Big Island volcano tour with dinner: Kilauea and black sand beach

Park-certified guides show you Kilauea's crater and the lava lake that drained it.

A guided tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island combines Kona coffee tasting at Greenwell Farms, a stop at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach where endangered sea turtles bask, and an intimate exploration of Kilauea Crater with park-certified guides who know the park's hidden spots. The day ends with a three-course dinner at Kilauea Lodge using fresh local ingredients. Hotel pickup, a catered picnic lunch, cold beverages, binoculars and a light jacket are included. The tour runs 11 hours and stays under 14 travelers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach30m
2. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park1h 30m · entry included

Explore Kona, Volcano, and Dinner

• Drive to Greenwell Farms
• Taste Kona coffee and learn brewing
• Enjoy deli-style picnic lunch
• Visit bakery at southernmost US point
• Try fresh malasadas and sweet bread
• Visit Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
• See endangered turtles on black sand
• Tour Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• View Kilauea Caldera and lava lake
• Enjoy three-course dinner at Kilauea Lodge

The experience

The day starts early with a drive from your hotel to Greenwell Farms, where you taste Kona coffee and learn how the beans are roasted and brewed. A deli-style picnic lunch follows, eaten in the mountain air before you head south. The route takes you past the southernmost point in the United States to a bakery famous for malasadas and fresh pastries, then down to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. The black sand here is basalt created by lava flowing into the ocean, and endangered green and hawksbill sea turtles often rest on it. Bring binoculars to watch them without disturbing them.

The heart of the tour is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where park-certified guides lead you through Kilauea Crater. These guides know which spots most visitors miss and can explain what you're standing in front of: a crater that has weathered thousands of earthquakes, rockfalls, and the draining of Kilauea Caldera's massive lava lake. The guides work for Kailani Tours and have access to areas and knowledge that self-guided visitors cannot reach on their own.

You return to the town of Volcano for dinner at Kilauea Lodge's restaurant. The three-course meal is prepared with fresh, local ingredients and creative flavor combinations. The lodge sits near the park entrance, so the timing lets you end the day without a long drive back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• Kona coffee tasting at Greenwell Farms.
• catered picnic lunch.
• a stop at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach.
• guided exploration of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a park-certified guide.
• three-course dinner at Kilauea Lodge.
• cold beverages, hot coffee and chocolate.
• snacks.
• binoculars.
• light jacket.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesdayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 13

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Kailani Tours Hawaii

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a small group and prefer not to drive yourself. The guide handles the route and timing, and the park-certified guides show you spots and explain the geology in ways you cannot access on your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Punalu'u Black Sand Beach and why do sea turtles go there?

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach on the Big Island's southern tip is made of basalt created when lava flowed into the ocean. Endangered green and hawksbill sea turtles bask on the black sand to warm themselves, and you'll have time to watch them during the tour.

Do the guides actually work inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

Yes, the guides are park-certified, which means they have special knowledge of the park and access to areas most visitors cannot reach on their own. They show you their favorite locations and explain the geology of Kilauea Crater and the lava lake that drained from it.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

A catered picnic lunch is included and served at Greenwell Farms after the Kona coffee tasting. Meal options include regular, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-intolerant choices. Let the tour operator know your dietary needs when you book.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs 11 hours total and includes hotel pickup and drop-off, so the exact start time depends on where you're staying. Contact the operator for your specific pickup time.

What's included in the price besides the meals?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, cold beverages and hot coffee or chocolate, snacks, binoculars and a light jacket are all included. Dinner at Kilauea Lodge is also included.