Hilo Shore Excursion: Visit Volcano, Waterfall, Beach with Lunch
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Big Island of Hawaii, USA
- 6 to 7 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Full-day Hilo shore excursion for cruise passengers docking at Hilo
- Enjoy an island-inspired lunch between stops
- Great for nature lovers: A chance to explore inside Nahuku, a large natural lava tube
- Small-group tour: You’ll have plenty of time with your guide to ask questions
What's Included
- Guide
- All Fees and Taxes
- LunchLunch included at a lovely restaurant located in Volcano Village. vegetarian, dishes available.
- Pick-up and drop-off in Hilo area only (Port of Hilo, hotels, AirBnBs, Bus station))
- Fresh locally grown fruit samples
- Cultural artifacts
- Alcoholic Beverages
- We do not offer pick-up/drop-off outside of the Hilo area at this time.
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
1
Rainbow Falls
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lili'uokalani Gardens (Pass By)
2
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour includes about 2.5 hours of drive time between destinations.
- Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meal options available.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 89 reviews
Rick_S, Apr 2026
Pick this one! Just like you, I read all the reviews before choosing it and all the 5 stars are accurate. I'd give it 6 if I could!
Kelly_R, Apr 2026
I would give this tour more stars if I could! Desmond and Anthony were the best guides I’ve had on a tour. They were so kind, generous and knowledgeable. They really care about the culture and we learned so much! The food was also great!!
Jerry_F, Mar 2026
Desmond and Anthony created a great experience with with three great stops and some great island history. Lunch was very good as well.
Leah_J, Mar 2026
This was a top notch tour! Anthony was wonderful, fun, flexible and knew his history well. The pictures as he talked were very helpful. Lunch was an added bonus that I didn't expect. Thankful there were just 2 of us and the company didn't cancel. Best Day in Hilo! Thanks Anthony 🌸🌴
Michael_N, Mar 2026
Great experience both guys are excellent very informative entered all questions from everybody. Desmond and Anthony are a great people. I would highly recommend that to anybody that does this type of tour on the big island.
Nina_F, Mar 2026
Our guides did their very best and we were lucky enough to get to see the volcano erupting! Amazing, I feel the guides were knowledgeable. The only reason I gave it a four was because once everything started closing down due to the eruption they could have just ended the tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you very much for your review and for joining our tour. We’re so glad you had the chance to witness the volcano erupting — it’s truly an incredible sight.
When conditions began to change and some areas started closing, we made the decision with safety in mind. The air quality in that specific area could have potentially posed a health concern. Rather than ending the tour We immediately left the volcano national park. We thought it would be a nicer experience for the group to continue to a safe location, so we brought everyone to the beach where guests could relax and still enjoy the island while staying out of the affected area.
The safety and comfort of our guests is always our top priority. Mahalo for joining us!
Terry_O, Mar 2026
Best excursion! Rainbow Falls was beautiful, the volcano was erupting at Volcano National Park, and the beach was great too - even saw some turtles. Enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Volcano House. Guides Desmond and Anthony were awesome! Very knowledgeable and considerate hosts. The National Park and highway were being closed, so they figured out alternate roads so that we could still fit in a beach visit before returning us to the cruise ship. We really appreciate being picked up and returned to the port - made it so much easier than taking an uber.
Elisa_L, Mar 2026
Desmond and Anthony were awesome tour guides. It was a wonderful tour experience. They were both caring and knowledgeable and made our day memorable. The lunch spot was delicious and the fruit at the end of the tour was a special treat. Highly recommend this tour.
Weston_C, Feb 2026
Absolutely incredible experience! Desmond and Anthony were great tour guides, extremely kind, knowledgeable, and personable! Highly recommend this tour for all ages whether a local or tourist!
Paige_B, Jan 2026
Highly recommend this tour! Anthony and Desmond are both so knowledgeable and passionate and it reflects in the tour! I enjoyed my entire day and learned a lot. Booked the tour specifically wanting to go to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park- which was amazing, but Rainbow Falls and Black Sand Beach were beautiful!
