Big Island tour: Volcanoes, waterfalls & black sand beaches

Walk inside a 600-foot lava tube and scan black sand for green sea turtles

This 11-hour nature tour covers the Big Island's volcanic landscape, waterfalls and coastline in a single day, departing from Kona and Waikoloa resorts with a professional English-speaking guide. The itinerary moves through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Thurston Lava Tube, two major waterfalls, and Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, with lunch and snacks included. Children from age 5 are welcome. The walking is easy and suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Kailua Pierpass by
2. Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach35m
3. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park1h 20m · entry included
4. Thurston Lava Tube20m
5. Rainbow Falls20m
6. Akaka Falls35m · entry included
7. Waipio Valley20m
8. Parker Ranchpass by

Big Island sightseeing and nature tour

• Pick up guests from Kohala Coast resorts
• Drive through historic Downtown Kona
• Tour Kona Coffee Farm and sample coffee
• Visit Punalu’u Black Sand Beach and watch for turtles
• Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Walk to Thurston Lava Tube
• Drive through Downtown Hilo
• View Rainbow Falls
• Walk to Akaka Falls
• Stop at Waipio Valley lookout
• Drive through Parker Ranch pastures

The experience

How much of the Big Island can you actually see in one day? This tour strings together the island's most distinct landscapes without requiring you to rent a car or navigate between stops. A Mercedes Sprinter van picks you up from your Kona or Waikoloa resort in the morning and carries the group through the historic Downtown Kona, where you'll pass Kailua Pier and the oldest church in Hawaii, then stop at a Kona Coffee Farm to taste the local harvest before heading south.

The route moves through Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, where you walk the dark volcanic sand and watch the horizon for green sea turtles that haul ashore there. From the coast, the tour climbs into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you explore steam vents, crater rim lookouts at Halema'uma'u and Kilauea Iki, and past lava flow sites. The Thurston Lava Tube (a 600-foot cave carved by an underground river of magma hundreds of years ago) gets its own short hike, with a bridge that lets you walk directly inside the tunnel. The scale of what you're standing in shifts the whole time: from the ocean to the crater rim to the inside of the earth itself.

The drive back takes you through Downtown Hilo and two waterfalls. Rainbow Falls plunges 80 feet over a lava cave into the Wailuku River. On sunny days, rainbows form in the mist. Akaka Falls, at 442 feet, drops into a lush ravine at the center of a state park, and a short walk through the vegetation gets you close enough for photos. The tour ends with a stop at the Waipio Valley lookout, where cliffs rise above the ocean, and a pass through Parker Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the US. Lunch and snacks are included throughout, along with bottled water and Hawaiian juice.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kona or Waikoloa.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• luxury Mercedes Sprinter van transportation.
• all national park entrance fees.
• picnic-style lunch and snacks.
• bottled water and Hawaiian juice.
• small group tour with no more than a handful of travelers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 13

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Wasabi Tours Hawaii

Is this one for you?The English-speaking guide narrates the entire route, so you follow the commentary without effort: ideal if you want to understand what you're looking at without reading signs or doing research beforehand. The small group size and fixed itinerary mean the day holds together without anyone building it, which suits families and travelers who prefer not to navigate or make decisions between stops.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

7,127 verified traveler reviews

5 ★6,725

4 ★281

3 ★72

2 ★26

1 ★23

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they 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's the walking like on this Big Island tour?

The tour requires only easy walking. You'll take short walks to the Thurston Lava Tube, Akaka Falls and other stops, but nothing strenuous. It's suitable for all fitness levels, and children from age 5 can join.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kona and Waikoloa resorts are included. A professional guide leads the group in a luxury Mercedes Sprinter van throughout the 11-hour day.

What's the Thurston Lava Tube actually like to walk through?

The Thurston Lava Tube is a 600-foot-long cave formed hundreds of years ago by an underground river of magma. You walk along a bridge that takes you directly inside the tunnel, giving you a literal inside look at how Hawaii was formed.

Will I see green sea turtles at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach?

Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is where green sea turtles haul ashore to rest. The tour includes time to walk the dark volcanic sand and scan the horizon, though sightings are not guaranteed.

What's included in the lunch and snacks?

A picnic-style lunch and snacks are included, along with bottled water and Hawaiian juice throughout the day. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available if you request them when booking.

Does this tour run if the weather is bad?

Yes, the tour operates in all weather conditions and runs rain or shine. Dress appropriately for changing conditions as you move from the coast to higher elevations in the volcanic park.