On Big Island, the largest island in Hawaii, two excursions listed on WizardTrip are polar opposites. One is an 11-hour day by van, through volcanoes, waterfalls and a black sand beach. The other is a night boat trip with manta rays, lasting 2.5 hours. They have 7,127 and 6,329 reviews, with ratings of 4.9 and 4.8 out of 5 (as of 18 October 2026).
This article compares departure, program, age and fitness rules, then cancellation. It then tells you which one to choose according to your profile. In both listings, the guide speaks English.
Big Island excursion: what you need to know before you book
The van day picks up travelers at the main hotels in Kona and on the Kohala coast. Pickups are staggered between 6:40 and 8 am. Vacation rentals are not served: these guests are directed to the nearest hotel. From Hilo or the east coast, the listing refers you to Queens’ Marketplace, in Waikoloa.
The operator confirms the exact time and place by email. If nothing arrives, the listing asks you to contact the operator. Travelers from Oahu on a day trip must land in Kona before 7:20 am and fly out after 8:30 pm. Airport pickup and return are possible.
For the manta trip, hotel pickup is not included. You make your own way to Honokohau Harbor, in Kailua-Kona. The check-in time is the start time of the excursion.
Full-day excursion on Big Island: volcanoes, waterfalls and a black sand beach
This 11-hour day is in a Mercedes Sprinter luxury van, with 13 people at most. At least 4 participants are needed. Otherwise, the operator may cancel the excursion and then offers an alternative or a full refund. According to the listing, the route strings together the following stops:
- Kohala coast and Kailua-Kona: a narrated drive through Kona’s historic center, without stopping.
- Bay View Farm: 40 minutes at a Kona coffee farm, with harvesting, grinding and a coffee and tea tasting.
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach: 35 minutes. The listing invites you to look for green sea turtles on the shore.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: 1 hour 20 minutes, admission included. Steam vents, Halema’uma’u and Kilauea Iki craters, old lava flows, a short hike along the crater rim.
- Thurston Lava Tube: 20 minutes in a 180-meter-long cave, with a bridge.
- Hilo: a drive through the historic center of the island’s largest city, without stopping.
- Rainbow Falls: 20 minutes at a 24-meter waterfall that drops onto a lava cave.
- Akaka Falls State Park: 35 minutes, admission included, at a 135-meter waterfall.
- Waipi’o Valley: 20 minutes at a viewpoint over the cliffs and the ocean.
- Parker Ranch: a drive through one of the largest ranches in the United States, without stopping.
The timed stops total about 4 hours 10 minutes out of the 11 hours. The listing does not detail the rest, travel and lunch included. Shalin, who gives 5 out of 5 in September 2026, writes: “You don’t have a huge amount of time at each place, but I appreciated the efficiency.”
The price includes a picnic lunch, snacks, bottled water, a Hawaiian juice and park admission fees. Vegetarian or gluten-free meals are possible on request, to be specified when booking. Tips and personal purchases are not included.
The listing announces easy walks. It asks for closed walking shoes and a light jacket, because temperatures vary through the day. The excursion is not accessible to travelers in wheelchairs or with walkers.
Manta rays at night on Big Island: dive or boat trip
The night trip with manta rays lasts 2.5 hours, for 48 people at most. Check-in is at the north ramp of Honokohau Harbor, at 74-380 Kealakehe Parkway, in Kailua-Kona. The site is 7.2 km south of Kona airport and 5.6 km north of Kailua-Kona.
After the harbor entrance, take the very first road on the right. Pass the boat storage and the Sea Store and Deli gas station, on your left, then turn left. Your crew is waiting under the pavilion, next to the restrooms.
Dive option
This option provides dive equipment, a vest-type wetsuit top and a flotation device. The listing requires prior swimming and diving experience, without which you cannot go in the water. It also asks that you be comfortable with the flotation device and able to climb a short flight of stairs. In reviews, travelers talk about snorkeling, floating at the surface.
Companion option, no swimming
This option is for people who want to take the boat trip, with family for example, without going in the water. The listing also offers it to travelers who cannot swim. Read its title carefully when booking: an August 2026 review describes a mix-up with snorkeling.
