Kona Cloud Forest Coffee & Sea Turtles Shore Excursion

Walk rare cloud forest, taste Kona coffee, and watch sea turtles in one day

A five-hour guided shore excursion from Kailua Pier on the Big Island combines three distinct stops: a 1.5-hour walk through Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, a coffee plantation tour with tastings, and a walk to Turtle Beach at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park to spot Hawaiian green sea turtles. Port pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, water and tropical fruit are included. Lunch is at your own expense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Kailua Pier10m
2. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park30m · entry included
3. Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary1h 30m · entry included

Kona Cloud Forest, Coffee & Turtle Beach

• Depart from Kailua Kona Pier
• Stop to purchase lunch
• Walk Honokohau Turtle Trail
• Visit Kona coffee farm and learn process
• Guided walk through Kona Cloud Forest

The experience

The tour departs from Kailua Pier, where your guide meets you with a sign. From there you head to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park for the Honokohau Turtle Trail Walk: an easy 7-to-10-minute stroll down a 100-yard trail to a white sand beach. The walk passes an archeological site with a reconstructed Hawaiian fish trap made of lava rock, and this is where you'll see the local wildlife, including Hawaiian green sea turtles that inhabit the area.

The coffee farm visit comes next, featuring half coffee fields and half a garden with 30 types of fruits and 50 varieties of flowers. You'll learn how 100% Kona coffee goes from bean to cup, then relax at a scenic rest area with coffee tastings and views. (If you're booked on a weekend, the tour uses Greenwell Coffee Plantation instead, since the primary farm closes weekends.) After that comes the main event: a 1.5-hour professional guided walk through Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary. The trail is moderate with slight elevation gain over 0.5 miles of natural terrain dotted with surface-level roots. The guide stops often to explain the rare plants thriving in this ecosystem that makes up less than 1% of all forested land worldwide. The temperature in the cloud forest stays comfortable between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Walking sticks and rain ponchos are provided, along with bottled water and tropical fruit. A stop is made during the day for lunch, which you purchase at your own expense. Wear comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing, since conditions shift from the hot, sunny Kona coast to the cooler cloud forest elevation.

What’s included

• Professional guide.
• port pickup and drop-off from Kailua Pier.
• entrance fees to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary and the coffee plantation.
• bottled water.
• tropical fruit and chocolate snacks.
• walking sticks and rain ponchos.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 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

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by C Big Island Tours

Is this one for you?The tour departs and returns to Kailua Pier, so if you're arriving by cruise ship or staying without a rental car, you skip the logistics of getting to three separate sites and back to port on your own.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 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 are the Hawaiian green sea turtles like when you reach Turtle Beach?

Hawaiian green sea turtles live in the shallow waters and on the sand at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, where the Turtle Trail Walk ends. They are local wildlife you may spot during the easy 7-to-10-minute walk down to the white sand beach.

How difficult is the Kona Cloud Forest walk?

The cloud forest walk is moderate with slight elevation gain over 0.5 miles of natural terrain. The trail has surface-level roots to navigate, but the guide stops often to explain the plants and ecosystem, so the pace is unhurried.

What happens if my cruise ship is delayed or doesn't arrive?

If your ship does not arrive due to weather, you receive a full refund of the tour cost.

What's included in the coffee farm visit?

The coffee plantation entrance fee is included, along with a guided tour of the fields and garden, and tastings of locally harvested Kona coffee at a scenic rest area with views.