Grand Circle Island Tour

On this full day nature tour offers an in-depth look at Hawaii’s youngest and largest island. You will be picked up at your hotel, and from desert to rainforest, pasture to dry forest, discover diverse landscapes and 8 out of 13 climate zones in the world as you explore the active volcanoes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, walk through rainforests to cascading waterfalls, and stroll black-sand beaches as you scan the horizon for green sea turtles.

The morning is filled with guided visits to some of the most majestic waterfalls on the Big Island. The views stop you in your tracks at the Waipio Valley lookout, where a dramatic backdrop of lush cliffs drops into the sparkling blue ocean. Continue riding along the Hamakua coast as more postcard-worthy views pass by your window before visiting Akaka Falls and the famous Rainbow Falls. Take a short walk through the rainforest for an up-close view and plenty of photo opportunities.

In the afternoon, explore the wonders of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including steam vents, the Jaggar Museum, and the Halema’uma’u and Kilauea Iki crater lookouts. Walk along a bridge that gives you a literal look inside Hawaii as you follow it to the eerie Thurston Lava Tube, a 600-foot (185-m) cave formed hundreds of years ago by an underground river of magma. From here, relax and take it all in at Punalu’u Beach, a great place to spot marine life from the black-sand shore.

On the leisurely drive back around sunset, you’ll see views of South Point, the southernmost point of the United States, and Kealakekua Bay. If time permits, we may stop at a coffee farm or the famous Punalu’u Bakery to conclude the day. By the end you will be dropped off at your hotel.