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Big Island South Coast Loop Self-Guided Driving Tour 10 hr

TourTruth score 6.3 out of 10

Average

20 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Big Island of Hawaii
  • 2 days
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore the Big Island’s southern coast with offline audio, GPS directions, and flexible stops from Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo.

About this tour

Explore the Big Island’s southern coast on a self-guided drive through lava landscapes, black sand beaches, coffee country, and scenic coastal communities. This Big Island South Coast Loop Driving Tour brings the route to life with audio stories, Hawaiian history, culture, geology, and local recommendations.

Start in Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo, then follow turn-by-turn directions as GPS-triggered narration plays automatically. Recommended highlights include Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Ka Lae (South Point), and Kaʻū coffee country. You can also add Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where a separate entrance pass is required. Stops and side trips are optional, so linger where you like, skip others, or tailor the route to your schedule.

Download the Shaka Guide app and tour before setting out. Once downloaded, the map and audio work offline, and one purchase covers everyone in your vehicle. Allow about 10–12 hours for the full-day experience, or continue over multiple days. Bring your own vehicle, water, sun protection, and a charged phone, then set out to discover the Big Island at your own pace with this Big Island South Coast Loop Driving Tour.

Highlights

  • Trace the Big Island’s southern coast through lava landscapes and coastal communities
  • Visit recommended stops including Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach and Ka Lae
  • Explore Kaʻū coffee country and add optional stops to your route
  • Hear Hawaiian history, culture, geology, and local stories as you drive
  • Customize the journey with flexible stops and side trips

What's included

Included

  • Access to the South Island Epic Coastal Journey in the Shaka Guide app
  • Stories, Hawaiian history, culture, geology, and local recommendations
  • Turn-by-turn audio navigation with GPS-triggered narration
  • Offline map and audio after download
  • Flexible itinerary with optional stops and side trips
  • Tour access that does not expire
  • One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle

Not included

  • In-person tour guide
  • Transportation or rental vehicle
  • Food and drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park entrance pass
  • Admission, parking, tours, and other fees charged by optional third-party attractions

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • This is a self-guided driving tour; bring your own vehicle or rental car and driver
  • Choose a designated starting area in Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo in the Shaka Guide app
  • Download the app and tour using the redemption code in your confirmation; download over strong Wi-Fi before starting
  • Audio and maps work offline after download; GPS-triggered narration plays automatically while driving
Show 8 more
  • Plan approximately 10–12 hours for the full-day route; you can spread the flexible itinerary across multiple days
  • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is optional and requires a separate entrance pass
  • The recommended Maunakea stop is the Visitor Information Station; summit access may have separate restrictions
  • Road and stop access can change with weather, maintenance, or local conditions; follow posted closures
  • Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed; do not approach, touch, or feed wildlife
  • Infants must sit on an adult’s lap; specialized infant seats are available
  • Service animals are allowed; accessibility varies by vehicle and chosen stops
  • Bring water, sun protection, and a fully charged phone; a car charger is recommended

Frequently asked questions

How long does the tour take?

Plan approximately 10–12 hours for the full-day route. You can spend longer at optional stops or continue the tour over multiple days.

Where can I start the tour?

Choose a designated starting area in Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo in the Shaka Guide app.

Do I need my own vehicle?

Yes. This is a self-guided driving tour, and transportation and a driver are not included.

Does the tour work offline?

Yes. Download the tour over strong Wi-Fi before you begin. The map and audio then work offline, with narration triggered by GPS.

Is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park admission included?

No. The park is an optional stop and requires a separate National Park Service entrance pass.

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.35 from 20 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Big Island of Hawaii
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 6.3.

Provider rating distribution in Big Island of Hawaii

How many tours in Big Island of Hawaii have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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