Sample a cross-section of outdoor sights on the Big Island during this shore excursion exploring Volcanoes National Park, waterfall, black sand beach and more. Discover the postcard-perfect Rainbow Falls before visiting the amazing volcanic steam vents and unique geology around Kilauea Volcano. Before your day is done, check out an ornamental Japanese garden, snack on treats at a local candy shop, and visit a gorgeous black sand beach. A guide, park entrance fees, and round-trip port transport are included.

Explore the Big Island's top scenic sites and volcanoes on a shore excursion
Volcanic steam vents, lava tubes, smoking calderas and unique geology of Volcanoes National Park
Visit the ornamental Japanese garden, Liliuokalani Gardens
Scout for sea turtles on the gorgeous Richardson Black Sand Beach
Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship

What's Included

Port / Hilo Hotel pickup and drop-off
National Park fees
Bottled water
Professional guide

What to bring/wear: Walking shoes, light sweater, camera, hat, sunglasses
Souvenirs
Gratuities
Stop is made to purchase food

Meeting and Pickup

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What To Expect

Spend the day enjoying an adventure in paradise during this shore excursion exploring the giant volcanoes, beautiful waterfalls, rare plants and tasty treats of the Big Island. If you’re looking for a great way to sample all the amazing scenery Hawaii has to offer, this is a great way to do it.

Start your trip from the Hilo Port in the morning, heading to Hilo for a glimpse of this historic town before moving on to Rainbow Falls, a picturesque waterfall that looks straight out of a movie. After Rainbow Falls, your adventure really kicks into high gear as you journey into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and up to the summit of its massive Kilauea Volcano.

If you’re feeling hungry, have no fear because your next stop is at a local candy shop where you will get to snack on tasty locally made high quality chocolate and treats

Cap off your epic Hawaiian adventure by stopping at Richardson Black Sand Beach. This unique dark-colored seashore is produced by the slow erosion of the local volcanic rock. Keep your eyes peeled on the beach for the resident sea turtles that like to hang out on shore. You are returned back to the Hilo Port in the afternoon.

Banyan Drive (Pass By)

Liliuokalani Gardens (Pass By)

Hilo Downtown Improvement (Pass By)

Rainbow Falls

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Big Island Candies

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nahuku - Thurston Lava Tube

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Richardson Beach Park

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Manono Street Marketplace

35 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Vehicle: 12-14 passenger van or mini bus max 25 pass mini bus
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HOTEL : You can meet us at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel to join this tour.

CRUISE PASSENGERS : We have special permits to pick up directly from Hilo port
We will ensure your timely return back to the ship in Hilo Pier for this activity. If your ship does not come into port , your money will be refunded. If is is delayed we will adjust our departure time to the ships itenerary. See our terms and conditions for full details
DEPARTURE TIMES: Because we are a shore excursion company we schedule our departure times around a ships arrival and departure.
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Easy tour - Involves walking over relatively level terrain, possible gravel or uneven ground in some areas. Lava tube is .4 of mile long with descending and ascending steps. Comfortable walking shoes & light jacket recommended
WALKER / WHEEL CHAIR: We must be informed before you arrive if you are bringing a walker or foldable wheelchair in order allow space.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

892 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 892 reviews

Very well organized shore excursion. Recommended!

k8c899, Apr 2024

This was the first non-cruise excursion I used that had the same day port departure and I was concerned about getting back on time, but we came back well before all aboard time. Our guide/driver Donna was very pleasant and informative. She really keep everyone engaged and on schedule. Though I knew prior to the excursion that the Lili’uokalani Gardens was a drive by on the bus visit. However, looking at the timing of the entire excursion, I felt we had more than enough time to do at least a 20-30 minute visit for photos.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks for choosing us for you tour! It makes our day to hear that we were able to provide you 5-star service. We’ll make sure the entire team at CBigISLAND receives your feedback – they’ll be thrilled to hear your kind words.

Hilo

HOWARD_C, Apr 2024

Eddie was great. Made it very interesting. Explained everything. Took us to all the best spots. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for the 5 star rating we love happy customers. Our team is happy to show you a good time have an awesome weekend ALOHA!

