place to gather. The bathrooms are usually clean and comfortable. There are almost always tables and pavilions available. Beach is great for snorkeling.

I have to leave when the turtles arrive. I can’t see how the current crowd enforcement is adequate enough for the turtles to do whatever they need to do without disruption. My family likes the spectacle, but I find it unbearable.

Great beach for swimming or wading in the waves. It is very crowded though with free parking so be patient. There is a lifeguard on duty showers on site and a market across the street for water and the like.

Also lots.of monk seals on the neach so please respect amd maintain your distance pleas resist the urge to take a selfie within 100 ft of the seal. Be respectful of the animal. It's not a joke.

Such a great beach to watch the turtles. There were lots of people but it didnt feel crowded. Also a great place to catch the sunset.

Large open space with green grass, shade available. A lot of people and kids. Food available nearby. Small protected area for kids.

We had an awesome time on the beach areas. In hindsight, you could park at the main parking area and hit several locations along the Poipu Beach area. You can swim, boogie board, and see the turtles all in one day. I don't recommend eating near the beach because it is very expensive. Take snacks and treat yourself to an early dinner in Old Koloa Town.

We stopped by the beach on two different days at sunset. Each time, we got to see 30-40 Green Sea Turtles come ashore to sleep for the night. Such a fantastic and amazing display of nature. It gets pretty crowded right before sunset, but the crowd thins out by last light. There are volunteers in the area to make sure people aren't using flash photography and are respectful of the turtles by keeping marking off an area.

This was a nice family beach where turtles come and sunbathe. It has life guards and they are on the ball looking after peoples safety with changing tides and strong currents. There are covered / shaded picnic tables, toilets and changing rooms and a free car park nearby. There are coral reefs where people can snorkel and see tropical fish. The currents are strong so you need to be a competent swimmer and use fins.

Big Al’s top tips
If snorkelling come in the morning as the water is clearer and less murky. Use fins as the currents can be strong A good place to see turtles and free car parking toilet / changing rooms . One of the nicest beaches on the island and well worth a visit.
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Snorkeling is ok. Lots of fish in the area. We saw 2 turtles while snorkeling. A LOT more turtles right after sunset (about 10 turtles ~30 minutes after sunset), and 30min before sunrise (we saw at least 15 turtles one morning). Brennecke’s Beach Broiler is right on the beach. Great place for lunch and dinner after snorkeling or turtle watching at sunset

Beautiful!!! Our favorite beach in all of kauai; the water is just stunning. Laid back and plenty of parking

Wasn’t a lot of people there tonight but normally I hear it is packed -the sky was beautiful fire ball and the beach is really nice

Beautiful Hawaiian beach with plenty of space and parking. Park includes playground and restrooms along with lifeguards.

Definitely worth seeing the turtles at night! During the day was great in the Bay Area for little ones ! Playground too !

The beach location is ideal and the views of the coast and waves were amazing. There were sea turtles about 50 feet off the shoreline, which was memorable. The power of the waves were unforgettable. A great location to take in the sun and ocean

We went a little too early in the season and the oceans were pretty rough. Check the Kaui page for ocean conditions. A lot of tourists get in trouble because they don't. If the ocean is pretty rough then Poipu is a safe beach as it has a rocky break halfway around. It's really good for families and kids. The lifeguards are VERY attentive. If you like to snorkel there are a few fish and some fun things to see but if the other beaches are open I would not snorkel here. Very popular beach lots of people, a resort feel. If you've been to beach bathrooms used by lots of people you know what to expect. We will return later in the season next time and probably won't use this beach... but we snorkel and scuba so are looking for other features.

We walked to Poipu beach every morning after watching the sunrise at Shipwreck beach the 1st week of April. We sat on the rocks and watched turtles swimming and whale spouts in the distance. We came back around 5pm every night when the day-time crowds diminished to snorkel and watch the sunset. There is nothing like snorkeling while the turtles swim to shore for the night, then enjoying a puka dog while watching the sun sink into the ocean!

We used to love this beach! A few years ago, when we lingered past the sunset, we got to watch a caravan of green turtles come ashore one by one to rest. After the amazing opportunity to enjoy watching these beautiful creatures, we walked away grateful and satisfied. Fast forward to this year, what a difference! As if the large crowd wasn't bad enough, some "turtle saviors" put ugly orange cones, signs with lights (while telling spectators not to use theit lights) around turtles that were coming onto the beach to rest. A gray-haired neurotic lady ran between the cones, repositioning them and gathering a huge crowd around "teaching" everyone how not to behave. Lady, for starters, why don't you share with the crowd how many green sea turtle die from a 5 year old looking at it in amazement? The ugly orange cones, endless signs and crazy lights don't protect them from overdevelopment of the shoreline or the fishermen nets they get tangled in. You are truly ruining a beautiful beach to feed your overinflated ego. Stop caging the turtles and turning their resting sites into a zoo display! What a shame...

A great place to see the Hawaii green Sea turtles. They are all around and just napping on the beach among people. Its a beautiful and large beach with plenty of space to hangout with the turtles.

Pretty beach, good for snorkelling with a view of seals and turtles that come up on the shore! Some areas are good for swimming and protected from large waves.

It’s easy to understand why this beautiful beach is popular with families. It’s clean and safe (with life guards alertly watching over water activities). There’s a grassy area for sunbathers. Soft sand and gentle waves beckoned. Clear water made for great snorkeling: our grandkids loved seeing colorful fishes near the corals. We watched a steady stream of arriving & departing visitors parading by with surf boards, boogie boards, beach chairs, umbrellas, and coolers. Bathrooms were clean. Parking lot was not full yet when we arrived around 11am. Judging from the turnovers, finding a vacant spot in the lot or on the beach shouldn’t be an issue. It got hotter and windy in the afternoon. There’s a Marriott Vacation Beach Club on the right flank within walkable distance for nice tropical refreshments to cool off.

