Hilo Shore Excursion: Waterfalls, Volcanoes,
Black Sand Beaches

This private Hilo shore excursion is a great way for guests arriving by boat to see the most requested destinations on the Big Island: volcanoes, waterfalls, and black sand beaches! Visit Richardsons Beach Park, the Wailuku River State Park, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on this custom tailored Hilo shore excursion!

Start the day visiting a black sand beach; look for sea turtles and feel the black sand under your feet at Richardsons Beach Park. Explore the tropical landscape that surrounds Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots in the Wailuku River State Park. If we are lucky, catch a glimpse of a rainbow created in the mist of Rainbow Falls! Then we venture to Volcanoes National Park to see one of the most unique geological, biological and cultural landscapes on earth!

With our outstanding naturalist guide leading your tour, you will learn about all the natural wonders, endemic wildlife, and volcanic landscape that makes up the Big Island on this Hilo shore excursion!

Experience some of the best of Big Island on this tailored Hilo shore excursion!

• Richardsons black sand beach
• Rainbow Falls & Boiling Pots, Wailuku River State Park
• Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
• Explore the main highlights of Volcanoes National Park including: Kilauea Overlook, Wahinekapu Steaming Bluffs, and the Thurston Lava Tube
• Enjoy an included picnic lunch surrounded by the beauty of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
• Guided interpretation throughout the day as you learn all about the natural wonders, endemic wildlife, and volcanic landscapes

Starting at $1095, with private group rates as low as $223 per person (based on eleven guests)

Note: Volcanic activity is a natural phenomenon and varies daily. Our guides monitor the latest National Park Service updates to lead you to the safest and most spectacular viewing locations available at the time of your tour.

• Start your Hilo shore excursion with convenient pick up directly from the boat! We permitted to enter the Port facilities and will pick you up directly from the Hilo cruise ship terminal.
• Start your day with a short drive to Richardsons Beach Park. This unique destination offers a rare black sand beach, formed by volcanic activity. Richardson’s is one of the best spots in Hilo to see the Hawaiian green sea turtles resting on the warm rocks. The beach also offers panoramic view of Mauna Kea on the clear days, this is a must-see for anyone exploring Hawaii beaches!
• Take a short drive through historic downtown Hilo while your naturalist tour guide tells you about the rich history and culture of this area.
• Our next stop will be at the Wailuku River State Park to see both Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. Rainbow Falls, called Waianueanue Falls in Hawaiian, received its name by a rainbow created by the morning sunlight in the mist of the Falls. Boiling Pots, called Pe’epe’e Falls in Hawaiian, is a lesser visited location in Wailuku River State Park but equally worth the stop. While at these two locations, learn about the legend of great battle that took place here between the demi-god Maui and Mo’o Kuna.
• Next, we will venture over to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is not only home to the world’s most active volcano, Kīlauea, and the world’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa! The Park is also home to critically endangered wildlife and some of the most unique geological formations on Earth!
• We will begin our adventure in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park at the top of Kilauea overlooking Halema’uma’u crater. Not only will you be standing at the edge of the world’s most active volcano but you will also learn about the vast changes that have happened here after the 2018 eruption!
• Next, we will continue to the Wahinekapu steaming bluffs to feel the hot steam seeping out of the ground. Here ground water percolates down to rocks that are heated by the underground lava and is released back to the surface as steam. You can stand in front of the vents and feel how hot the stream is!
• After, we will then venture down to the Thurston lava tube, or Nahuku in Hawaiian. Here, your guide will talk you on a short walk through the native forests and into the lava tube talking about the different plants, animals, and lava tube formations. The Thurston lava tube is over 500 years old, 600ft long, and over 25ft in diameter in some places!
• Enjoy an included picnic lunch at one of our various stops inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
• Additionally, we may have more time to explore another location inside the Volcanoes National Park that can include but are not limited to: Kilauea Iki, Devastation trail, Ha’akulamanu sulphur vents, Waldron Ledge, upper portions of Chain of Craters Road, and Kipukapuaulu bird trail.
• Following your Hilo shore excursion, we will return you back to the cruise ship terminal filled with exciting new memories!

• Admission into all Parks and venues
• Pickup and drop-off at the Hilo Cruise Ship Terminal
• Fully guided naturalist tour with educational materials and commentary provided by our top of the line tour guides
• Complementary Photo package: 20-25 professional, edited photos shared via Adobe Cloud or iCloud for easy accessibility while traveling

• Lunch: Enjoy a picnic style lunch surrounded by the beauty of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
• Snacks: trail mix, fruit snacks, granola bars, beef jerky, chips, chocolate
• All non-alcoholic beverages: water, juice, soda, hot tea, coffee and hot chocolate

• Patagonia rain jacket and Nano puff
• Nikon ProStaff 7s binoculars
• Black Diamond Hiking Poles
• Flashlight
• Umbrella

Upon booking your tour, one of our guides will contact you to discuss custom options we have available for your tour. Whether you’d like to spend more time  enjoying more time at the waterfall locations, or enjoy an extended guided hike, we’re here to make this experience memorable and most importantly – ALL ABOUT YOU!

We look forward to taking you on an amazing adventure!