Anita_M, Jan 2026
This was a full day of fun and education. Anthony and Desmond were so easy going with pace and teaching of Hawaiian history and culture. I was a little guarded because I was on my own, but they put everyone at ease with their friendly manner.
Each stop on the tour was well planned without being rushed. The lunch stop at a local family owned Cafe was delish and filling .
Eloise_H, Dec 2025
Our favorite excursion! Rainbow falls, volcano, lava tubes, black sand Beach with an amazing fresh fruit basket. I talked to folks who booked with a different tour group, supposed to be the same destinations, but they didn't have the fresh fruit or lava tube experience. This was a great deal!
Ellen_V, Dec 2025
Desmond and Anthony were the absolute best! Full of local history and facts and so very kind. Our day was absolutely the very best!!!
Great sites, yummy lunch, and a fabulous snack of fresh fruit. Hugs all around when we were done as we had become friends.
This is a not to miss tour!
Brenda_B, Nov 2025
The guides were excellent and the tour was a lot of fun. They paced it perfectly for the group and made sure we were able to get great views of the volcano. They also taught us about the local culture and how they used native plants and environment.
Axel_B, Nov 2025
Having had a disappointing experience on Oahu, I was a bit hesitant at first, but this Big Island tour turned out to be one of the most beautiful days of my life.
As a solo traveler and non-native English speaker, I immediately felt at ease thanks to the duo of guides. Anthony, with his stories and energy, made every explanation engaging, while Desmond, with his calm, kindness, and photography skills, added a warm and very endearing touch. They remembered every little detail, including my flight later that evening when they kindly dropped me off. Their welcoming demeanor allowed everyone on the tour to connect quickly.
I also really appreciated not having to worry about food, the occasional detours, and the personal care they took to ensure we had the best experience. Their strong attachment to the local community and dedication to preserving history and the environment was a major plus for me.
Most importantly, the experience never felt like a simple transaction. I truly felt part of a meaningful moment, something often missing in many tours.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this tour.
Shannon_C, Nov 2025
Fantastic tour! Desmond and Antony are the best! So knowledgeable and fun! We got to see the volcano erupting and had a wonderful lunch at the volcano village.
Black sand beach was awesome too, as was the bowl of fruit they gave us.
I loved the history chat and getting to hold some Hawaiin artefacts, brilliant! Thank you so much for a tour to remember!
lmellor917, Nov 2025
Such a great tour and an exciting day as Kilauea was percolating. Great stop at the lava tube, lookout points and tge black sand beach. Even better was the presentation in the van complete with photos on a screen and tons of island props to pass around.
VJ_L, Nov 2025
Desmond and Felix were amazing! Best tour that we have been on. True locals giving the tour. Their attention to detail was top notch. Perfect group size (12-15 people) Thank you Desmond and Felix for helping us make memories that we will never forget!!! Aloha!
Becky_B, Nov 2025
Our guides were great. They have the tour down to a science. We had plenty of time at each stop plus they provided lots of knowledge and gave us local fruit for a snack. The views were amazing!
Nicole_W, Oct 2025
Desmond and Anthony were amazing! I was one of the best island tours we have booked. They were very personable and we enjoyed the special treats throughout the day. Lunch was included and was very good at a local restaurant.
KarenF_Y, Oct 2025
Desmond and Anthony were absolutely
wonderful, knowledgeable, kind and quite
funny! They went above and beyond in
customer service; patently answering questions, being flexible in the tour and playing beautiful Hawaiian music..
We were so happy on choosing this tour,
highly recommended and would book this again. Mahalo !
Alan_A, Sep 2025
Great tour extremely informative guides. Highly recommend this for anyone Just a great fun tour for all
Gary_H, Sep 2025
Desmond and Anthony were awesome tour guides and truly went out of their way to make everyone’s tour a great experience. The narrative on the culture, history, special sharing of artifacts was amazing.