Great walk-in snorkeling! So happy there were lifeguards at this beach, they were friendly, alert and attentive.

Nice small beach- has a cute snorkeling spot for daytime and easy to rent snorkel gear at Koa Kea hotel and Marriott beach club nearby.

During day, we saw a giant turtle or two.

At night , we saw almost twenty turtles on the beach sleeping!

Great snorkeling spot on the right hand side of Poipu beach.

We were able to walk directly from the Sheraton on the boardwalk in the morning.

We saw green sea turtles and a TON of beautiful fish in the surprisingly clear water near the rocks. Also pulled up a Hawaiian reef crab that was really big :)

LOVED IT

This beach was amazing! We saw turtles resting on the sandy beach. Two monk seals came ashore to play right in front of us! The shore was rocky in places.

This is a wonderful beach! The snorkeling is really good with lots of fish. The bottom is rocky so you really need to wear water shoes. One side of the snorkeling area seemed to be pretty shallow so it's a good spot for kids. Another part of the beach had a lot of boogie boarders. There are picnic tables, large grassy areas, a playground and lifeguards. This is also an area in which you can see the sea turtles that come to bask, especially early in the day. We also watched the sunset here. Parking is a little tight, so get there early. There is also a restaurant/snack bar across the street.

Third trip to Kauai it's the most beautiful place on earth. Played golf, whale watched, great food and beautiful scenery,

We enjoyed Poipu beach as we went late in the afternoon to see the turtles we were told about. The park was beautiful with facilities and picnic areas. There was snorkeling in a nice shallow bay and surfers nearby. As the sun started to set, turtles came into the bay and right up on the beach for their evening rest. It was amazing! They have a volunteer conservationist that comes and gives information about the turtles and answers questions. It was a wonderful experience!

A nice beach in Poipu with bathrooms and ample parking that's close to restaurants resorts and shops. The other highlight are the seals that frequent the beach (no touching!).

The cons are that the beach area is kind of small especially with all the people and the sand quality is average and there's not much shade so bring an umbrella.

We enjoy this beach for sunbathing, people watching, snorkeling, and bobbing in the water. This is the place for spring sunsets.
After the sun goes down, the Honu (green sea turtles) come out to sleep. (KEEP YOUR DISTANCE)

If you go at night you can see the turtles sleeping! We saw 11 of them. Just don't use flashlights/phone! Go at sunset as well! Great views and you're pretty much guaranteed a turtle spotting!

Turtles! There were turtles here every time we came during our vacation and often monk seals too. At night, even more turtles come to the shore to lounge. It's a popular beach with a lot of people so volunteers keep the turtles safe. Many people snorkel here as well.

My only regret is that we did not have a lot of time to spend at this beach. It is beautiful and very well maintained. There were picnic tables in the shade and plenty of beach space (we were there early, but there was a constant stream of people coming in). It looked like a good spot for snorkeling. I think this would be a good beach for families with young kids as there are shallow areas with minimal waves. We did see one sea turtle on the beach. He was in an area marked off with rocks. I was told that there are more turtles earlier in the morning but once the beach starts to get a lot of activity they don't come on shore as much. All the better, get there early, see the turtles and stake out a spot for the day. This is a must see beach.

Saw 14 sea turtles and a monk seal. It was an awesome experience that was on my bucket list. Don’t miss this spot at sunset if you want to see turtles and monk seals.

Heard you could see some sea turtles at sunrise or sunset so we decided to pop by at sunset. SO MANY TURTLES! Saw about 30 massive turtles just chillen on the beach! They have people there and comes to make sure no one is bothering the turtles. No flashlights or flash photography!

Not only is it one of the best spots on the island to watch Hawaii's spectacular sunsets, but it's a prime spot for swimming thanks to a coral reef. As it's so popular, it was hard to find a spot in the parking lot, come early if possible. You can easily rent boogie boards, surfboards, snorkeling gear, umbrella and more as there are plenty of concessions nearby.
Good sanitary facilities with changing rooms, picnic areas with benches and barbecues. There are outdoor showers with cold water and finally a lifeguard on duty.
It is common to see endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals lounging peacefully on the beach or taking a nap. They are highly respected beauties, volunteers set up and moved a cordon around the seal areas as they moved, to hold people back. Remember that harassing or harming a Hawaiian Monk Seal is a felony. Great place to snorkel, beautiful scenery and bodyboarders are awesome to watch. In summary, soft sand, great atmosphere, beautiful views. It really is a must-visit beach during your stay in Kauai. Enjoy.

What a nice beach. It’s a place to snorkel and swim if you want to spend the day. A little rocky when you are trying to get out snorkeling, but then if you want to swim you can just walk down a 100 yards or so. Definitely beautiful

This was the fourth beach that we visited during our trip and it was one of our favorites. The photos we took here were really good. The parking was a little crowded but other than that it was excellent

If you want to snorkel, this is the place. Easy access and snorkeling right off the beach. Nice place to take kids as the large swim area is relatively calm.

Family friendly beach with pretty good access. Parking lot is across the street but still less than 100 yards to the nice sandy beach. Lots of grassy areas to put your chairs or blankets to relax in the sun. Beach drops off pretty quickly so be careful with small children.

I’d recommend this beach always sunny even when rest of island is raining. So come here for the day stay for the week.

Beautiful beach with lifeguard but lots of people
Come with shoes to go in the water because there are lots of rocks
We were able to see a seal and turtles

We enjoyed a Sunday afternoon at Poipu Beach. Definitely a busier spot, but we were still able to find a good spot to camp out on the beach and enjoy the water. Saw some beautiful fish while snorkeling and lots of tortoises on the beach. Would definitely recommend hitting up the nearby Puka Dog for lunch or dinner that you can take back to the beach!

Poʻipū Beach is located directly opposite of Puka's Hotdogs. We used the parking lot next door and then walked across to see the sea turtles before purchasing food from this place.

