Shipwreck Beach

Wow if you like cliff jumping this is plenty high. We had a blast today. Nice beach but some difficulties with boulders in the serf. Possibly of snaking them I’d google boarding in front of the sandy areas on the beach. We had a blast . Nice bathrooms and a wash off station.

Shipwreck Beach on Kauai’s south shore is a ruggedly beautiful spot known for its golden sands, dramatic cliffs, and powerful waves. While the ocean here is often too rough for swimming, it’s a great place for a scenic walk, sunbathing, or watching daring cliff jumpers take the plunge from Makawehi Bluff. The beach also marks the start of the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail, a stunning coastal hike with breathtaking views. Less crowded than other nearby beaches, Shipwreck Beach is perfect for those looking for a wilder, more adventurous side of Kauai. Highly recommended!

Located next to the Grand Hyatt Hotel is a nice white sand beach area. Perfect place for a family to hang out and lounge for the day, although some of the waves could be too big for small kids. Some shady area near the trees. Parking lot is small and usually packed.

Small beach and it’s well maintained. Good place for snorkeling and catch up some sunlight

Yes I did it I jumped off the cliff and it was awesome. I totally suggest this if you go to shipwreck and you want to add adventure to your trip. Also the waves are bigger here as well and if your experiences can be really fun to boogie board on. It’s a bit rocky so be careful. But this gets a 5 star for how fun it can be with the cliff jumping!!!

The waves were really strong so not recommended for swimming, especially for mon swimmers/beginners.

Beautiful beach to hang out at. The soft sand was amazing and the surfers were fun to watch. I would love to stay close to this area. It was very nice for locals and restaurant choices. The cliff was cool to see as well. It was a great Sunset spot

Really beautiful beach with an exciting view of the cliff that swimmers can jump off of. Looks like it's conveniently located for local hotel goers, but if you're visiting, parking is very limited. There's a dedicated lot but not enough space so you'll have to park within walking distance. I believe there's parking up the road to the resort. Public restrooms and showers to wash sand off of you are available.

My favorite beach in Kauai. Beautiful views, not as crowded as Poipu Beach, and parking available though can be a little trek if you're not lucky enough to grab a spot in the lot.

The red flag (dangerous/swimming not recommended) was up all the days we looked while staying at the Hyatt. I tried getting in the water up to my hips, and each wave was strong enough to almost knock me over. Husband didn't even want to get in the water, just from seeing how crazy the waves were. So this beach is pretty but not good for swimming or snorkeling. Not kid friendly, unless your kid(s) are content with the sand only and OK with not touching the water. There were 3 cordoned off areas labeled as sea turtle egg nests, which is cool! Don't disturb the nests. Would recommend for adults to hike along the shoreline as there are scenic views.

Watch out if you choose to go into the waters. Definitely keep children out of the water. My daughter is a strong swimmer and former lifeguard. She dislocated her shoulder boogie boarding by getting hit by a strong wave and thrown into the sand. But luckily not into the coral or rock. The ER doctor said no one should go into the waters there. That said, the sand is soft and it's a nice place to enjoy the ocean from the sand. If you're staying at the Hyatt and need to go into the water, the salt water pool is just steps away.

We came to Shipwreck Beach our last night in Kaua'i on Tuesday July 2nd. We came here at the recommendation of our photographer we hired to take family photos while in Hawaii. Shipwreck beach was the perfect choice for that. There must've been 10 other families there taking photos that evening as well. It's a very popular place with lots of different spots to take photos. There's ton of resorts right along the whole coastline of this beach, as well as a cliff people climb up and jump off of. Waves seem ok too, in terms of swimming and going in the water. Next time we're in Kaua'i we'll come by here.

I came here as a meeting spot for a bike tour but from what I could see it looked lovely. Smaller beach area but there are public restrooms. They don't open until 7/7:30a so if you're an early bird, ya may have to use the ocean :p or hold it! There's a parking lot that holds maybe 20 cars so keep that in mind. It's not a big beach! Some people were boogie boarding, others just swimming. There are palm trees by the restrooms so there is some shade for having a picnic. That's all I got for y'all! Enjoy! xo

Beautiful surfer beach. Some great hikes off it and this is right on the Grand Hyatt grounds, but like any beaches in Hawaii - accessible to the public. I loved listening to the waves here and hanging out and taking some of the trails adjacent to the Shipwreck beach. I did get in the water here once, but not being a surfer and it being early March...the waves were pretty heavy, so I didn't stay in the water long. There are some quieter, more protected beaches with good snorkeling nearby if you're looking for something more swimming friendly (check out the beach next to Riptides for some good snorkeling!).

