Wow-what a great time we had on this late day tour! The tour started at 2:00pm which gave us time to go into Hilo for a few hours in the morning. My husband was worried that we weren’t going to be able to make it back to the ship on time but the company guaranteed our return in plenty of time. Fred picked us up from the cruise terminal which made it so easy and stress free. The motor coach was clean and air conditioned. Our group was small which made interaction easy and comfortable. We were able to see and learn about things we would never have been able to do on our own. The tour was 3 hours which was perfect for us. All this at a price that was a fraction of what it would’ve costed if we booked on NCL! I would HIGHLY recommend this company.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Your booking includes admission/parking fees to all sites on tour
- We Work With Ship Departure Times (Guaranteed "all aboard" timing)
- We pickup/drop-off inside Hilo Port (right next to ship) w/ guaranteed "all aboard" timing
- We provide complimentary water & drinks (Hawaii-special soft drinks) and home-grown snacks (often including fresh fruit!).
Excludes
- Gratuities
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Luxurious van picks up Hilo cruisers right at the port. We will greet you in the terminal pavilion right next to the ship (and return you in time for "all aboard"). For Hilo vacationers we can pickup right across the harbor at Reeds Bay Beach Park gravel parking lot. If you're arriving via cruise ship, please provide the names of everyone in your group for port authority passenger manifest. We work with each cruise line on their specific embarking times and guaranteed "all aboard" return.
Itinerary
This 4-mile scenic drive through a dense, tropical jungle includes country bridges over cascading waterfalls. This is what an island paradise is all about.
Located on the lush, northeastern Hilo coast of Hawaii's Big Island, Akaka Falls stands as one of the state's most iconic and breathtaking natural wonders. The star attraction is the towering waterfall itself, which plunges a staggering 442 feet down a sheer, verdant cliff into a stream-eroded gorge below, making it more than twice the height of Niagara Falls.
Meet the man who unified all the islands of Hawai'i, who was born on the Big Island, and now eternally watches over Hilo Harbor in golden splendor
Tasty and picturesque candies made, packaged, sold and even shipped in full view of our guests. This local favorite runs an impressive, savory business that is sure to delight.
Black-sand beaches, lush green coves and resting giant sea turtles.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Fred was one of the best guides ever! He was knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and a lot of fun! Highly recommend this tour with Big Hawaii tours!
Excellent and knowledgeable driver! Would definitely book again. Probably the best experience we’ve had on an excursion yet!
My husband and I were so fortunate to find BigHawaiiTours. Following an incredible day, Fred (who with his wife, Maryna) own and run this luxury treatment tour. We bundled their all-day experience, and it was perfect for our cruise excursion in Hilo (whicfh included them bringing us back to the ship to eat -- saving us money) and then returning to their van right at the port. Hilo was gorgeous, especially the walk around 'Akaka Falls. Fred drove us to a number of cool locations and we actually spotted turtles -- 8 of them in total at three different cool lagoons. Mahalo to Maryna/Fred!
Amazing views and perfect tour. Big Hawaii Tours (Fred/Marina) were superb!
WE fortunately bundled our entire day with Big Hawaii Tours, with a morning volcanic experience and then this picturesque aftgernoon Tropical Delight. Fred and Maryna were the best hosts and guides. Mahalo BHT!
Big Hawaii Tours was excellent. Highly recommend
This was the best adventure my husband and I did while we were in Hawaii! Fred you were amazing and we enjoyed spending our tour with you. He provides snacks, and drinks, which is so accommodating. Akaka Falls was so beautiful to see in person, and the black sand beaches were captivating. Plus, it was a cherry on top to see the sea turtles. Fred was so knowledgeable, kind, compassionate, outstanding, charismatic, and just a stand up guy. Please book this tour, you and your family will enjoy it as much as we did.
Fred was an amazing guide! There were some last minute changes and he was really accommodating and easy to communicate with. Part of Akaka Falls was closed due to a landslide so he pivoted and showed us a couple other waterfall spots to make up for it. He provided water, snacks and some great information. It was a great way to explore a bit of Hilo.
My husband and I truly enjoyed our full, bundled day with Big Hawaii Tours. This afternoon "tropical escape" was just that: waterfalls (ahhh Akaka!), black sand beaches and we even saw 4 sea turtles (I believe Fred said they're green turtles). What a fantastic day!
