Top Hilo Day Trips

Explore volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, and more on a full-day, small-group tour of Hawaii with a chance to see local marine life. Visiting the island with a Native Hawaiian guide adds additional insight to the experience, with the chance to learn about local culture that many visitors miss out on. Included national park fees at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park also saves time—so you can focus on the awe-inspiring scenery.

Experience some of the Big Island’s top attractions during this day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the sights around Hilo. Learn all about volcanoes as you marvel at Halema'uma'u crater and explore the massive Kilauea Volcano. Visit Rainbow Falls around the town of Hilo and stop to indulge in local chocolates and fresh island coffee. Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour.

Make the most of your time on the Big Island of Hawaii on this 3-in-1 tour of the island’s top attractions. Your guide takes care of navigation and logistics on this small-group tour. You’ll walk the famous black sand at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, drive on the Chain of Crater Road and see various lookouts in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and visit the historic town of Hilo and Rainbow Falls.

Experience the best of Hilo and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on this unforgettable tour. Pass by the serene Liliʻuokalani Gardens, the largest Edo-style Japanese garden outside of Japan, then take in the scenic coastline at Hilo Bayfront Beach Park. Enjoy the historic charm of Downtown Hilo, where plantation-era buildings and vibrant storefronts line the streets. Witness the breathtaking Rainbow Falls, cascading 80 feet into a lava cave steeped in Hawaiian legend. Treat yourself to handcrafted chocolates and macadamia nut cookies at Big Island Candies. Finally, explore the dramatic landscapes of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, home to the world’s most active volcano, Kīlauea. Walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, feel the heat from geothermal steam vents, and journey along Chain of Craters Road, surrounded by vast fields of hardened lava. This tour is the perfect blend of history, nature, and adventure!

Skip the rental car and let a local guide handle the driving through Hawaii’s sprawling landscapes. This half-day tour covers Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kilauea crater, the Nahuku lava tube, Punaluʻu black sand beach, and Rainbow Falls with lunch included—you won't waste time figuring out where to eat or which sites matter most. Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Hilo area add convenience to your day in paradise.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which sends lava dripping towards the sea, plus a wealth of photo-worthy natural scenery. On this small-group tour of the national park, hear the legends of Pele, the Hawaiian fire goddess, climb to the rim of Kilauea volcano, and spot many of the region's other top sights. Round-trip transit from coastal Hilo makes getting there easy.

As a Native Hawaiian from Hawaiʻi Island, these aren’t just tour stops — they’re part of my home. From walking the grounds of Kīlauea to exploring Rainbow Falls, visiting local macadamia farms, and stopping by the vibrant Hilo Farmers Market, I blend local knowledge, cultural insight, and real island-style fun. You’ll leave not just entertained — but educated and connected to Hawaiʻi in a meaningful way.

Experience the lush beauty of Big Island’s Hamakua Coast on our tour to ʻAkaka Falls State Park, where the Island’s tropical splendor is on full display. Akaka Falls is a towering waterfall, cascading 442 feet (135 meters) down into a lush gorge. Your all inclusive tour includes the Hilo Discovery and Volcanoes National Park Explorer packages. As a locally owned and operated tour company based on Hawaiʻi Island, we offer immersive, guided experiences while sharing not just the breathtaking beauty of volcanoes, waterfalls, and valleys – but the stories, language, and spirit that make these places sacred. Our expertly guided tours highlight the island’s natural beauty, rich history, and volcanic landscapes. We also offer custom and private tours!

When you only have a limited time to explore Hawaii while your cruise ship docks at the Port of Hilo, it can be tough to know where to begin. Take in views of Kilauea—the world’s most active volcano—visit Punalu’u’s black-sand beaches, and witness the thundering waters of Rainbow Falls on this full-day small-group shore excursion.

If your time is limited and you want to see the best of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, this tour is for you! Join us to explore some of our island's must-see places. Our tour is a unique experience including old artifacts, historical insights, and the cultural significance of the places we visit. We'll take you through Downtown Hilo to see the picture-perfect scenery of Rainbow Falls, followed by an unforgettable trip through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. You'll meet the world's most active volcano, Kīlauea, visit steaming volcanic vents, and walk inside an ancient lava tube. Enjoy an island-inspired lunch on us at a local restaurant. Later, we'll show you Punaluʻu black sand beach—a landscape shaped by volcanic activity and frequently visited by sea turtles. PLEASE NOTE: We provide pick-up and drop-off in the Hilo area only. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and includes moderate walking, including climbing roughly 15 stairs during the lava tube tour.

Experience the Big Island of Hawaii through a local's perspective on a small-group tour led by a Native Hawaiian guide. Check off all the highlights of Volcanoes National Park, including Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world; visit Hilo Farmers Market, Rainbow Falls, and Lili'uokalani Gardens; marvel at a stunning black-sand beach; and learn all about local life from your guide.