Beautiful place! Wouldn't recommend getting in water. Take the nearby trail hike. Recommend for early morning or late evening stroll.

Took our field trip pup from the humane society program here. Wonderful beach that splits into different trails that lead to amazing views. The trails off the beach made it easy to find shade.

Shipwreck Beach is a gorgeous beach along the south coast of Kauai. Certainly it will depend on when you come, but the waves were pretty strong and the tides were rolling around rocks along the shore. There were some surfers but people were pretty careful swimming out too far (which was reasonable). No lifeguard. Absolutely beautiful scenery!

We followed the trails down coast and saw lots of turtles! It was awesome! Parking was easy to find.

There is no lifeguard here and there are a lot of waves so people come surf here. It is in front of the Grand Hyatt and you can hike up the cliffs to get a good view. If the waves are rough, I would not recommend swimming here. A pretty place to view the sunset.

What's better than saying you've visited paradise? My guess... Living in Paradise. And let me tell you, being blessed to have been able to visit the Hawaiian islands multiple times over my life, Kauai in particular in pretty much as close to Paradise as it gets. So if you are going to 'shipwreck' at any place in the pacific, shipwreck beach in Poipu, Kauai is definitely not a bad spot to wreck. your. ship. Located on the South Shore, Shipwreck beach is known to the tourists just as much as it is to the locals. Many come here to attempt the surf, or even to jump off the cliff into the ocean below. (Surf is very rough and the rocky shore below make it extremely dangerous) For those less adventurous, the short hike to the top of the cliff provides a beautiful panoramic view of the coastline, shipwreck beach below and Grand Hyatt hotel that has a front and center view of the beach itself. Also, highly recommended coming up here at sunrise and/or sunset to capture some IG (instagram) worthy shots.

So much space, so fun to watch the surfers catch the big waves, hiking areas nearby. There are bathrooms and showers here, small tight parking lot tho. highly recommend this beach on the southside. Way less crowded than poipou.

Shipwreck Beach is a stunning beach (seriously, I've never seen so many families taking photos here before in my life) that serves as an entry point to a gorgeous trail, has free parking (small but it's free!), and is an amazing spot to watch the sunset as the waves crash on to the rocks (it sounds insane when the waves hit the rocks). Note that there's no life guard here and I'm not sure if it's the best to really swim here as the waves looked rough and seemed more like a surf spot or a pretty place to sit on the beach and just take in the sunset.

Video of our hike- https://youtu.be/HkpLV5yEB8E One of the best trails for all ages on Kauai is the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail. This is a 2 mile point-to-point coastal trail that runs along side some of the most beautiful wave-crashing cliffs on South Kauai. The trail can be caught in two different places. We chose to watch the sunrise at Shipwreck Beach so started there. You can park in the beach parking or there is street parking a little further up the road leading to beach. It was an incredibly windy morning and the rain had just moved out, so the waves were in full swing. The surfers were taking advantage of this and we watched them for a while. I'm usually pretty good at singular sports, but surfing is the one thing that I continue to fail at, so I greatly admire those that have the agility and ability. So, instead, I whirled and played tag with the ocean waves on the shore and enjoyed the beautiful sand between my toes. Next, we started our trek. The trail starts between a grassy, picnic area and the beach; there is a small embankment to climb up, but nothing too hard, especially for Kauai. This hike is such a beautiful experience. There are areas where the trail is wide so you don't feel crowded by any others you may encounter. You can almost have your own journey, which is magical for a hike like this. By the way, we wore closed toed Keen sandals for the trek, but easily could've done it in sneakers. No poles are needed. The path takes you along cliffs, but if this makes you nervous, you can easily navigate more inland. It's the beauty of this hike. These cliffs are Lithified sand dunes- ancient sand dunes that have hardened into limestone and contain fossils of coral and algae. This process took over 125,000 years! The next part of the hike takes you to a Native Hawaiian temple or heiau. The cultural definition of heiau is a place of worship where mana (divine energy) is transferred and concentrated through ritual and prayer. Do not touch, play on or remove artifacts from this site. If you brought your family with you, please watch your children. This space is sacred and the whole area should be treated with respect. This is approximately half-way. If you decide to continue, the trail will take you along a golf course to Maha'ulepu Beach, also known as Gillin's Beach. The surf is pretty rough here usually; this beach is best known for windsurfing. Do not enter the water if you are not a strong and experienced swimmer. The beach is also known for monk seal sightings as well as sea turtles, so please do not disturb and keep your distance. You can also pop in to see the tortoises at the sanctuary near the beach, or duck to explore the Makauwahi Cave, but that wasn't on our agenda this day. This is the biggest limestone cave in the Hawaiian archipelago and includes an amazing sinkhole, where the cave ceiling collapsed. The cave is open for free guided tours (with a recommended donation) daily. You can park near CJM stables to access this side of the trail to start or to see the cave or tortoises. This trail should not be missed and is totally free! You can choose what side to begin at or how far to go. Even for a short jaunt, the views are worth it. I hope you enjoy my footage. It's some of my favorite from the trip.

