Booking choice: The Deluxe Waterfall Safari, from $336 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Manawaiopuna Falls plunges about 400 feet into a hidden gorge in Hanapepe Valley. It became famous in 1993 as the helicopter arrival scene in Jurassic Park, and ever since, "Jurassic" has been part of the marketing for half of Kauai's air tours.
The key fact: the falls are on private land with no road or trail. You see them from the air.
The quick answer
Manawaiopuna Falls, the Jurassic Park waterfall, is on private land in Hanapepe Valley and can only be seen from the air. The Deluxe Waterfall Safari flies past it. Safari's own landing tour lands on the rim of Olokele Canyon, not at the falls, and Safari says so on its site.
Where is the Jurassic Park waterfall?
In Hanapepe Valley in south-west Kauai, on private land, roughly 20 minutes' flight from Lihue.
Its real name is Manawaiopuna Falls. There is no public road, trail or viewpoint, which is why nearly every Kauai helicopter route includes a pass over Hanapepe Valley.
Does the Deluxe Waterfall Safari fly past it?
Yes, Hanapepe Valley and Manawaiopuna Falls are on the usual route, weather permitting.
The pilot slows and turns so both sides of the cabin get a look. Clouds can hide the valley on some days, and the route is always the pilot's call on the day.
Want to see the Jurassic falls? Check your date for the Deluxe Waterfall Safari.
Check dates for the Deluxe Waterfall SafariCan you land at the Jurassic falls?
Only on the one tour licensed to land near the falls; none of the tours listed on this site do.
Because the falls are on private land, landings need the landowner's permission, and that access is not part of Safari's tours. Viator's listing for Safari's canyon tour states plainly that a Jurassic Falls landing is not included.
So where does Safari's "Jurassic Canyon Landing" stop?
On the rim of Olokele Canyon, at a private conservation preserve, for about 30 to 35 minutes.
Safari's own page says: "This tour lands on the rim of Olokele Canyon, not at Jurassic Falls." The landowner runs a native plant preserve there, and some guests have been shown the endangered plants on the ground. It is a stunning stop in its own right, just not the waterfall in the film.
Want boots on the ground? The 90-minute tour adds a stop on the Olokele Canyon rim.
Explore Safari's canyon landing tourWhich other tours fly past Manawaiopuna Falls?
Almost all of them: Air Kauai, Blue Hawaiian, Ali'i, Mauna Loa and Jack Harter list the falls on their routes.
Even the small planes from Lihue fly over Hanapepe Valley, though from higher up. See Kauai helicopter tours compared for the differences.
When is the best time to see the falls?
On a clear morning after rain: the falls run fullest after wet weather, and cloud builds later in the day.
See the best time for a Kauai helicopter tour for seasons and the Hurricane Lowell recovery schedule.
How do you get the best photo of the falls?
Wear dark clothes, keep your lens close to the glass, and shoot in bursts as the helicopter turns.
Doors-off tours avoid the glass altogether. Read doors off or doors on before you choose.
Ready to fly over Hanapepe Valley? Check dates for the 55-minute safari.
Check dates for the Deluxe Waterfall SafariFrequently asked questions
Can you hike to the Jurassic Park waterfall?
No. Manawaiopuna Falls is on private land with no public trail; the only way to see it is from the air.
How tall is the Jurassic Park waterfall?
Manawaiopuna Falls drops about 400 feet into its gorge.
Is the Olokele Canyon landing the same as the Jurassic falls landing?
No. Safari's landing tour stops on the Olokele Canyon rim; it does not land at Manawaiopuna Falls.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Deluxe Waterfall Safari: 55-Minute Helicopter Tour
- 55-minute A-Star helicopter flight from Lihue with pilot narration
- Waimea Canyon, Na Pali Coast and the Mount Waialeale crater, weather permitting
- Six passengers: two beside the pilot, four in the rear
Safari's Olokele Canyon Tour with Landing
- About 55 minutes of flying plus a ground stop of about 30 to 35 minutes
- Landing at a private conservation preserve overlooking Olokele Canyon
- Na Pali, Waimea Canyon and Mount Waialeale views
Air Kauai Doors-Off Helicopter Tour
Doors-off photos in a six-seat cabin
