Oahu North Shore: Waimea Falls & Turtle Snorkeling with Gear

Waimea's waterfall is swimmable, and the snorkel gear comes with you

You get hotel pickup, entry to Waimea Valley, and your choice of snorkel gear, bikes, kayaks or paddleboards, all included. Spend your day between the waterfall, Shark's Cove, Sunset Beach, and Haleiwa Town's shops and shave-ice stands, moving at your own pace. The small-group format and flexible itinerary mean you adapt to ocean conditions and your own rhythm instead of following a fixed schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each6 stops

1. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm15m
2. North Shore2h
3. Sunset Beachpassing by
4. Banzai Pipeline20m
5. Waimea Baypassing by
6. Dole Plantationpassing by

Explore Oahu North Shore highlights

• Drive along Windward side
• Stop for coffee and macadamia tasting
• Visit Waimea Valley and swim at falls
• Swim or snorkel at Waimea Bay
• Snorkel at Shark's Cove marine sanctuary
• Explore historic Haleiwa Town and shop
• Watch surfers at Banzai Pipeline (winter only)
• Pass by Sunset Beach
• Drive by Dole Plantation

The experience

The thing that sets this North Shore day apart is the gear. Snorkel equipment, bicycles, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards. All included, which means you're not renting separately or deciding what to pack. You pick up at your Oahu hotel in the morning, drive along the Windward side past the Koolau Mountains, and stop at Tropical Farms for free macadamia nut tasting before heading to the North Shore proper. It's a small-group tour, which changes how the day feels. You're not herded through stops on a fixed schedule.

Once you hit the North Shore, the itinerary becomes yours. Waimea Valley has the waterfall you can actually swim under, plus the largest collection of Polynesian plants on the island if you want to walk around instead. Shark's Cove is one of three marine sanctuaries in Oahu and works for snorkeling on calmer days. Sunset Beach flips seasonally: winter brings world-class surfers, summer turns it into flat, clear water. Banzai Pipeline, the legendary break, is a winter-only stop. In summer you skip it. The point is you're not locked into a route. You see what the ocean's doing that day and choose accordingly.

Haleiwa Town sits in between, an old plantation-style place with art galleries, local shops, and the famous Matsumoto Shave-ice stand. You have real time here to eat lunch, browse, or rent a kayak and paddle the Anahulu River if that appeals. The bus waits. You're not watching a clock or being herded back early. That's the difference the operator emphasizes: more time off the bus than any other tour on the island, which sounds small until you're actually standing in front of something and can linger instead of moving on.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected properties, and the bus is a 25-person mini coach, not a full-size tour bus. Waimea Falls Park entry is already paid for. Rental gear, whatever you choose, is already paid for. You bring sunscreen, a towel, and willingness to get wet. The tour runs year-round, though winter and summer conditions change what's safe and what's worth seeing, which is why the flexibility matters.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off at selected Oahu properties, entry to Waimea Falls Park, and your choice of snorkel gear, bicycles, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards.
• All rental equipment is included at no extra cost.
• You also get free macadamia nut tasting at Tropical Farms, a cooler with ice to keep drinks chilled, and a small-group experience on a 25-person mini bus with stops at Waimea Valley, Shark's Cove, Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline (winter only), and Haleiwa Town.
• Lunch is on your own in town.

Information

Lasts 9h, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 167.53 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

AgesAdult (13 to 95 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Surf Bus

Is this one for you?Book this if you want North Shore highlights without arranging your own transport, paying for activity rentals separately, or following a rigid schedule: the included gear and flexible itinerary let you adapt to conditions and your own pace instead of being locked into fixed stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

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 included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, entry to Waimea Falls Park, and your choice of snorkel gear, bicycles, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards. Free macadamia nut tasting is also included at Tropical Farms.

Can I choose which activities to do?

Yes. Once you see ocean conditions and what's available that day, you decide how to spend your time: swimming at Waimea Falls, snorkeling at Shark's Cove, biking, kayaking, or exploring Haleiwa Town and the shops.

Is Banzai Pipeline always on the itinerary?

No, it's a winter-only stop. In summer, the tour focuses on other North Shore beaches and activities that are safe and worth seeing in calmer conditions.

How many people are on the tour?

It's a small-group tour on a 25-person mini bus, not a full-size coach.

What if I don't want to snorkel or bike?

All activities are optional. You can spend your time at Waimea Valley's botanical gardens, walk around Haleiwa Town, or relax on the beach.

Is lunch included?

No, but you have time in Haleiwa Town to buy lunch. Matsumoto Shave-ice and local restaurants are there.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup times vary by location. The full day is spent on the North Shore with multiple stops before returning to your hotel in the evening.

Are there age restrictions?

Infants can ride in a stroller or pram, and must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Foldable wheelchairs can be accommodated, though buses don't have wheelchair lifts.