Amazing views and landscape. Sea turtles were out and it's easy access from grand Hyatt. The second best beach we've seen here

Sometimes you just need someplace pretty to sit and relax. It was nice to kick back and watch the waves. I could hear Otis Redding singing "Sittin On The Dock of the Bay" in my mind as I was "wasting time". Nothing like being able to unwind without a care in the world. Almost as peaceful as my time at Infinity Beach at sunset during a previous trip to Hawaii. Imagine that. No stress. Got to take those times when they come along. They are few and far between.

Been here a few times. There's a hike on the eastern part of the beach. Climb the rocks and you'll be overlooking the cliffs onto the ocean. You can continue walking for a good bit if you would like. Lots of interesting vegetation and rocks to look at. The waves are pretty awesome for boogie boarding here. I've never been able to ride waves from so far out. Just be mindful of the rocks in the middle of the beach. The waves keep pushing you toward them so gotta keep making adjustments. Good spot to have a picnic... Quite a few tall shady trees. Parking seems a bit tight but you're allowed to park on the sides of the street.

This was the first time I actually came to this beach. Clean, spacious and the ocean was clean and blue. Beautiful day and the sun was out. Not sure about fishing though. Very rocky in some areas but fish do like reefs. Parking lot not to big. Locals like to jump off that cliff. I suggest you not do so because people do get injured.

It is a nice and quiet beach. There is no life guard here. The water is pretty rough though. There were used to have a wrecked wooden boat by the cliff but it is no longer here. The cliff at the end of the beach is 40 feet high. People do jump off the cliff times to times. I have not seen anyone diving off the cliff during our stay here at the Grand Hyatt. There are many local body surfers here daily and put on nice surfing show. It is a good place to see sunrise. For sunset, you can not see the sun going down from here. You can see sunset at Poipu beach park. Free parking is available next to the Hyatt. You can walk up to restaurants and shops at the Hyatt but will not be able to use their pool and lagoons. They have wrist bands for guests stayed at the hotel.

The views are great and you can't find colors like that everywhere. It has a special flow to it as in energy. The cliffs can look rudged and angry but have a calm beauty was you're at the top. It can get busy but there is lots of exploring around. Recommend.

Well, we know why the ship wrecked at this beach, that is for sure. The day we came there was a chance of rain, but we decided to come and see the place and it was just too much. The parking was descent, it was fairly easy to find a spot, we took our wagon with all our stuff and made it down to the beach. There were big trees up top you could sit under, a big almost hill of sand before you descended down to the water, but the water was just too crazy. The waves were super high, the current was strong and hard. One of our kids we had to grab his arm and bring him back, my husband lost his hat and got taken down, and we just gave up after a little while because it was just dangerous. If it was a calmer day, maybe it would be better, but the day we went was just too much

Fun beach to tidepool at plus I believe there are hiking trails nearby. Bring water shoes as the rocks are rough and some are slippery. We saw crabs, hermits crabs, urchins and other sea creatures stuck to the rocks. We did family pictures here too the day before so beautiful! Flower lei would have been a nice touch against our white outfits.