Starting at around a half hour before sunset, leatherback and green sea turtles, known in Hawaiian as "honu" swim to the shores to rest at night on Poʻipū Beach.

Flashlights, flash photography and even bright street lights are not allowed because sea birds and turtles get confused thinking that they're going towards the sea where the moonlight is, and instead go inland and get hit by cars or attacked by dogs.

There is a turtle group that keeps watch over the turtles from sundown until sun up in shifts to protect the turtles from poachers and evil people who would try to harm these magnificent creatures.

Native Hawaiians are doing God's work when it comes to animal stewardship.

Visited: January 2023

Too many resorts, too many people for this small beach. Rocky ground. Nice sunsets. Visit early or late in day to find parking space and uncrowded beach.

This beach is very small and very rocky for most of it. It wasn’t terribly busy when we were there, and there still wasn’t a lot of room. I can’t imagine going during a busy season. Not one of the top 10 beaches in Kauai.

Nice beach with ample parking and restaurants nearby. A lot of people were snorkeling and swimming. We saw 2 monk seals and a green sea turtle resting on the beach. We were exploring the south side of the island and spent about 30 minutes here. It would be a great place to spend several hours or more. There are shade trees, a grassed area and pavilions.

Very crowded. Marriott and other vacation clubs are right off this beach. However, the reef is awesome for viewing sealife, the waves are great for surfing and boogie boarding (and there's on-site surf lessons and rentals), and plenty of sun to fortify that tan. The sand here is stickier than most beaches so be prepared to have it stuck to you until you scrub it off with soap and water. Hawaiian Seals laying on the beach, greens nearby for lounging, kicking a ball, playing volleyball, etc. Concessions and picnic tables nearby. Some areas are monitored by lifeguards whereas others aren't. Occasional riptides and currents.

This is a classic Kauai beach you cannot miss, but set your expectations carefully.

-We sat near Brennecke's Beach Broiler. There is not much food except Brennecke's
-Come early. Parking is OK, but the beach is popular.
-There is not much sand. Late comers will be on the grass...like me.
-There are some picnic tables and toilets
-This beach has many personalities. One section is better for kids. Another is better for bodysurfing.
-There is shade. But the sun is hot regardless. Come prepared.

This popular beach is located in the south part of Kauai. It is known for being a beautiful beach with great swimming. There are two lifeguard stands staffed with lifeguards. There is ample parking which is not always a thing with some of the beaches on Kauai.

Our favorite thing about this beach is when the green sea turtles come up on shore to rest. It is quite a site to see. The area around the turtles is protected by a series of cones with signs telling visitors to stay back and to leave the turtles alone. While we were there, everyone was very respectful and did not cross the boundary.

The beach is clearly marked from the main road and easy to find. There is a restaurant right on the beach so if you need something to eat or drink, you can do so without having to leave.

Poipu Beach park is great for snorkeling and to see the seals wash up on the shore. Can't beat the beautiful sunset view.

*Would recommend water shoes due to the sharp rocks in shallow areas.

This beach is lovely. Plenty of parking, washrooms and home of Puka Dog, another restaurant and a deli.
There are picnic tables and a covered picnic area and a playground. There are tons of chickens roaming around the grass areas.
It is a great spot to watch the sunset.
There is a shallow area almost enclosed by rocks and larger open areas of beach as well.
After sunset you can see the turtles come on shore to rest…..but be respectful and stay far back and do not take flash photography as it hurts their eyes.

Every morning around 6:30 the green sea turtles can be spotted. One morning there were 21! I was also lucky enough to spot a monk seal. The beach is clean and there is a grass area with picnic tables for lunch. There are many chickens that will try and join you for a snack. The snorkeling was good as well. If you time it right, you may spot a green sea turtle swimming back to sea. Sunset is also a magical time to visit this beach.

it was busy w/lots of people, but manageable. the water was very clear. snorkeling was great. we saw tons of colorful fish. very protected beach from the surf. we didn't need to snorkel too far out because the fish were all about us just a few feet into the water. good facilities....restrooms, picnic tables etc.

Perfect place to end our day w some snorkeling and boogie boarding with a sunset that speaks for it's self. A walk up var right there. Don't know what else to ask for

Our condo was within walking distance. We watched sea turtles come onto the beach at night to sleep. Then we watched them waking in the morning. Saw monk seals napping by the lifeguard stand.
One section of the beach is great for body surfing and another is very good for snorkeling.
The park itself is just a wonderful, relaxing place to spend the day. Plus Puka Dog is right behind it.

Just a great beach to hang out. There’s shallow water for the kids, a nice snorkeling section, boogie boarding - though crowded - nearby restaurants and equipment rental, two lifeguards, and a coastal trail that takes you to the Sheraton and beyond. I especially liked the shady grassy area if you just want to hang out and read a book. Clean and well maintained, there seems to be plenty of parking, but go early on weekends!

This is a beautiful beach. There were several tourists but we never felt it was overcrowded. The waves were on the small side which made it nice for swimming.

We made several trips here. Some of us went snorkeling which they loved, seeing urchins, turtles, etc underwater. I got to see three turtles on the beach, two trying to mate. Not sure if they did. Each day a monk seal was snoozing some where on the beach much to everyone's delight. The location was not far from our rental. It wasn't too crowded this time of year and people were considerate of each other.

Poipu has been rated one of the best beaches in the US. It certainly doesn’t disappoint. To the right of the lifeguard tower is a great place to swim and play in the surf. To the left is shallower, a great place to snorkel. We saw so many different fish, it was awesome. Oh, and we made friends with the Monk Seal’s and Sea Turtles that showed up

Saw turtles, decent snorkeling, great sand but rocky in the water. We loved trekking out to the little island/sandbar, cool little adventure for my 4 and 5yo.