Great trip - would recommend

Samantha_C, Apr 2024

Edmond was very knowledgeable and made the tour engaging and fun! You could tell he is passionate about teaching people about Hilo and especially the volcano.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Sam, I’m happy to hear that our team provided you with excellent service and that you got a lot of info on the tour. I’ll make sure that they receive your feedback. I’m sure it will make their day!

Best time

Shahina_M, Apr 2024

Tour guide was best. We had wonderful time. Well planed and right on time. We started the day with black sand beach, rainbow water fall and active volcano. Amazing.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback about our tour. We’re glad to hear that our team’s performance exceeded your expectations, and we’ll make sure that the entire team receives the recognition they deserve. Thank you again, Shahin, have a great day!

A Must Do On Hawaii

DAVE_T, Apr 2024

The entire tour was excellent. The stop at the black beach and then the waterfalls was great. The driver gave excellent dialog throughout the day (both informative and with jokes). There is a stop to purchase a lunch sandwich if you like. Can eat on the bus or wait to get to the Volcano National Park. Crater and Volcano House were interesting, but the stop at the steam vent was eye opening. I highly recommend this tour. Well worth the money.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback about our tour. We’re glad to hear that our team’s performance exceeded your expectations, and we’ll make sure that the entire receives the recognition they deserve. Thank you again, Dave, have a great day!

A lot packed into a great day

Laura_M, Apr 2024

This was a fantastic day, filled with beautiful sights and a healthy but manageable dose of walking. Donna was a terrific guide, sharing both the history of the island as well as its legends. It was a nice small group, so no waiting for 50 people to get on and off the bus. Even the picnic lunch was kind of fun.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Laura, I’m happy to hear that our team provided you with excellent service and that you were able to get a lot go history from it. I’ll make sure that they receive your feedback. I’m sure it will make their day!

Volcano and Rainbow Fall tour

WENDY_G, Apr 2024

Our guide was very nice, informative and patient . It was a really nice day, beautiful views of the volcano and the rainbow falls. It was also nice meeting other people.😀

Response from Host, Apr 2024

We are so happy to hear you had an awesome time with us and that you got to see this beautiful views we have thanks for choosing us for your tour we love seeing 5 star reviews thanks!

Enjoyed Volcanoes National Park

Cecilia_L, Apr 2024

Enjoyed the tour. Volcanoes National Park is impressive. Lava tube and tropical rain forest were interesting. Rainbow falls is okay. Not exactly breathtaking! The stop at the nut store did not interest us. From reading other cruise ship iteneraries most tours stop there. It is just a bunch of expensive nuts. The tour stopped for lunch at a place that did not have a bathroom! Renovations were underway and there was a Port-a-Potty off to the side of the ordering counter. YUCK.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Cecilia, your review means a lot to us we love that you enjoyed the tour and made wonderful memories with this tour experience. We always strive to give our best to help our customers and I’m glad that we exceeded your expectations. We hope to see you again soon! Aloha!

Great tour and amazing tour guide!

Melissa_W, Apr 2024

Our transportation driver was such a delight. Hanibel was a fabulous comedian to. He most certainly lightened up the drive to our locations. The locations we visited we very interesting. I was unable to make the journey thru the Lava tunnel due to my mobility issue so I stayed on the bus and was given my own personal view of another caldera as the bus waited for the others to return from the lava tube. We appreciated Hanibel!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a 5-star rating – it's much appreciated! I will be passing on this detailed review to our team it always motivates us. We are glad your guide exceeded your expectations ALOHA!

Great Sightseeing Adventure

Michael_E, Apr 2024

A most enjoyable excursion. Edmon was just great. Could not have asked for a better time. Looking forward to using Viator for my next trip.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Michael, Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us ALOHA!

Great tour

Gary_H, Apr 2024

Great tour. Hannibal is the bomb. Crater is great experience not to be missed national parks are the best

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Our team is so happy to hear this thank you for leaving us a 5-star rating we appreciate it a lot. This motivates us to keep doing what we do safe travels ALOHA!

Lava tubes were cool !!

