Dolphin Tours in Big Island of Hawaii at a glance
- Our pick: Kona whale and dolphin watching tour: Guaranteed sightings, US$ 129 per person (3h–4h, 4.87★ · 584).
- Top rated: Snorkeling Big Island: Dolphins, Two Reefs & Lunch from Honokohau, US$ 150 per person (3h, 4.88★ · 50).
- Best value: Dolphin and Whale Watch in Kona: Kailua-Kona coastal cruise, US$ 99 per person (2h 30m, 4.64★ · 80).
Price per person across the 9 options priced per person: US$ 69–US$ 194 (median US$ 99). With 100+ reviews: 5 of 10.
Of the 10 options: 10 with live guides in English, 10 with free cancellation, 9 with instant confirmation, 1 with hotel pickup, 7 kid-friendly, 1 private and 9 bookable last-minute.
How we rank: quality, number of reviews, availability, booking conditions and relevance to the topic. In the comparison table, our top 3 comes first. Prices are per person, except options priced per group: that price is for the whole group, and the per-person figure assumes the group is full. “Top rated” = the highest score among options with at least 50 reviews.
Dolphin Tours in Big Island of Hawaii
Based on each operator's calendar. Confirmed when you book.
10 options
Kona whale and dolphin watching tour: Guaranteed sightings Whale and dolphin watching tour on the Kona Coast with a professional crew certified for deep offshore waters: see pilot whales, spinner dolphins. Every day · 08:30 · From age 10 ★ 4.87 (584 reviews) Duration: 3h–4h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 129 per person
Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Tour: Small Group, Sea Caves A 2.5-hour snorkel tour to Kealakekua Bay aboard a fast Zodiac RIB boat reaches sea caves and coral reefs that larger vessels cannot access. Every day · 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 · From age 5 ★ 4.60 (1,668 reviews) Duration: 3h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 69 per person
Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Cruise from Kailua-Kona: Red Hill Snorkel the Red Hill marine sanctuary from a double-decker catamaran with breakfast, lunch, reef-safe sunscreen and two hours in the water. Every day · 08:00 · All ages ★ 4.76 (840 reviews) Duration: 4h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 194 per person
Snorkeling Kealakekua Bay: Captain Cook Monument & Sea Caves Snorkel two locations in Kealakekua Bay (coral reefs and sea caves near the Captain Cook Monument) aboard a Zodiac RIB with snorkel gear. Every day · 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 · From age 6 ★ 4.64 (296 reviews) Duration: 3h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 89 per person
Kailua-Kona Snorkeling: Sea Kayak & Spinner Dolphins Paddle and snorkel off Kailua-Kona with a professional guide to spot Hawaiian spinner dolphins and see over 50 fish species at coral reefs. Every day · 07:00 · From age 5 ★ 4.85 (408 reviews) Duration: 4h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 99 per person
Dolphin and Whale Watch in Kona: Kailua-Kona coastal cruise Dolphin and whale watching cruise on Kona's coast with naturalist guide narrating wildlife, sea caves and volcanic cliffs from a rigid hull boat: 2.5 hours, ages 5 and up. Every day · 08:00 and 10:45 · From age 5 ★ 4.64 (80 reviews) Duration: 2h 30m Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 99 per person
Snorkeling Big Island: Dolphins, Two Reefs & Lunch from Honokohau Snorkel two secluded Big Island reefs from Honokohau Harbor with a local guide, watch for spinner dolphins and whales, then eat grilled lunch on the boat. Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun · 09:30 · All ages ★ 4.88 (50 reviews) Duration: 3h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 150 per person
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling: Zodiac access to sea caves and reefs Snorkel Kealakekua Bay's coral reefs and hidden sea caves aboard a Zodiac RIB boat: small groups, snorkel gear and water included, no big-boat crowds. Every day · 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 · From age 3 ★ 4.59 (83 reviews) Duration: 3h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 99 per person
Big Island boat charter: Swim with dolphins, Kealakekua Bay Private boat charter on Big Island with snorkel guide and captain. Swim with wild dolphins. Every day · 12 start times, 07:00 to 22:00 ★ 5.00 (53 reviews) Duration: 4h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 2,053 per group
Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay from Kailua Kona Pier Snorkel Kealakekua Bay's protected reef and sea caves aboard a small Zodiac from Kailua Kona Pier with lunch, gear and a live guide included. Mon, Wed and Sun · 09:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 13:00 · Pickup available · From age 5 ★ 4.70 (82 reviews) Duration: 3h Live guide: EN ✓ Free cancellation. from US$ 99 per person
All 10 options, side by side
✓ 2026-11-14| Option | Price | Duration | Rating | Days and times | Guide languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona whale and dolphin watching tour: Guaranteed sightingsOur pick | US$ 129 per person | 3h–4h | 4.87★ · 584 | Every day · 08:30 | English |
| Snorkeling Big Island: Dolphins, Two Reefs & Lunch from HonokohauTop rated | US$ 150 per person | 3h | 4.88★ · 50 | Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun · 09:30 | English |
| Dolphin and Whale Watch in Kona: Kailua-Kona coastal cruiseBest value | US$ 99 per person | 2h 30m | 4.64★ · 80 | Every day · 08:00 and 10:45 | English |
| Kealakekua Bay Snorkel Tour: Small Group, Sea Caves | US$ 69 per person | 3h | 4.60★ · 1,668 | Every day · 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 | English |
| Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Cruise from Kailua-Kona: Red Hill | US$ 194 per person | 4h 30m | 4.76★ · 840 | Every day · 08:00 | English |
| Snorkeling Kealakekua Bay: Captain Cook Monument & Sea Caves | US$ 89 per person | 3h | 4.64★ · 296 | Every day · 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 | English |
| Kailua-Kona Snorkeling: Sea Kayak & Spinner DolphinsGroup of up to 10 | US$ 99 per person | 4h | 4.85★ · 408 | Every day · 07:00 | English |
| Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling: Zodiac access to sea caves and reefs | US$ 99 per person | 3h | 4.59★ · 83 | Every day · 08:00, 11:00 and 14:00 | English |
| Big Island boat charter: Swim with dolphins, Kealakekua BayPrivate | US$ 2,053 per group up to 6 people · ≈ US$ 342 per person if 6 go | 4h | 5.00★ · 53 | Every day · 12 start times, 07:00 to 22:00 | English |
| Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay from Kailua Kona PierPickup offered | US$ 99 per person | 3h | 4.70★ · 82 | Mon, Wed and Sun · 09:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 13:00 | English |
By what you need
- Private (1): Big Island boat charter: Swim with dolphins, Kealakekua Bay (US$ 2,053 per group)
- Small groups (up to 15) (1): Kailua-Kona Snorkeling: Sea Kayak & Spinner Dolphins (US$ 99 per person)
- With pickup (1): Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay from Kailua Kona Pier (US$ 99 per person)
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