6 Big Island Waterfall Tours Worth the Detour

1.Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,569 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $264Our pick

Spend about 11 hours touring the Big Island in a small group of up to 13 people. Ride from Kona or Kohala in a Mercedes Sprinter, visit a coffee farm, black-sand beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, two waterfalls, and Waipio Valley, with lunch and hotel pickup included.

“It is a FULL day! It is absolutely THE way to see everything amazing on Hawai’i in one shot. Everything we wanted to see was on this tour! Kona Chris was amazing! A font of knowledge about the whole island and answered every question we threw at him! I am leaving the island actually knowing what this beautiful place is about. Do it! You won’t be disappointed.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Big Island Zipline Tour Near Akaka Falls (250-ft Waterfall!)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,077 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $246

Near Akaka Falls, you’ll ride seven ziplines over rainforest, ridgelines, and tropical farmland, building from a gentle first run to a spectacular final crossing above a 250-foot waterfall. Guides such as Rose, Bobby, Julia, and Riley are praised for calm safety instruction, local stories, and helping first-timers feel at ease. Closed shoes, a 40 to 260-pound weight range, and a half-mile walk over uneven ground are required.

“This was a great zip line tour with very little tourist pushing for extras and pictures or any of that stuff. Our guides were funny and the views for epic. It started off super easy with a small zip lines but grew to an epic quarter mile line over a waterfall!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.9-Line Waterfall Zipline Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,057 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $253

At The Umauma Experience near Hakalau, you’ll ride nine guided ziplines over treetops, rivers, and Umauma Falls. Guides such as Wes and Skippy are known for calm safety checks and good humor. Four dual lines let you race a friend, while the course ends back at the visitor center. Allow about two and a half hours.

“What a blast! I rode this with my husband and 2 adult daughters. Nine lines were a lot but you will really feel like you got your moneys worth. I even got to the point where I felt comfortable enough to ride one of the lines upside down, crazy. The crew was fun and competent too. Don’t pass this one up!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Big Island Highlights: Coffee, Volcano, Black Sands & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,054 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $299

Start with Kona coffee at Greenwell Farms, then follow the island’s south coast to malasadas, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, lunch at Volcano House, a lava tube in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and Rainbow Falls. Kailani Tours provides hotel pickup, a guide, food, drinks, umbrellas, and a small group of up to 13 people.

“Chris was an awesome guide, very informative and fun. Seeing the turtles up close on Black Sand Beach was really cool. Volcano National Park and Rainbow Falls were my two favorite spots. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you have limited time on the island. I will definitely be back as I discovered so many spots I want to further explore during our drive.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Big Island Waterfalls Tour with Swimming and Botanical Garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 513 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $297

Spend about 10 hours crossing the Big Island from Kona or Kohala to Waipio Valley, Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. The highlight is a possible swim beneath 120-foot Kulaniapia Falls. Guides such as Derek, Dreu, Drew, Stephen, and Stefan lead small groups in English with lunch, snacks, drinks, and hotel pickup included.

“A great way to see a big part of the Island. Highligts were the botanical guarden and a fantastic swim in a waterfall. Our guide Dreu was fun, knowledgeable and entertaining and told os facts and stories about the island, which made the longer rides feel much shorter.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Hawaii Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Beaches & Hilo Highlights Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 391 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $186Best value

Spend six to seven hours exploring the Big Island with Justin of Makaio Tours. Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hilo Farmers Market, Rainbow Falls, Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Big Island Candies, and Richardson Ocean Park. Pickup is available from the Hilo port, hotel, or airport, with small-group transport in a reclining 15-passenger van.

“He was very experienced and very friendly. He could talk for hours about everything about the islands. It really pays to have a guide that has lived almost his entire life on the island and is so passionate about it's history and land.”

Check availability →Read our full review