This fully narrated tour is ideal for families and small groups, thanks to a maximum size of 11 people. Explore Volcanoes National Park with an expert guide and experience the excitement of the number one tour on the Big Island. You'll make stops at the Liliuokalani Japanese Gardens, Hilo town, Thurston Lave Tube, plus Rainbow Falls, and several other Hawaii highlights. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning to the Big Island for another look, this tour is right for you!

On this exciting full-day Kilauea volcano adventure, scour fields of jet black lava in search of volcanic activity, from steaming vents to gaping volcanic craters. Trek through the Thurston Lava Tube and In addition to the sights in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you’ll also make trips to Rainbow Falls.

When your ship docks in Hilo, use your short time in port to get acquainted with Kilauea, the most active volcano on earth. On this tour, you'll explore lava caves; stroll along the island's newest black-sand beaches and feel the warmth from volcanic hot pools. You'll pass along the destructive path of the volcano's most recent eruption, your route including round-trip transport from the port or your hotel.

Explore enchanting sights on the Big Island during this shore excursion exploring waterfalls, black sand beach and more .You'll make stops at Akaka Waterfalls, plus Rainbow Falls and several other Hawaii highlights. Blink and you may think you’re in Japan as you stroll through peaceful Liliʻuokalani Gardens, named after Hawaiʻi's last reigning monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani. Located on Hilo's Banyan Drive. Whether you're a first time visitor or returning to the Big Island for another look, this tour is right for you. Akaka Waterfalls will take you through a lush rainforest filled with wild orchids, bamboo groves and draping ferns.. A guide, park entrance fees, and round-trip port transport are included. Maximum tour size : 14 persons

Hawaii’s natural wonders aren’t only on land and in the sea—the Big Island is also a prime spot from which to admire the wonders of the solar system. This tour is the only one that includes both afternoon solar viewing and nighttime stargazing, accompanied by astronomy experts. Visit Rainbow Falls and the Kaumana lava caves, then explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and use a state-of-the-art solar telescope and Dobsonian telescope to spot solar flares, galaxies, star clusters, and planets.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a blockbuster sight on the Big Island, but reaching the park from the Hilo port on your own can be time-consuming. On this small-group driving tour, save hours with port pickup and head straight to the park’s highlights, including the steam vents and Kilauea Caldera overlook. This leaves enough time to also visit the Japanese Lili'uokalani Gardens, Rainbow Falls, and Big Island Candies.

I work every Tuesday when the Pride Of America or any ship is in Hilo Harbor!!! We walk in lava fields looking at peacock lava and different formations. We will walk through lava tube, look at the crater overlook, and steam vents. Then go shopping, waterfalls, and Blacksands Beach. I am open every Tuesday or any day the ship is in Hilo!!!

Discover the volcanic wonders of the Big Island on a 5.5 to 6-hour tour that showcases the best of Hilo. This small-group experience allows you to explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, walk on new lava fields, and venture through a 500-year-old lava tube. Led by certified local guides who share the island's cultural and geological stories, this tour guarantees a comfortable and flexible adventure. Ideal for cruise ship passengers, you’ll return to the Port of Hilo on time, ensuring no stress during your visit. - 6-hour guided tour of Big Island's top volcanic sites - Small group size of up to 7 guests for personalized attention - Expert local guides sharing unique cultural insights - Cruise ship friendly with guaranteed timely return to port

Discover the volcanic side of Hilo, Hawaiʻi with a guide to show you around on this private tour. Explore on your own terms and in your own time thanks to the flexibility of this tour that’s tailored to you and your needs. See Richardson Ocean Park, Lili'uokalani Gardens, Rainbow Falls, and more.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is famous for its ever-flowing lava and the planet’s most massive active volcano. This tour journeys to top natural landmarks in and around the park. Visit Rainbow Falls, Richardson black sand beach, Historic Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Gardens, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory, Akatsuka Orchid Nursery, and the active volcano of Kilauea. You also get the opportunity to walk through a lava tube.

Explore enchanting sights on the Big Island during this shore excursion exploring Volcanoes National Park, waterfall, black sand beach, and more. You'll make stops at Kilauea Crater and Thurston Lave Tube, plus Rainbow Falls and several other Hawaii highlights. Whether you're a first time visitor or returning to the Big Island for another look, this tour is right for you. Layers of lava stretch over moonscapes, collect in calderas, and put on an awesome show. A guide, park entrance fees, and round-trip port transport are included. Maximum tour size : 5 persons

There's nowhere better to explore the fascinating world of active volcanism, than on the Big Island, but knowing what to see and where to see it can be a challenge if you go on your own. This tour takes you a village destroyed by advancing lava, black-sand beaches, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a guide to provide commentary.