This is a beautiful small beach. There is an area walled off with lava rock for younger kids. Sometimes in the mornings at low tide it is less than 12 inches deep with minimal waves like a wading pool. Near the end of the rock wall the current gets much stronger with floor covered in lava rock but lots of fish for snorkelers.
Would recommend kids always wear water shoes because there are random sharp rocks still in the sandy area.

There is a play structure, grassy area, Puka Dog hot dogs and shaved ice within walking distance. Sunsets are beautiful.

One issue with this place though- it is now overrun by people. The poor turtles that come up to the beach to rest and sleep at sunset have a bunch of tourists who surround them taking video and selfies with them. They have a very small fraction of the beach set up with cones but still people routinely ignore and walk right up to them. Sad to see such disrespect.

We enjoyed the morning relaxing, snorkeling and swimming at Poipu beach. Large swimming area was very rocky on the bottom so bring water shoes. The kiddie swimming area was sandy instead of rocky but was pretty shallow for snorkeling, although many people were doing so. Saw many of one type of fish, about 6-9 inches long. (Saw more at Lydgate the day before without snorkle gear). We came back later in the afternoon and hung around to watch the turtles move onto the beach from the water. Saw 5 turtles and then headed back to resort. It was a beautiful sunny, hot day and the beach was crowded but there is a huge, free parking area and people seem to come and go regularly and parking is not an issue.

This is a lovely beach. It is very crowded and busy though. After sunset however, green seat turtles come ashore and hangout. So cool to get to see them upclose.

Small but popular, wonderful beach with golden sugar-soft sand. Unique touch are the sea turtles and monk seals who occasionally rest here- we saw both! For these reasons it drew me back for multiple visits- the easily accessible parking also helps.
The signs carefully mark where the safe areas to swim are; there are powerful currents not too far so beware especially with children. The snorkeling is not bad (especially with the turtles), but the waves and surf can make it a little challenging.

Enjoyable beach nearby our condo. It is very popular and had gentle waves. There is plenty of snorkeling at this beach. Also a chance to see sea turtles.

Beach is clean with restrooms. There are food options near by. There were 3 large Hawaiian Green Turtles onshore, amazing creatures!

Nice Sandy beach. They have picnic facilities. It is good snorkeling place, especially for beginners. They have showers right on the beach by the picnic area. It does tend to be quite crowded.

We stayed in both Poipu and Princeville during our stay and tried a number of beaches. This beach is pretty, but seems VERY busy at all times. There are better beaches on the south shore to go -- we loved Kiahuna Beach (much less busy, just as pretty or more than Poipu) and Salt Pond Beach Park (a 30 minute drive to the west, but very quiet and gorgeous).

The beach was beautiful and there were at least 6 sea turtles on the beach in the late afternoon. There is a rock cove that is protected from the surf so you can swim and snorkel without worrying about the stronger tide.

Super popular beach, and for good reason!
1. Turtles on the beach!
2. Seal on the beach!
3. Lifeguard station
4. Food nearby
5. Public restroom at beach
6. Great sunsets!

Relaxing family friendly beach. Busy with activities and people. Water entry an be difficult at certain times of the year.

Poipu Beach park is a very popular place so expect many people but for many reasons: part of the crescent white beach has not waves and is ideal for kids, part of it offers great snorkling with lots of colorful fish, some corals and seals and turtles occasionallly resting on the small sand bank just off the beach, excellent waves and surf for bodysurfing in a different section of the beach. You do not feel that you are surrounded by mass tourism even when the big hotels surround the beach, as these are built in low and appealing architechture. Good parking and rinsing facilities also. So do not miss Poipu where the sun almost always shines.

Poipu was great! It was somewhat windy, but if you sit past the main beach over by the hotel it is protected from the wind. While we were there a seal and many beach turtles were sleeping on the beach. Volunteers did create a perimeter to protect the animals but you could around close to them to get pictures.

The snorkeling was great here even very close to the shore. I was actually worried about stepping on sea urchins, that is how close they are.

If you do make it here make sure to get a hot dog at Puka Dog, they were incredible!

So many fish to see snorkeling. We even saw a huge sea turtle. Nice beach, plenty of parking and room available for people to spread out. Nice sand bar blocking a lot of stronger currents/waves for new snorkelers. Plenty of shallow areas for younger kids as well.

I love Poipu Beach. It's a nice big beach with trees and picnic areas. The far left of the beach is protected by big rocks and is shallow for kids to swim and play. The right side of the beach is rocky so water shoes are recommended, but is great for snorkeling with many pretty colored fish.

Nice beach and area for kids to swim in. Can get very crowded there, so parking can be an issue. It is walkable from several of the Poipu resorts - some hills.

We visited Poipu Beach three times during our stay at Lihue. Each time we were thrilled to see green sea turtles resting on the beach. The best time to go to see the turtles in between 5:30-6:30pm/ Volunteers are there to answer any turtle questions you might have and they also ensure that the turtles are kept safe. One of the afternoons we were there we also got to see a resting Hawaiian monk seal. The water is shallow and calm because of a protective reef, that makes it perfect for children and relaxing sea bathers.

The beach has restrooms and restaurants nearby with free parking. The sand and water are nice but bring your own shade (umbrella). As the island was created from volcanos there is lots of stone in the water so beach shoes are recommended. Snorkeling is pretty good right off the beach and we had turtles coming in to sun themselves right on our beach. Over 60 of them at night.

Since COVID-19 it's been a pleasant beach to go being less crowded and safe for kids under the age of 5 to enjoy the water. While the side closer to Sheraton caters more toward juniors and adults who wants to snorkel, body board and surf. 2 life guard towers operates til 5pm daily. Ocean currents remains strong daily.

Poipu Beach - 5 stars
Poipu Beach is a great park for hanging out and snorkeling. It’s a bit busy, but has easy access to snorkeling with beautiful fish. We even saw an octopus and eels! Parts of the area are shallow for snorkeling, but it was easy to find deeper water. There were also 1 or 2 endangered monk seals on the small island beach. There are public restrooms and showers for rinsing off afterwards.