Our family of five bundled Big Hawaii Tours all-day experience, which included a Volcanic morning and a Tropical afternoon (with a short lunch break in between). We saved so much going through TA rather than our cruise line, and BHT even had special rates for children (our youngest rode for free and our teenagers were reduced pricing). Everything was spectacular.
Can't say enough about our all-day Hilo experience. Thank you, Big Hawaii Tours (Fred and Marina)!
We fortunately bundled Big Hawaii Tours' all-day special, which included their "Volcanic Experience" (see my separate review for that) and a relaxing "Tropical Experience" after we had time to eat on-board (saved money). We were dropped up 15 minutes before the "all aboard" and off we went to Kona. Seamless, special and photographic afternoon tour ('Akaka Falls was very special, including the jungle-like path).
I greatly enjoyed the bundled AM/PM experiences of Big Hawaii Tours and would highly recommend them to any Hilo visitor.
Had to write a positive review of Big Hawaii Tours Hilo shore excursion because Fred and Marina were simply superlative! And of course, Akaka Falls, the black sand beaches, the slumbering sea turtle and the delicious treats weren't so bad, either ;) The hubbie and I really enjoyed our time with Big Hawaii Tours, run by a husband and wife duo who went out of their way to make our day in Hilo a special one (we bundled their longer morning and shorter afternoon tours for an all-day, memorable experience). Highly recommend their service for older cruisers coming into Hilo because their beautiful van pulls right up to the ship to pick you up, and if you do the all-day bundle savings like us, returns you right back to the ship right on time for boarding. Bravo Big Hawaii Tours!
My wife and I joined the 3-hour Tropical Escape tour by Big Hawaii Tours on a rainy afternoon in Hilo and still had an incredible experience. The husband/wife-run company really shines – premium van, complimentary refreshments, and guides who were both entertaining and informative. They shared local stories, pointed out hidden beaches that only islanders know, and kept everything flexible so we still saw the best spots despite the weather. Akaka Falls was the star of the show – walking through the tropical rainforest to that towering cascade felt like stepping into an Avatar movie. The black sand beaches and turtle-watching coves were equally special. We spotted several sea turtles in crystal-clear water and got amazing photos without ever disturbing them. Stopping at Big Island Candies for treats was a sweet bonus (literally!). What impressed us most was how thoughtfully the tour is designed for cruise passengers. Everything was timed perfectly so we were back at the pier well before departure, yet we never felt rushed. The pace is easy and suitable for all ages and fitness levels, with options for a slightly longer walk if you want more adventure (both at Akaka Falls and the black sand beaches). If you’re looking for a high-quality, small-group afternoon tour that hits waterfalls, stunning black sand beaches, ocean wildlife, and local flavors without the crowds or high prices of larger operators, this is the one. We already recommended it to friends who are planning a Hawaiin cruise. Mahalo for a wonderful tropical escape!
We booked the PM Tropical Escape with Big Hawaii Tours for our Hilo cruise stop and it was easily the highlight of our 7-day cruise. Our small group was picked up right on time right outside the ship in a clean, comfortable van that felt more like a private tour than a big bus. Fred and Marina were our guides and were fantastic – knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about the island. Fred adjusted the itinerary around the weather and Marina made sure everyone got the best photo opportunities. First stop was the beautiful Japanese garden area, then a tropical drive that led us to a short, easy walk through lush rainforest to the stunning Akaka Falls. The 442-foot waterfall is breathtaking, and the path is well-maintained (a few steps at the start, but nothing strenuous). After that we headed to Big Island Candies for free samples, which led us to purchasing plenty for the rest of our cruise! But the real magic came at the black sand beaches and hidden coves along Hilo’s coastline just a short distance from our ship. We saw several large sea turtles swimming and resting right next to the shoreline – Marina knew exactly where to look and kept us at a respectful distance. Some of us even dipped our toes in the water. The whole afternoon felt relaxed yet packed with “wow” moments, and we were back at the ship with plenty of time to spare before all-aboard. Highly recommend for anyone wanting an stress-free, scenic, and memorable half-day on the windward side. Great value, excellent service, and memories we’ll treasure. Thank you, Big Hawai’i Tours!
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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