Things to do / Travel Guide
With so much to see and do on the Big Island, there are a plethora of organized tour options that cater to the needs of all types of travelers. Whether it's walking, driving, or even cruising, there's an organized tour option for everyone
You can read and print out a self-guided, approximately one-hour-long walking tour of Hilo. Alternatively, there are also self-guided tours available of the Big Island's coffee country.
Visitors without access to a car will probably have to take an organized tour in order to fully explore the Big Island and see most of what it has to offer.
Several companies run full-day island-wide tours that usually include short visits to the major attractions on the island. Be aware that, as the route covers about 250 miles, a good portion of the tour will be spent on the bus.
If you're looking for a less all-encompassing tour experience, guided tours focusing on specific areas and interests are recommended. Some examples of these tour types are: Volcano tours, Mauna Kea summit tours (with stargazing at the 9,000'-high visitors center), Waipio Valley tours, and whale watching cruises. Be aware that the Volcano tours may not allow enough time for up close exploration of the different areas of the park and may not cover areas where you can see actual lava flows.
There are also some special interest tours available for visitors who want to see and experience more than they'd be able to see and experience on their own. These include diving expeditions, kayaking and zodiac trips, submarine tours, helicopter tours (especially over the eruption zone), cycling tours, four-wheel-drive (4WD) tours, mule trips, and guided hikes.
Cruise ship excursions are also available and set sail from either Kailua-Kona or Hilo.
Cruises from Kailua-Kona include shore excursions to Puuhonua O Honaunau, St. Benedict's Church, the Royal Kona Coffee Store, Parker Ranch, Kahua Ranch, Kailua Village, Hulihee Palace, Cloud Forest Sanctuary, and allow for the opportunity to take part in sea kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, golf, fishing, rafting, and submarine tours.
Cruise ship excursions available from Hilo include stops at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Macadamia Nut Factory, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Waipio Valley, a 4WD Puna Safari, the Tsunami Museum, Akaka Falls, and the opportunity to take a helicopter tour.
|
|
|