We came on a Sunday afternoon because I heard a rumour that turtles come up on the beach in the afternoon to sleep and it is true. It was quite busy but that is okay as we came for one reason only. The beach is quite pretty and there were a lot of people snorkelling in the water. I just missed seeing the Monk Seals and when I asked the volunteer if there are turtles, he pointed over and said see those rock looking things, well they are turtles. There are volunteers by the turtles so if you have any questions, they will helpfully answer them for you. I love turtles so I am so happy we came. Oh, and the beach is patrolled if you are considering to swim.

Poipu Beach is one of those places that I hate to love. It has snorkeling, swimming, body surfing and beach walking that is just wonderful…and there are lots of people. I was fortunate to see two huge endangered monk seals that had beached for a rest. They were protected by naturalists and a fence. There are some very nice resorts right along the beach where you can go and get a meal or a drink. There are public bathrooms and shelters for having picnic lunch or running under when a quick rain shower appears. The parking lot is large but as I said this is a very popular spot.

This is a beautiful beach. But it depends on what you are there for. I guess I am giving it a poorer rating because my experience was negative and it needs to be explained that this beach is NOT, in my opinion, for the very young or elderly. The water was very rough while we were there and it was impossible - and even dangerous - for me to navigate in the water to snorkel or swim because I have arthritis in my knees. I have snorkeled a bit and am comfortable in the water, but in this circumstance, I was not able to gain footing and stay on my feet long enough to get over the swath of coral reef to actually snorkel. I am not blaming the beach but it is not good to have expectations that this beach is good for everyone, especially beginner snorkelers. I got cut all over my hands and legs trying to get back to shore. It didn’t help that I felt a thousand eyes on me. 🙄

Perhaps there are times when the waves are milder. I don’t know! First time here. Just be aware that it may not be suitable for you or your family. It is not a mild, Florida beach where you can sit back in a lawn chair and watch your toddlers play in the waves. Or where your low mobility elderly parents can go in for a dip.

On the positive side, it is so picturesque and the sand is lovely, as is the beauty of the crashing waves. Once I recovered from my attempt to snorkel, I enjoyed sitting on the sand and people and wave watching.

Our favorite beach in Kauai. The beach is family friendly but the surf is still too rough for novice swimmers. Snorkelers will enjoy seeing plentiful tropical fish near the shore in the protected cove. The beach frequently has resting green sea turtles and Hawaiian munk seals on the shore sunbathing (they are protected, with the area immediately around them roped off to keep visitors from disturbing them). There is free parking across the street for those who are not staying in one of the nearby resorts or condos. Water shoes are recommended if you want to wade in the water due to the rocks and uneven bottom, although there are a few sandy water entry points.

This beach was excellent! There were big waves at one end and very little waves at the other due to protection from rocks. This made it great for my 4 year old to play in the water safely. We even had a sea turtle come up and rest in the beach! There is also a park with a play structure perfect for drying off. Plenty of bathrooms and areas to picnic. There is a restaurant with carry out across the street. It wasn’t too crowded. And it was beautiful. Also has lifeguards on duty at designated times. We almost spent the whole day here. Definitely missing this beach now that we’re back on the east coast.

Nice park and a great spot for Sunset and the Sea Turtles. If you have kids there is a terrific place where the kids can wallow in the shallow water, and if the kids are a little older, there is a spot where they can learn to snorkel to the right of the turtles.

What you do need to know is that part of the beach is dedicated to the basking sea turtles. This is the ONLY spot in the world where the sea turtles rest on the beach daily. There are there pretty much all day long, but start to come into the beach around sunset and leave around sunrise.

Watch out for parking challenges around sunset, since this is the prime place to catch sunset in Poipu.

Loved this beach. It had excellent snorkeling from the beach. Lots of colorful fish. Also when we were there, there were lots of turtles on land. It was cool to see them. We went mid-morning and didnt have a problem finding parking. They do have bathrooms but they were quite disgusing.

Short beach. The walk to the water is mostly hard surface so easier on joints. The water is wonderful and if you’re there at sunset, the turtles come onto shore to rest for the night. Now that is worth waiting for! Also the hot dog place has good hot dogs and terrific lemonade but the shave ice is not the best on the island.

We enjoyed coming to Poipu Beach at dusk to see the sea turtles that make their way onto the beach. Snorkeling was also good here.

Beautiful beach with enclosed tidal pools for safe swimming and active lifeguard station for a safe and fun experience. Nice covered picnic tables to enjoy our Puka Dog lunch.

This is the famed sea turtle beach. Every day, around sunset, green sea turtles come out onto the beach for some rest. The turtle zone is cordoned off, but you can still get quite close. We did not go in the water, but there were several snorkelers when we were there and apparently you can see other turtles while you are snorkeling.

The sea turtles come on to the beach to sleep at night. Be sure to go see them in the evening before it gets dark. We went about 6:15. You will see them swimming in and climbing onto the beach. Volunteers are there to make sure everyone keeps their distance from the turtles. There is a nice parking lot with a short walk to the turtles. They are on the beach end near Brenneck's Restaurant. Just look for all the people and the orange cones.

The beach is lovely like a lot of the beaches in Kauai, but with Poipu beach, you are more likely to get a beautiful sunny day. There were 5-6 turtles basking in the sun when we were there, and this made it extra special.

Poipu Beach Park is very nice and so big! It goes along the sea providing many areas for guests to swim, picnic etc. We saw 2 monk seals on different parts of the beach. We stayed till sunset and watched about 30 sea turtles come up on the beach to rest for the night. They were more arriving but we left when it got too dark (no flash photography). It is a specific part of the beach where it is smooth and not steep. Look for the volunteers setting out cones to keep tourists from getting too close. Many families were enjoying the beaches as well as those enjoying the sun and watching the activity and beauty of the area!

