Oahu Circle Island Tour & Turtle Beach Snorkel North Shore

Sea Turtles Sunbathing on Sand: A Full Loop Around Oahu

You get picked up from your Waikiki hotel at 7:20am and spend the day looping around Oahu's coastline, stopping at Diamond Head's lookout, the Halona Blowhole, Mokolii Island, a local farm for lunch with taro patch walk-through, Dole Plantation, and 90 minutes of snorkeling at Waimanalo Beach with snorkel gear included and a lifeguard on duty. The route also passes Sandy Beach and ends at Sunset Beach on the North Shore. Small groups, air-conditioned minibus transport, and hotel drop-off at the end mean you don't arrange logistics yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each10 stops

1. Waikiki40m
2. Diamond Head10m
3. Halona Blowhole15m
4. Makapuu Lighthousepassing by
5. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm25m
6. Mokolii Island15m
7. Dole Plantation30m
8. Sandy Beach Parkpassing by
9. Waimanalo Beach Parkpassing by
10. North Shore1h

Oahu North Shore Circle Island Tour

• Shuttle pick up in Waikiki
• Visit Amelia Earhart Lookout
• See Halona Blowhole
• View Waimanalo sea cliffs
• Stop at Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm
• Visit Chinaman’s Hat (Mokolii Island)
• Tour local taro patch farm
• Enjoy North Shore shrimp lunch
• Shop at North Shore tropical fruit stands
• Pass pineapple and coffee fields
• Visit Dole Plantation for souvenirs
• Drive by Sandy Beach Park
• Pass Waimanalo Beach Park
• Snorkel with green sea turtles
• Relax at Sunset Beach

The experience

The shuttle pulls up at 7:20am and you realize the day is actually happening. You're about to circle an entire island and spend 90 minutes in the water hoping to swim near a Hawaiian green sea turtle. The Oahu circle island tour starts in Waikiki and moves fast. First stop is the Amelia Earhart Lookout, an elevated vantage on Diamond Head's eastern flank where the view stretches across the southeastern coastline. On clear days you can see all the way to Maui. Your guide points out Hanauma Bay below, then the shuttle keeps moving. The Halona Blowhole comes next: a natural lava tube from Koko Head's old eruptions that shoots seawater up through a narrow opening when the surf builds pressure inside. It's the kind of thing that looks small in photos and then you're standing there and the ocean just fires water into the air.

By mid-morning you're on the windward side, driving past Waimanalo's dramatic sea cliffs and spotting Manana Island (also called Rabbit Island because of its shape) sitting in the azure water offshore. The tour stops at Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm, a local shop tucked under aged banyan trees where you taste macadamia nuts and Kona coffee, then browse Hawaiian chocolate and other treats. After that comes Mokolii Island, also known as Chinaman's Hat, which sits next to the Kualoa Valley Mountain range and has been filmed in Jurassic Park and other Hollywood movies. The landscape is dramatic enough that you understand why filmmakers chose it. Then lunch happens at a local farm at the base of the Koʻolau Mountain Range: your guide walks you through a taro patch and explains how ancient Hawaiian agriculture practices still feed local families. The farm's restaurant serves garlic shrimp, coconut shrimp, and kalua pork. Vegetarian options are available. Bring cash. After eating, you stop at North Shore tropical fruit stands for ice-cold coconuts and fresh mangos, pass through pineapple and coffee fields on the outskirts of Haleiwa, and finish at Dole Plantation, where Dole Whip ice cream and pineapple-themed souvenirs wait.

The real draw, though, is the snorkeling at Waimanalo Beach. You spend 90 minutes in the water with snorkel gear included, looking for honu: the Hawaiian name for green sea turtles. They like to bask on the sand in the sun, and if conditions cooperate, you might see them on the beach or alongside you while snorkeling. A lifeguard is present, and the beach has restrooms and showers before the tour continues. The guide is trained as an HMAR Steward, meaning they know how to help guests enjoy Hawaii's marine wildlife safely and respectfully. The company is honest about this: turtles are unpredictable, and weather or sea conditions can affect sightings, so they can't guarantee you'll see them. But the beaches they visit are the ones most frequented by these creatures. After snorkeling, you loop back through Sandy Beach on the south shore (famous for bodyboarding and bodysurfing), and finish at Sunset Beach on the North Shore, which offers a quieter vibe than Waikiki's crowded stretches.

The tour operates in all weather and runs with small groups of up to 22 people, which means you're not packed into a tour bus with 50 strangers. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for select hotels in Waikiki. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, bottled water, and a change of dry clothes in a small day bag. Some stops may be skipped depending on availability or restrictions, so the itinerary is flexible, but the snorkeling and the circle route are the core of the day.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from select Waikiki hotels, transport by air-conditioned minibus, a professional guide trained in marine wildlife safety, snorkeling at Waimanalo Beach with snorkel gear provided, a lifeguard on duty during the snorkel session, and stops at Diamond Head's Amelia Earhart Lookout, Halona Blowhole, Mokolii Island, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm for tasting, a local farm with taro patch walk-through, North Shore tropical fruit stands, Dole Plantation, Sandy Beach, and Sunset Beach. Lunch at the farm is not included in the price.
• bring cash to pay separately.

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 07:20, from US$ 149 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:20Another time? ›

GroupUp to 28

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 15 pickup points.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Hawaii Turtle Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Oahu's main coastline, snorkel with sea turtles, and eat at a working farm without renting a car or planning six separate stops: the fixed schedule and included transport handle all of that, and the small group size means you're not herded through a crowded bus.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What time does the Oahu circle island tour start?

Hotel pickup in Waikiki begins at 7:20am. Pickup times vary by hotel and are assigned when you book online.

Is snorkel gear included?

Yes, snorkel gear is included in the tour price. Bring a swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen.

Are sea turtle sightings guaranteed?

No. The tour visits beaches most frequented by Hawaiian green sea turtles, but sightings depend on weather and sea conditions. Turtles are unpredictable, so the company cannot guarantee you will see them.

How long do you spend snorkeling?

You spend 90 minutes at Waimanalo Beach snorkeling and looking for turtles. A lifeguard is present, and the beach has restrooms and showers.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes the circle island tour, professional guide, snorkeling at Turtle Beach, snorkel gear, transport by air-conditioned minibus, and hotel pickup and drop-off (select hotels only). Lunch at the farm is not included. Bring cash.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are small, with up to 22 people per tour.

What should I bring?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, bottled water, a change of dry clothes in a small day bag, and cash for lunch at the farm.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

Yes, the tour operates in all weather conditions. Dress appropriately for the day's conditions.

What if I want to skip lunch at the farm?

Lunch is a scheduled stop at a local farm on the North Shore. The farm offers garlic shrimp, coconut shrimp, kalua pork, and vegetarian options. You pay separately and bring cash.