Famous beach near the southern most tip of Kauai. Took Ainako road between the Grand Hyatt and the Poipu Golf Course to get here. Right next to the Grand Hyatt and thousands of hotel guests. Drove here at 830am in the morning, with parking lot empty -I guess all the tourists still zonked from drinking endless margaritas the night before. Wife used the restroom, the only restroom on the 3 mile Heritage trail alongside the lithified sand dunes to the sinkhole. Huge surf on the day we came, with surfers and boogie boarders all in the water, catching the large waves. No swimmers nor snorkeling. There is a reason it is called shipwreck beach! Lots of trees near the cliff area, with picnic benches under the shady trees for protection from the intense tropical sun, even in December. Didn't see any cliff divers. Easy to climb up the rocks along the trail to the top of the cliffs, but no way I was going to dive into that water. I would have come back in a body bag! You can go around the cliffs on the extreme left through the bushes and bypass the entire rock formation, when starting the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail. We came here early to do the 6 mile round trip hike all the way to the Makauwahi sinkhole and back. 1130am, we are back from our 6 mile hike, parking lot full as is the wife's bladder. Fortunately no restroom line. Last time we were here, very long ladies line, and two ladies stationed in front of the men's restroom. They were there to make sure no men used it while their female companion was inside. She couldn't wait!

We really enjoyed this beach. The good: easy access. Plenty of sand. Excellent views. Natural shade if you need that. Not crowded. Restrooms are close. Showers for rinsing after salt water interaction. Nice hike to a view point if you like. The not so goods: parking can be an issue if you don't get here early. Very small lot. Weddings can add extra vehicles. Toilet paper in the restrooms could be hydrated if the weather isn't cooperative. NOT a swim safe beach, wicked shore break. Experienced surfers only. This was one of our favorite populated beaches we visited. Centrally located on the island, clean restrooms, and easy access from the main highway. Bring your camera for sure as the photos of the surf and coastline here can be great. We will be back.

Shipwreck Beach is a surfers playground. A small parking lot leads you directly to the beach, or a cliff for you to jump off (literally). It's an energetic place to see local surfers catching waves, and even more peaceful to see the sunset against the cliffs/buildings. Recommend you enjoy this small beach if you're nearby!

Spending my COVID-19 days working from home, getting caught up on my Kaua'i reviews from my early February visit...when everything was so different. My notes from here are: "surrounded by resorts, scary cliff jumping" I seriously cannot stand the entire area around this beach. Horrendous, generic, over-priced, over-developed resorts. Stuff like this is why it took me so long to visit Hawaii, I thought it was all like this. The beach is pretty nice, if crowded. Best part is that there is ample tree cover, making it easy to get out of the sun and drink some adult beverages in the shade. The Maha'ulepu Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz/mahaulepu-trail-poipu) starts here. This is also a popular cliff-diving spot. Not for me though. I'll rock climb all day long, but JUMPING off a cliff, going the other direction....well, it scares me. Above average beach, but only 3-stars from me cuz it's a bit too crowded and corporate feeling for my tastes, YMMV.

This a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of beach. If the weather is great then it can be packed. Good luck finding parking too. Tons of condos nearby as well as the massive Grand Hyatt can make things unbearable. Lets face it. Poipu beaches are packed most of the time. But if the weather is off or better yet raining, you literally (as in our case in the picture I posted) you have it to yourself which is awesome. We first encountered Shipwreck years ago staying at the aforementioned Grand Hyatt. It was a fun little beach, and I love an active surf. But it may be a bit too rough for small children. Its also not the kind of beach you swim at either. If you surf you will be in good company however because it has a strong shore break. It does have a bathroom, showers, and a few picnic tables, but there is no shade and its always really windy (at least when we have been) and an umbrella would pointless.

This is the starting point to hike along the coast- to the left as you face the ocean- I, 100% recommend the hike, you can keep going all the way to an amazing oasis, but you can also just keep going til you're half way done, then turn around and hit the beach for a while too.