Sonia_C, Apr 2024

Gio was great and shared a lot of interesting facts and information. We made nice stops along the way… Rainbow falls, a black sand beach and the Big Island Candies. The volcano and lava tubes were very nice. The weather wasn’t cooperating but that happens sometimes. My husband and I really enjoyed the tour. We’d like to come back. Hopefully soon.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Sonia, We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience at our tour with Gio. Your review made our day! Our whole team works very hard to keep our customers happy, but we can only do it thanks to amazing customers like you. Thanks again, and we hope to serve you again soon. Safe travels Aloha :)

Would recommend

Zina_G, Apr 2024

Rainbow falls were nice, but the highlight was the lava tube! Volcano national park - very impressive. The tour was great, long enough to see everything we wanted to see but not too long. And Hannibal was a great guide! Pick up at port was very organized, on time and easy

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Zina, We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience at our tour with Hannibal. Your review made our day! Our whole team works very hard to keep our customers happy, but we can only do it thanks to amazing customers like you. Thanks again, and we hope to serve you again soon.

Ruined experience

Richard_S, Apr 2024

This was an excellent tour, hitting all the sites described. The volcano was the highlight and we felt that we had achieved sufficient exposure to it. The driver/guide was very thorough and enthusiastic…we thought, at times, too enthusiastic, but most people seemed quite happy with him. So why only 3 stars? …this tour could easily have been 5. For five hours, the first half dozen rows of seats where like sitting in a blast freezer. I was so cold and achy by the end, I went straight to bed for the remainder of the day. The bus did not seem to have a good system…either off or blasting, and the only vents appeared to be over the front seats. The guide seemed oblivious to the fact people were freezing and uncomfortable. When asked to adjust it, he did seem able to find a halfway point, but eventually flipped it to blast again. I only wanted the tour to be over.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Im glad to hear you enjoyed all the sights...and happy to hear the A/C works but will inform the guides that this may be too cold

Fun tour!

Kresha_A, Apr 2024

Great tour…Hannibal was awesome and told great stories! Enjoyed very much!!!!!! Great sites included.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Seeing your 5-star review made our day at C Big Island tours! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Hannibal. Aloha!

A Five Star trip!

mgfchatt, Apr 2024

Our guide Donna was excellent! She narrated the entire trip giving us a lot of information throughout the trip. She engaged with all of us, even taking pictures of us at each significant stop. She shared her in-depth knowledge of volcanoes with all of us! A very memorable trip!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hello Customer, We’re so grateful that you took the time to share your feedback with us. Our team will be extremely happy to hear this.It’s our pleasure to serve customers like you. Have a wonderful day Aloha!

Best of Hilo

Susan_O, Apr 2024

Hannibal lectures 😀he was very personable and informative. He was courteous and helpful with my limited mobility. I would definitely recommend. The rest of my party walked the lava tube and around the rim where possible.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

We’re so happy to hear you had a great experience at our tour. Your review made our day! Our whole team works very hard to keep our customers happy, but we can only do it thanks to amazing customers like you. Thanks again, and we hope to serve you again soon. I will be sharing with Hannibal thanks for giving him credit. Aloha

Great time with Maggie

Marie_M, Apr 2024

Maggie was a great tour guide, who shared excellent stories about the island. She was friendly and kind, took great pictures, and provided ample time to explore each stop.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

We’re always happy when customers like you enjoy your time in Hawaii. Thanks for sharing your experience with the community. Come back anytime!

Black sand beach, Rainbow...

Bobby_B, Apr 2024

Black sand beach, Rainbow Falls were beautiful. Lava tube, incredible! This is a great trip. Our guide, Gio, was knowledgeable, personable, funny and made the tour even more fun.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

I will make sure to pass on this awesome 5-star review with the C Big Island Team. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Aloha!

One of Our Best Tours in the Islands

David_K, Apr 2024

Gio was great! Great visit at Rainbow Falls, the Volcanoes Nat’l Park, and the walk through the lava tube was amazing.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear David, I’m happy to hear that our team provided you with excellent service and amazing tour. I’ll make sure that they receive your feedback. I’m sure it will make their day! Hope to see you back soon sometime safe travels ALOHA.

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