The price includes bottled water, light snacks and live commentary on board. Tips, hotel pickup and GoPro rental are not included. The GoPro is booked by phone, subject to availability.
The listing advises against the trip for poor cardiovascular health or back or neck problems. The same caution applies to injuries in the last 3 years and to late pregnancy. The operator may refuse an intoxicated passenger, with no refund.
The listing guarantees manta ray sightings. The description promises a free next excursion; the highlights promise a refund. Rochelle, who gives 1 out of 5 in October 2026, writes: “Unfortunately, the manta rays stayed at the bottom of the ocean and never came up near the surface.” The review also mentions the crowd on board.
The two Big Island excursions compared
| Volcanoes and waterfalls day | Night trip, manta rays | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 11 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Departure | Hotel pickup (Kona, Waikoloa, Kohala), between 6:40 and 8 am | Meet at Honokohau Harbor, no hotel pickup |
| Maximum group | 13 people | 48 people |
| Meals | Picnic lunch and snacks | Light snacks and bottled water |
| Admission and equipment | Park admission fees included | Dive equipment and flotation with the dive option |
| Age | Minimum age 5 | Ages 2 to 70 |
| Fitness | Easy walks, all levels | Swimming and diving required, except for the no-swim option |
| Free cancellation | Up to 24 hours before | Up to 24 hours before |
| Price from | $276 | $94 |
What happens if it rains or the sea is rough?
The day trip listing contradicts itself. It states that the excursion runs in all weather, with no refund for closures or itinerary changes beyond the operator’s control. Its FAQ nevertheless provides for cancellation for bad weather or lack of participants, with an alternative or a full refund.
The manta trip depends on favorable weather conditions. If the operator cancels it, it offers another date or a full refund. A September 2026 review describes rebooking after a cancellation due to the sea. The reviewer advises bringing a seasickness remedy.
Big Island with children or without being able to swim?
The day trip description speaks of a family excursion, suitable for all ages. The FAQ and the practical information nevertheless exclude children under 5. Go by this second rule.
The manta trip accepts children from age 2 and travelers up to 70, except with the supplier’s approval. Non-swimmers choose the companion option, with no time in the water. Service animals are welcome.
Which one should you choose?
- You want to see the volcanoes and two big waterfalls without driving: the 11-hour van day.
- You are a confident swimmer and want to get close to the manta rays: the night trip with the dive option.
- You do not swim, or your family prefers to stay dry: the night trip with the companion option.
- You are traveling with a child under 5: only the night trip accepts them, from age 2.
- You are staying in Hilo or on the east coast: the van day, with a departure from Queens’ Marketplace in Waikoloa.
For the rest of your stay, find the island’s activities on the page Things to do on Big Island. Those across the country are under United States.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the full-day excursion on Big Island?
11 hours, with hotel pickup between 6:40 and 8 am in the Kona and Kohala coast areas. The program strings together a coffee farm, a black sand beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and waterfalls.
Is Volcanoes National Park included in the day trip?
Yes. The listing specifies that park admission fees are included, with 1 hour 20 minutes on site, as well as entry to Akaka Falls State Park. A picnic lunch and snacks are also included.
Can you do the manta ray trip without knowing how to swim?
To go in the water, the listing requires prior swimming and diving experience. Without it, a companion option, with no swimming, lets you take the boat trip without entering the water.
How old do you have to be for the night manta ray trip?
The listing sets the minimum age at 2 and the maximum age at 70, except with the supplier’s approval. It advises against the trip for poor cardiovascular health and for women in late pregnancy.
Does the manta ray trip include hotel pickup?
No. You make your own way to Honokohau Harbor, near Kailua-Kona, where the check-in time is the start time. The full-day excursion, by contrast, includes pickup at hotels in Kona and on the Kohala coast.
Can you cancel a Big Island excursion for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time: the refund is then full, in both listings. If the operator cancels for bad weather, it offers another date or a refund.
Activities mentioned in this guide
All activities in Big Island of Hawaii, with their prices and reviews: Things to do in Big Island of Hawaii