Shipwreck is Picturesque, no doubt. If you're looking for a swimming beach this is not a #1 choice. The surf is strong even during the calmer time of year. Snorkeling is limited too. If you're searching for a good place to snorkel go to Salt Pond beach or the beach directly I front of the Sheraton hotel. The walk up the cliff is super easy and about 5 minutes up. There's no way I'd ever jump Off that cliff all though we witnessed Someone do it. The water was calm but the currents around here are always strong. Parking available alongside the Hyatt. Facilities like bathroom and showers nearby as well.

I don't recommend this beach! The waves were incredibly dangerous & there are hidden lava rocks that are impossible to avoid. We were just so hot and wanted a dip in the ocean but quickly regretted it once the waves were picking up in the water. I'm a strong swimmer and felt nervous!! I also busted my foot on the rocks. So be warned this is not a family beach.

Beautiful beach. If waves when we were there might be rough for small children. Take the easy 2 mile hike to Mahalepu Beach. It is amazing!!

Great views, rough waves and current for novice swimmers. Beautiful sunset views, especially from the cliffs above the beach. Parking lot fills up quickly, public bathrooms available.

8.12.19 Shipwreck Sunset Beautiful! Quiet! Open! Nice! Big waves at night! Water warm! No lifeguards - waters are rough. Tip: Limited parking in lot.

# M E R M A I D S - B R E A K D O W N (# of + stars = rating) * A T M O S P H E R E: +1 star * P R E S E N T A T I O N: +1 star * C O S T: +1 star * S E R V I C E: +1 star * R E V I S I T: +1 star P A R K I N G Bigger lot than some of the other hidden beachs. Parked to the side of the field. No issues. H I K I N G There's hiking to the left side of the beach if you want to hike. I didn't wanna hike after hiking down for a lot of the beaches we went to during the week LOL B E A C H Hands down one of my FAVORITE beaches! The water is so rainbow~y and pretty here! Perfect waves crashing on the beach! Very strong so not good for wading or sitting in the water, but fun to let it smack you, hahah. Sand was soft so we were able to play and be mermaids! Yay!

We were here last week and for the entirety of our stay, the beach was very private and peaceful. The tidepools were so fun to explore during low tide and our girls felt safe the entire time.

Great beach; the rocky cliffs are beautiful and so fun to explore. This is a great beach to go to for a mix of relaxation, swimming, hiking, and exploring. So fun!

Staying so close to Shipwreck Beach was one of the best things we had a chance to experience. Only a half mile from our timeshare and right behind the Hyatt. Beautiful beach and surprisingly not too busy. Very cool to watch all the people brave enough to cliff jump, but me not being one because hello Shipwreck island tells me unsafe lol. Waves in Hawaii are on a whole other level. As a born and raised Cali girl these waves are a lot bigger, stronger and not a place a person learning to surf wants to learn. We saw tons of experienced surfers and a few kids in the water, but it's definitely more of a beach setting than swimming unless you're really great at it. Views for miles. By the way if you're staying close by you can ask for a visitor pass that can get you access to the pools of the hotel and those pools are AWESOME.

This is a beautiful beach! The day we visited there were HUGE waves crashing. To the left is a big cliff I've seen people on YouTube diving off and into the ocean - crazy fucks. We did see some people in the ocean waiting for waves to ride. The shore was mostly rocks from what we saw with the exception of one small sandy entrance. I think if you go more to the right the beach is more sandy? Maybe I'm wrong. We didn't spend much time here just a quick peak. The sand was hot it was burning my feet so we left pretty fast. Wouldn't mind coming back tho! Gorgeous beach and water.

Located right in front of the Hyatt and next to The Point, this is one of the most popular beaches on the Southern side of the island, as well as the whole island. Wind and waves here can vary, from mild to wild, so its not necessarily a family friendly beach as far as the swimming goes, but it seems like there are always plenty of people there throughout the day. When the waves are up, expect surfers and body boarders to be out.Snorkeling is possible when the waves are a little more on the calmer side, but there isnt much to see here. Coral is basically non-existent, and the fish are few. About 100 yards to the West, but still in front of the Hyatt, the coral is more present, consisting of small, shallow pockets, most of which contain black, white or pink sea urchins. A few more fish here, but not many. Be sure to check out the nearby cliff jumpers, the nearby cliff is also used by early morning fishermen.

