Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanic Experience, Lava Tubes, Waterfalls

5.0 (18 reviews) 5 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

18 reviews

5.0

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanic Experience, Lava Tubes, Waterfalls — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanic Experience, Lava Tubes, Waterfalls, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Join BIG HAWAI'I TOURS captivating exploration of the Big Island's lush and volcanic windward side!

-Luxury van not a 25–60 passenger coach

-Pickup at the ship when disembarking allowed and return for a late, on-board lunch

-Owner-guided (Fred & Maryna)

-Itinerary flexed for weather/closures/eruptions

-Water, island drinks, and homegrown snacks included

-Suitable for all fitness levels

During active eruptions, witness the mighty Kīlauea - the world’s most active volcano. On dormant days, we'll skip the long drive to the crowded park to enjoy black sand coastlines with playful dolphin pods and unique lava formations hidden from tourists. See cavernous lava tubes, majestic waterfalls, and tropical jungles, and savor locally-raised macadamia sweets.

BIG HAWAII TOURS are daily curated to maximize your limited time in Hilo. This 5.5-hour morning tour can be bundled with our BIG HAWAII TOURS afternoon TROPICAL ESCAPE for a full, memorable day with guaranteed "all-aboard" for cruisers.

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At a glance

Duration: 5 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: Russian, Ukrainian, English
Operated by: Big Hawai'i Tours

Ages: Infants (0–3 years) · Youth (4–14 years) · Adults (15–110 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Admission fees: Your booking includes admission/parking fees to all sites on tour
Included: We Work With Ship Arrival/Departure Times
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: We pickup/drop-off inside Hilo Port (right next to ship)
Included: We provide complimentary drinks (Hawaii-special soft drinks) and home-grown snacks (often including fresh fruit!), and will return cruisers to ship by 1:30PM for their on-board lunch

Not included

Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Hilo

Passing by

On this unforgettable excursion, you will have the rare opportunity to see a live volcano during active eruptions and walk through an incredible underground lava tube. Your journey continues with a perfect photo opportunity where you can take a selfie by the most iconic waterfalls in Hawai'i, followed by a delicious stop to enjoy locally grown and packaged Big Island sweets right in Hilo. Designed with cruise passengers in mind, the tour ensures you will be safely returned to your ship with plenty of time for an on-board lunch and an opportunity to freshen up before your afternoon activities begin. We will only pass through Hilo Town and catch a glimpse of King Kamehameha the Great.
Lili'uokalani Gardens

5 min

Take-in the tropical beauty of this ocean-side Japanese garden and take a quick picture of Hilo Town across the harbor with Mauna Kea staring down from it's 14,000 foot elevation.
Boiling Pots

10 min Admission included

We will catch a couple picturesque waterfalls as we explore the lush, green windward side of the Big Island.
Rainbow Falls

10 min Admission included

This beautiful waterfall is usually one of our first stops, depending on traffic and weather.
Kaumana Caves Park

15 min

On days the Kilaeau is dormant, we will avoid the long drive to the crowded Nat'l Park and experience more peaceful but equally "volcanic" wonders, including this off-the-beaten path lava tube surrounded by lush jungle (does have steep steps down into the lava tube, so less adventurous travelers can enjoy the view from the top).
Stop 6

10 min

On dormant volcano days, travelers will get to see the unique "lava trees" caused by a fast-moving lava flow, adding to the "volcanic experience" of our tour.
Leilani Estates

Passing by

See what a massive volcanic fissure in 2018 did to a residential neighborhood. A good reminder that the Big Island continues to add to its mass through fire and molten lava.
Isaac Hale Beach Park

10 min Admission included

Black sand beach with natural thermal heated pools. See how the lava flow reached the ocean, eventually creating black sand beaches.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

2 hours

On days that Kilauea is erupting with Pele's wrath, we will prioritize heading straight to the Nat'l Park. On dormant days, we will save the long drive to the crowded park and experience the impact of past eruptions, including recent lava flows that took out entire neighborhoods and added to the size of the BIG Island.
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center

15 min

Time permitting, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some free samples and possibly purchase a box of two of our favorite, locally raised/packaged macadamia nut sweets.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

Reeds Bay parking lot for Hilo vacationers (i.e., non cruisers)
We will greet you at the port terminal pavilion next to the ship for cruise passengers.

End point

Reeds Bay parking lot for Hilo vacationers (i.e., non cruisers)
We will greet you at the port terminal pavilion next to the ship for cruise passengers.

Pickup points

Luxurious van picks up Hilo Port cruisers right at the port (we will greet you in the terminal pavilion right next to the ship about 45 minutes after ship docks). For Hilo vacationers we can pickup right across the harbor from dock at Reeds Bay Beach Park gravel parking lot. If you're arriving via cruise ship, please provide the names of everyone in your group for port authority passenger manifest. We work with each cruise line on their specific disembarking times so don't worry about being late, and we guarantee "all aboard" return.

Using your ticket

The lush windward side of the Big Island can be occasionally rainy, so a poncho and/or umbrella is advisable. Walking shoes are better than sandals (save the flip-flops for our afternoon tour), but no strenuous hikes are necessary.