It was unfortunately completely crowded. I suppose the interest is to see turtles, but you have to be ready to be very near other families and people to do so.

Spent a little while here enjoying the warm sea, the turtles basking and the children enjoying the sea. Shallow sea where there is a lifeguard on duty. Sadly we had to leave in a hurry owing to a massive downpour but would’ve happily stayed longer just enjoying watching people enjoying life.

This crescent shape beach offers crystal clear waters. Very popular with visitors and locals alike however, it has been empty since the pandemic.

Awesome beach with snorkeling and where turtles come on beach to sleep at night after 5:30 PM.
If you are there just for turtles arrive around 5 PM and you can watch them swim in.

Since we were staying in the Poupou area, we managed to visit the beach a couple times. We did snorkel here with the turtles but came back twice for the sunsets and to see the turtles come onto the beach in the evening. My husband runs every morning and mentioned there were more turtles there in the morning than in the evening.
One evening, we saw a Monk Seal resting and sunning on the beach. Know that there are conservationists there to protect the turtles and seals from vacationers. They will make sure you keep your distance and answer questions you may have about the species.
Besides the wildlife, there are picnic tables and modern restrooms for the public. Parking is also nearby and good.

We went at sunset upon recommendation of someone we met while here. It was very crowded for sunset but beautiful views.

If you stay after sunset, the sea turtles come up on the beach. We waited probably 10 minutes after sunset before they started coming up! Definitely worth it to wait and see!

Very small beach. We saw sea turtles 🐢 so that was cool. They were just resting on the beach. The water had rocks not best place to swim. Imo

Had a great time snorkeling. We were able to see many different types of tropical fish in waist high water. Monk seal was resting on the sand nearby.

We came here to try to catch sunset. We got there in time, but there were clouds along the horizon--still beatiful.
Seems like this is quite the spot for surfing. Good facilities and looks like a great place to spend the day if you're looking to get away from your resort.

We drove here to watch the sunset our last night and were treated with sea turtles coming ashore and whales splashing around on the horizon. Also stopped at Puka dog across the street for a light snack before supper. There were people snorkeling in the water, but since it was sunset and we weren't there for that, we did not get in.

Gorgeous beach with stunning sunrise and sunset photo opportunities. Can get a little crowded. Lifeguards and bathrooms on site

5 sea turtles and a monk seal at sunrise. Fabulous! Not very crowded and respectful of the need to stay distanced.

Such a great time! We visited this beach multiple times during our stay. It just kind of had everything we needed. It is a good spot for snorkeling, they have lifeguards on duty, there are restrooms and even showers. We never had a very hard time finding a spot on the beach or in the parking lot (I'm sure other times of the year that may not be the case). It's just a beautiful place and it worked out very well for us.

After a three week visit in Hawaii, this was the best beach we visited. Lots of space to sit on the Sand or grassy area to suntan or read a book. Ocean on the left-hand side of the beach is calm. Soft sand and easy swimming and snorkeling. Water in the middle is a little rocky but great for snorkeling. Ocean on the right leads to a small island about 100 yards offshore. Lifeguards are there to tell you when it is safe, or unsafe, to swim in that area. 6 to 10 turtles sleep on the beach at night. In the mornings you can watch them go out to see. And in the evenings, just before sunset, you can watch them return.

This is a very well maintained beach with attentive lifeguards who watch to make sure guests are not bothering the seals or turtles that sometimes beach on the island area near the beach. The bathrooms are well maintained and there was plenty of parking each day that we went. Nearby you can rent different beach gear to snorkel or boogey board. If you have small children that want to snorkel here, I would recommend a snorkel vest or some type of floatation device because the waves can get strong. While you will see some fish here and even some sea turtles, the Lawai Beach area has many more fish to see when snorkeling.

Rocky but nice beach! Seal was hanging on beach. Protected beach with minimal shore break. Nice food & shopping close by. Cute little island to walk over to

Plenty of parking, nice facilities and a gorgeous beach make this a perfect beach for families or large groups. We traveled to Kauai with our extended family (a group of 8 including 2 kids under the age of 10), and found Poipu Beach to be an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling for all ages. As an added bonus, we had our own whale watch- with multiple whales breaching and diving for about 15 minutes right off of Poipu Beach!

If I could give it more I would. Up close and personal with turtles and monk seals. Water was calm and beautiful. Slightly over crowded in the afternoon.

Well, my wife's first time snorkeling. Bay was a little choppy, and small rip tides, but she was a trooper. Busy place but very nice. Try to check conditions before going, but, go, it'll be worth it.

Popped in half hour before sunset- lucky to get a parking spot but with patience more we’re to be had as families were leaving too. We went to see the sea turtles, 42 in total- - saw a seal as well. Beautiful spot to catch a sunset as well or walk the beach. Laid back crowd. Glad we drove 40 min for the experience.

Absolutely a must see if you are nearby. Shallow park water that is perfect for snorkeling. We walked up and marveled at the three sea turtle sculptures only to realize that they were REAL sea turtles on the beach. This was around 9:30 AM. There is a shallow sandy area perfect for young children. BRING WATER SHOES or flippers if you want to go further into the water it’s rocky but you will see the most beautiful fish and sea urchins and coral. There are lifeguards who make sure you don’t go too far because the current will make it difficult to swim back. When we resurfaced we were able to watch the final sea turtle return to the ocean. Absolutely a beautiful experience. We also watched a seal come up for some sun. People were mostly respectful but a few people needed some reminders to give them plenty of space.

We spent a couple of days at the beach. Go early before the crowds arrive. Parking is easy and there is food to eat nearby. The snorkeling is surprisingly good on the larger side of the area. You may get to see a Monk Seal too. I'd return here again.