Our second favorite beach after a Polihale. Big waves, though you could break an ankle getting in and out but it's worth it. Not great for little kids but my 9 year old was fine. Cliff jumping too and a cool trail with great views! If you get there before noon you can probably get a space in the small parking lot. Grab a poke bowl from Makai sushi and you're set for the afternoon. Amazing photo ops from the cliff tops.

Great beach if you like an opportunity to cliff dive or just to hang out playing in the sun and water! The views are magical and it's very easy access! Park to the side of the Hyatt.

This is such a gorgeous beach to visit. The waves (at least when I visited) were pretty intense, I wouldn't say very safe for children; especially combined with how rocky it is too. There is a cliff people jump from, but I wouldn't recommend it. The waves are too unpredictable and it's stupid to jump without knowing where rocks are beneath the water. This seemed like a very popular place for family and couple photos.

We stopped here today and made a solid 5 hours of fun out of it. Though we did park just off to the side of the paved parking area and walk down to the beach, we did not actually frolic on shipwrecks beach at all. We saw what it had to offer us and decided to hike up over the cliff and beyond. We were rewarded handsomely! I have no doubt we could've enjoyed shipwrecks too, if we felt like sharing the beach with so many bodies-- but we didn't, so we didn't. Instead, we hiked the shoreline/cliffs for roughly 1-1.5 miles and landed (passing through a gorgeous golf course) upon a less occupied and equally dazzling beach. The further we walked it, the less people we saw. We eventually reached a lovely spot where nobody was in sight. Just what we wanted. Shipwrecks beach looked as good as you could hope for. But if a little less sharing is what you're after, take a 45 minute hike along the rocky cliffs and find yourself some peace & quiet. Maybe even swim naked, if you must.

Awesome beginner hike! Parking is at the end of the road in between the golf course & the grand hyatt. You have many hiking trails, choose the one by the cliffs. So much to see! Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water! The beach is pretty too so perhaps have a pole picnic after your hike!

Hard to find parking because...well, let's face it, this is a coveted spot to be. Absolutely gorgeous and access to a beautiful coastal hike. What more can you ask for?

Absolutely gorgeous venue for a wedding/renewal ceremony. incredible wide views of the ocean.

This beach is really hot, packed, and sunny during the day! It is beautiful and I highly recommend the Mahalapu trail! That said..at night Shipwreck beach is an entirely diff story, if you decide to head here at night and walk along the the entire shoreline: you may have it entirely to yourself and it is utterly beautiful. Many are the days I dream of moving back and camping here forever and living the good hippy nudist Hawaiian life. No feeling compares to looking up at that star lit sky and feeling that pacific breeze go through your hair (I was simply in awe). And if youre lucky, you may get to catch one or two turtles chilling by the shore =)

So beautiful I wish I could just stay here for an eternity. Shipwreck Beach is one of the better beaches on Kauai's south shore, so it's best to come here, if you are staying on the south side of Kauai. Most times, the sea is not quite calm, but very theraputic in more ways than one. I typically just sit on the beach and watch the waves as it comes in. Quite blissful, if you know what I mean. After checking out the Grand Hyatt, I came over here to spend a quiet moment or two here and felt blessed that I have the means to fly to Kauai and see it's beauty. I'm sure plenty of people use Shipwreck Beach as the ideal backdrop for their wedding pictures, so it's a treat & the place to be when you just need some time to yourself and just take in what you have and be joyful that you are visiting or live in Kauai. Regardless of being a visitor or resident, coming here brought me a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in for so long. I did see some people jumping off the nearby cliff and that seemed pretty awesome - although dangerous. Quite impressive, if you ask me, but then again, I run marathons. Maybe I should have gone up to the cliff - but not jump, just to see what it would the scenery be like if I was there. Parking at the Grand Hyatt Kauai would be the best place to seek out Shipwreck beach at your leisure. Great place to people watch and watch wedding events take place along the beach. Whatever your reason for coming to this beach, it's a great one and I look forward to coming back here again just to see this stretch of magnificence once more. The ocean here can be rough, but beautiful and serene in its own natural way. Swimming in the shallow parts the beach is recommended, since the undertow can cause serious consequences if you don't know what you are doing or can't swim really well - like me. Beauty of the ocean is so priceless A++