Kimberly_S, Aug 2025
It took me awhile to decide on a tour and I’m so glad I chose this tour. This tour hit the highlights I wanted in an ideal timeframe.
The Best guides, Desmond and Anthony, in Hilo. They were both very personable and made us feel welcomed. They possessed a wealth of knowledge and information. Our experience was enhanced with visuals, historical artifacts and Hawaiian music. When visiting the sites, we had plenty of time to explore and take pictures. The visit to Kilauea Desmond is a great photographer and captured memorable pictures of each of us. Lunch was at a family owned restaurant. The Fresh caught Mahi Mahi was delicious.
The stops we made were amazing, and with our guides knowledge of the surroundings, we were able to taste local berries, touch and feel plants used by the indigenous people for topical healings. We learned about the animals we saw and heard as well as save a coqui frog. We were hoping Kilauea would erupt during our tour. It was due. Our guides would have returned to the site, as they were monitoring a live feed.
We also had fresh local fruits after visiting black sand beach. So refreshing and yummy towards the end of our tour. At the conclusion of our tour, we felt completely satisfied with our whole experience and will definitely recommend to our friends and family.
Phebe_A, Aug 2025
The best tour in Hilo and the best tour guide duo! Outstanding knowledge, hospitality, and care. Mahalo.
Tom_M, Aug 2025
Desmond and Anthony with Shaka Braddah Tours through Viator were amazing and extremely informative and fun!!! Anthony shared a fun and memorable history of the history of the area with visuals. Desmond took us out in the field taking excellent pictures, sharing local knowledge, and teaching the teenagers things that kept them engaged (they even wanted to go to a museum on their free day it interested them so much!) We had the best time with our new ohana members. All activities were appropriate for ages 9-70s (ages of our group) you wont regret it!
Tour and tour guides 5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Katrina_H, Aug 2025
Amazing tour with the best of Hilo. A gorgeous waterfall to start, volcano, great lunch at a local spot and finally the black sand beach with Turtles. We were so well taken care of by our tour guide and driver. I highly recommend this tour. They were very thoughtful and knowledgable.
Kimberly_M, Aug 2025
What can I say about our Hilo Tsunami Adventure?! Desmond and Anthony were fantastic guides, sharing history, customs, information about local vegetation, etc. They were well prepared to show and tell us about so many different things. Every stop was educational and enjoyable. Lunch was also very good!
We were too far away from our cruise ship when the ship had to leave port early, and Desmond and Anthony went into action, figuring out next steps for our whole group, taking us to Walmart, finding us a place to stay, offering to meet us in the morning to take us where we needed to go next, whether it was Kona or back to the port in Hilo (which is where we ended up). We had extra time in the morning, so they took us to another cool beach. We felt so well cared for, it was just amazing really. Can't say enough about these 2 guides and the tour company trying to do everything they could for us in an unforeseen circumstance. Even without the added care, we would have highly recommended this tour, but they truly went above and beyond in every aspect of our whole experience in Hilo.
We give them our very highest recommendation!
Noelle_P, Jul 2025
Both Anthony and Desmond were courteous, knowledgeable, generous, and funny!
I learned a lot, and it was cool to see some of the artifacts mentioned in the history of the islands. It was a great trip all around. Loved the lunch choice and appreciated the yummy fruit, too!
Kimberly_S, Jun 2025
If you are going to be on NCL Pride of America highly consider this option.Great experience from pickup to drop off at the cruise ship. The tour shows parts of Volcano National Park that others leave out or cannot access. Rainbow Falls and the black sand beach live up to their billing and plenty of time is provided at both. The tour has lots of hands on shells and artifacts that are shown in the tour van while traveling from spot to spot. The lunch that you get to pick from at Lava Rock Cafe is very good and has lots of choices. We were treated with a fruit plate from the local that was beyond delicious and we also tasted local macadamia nut candy that was provided with the tour!! This tour is an A++!!
From $189.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Hilo Shore Excursion: Visit Volcano, Waterfall, Beach with Lunch
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