Our family loves this beach because there is something for all ages. We all snorkeled and saw a lot of fish. Our young daughter loved the shallow warm water of the kids beach. Next door was perfect for boogie boarding. We saw monk seals, nesting turtles, and seals actually came right in and laid on the beach! Across the street have the best Hawaiian Ice on the island!

going here again, the best resort on this stretch is KoaKea resort(check it out), the beach is amazing for swimming and snorkeling.

Beautiful beach with plenty of parking, picnic areas, swimming area with lifeguards. We saw monk seals and sea turtles! Docents are there to answer questions about the sea life.

Poipu Beach is a beautiful area to swim and snorkel. Lifeguards are on duty and the waves aren’t too strong. My husband and I snorkeled right off the beach (maybe 30 feet away from the shore), and we saw tons of colorful fish. You might want to wear water shoes because the bottom of the ocean to get to where people were snorkeling was very rocky and sharp. The beach is very clean and not too crowded.

If you want to spend a day at the beach, Poipu is just about as perfect of a place as can be. The sandy beach is large enough to not be crowded, even when there are a lot of people. The water is relatively calm and there's gentle slope providing a lot of enjoyable space for reluctant swimmers, like myself, who don't like not being able to reach the bottom. Snorkeling is great everywhere, even in knee deep water there are lots of different kinds of fish. You do need to wear either fins or water shoes as the bottom is all coral. There are shaded picnic tables. A number of food options just across the street, including funky Puka Dog, Deli, and ice cream place. And parking is free and sufficient, at least on a weekday.

I don't think much of Poipu for swimming, as it is a bit small. But whenever I was there I saw turtles, seals, or both.

Was very crowded when we were there but nice little place to swim and snorkel. Protected by a reef so no waves.

Protected cove beach sets up amazing for snorkeling. Plenty of room throughout the water and the beach. When we arrived both seals and sea turtles were resting on the beach. Best snorkel spot is just to the right of the center sand bar.

Beautiful snorkeling beach. Tons of fish, pretty shallow water. Park has lifeguards, restrooms, showers, a playground and plenty of free parking. The issue is we were robbed. There is a concrete wall in the back of the park, its guarding a cemetery. We put our two bags next to the wall and when we came back our bookbag was taken and rummaged through. Our bag was dropped a short distance away. We didn't have anything of value in our bags but you have to be careful of this area even on a busy beach day. Just a reminder to leave valuables at home or in the car and enjoy this beautiful beach. 🤙

Poipu Beach Park is a lovely park ideal for families as it has a beautiful, shallow lagoon that children can walk and swim in safely. There are very nice picnic tables plus a lifeguard station. Poipu is the sunniest side of the island, so beach days here are a great experience.

Want to make your friends jealous with views from the perfect Hawaiian beach? Look no further than Poipu. Great, protected swimming area (lifeguards on guard to make sure knuckleheads don't go out too far and get into trouble) with lots of fish for snorkeling. Saw lots of turtles hauled out and even a monk seal. PLEASE be mindful of the signs and barriers and don't get too close. So thankful the volunteers were there to keep the knuckleheads away from these beautiful and majestic animals!

A bit crowded but the turtles are the thing. We visited during lunch time to try the hot dog place and were surprised to see a turtle coming up the beach - everyone gets so excited to see these creatures! Our 3-yr old was mesmerized and wanted to come back that evening- when dozens were sleeping on the beach.

So go for the turtles - and sometimes the seals will be there too - but go other places to get away from crowds.

We drove all over the island and this ended up being our favorite beach, it was close to our rental house, we could watch the turtles come in at night, the sand was glorious, sunsets beautiful, snorkeling was incredible, and usually a monk seal would be snoozing nearby.

Good for snorkeling
Life guards keep close track of all in the water and make announcements frequently to keep swimmers in their space . Life guards also protect wildlife in the water protected from swimmers who come too close . We saw seals and turtles .
Restrooms are typical beach quality . Parking is at premium during prime time hours .
Family friendly for picnics . Restaurant across street for take-out if needed .

Such a beautiful and relaxing beach. We took our breakfast out there and ate with the chickens. Wonderful, clean beach

Respect the Turtles people ! Covid left the beach empty. Now turtles come each night to rest. They feel safe. Beautiful beach but respect , keep your distance .
Some kids tried to sit on turtle's. Kids swim near the turtles .

Poor volunteers do their best job. People shine lights at them after being asked “ not to”.

I’m so afraid this beautiful experience will end.
It’s a great beach.

There are decent snorkeling spots - we saw some sea turtles unexpectedly. The snorkeling space is rather small and shallow - we found better snorkeling nearby but this would be good for young ones/novice snorkelers since it is patrolled well by lifeguards who keep you in the safe areas.

This beach was very crowded and small, but it was fine for hanging out on the grass long enough to eat lunch. It was hard to enjoy the waves with all the people crowding the small space, though. If you want to snorkel or swim, I recommend going down to Kuhio Shores.

We stopped for a picnic lunch here, tables and washrooms were available, a nice walk along the beach.

We were close buy so we walked this beach many times. Public park here so parking and bathrooms. If you're on the south shore go place to walk, swim and see the animals

This tucked away little beach with its natural rock enclosure is the perfect beach for children, keeping them safe and well-protected from turbulent waters. It's safe feature also allows parents the comfort to relax as they watch their toddlers and young children play in the sand and water. The water is calm, the sand is warm, and the grass is inviting for all ages to enjoy.

Beautiful beach waves and rocks were a bit rough, all of us have some battle wounds. But worth the trip and experiece (Kids: 17-f, 15-f. 15-M, 12-F). Plus, 5 adults. The island was fun but challeging to tackle. We saw a full size sea turtle basking in the sun on the little island. Plus, a small one playing in the choral.

Do not approach the island the shortest distance go over through the middle. At the end (shortest distances) is rough with waves hitting you from both directions and trying to navigate the choral. All of us have some wounds from the choral and learned our lessons the hard way.

