Top Catalina Island Nature Walks

Skip the usual sightseeing tours and see a different side of Avalon—the only town on Catalina Island—with this walking ghost tour. Meander through most of the small town, visiting highlights such as the Catalina Island Casino, while you learn why the island is allegedly haunted. Learn about the difference between spirits and ghosts, and see “proof” of paranormal activity.

Discover life under the surface of the Pacific Ocean on a glass-bottom boat tour from Catalina Island. Board your vessel in Avalon at Float B on the Green Pleasure Pier and enjoy views of colorful fish, coral, and other sea life while you sail. Listen to commentary from your captain about the local ecology and enjoy a relaxing time on this boating adventure.

Explore Avalon on a GPS-guided audio walking tour that plays automatically as you walk. No groups, no schedules—just put in your headphones and go. Starting along the waterfront, you’ll follow a walkable route along the harbor, up to hillside viewpoints, and past key landmarks. Along the way, you'll visit places like the Green Pleasure Pier, the Tuna Club, and the iconic Catalina Casino, while hearing the stories behind Avalon’s rise as a seaside destination. Explore at your own pace—pause for a drink, take a detour, or linger at viewpoints. The audio resumes whenever you’re ready, so you can move freely without keeping up with a group. This is a self-guided experience (no in-person guide). Download the tour in advance and use it anytime—it works offline and follows your location along the route.

Discover the underwater world of Catalina Island during a 45-minute ride on a semi-submarine. The semi-sub allows you to view the marine life of Avalon Bay as you dive six feet (two meters) below the surface at Lovers' Cove. Stay dry as you get a close look at fish feeding around the submarine, then take in views of the island from your vessel's top deck during the return journey to Avalon.

See what lives in the Pacific waters surrounding Catalina Island on a 45-minute underwater cruise. As you sit comfortably in a climate-controlled cabin on board a large boat, you'll glide five feet (1.5 meters) below the surface to look for marine life in their natural habitat out of your own porthole. Along the way, listen to live commentary from a guide.

Cars are mostly banned on Catalina Island, and trying to see the highlights of the island’s vibrant harbor area on foot is a recipe for blisters. On this express private tour, visit coastal Avalon by chauffeured golf cart, covering more sights in less time than you could on your own. Along the way, learn about the island’s history and unique lifestyles of its few thousand residents.

Experience Catalina’s rugged interior—the protected side of the island that few visitors get to see—on this nature tour. Traveling by custom-built safari vehicle for easy wildlife viewing, head to the Airport-in-the-Sky and get a chance to spot bald eagles, bison, deer and the endemic Catalina Island fox. Learn about the island’s history and ecology from your naturalist guide, and enjoy panoramic views of a Native American gathering site.