Hilo Volcanoes National Park and Black Sand Beach Tour 6 hr - Image 1
Hilo Volcanoes National Park and Black Sand Beach Tour 6 hr - Image 2
Hilo Volcanoes National Park and Black Sand Beach Tour 6 hr - Image 3
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Hilo Volcanoes National Park and Black Sand Beach Tour 6 hr

TourTruth score 6.8 out of 10

Average

3,261 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Big Island of Hawaii
  • 6 hrs
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Explore Volcanoes National Park, Thurston Lava Tube, Rainbow Falls, and Hilo’s black sand beach on a guided six-hour island tour.

About this tour

Trade Hilo’s shoreline for volcanic landscapes, cascading water, and a stretch of black sand on this six-hour Hilo Volcanoes National Park and Black Sand Beach Tour. With a professional guide and port or hotel pickup, you can focus on the scenery while the route connects some of the island’s best-known sights.

Explore Volcanoes National Park, where stops include steam vents, Sulfur Banks, the Kilauea Visitor Center and exhibits, a crater lookout, and Thurston Lava Tube. The visitor center is undergoing renovation, and its gifts and exhibits have been moved to KMC. Beyond the park, the tour visits Rainbow Falls, Liliuokalani Japanese Garden, downtown Hilo, a black sand beach, and Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm. A local-vendor stop gives you the chance to purchase food.

The easy-paced outing includes walking on mostly level terrain, though some paths may be uneven; the lava tube has steps. Cruise departures are coordinated with ship schedules, and hotel guests meet at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. See Hilo Volcanoes National Park and Black Sand Beach Tour for a guided day of varied island scenery, from lava formations to the coast.

Highlights

  • Explore Volcanoes National Park, including steam vents and Kilauea Crater lookout
  • Walk through Thurston Lava Tube
  • Admire the black sand beach and Rainbow Falls
  • See Liliuokalani Japanese Garden and downtown Hilo
  • Stop at Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm

What's included

Included

  • Professional guide
  • National Park fees
  • Port or Hilo hotel pickup and drop-off
  • One bottle per guest
  • Visit to Volcanoes National Park

Not included

  • Souvenirs
  • Gratuities
  • Food; a stop is made to purchase food

Ratings on each provider

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Important information

  • Infants under 24 months may ride on an adult’s lap; a child ticket is required for a separate seat
  • Easy walking over mostly level terrain, with some gravel or uneven ground
  • The lava tube is about 0.4 mile long and has descending and ascending steps
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket for cooler conditions at Volcanoes National Park
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  • Tour operates in all weather; dress appropriately
  • Cruise passengers can be picked up directly at Hilo port; departure times are scheduled around ship arrivals and departures
  • Hilo hotel guests meet at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive; wait in the lobby
  • The tour operator says it will ensure timely return to Hilo Pier; if the ship does not call at port, the fare will be refunded
  • Tell the operator in advance if bringing a mobility device; it must be collapsible, weigh no more than 45 lb, and fit through a 32-inch vehicle door
  • Vehicles have no lift; guests must bring someone to load and unload mobility devices
  • Mobility devices cannot enter the lava tube; the crater trail is dirt and the beach is sandy; guests may remain in the vehicle

Frequently asked questions

Where is pickup for hotel guests?

Hotel guests meet at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive, and wait in the lobby.

Can cruise passengers be picked up at the port?

Yes. The operator has permits for direct pickup at Hilo port and schedules departure around ship times.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket. Conditions can be cooler at Volcanoes National Park.

Can infants join the tour?

Infants under 24 months may ride on an adult’s lap. A child ticket is needed if they require a separate seat.

Can I bring a mobility device?

Notify the operator in advance. Devices must be collapsible, weigh no more than 45 lb, and fit through a 32-inch door; they cannot enter the lava tube.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.78 on Viator and 4.63 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

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 6.8.

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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