There is a very protected area for small children that is almost as calm as a swimming pool and swallow. Boring for the teens but great for the littles.

Snorkeling was okay..but the day we were there was rougher than normal.

This was our first time snorkeling at Poipu Beach. There were lots of fish which was great. However it's very shallow and I got some cuts from the coral. As a bonus, there was a turtle on the beach that was fun to watch.

I would definitely check out this beach - great for snorkeling, and you can swim out to a small sandbar to see tide pools. There are also picnic areas and bathrooms. Stay til dusk to sea the turtles come up at night!

A very nice beach here that has a lot to offer for families. The area closer to the shore is not heavy with current due to the protective barrier, making it ideal for snorkeling. There was a good variety of fish to see and very close to the shore. Lots of rocky areas, so water shoes would be advisable. Great surfing available to the left and right of the snorkeling area. Beach was very crowded and it’s a smaller beach, so it feels more crowded than it is. We saw sea turtles on the shore while there! Great place to visit in the south shore!

The beach nearest the park has a lot of rocks, so is difficult to get in & out. The beach to the right is less rocky, but had too much swell to enjoy swimming. Over-rated.

One of the best beaches on the island. Great mix of beach, wild life, surf. What is special are the 20+ turtles who come swim out on the beach. We Sally see sea lions but not this time. Only tough part of the beach - tough to get in and out of the water due to the rocks

not supper friendly lifeguards day we were there it was red flag so not able to go in the water did play on the beach and was still worth going

Lucky to see 24 sea turtles on the beach and monk seals sunbathing. The beach is crowded and not my favorite to relax but the turtles and sea lions made it worth it. I could have watched them all afternoon.

beautiful beach. sunset time turtles come in to sleep here, and seals too! good parking across from the beach that is usually full but we got lucky daily. too crowded in February's rainy season, can't imagine how many humans flock here in their high season! Sat here reading my book under a tree watching people and the ocean.

This beach was lovely to watch the sunrise and get to experience the nightly/early rotation of sea turtles who call that beach their home outside the water.

*As a friendly reminder for all that go to see the turtles and other wildlife there… please don’t act entitled. There are beautiful kind volunteers who give their time to protect the turtles space. This is for THEIR safety. Don’t be rude to them, if they tell you that you are too close (walking inside their cone barriers) politely apologize and step back. They don’t deserve to be yelled at. They are doing the work so we can to view and be in company of amazing animals. It breaks my heart to witness tourists who think they are entitled to a picture so close to the animal and then yell at the volunteers who politely ask them to step away. Use your camera zoom and don’t be a jerk please!

No it’s not South Beach in Miami, but can certainly appear as such with the crowds of people, but most are respectable of each other’s space. Going beyond the crowd you have a safe lifeguarded beach with solid surfing to the far right and additionally there are many wildlife sightings. We we went here two days while in Kauai and saw five seals total sleeping on the beach (and saw two of those make their way to the beach), including a pregnant female, plus while snorkeling saw two giant sea turtles close to 30” long and many other small fish. With lots of free parking, clean bathrooms and outdoor showers available this is a great beach to spend the day at!

Turtles are an amazing sight to see! Respect them, watch the signs, WATCH YOUR CHILDREN, and give them space. Beach is packed

Excellent beach within an enclosed cove for little kids. There is excellent snorkeling even on the shallow part of the tidepools. Saw a trash can lid sized Green Sea Turtle on the same. Everyone was respectful and kept their distance from the turtle. There are lifeguards on duty. It can get very hot. Bring lots of sunblock or an umbrella.

We ended up here after a brunch nearby and just wanted to stop in and see the beach. It was a pretty area, but not really set up for a walk as it is smaller and fills in with people early. The Puka Dog restaurant nearby is almost its own reason to come here and have a dog while looking out at the ocean.

Poipu Beach is a great place for snorkeling, etc. Also my wife and I like to go there every time we’re in Kauai to enjoy the sunsets, and this time we went just in time to watch the sea turtles come up onto the beach for the night. The area was scattered with people and all were having a very nice experience. Peaceful and beautiful time was had by all.

I have been here many times to watch turtles and to swim. The calm side of the beach is usually pretty crowded - especially when the turtles are arriving or sleeping. Parking is plentiful and free. It is easy to access and a good beach for swimming.

Poipu Beach is really two beaches because it is split into two sides. Once side has a shallow snorkeling and swinning area that seems pretty good for new snorkelers or kids. The other side is not as calm and a lot of sand for sunning. The beach is within walking distance to Brennecke's Beach that seems to be the exclusive territory for surfers.

The park itself contains showers, restrooms, and plenty of picnic tables and abuts each side of Poipu and Brennecke beaches.

We saw Turtles sunning on the beach and a Hawaiian Monk Seal. All endangered. Great sunsets!! One of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Poipu Beach is undeniably gorgeous, but like all natural wonders, it demands respect. While generally safe, families with young children should be extra cautious, especially after 4 pm.
Why?
* Turtles: Green sea turtles graze in the shallows during late afternoons. They're gentle but have strong jaws that can accidentally bite curious little hands.
* Sharks: As daylight fades, sharks may venture closer to shore to hunt. While attacks are rare, vigilance is key, especially with small children.
Stay safe:
* Supervise closely: Never leave young children unattended in the water, particularly in the late afternoon.
* Respect wildlife: Teach kids to admire turtles from afar, not approach them.
* Clear water is key: Avoid murky water or areas with schooling fish, as these attract sharks.
* Lifeguard wisdom: Always heed posted warnings and lifeguard advice.
Enjoy Poipu's beauty, but prioritize safety, especially for your little ones. A bit of awareness ensures a memorable and worry-free visit.

Great beach with turtles sunning themselves on the sand! We snorkeled here and found it to be a great snorkel spot.

The lifeguards are friendly and helpful and parking is good.