Big Island Hawaii: Volcanoes, Waterfalls & Black Sand Beach Day Tour

A Native Hawaiian guide takes you through five ecosystems in one day on the Big Island

You spend most of the morning inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a Native Hawaiian guide covering the crater overlooks, steam vents, and lava tubes. After lunch at Hilo Farmers Market, you visit Rainbow Falls, a botanical garden with tide pools, a local candy factory with free samples, and Richardson Ocean Park to see Hawaiian green sea turtles. Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Hilo are included, along with the national park fee, bottled water, and an umbrella for the mist.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hilo Farmers Market1h
2. Rainbow Falls20m
3. Richardson Ocean Park30m

Volcano, Hilo Market, Waterfalls, and Beach

• Visit Volcano House and Visitor Center
• See Kilauea overlook and steam vents
• Explore Kilauea Iki and Laumanu Craters
• Walk through Nahuku lava tube
• Lunch and shop at Hilo Farmers Market
• View Rainbow Falls and Banyan Tree
• Explore 24-acre Botanical Garden
• Sample treats at local candy factory
• Relax at Richardson Ocean Park beach

The experience

Hands grip the van's overhead rail as it climbs into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. That's how you know the elevation is real. The driver, a Native Hawaiian guide, points out the steam vents before you see them, and suddenly the sulfur smell hits and the landscape shifts from green to gray to something that looks like another planet. Most of the morning stays here: Volcano House, the Visitor Center, the Halemaumau Crater overlook, the Kilauea Iki Crater, the lava tube at Nahuku. It's not a quick walk-through. You get time to stand at each stop, to feel the heat rising from the ground, to understand why this place matters to the people who live here.

After the park, the van drops down to Hilo town and the Farmers Market, where you have an hour to eat and wander. The stalls are loud and crowded in the best way: locals selling what they grew, restaurants with lines, the smell of fresh poke and grilled fish. You're not rushed through it. You pick your own lunch, sit where you want. Then it's on to Rainbow Falls, where the Wailuku River drops hard and the mist catches the light if the sun's right. There's a quarter-acre Banyan Tree here that people climb and swing from, and the guide lets you know which paths are worth taking and which ones get slippery. The botanical garden comes next: 24 acres near Hilo Bay with salt-water tide pools, eucalyptus trees, and sometimes the Nene geese if you're lucky.

The last two stops are smaller but they stick with you. A local candy factory where you can watch macadamia nut cookies being dipped and packed through big windows, and they hand out free samples, Kona coffee too. Then Richardson Ocean Park, the black sand beach where the Hawaiian green sea turtles actually show up. People swim, snorkel, or just sit under a coconut tree. The van brings you back to your hotel or the airport in Hilo as the day winds down, and you've seen volcanic craters, waterfalls, a working farm market, tide pools, and sea turtles all in one stretch.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Hilo, entry to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, bottled water, an umbrella, and a professional Native Hawaiian guide who leads you through the volcano craters, steam vents, and lava tubes in the morning. After that, you have an hour at Hilo Farmers Market to buy lunch and explore local shops, then visit Rainbow Falls, a 24-acre botanical garden with tide pools, a local candy factory with free macadamia nut cookie and Kona coffee samples, and finish at Richardson Ocean Park, the black sand beach where sea turtles swim.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

GroupUp to 14

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 10 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 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Makaio Tours Hawaii

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to see the Big Island's most famous natural landmarks (volcanoes, waterfalls, tide pools, and sea turtles) in a single day without renting a car or planning the route yourself. The Native Hawaiian guide and fixed schedule handle the logistics, and the van's reclining seats mean you're not exhausted by the driving between stops.

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Top questions

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.

How long is the full day tour?

The tour runs 8 to 10 hours total, with the majority of time spent inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

What's included in the price?

National Park entry fee, hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Hilo, bottled water, umbrella, and a professional Native Hawaiian guide. Lunch is not included but you have an hour at Hilo Farmers Market to buy food.

Is there time to swim or snorkel at Richardson Ocean Park?

Yes. Richardson is the final stop and you have time to swim, snorkel, or relax on the black sand beach before heading back to your hotel or airport.

Can I see sea turtles at Richardson Ocean Park?

Hawaiian green sea turtles (Honu) are often in the salt-water tide pools there, but sightings are not guaranteed.

What's the van like?

Luxury vans with 15-passenger seating, reclining seats, and air conditioning. The company is family-operated and emphasizes cleanliness and comfort.

Is this tour good for families with small children?

Yes. Infants and small children can use a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The pace includes stops where you can rest.

Do I need to be very fit for this tour?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. There is walking at each stop, but the pace is not strenuous. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for the cooler elevation at the volcano, and a swimsuit if you plan to use Richardson Ocean Park.

Can I get picked up from my hotel?

Yes. Hotel pickup in Hilo is included, as well as pickup from Hilo Airport or the Port of Hilo if you're arriving by cruise.

What if I'm visiting a different part of the Big Island?

Pickups are available from Hilo-area hotels and the airport. If you're staying on the west side (Kona area), this tour may not be practical due to driving distance.