7 Black Sand Beach Tours on the Big Island We Would Put on an Itinerary

1.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,338 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $159Our pick

Spend about six hours touring Hilo, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea, Thurston Lava Tube, a macadamia nut farm, and Richardson Black Sand Beach. Guides such as Jess, Robert, Donna, Geo, and Hannibal are known for lively local stories. Port pickup, park fees, water, and return transport are included.

“We enjoyed this tour very much. Shevon, our guide provided abundant informative narration and treated us with lots of Aloha. Plenty of photo ops along the tour but no photo could do justice to the actual views we enjoyed at the volcano national park. We felt there was a lot of added value taking the organized tour vs. going on our own due to the details pointed out and insights our guide offered, being a local resident of the island.”

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2.Road To Hana Black Sand Beach Waterfalls & Turtles Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 595 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $165

Ride Maui’s winding Hana Highway in a small group of up to 11 with stops at Pua’a Ka’a, Keanae, Wai’anapanapa’s black sand beach, Wailua Valley, and Ho’okipa for possible turtle sightings. Oscar is often praised for his humor and island stories, but guide quality and van comfort can vary.

“Here's my honest review of this tour. The PROS: 1. The driver, who was a fill-in for the regular driver, arrived on time and was very nice. He tried to keep the 9 of us engaged as much as he could by asking us questions about our favorite superheroes, super powers, cartoons, etc. It seemed silly at first, but we had a lot of laughs while answering his questions. 2. The Black Sand Beach stop was beautiful. It was also a little crowded, but we were able to find a spot on the sand. The sand is hot, so bring something to sit on. We did not swim as the…”

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3.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 363 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $154

Spend about six hours exploring Hilo’s volcanic side with a guide such as Ellen, Troy, Dave, or Lori. Visit Kaumana Caves, Rainbow Falls, Lava Tree State Park, Pohoiki Bay, and eruption sites around Leilani Estates, with port pickup and return in a group of up to 14. Expect uneven ground, steep cave steps, rain, and a pay-your-own-way lunch stop.

“Tour was very informative, only hiccup was delay picking us up at the port. That was out of her control though. She provided umbrella and flashlight for certain stops definitely came in handy.”

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4.Hilo: Sea Turtle Lagoon and Black Sand Beach Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 119 reviews · 3 hours · from $150Best value

Spend three hours snorkeling two Hilo-area sites with Hilo Ocean Adventures. Your English-speaking guide teaches you how to use the gear, points out turtles, coral, fish, eels, rays, and other sea life, and explains Hawaii’s volcanic coast. Beginners age eight and up are welcome, but you must swim unassisted in open ocean.

“The 2 snorkeling spots were very good. Guide was very knowledgeable of wildlife and underwater features. With us being the only 2 felt like a private tour. Well worth the time for the Hilo side of the island.”

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5.Beach Snorkel – Sea Turtle and Black Sand Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 62 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $153

Meet Hilo Ocean Adventures in Hilo for a three-hour, small-group shore-snorkeling trip to two nearby sites. Your guide supplies gear, instruction, local juice, snacks, and transport between the meeting point and water. Sea turtles and reef fish are common here, but sightings and water conditions vary.

“Devin was an awesome tour guide, super laid back and made us feel like a friend was showing us around and didn’t seem annoyed like some guides can sometimes. Our group was small and all pretty competent so that probably helped”

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6.Coffee, Black Sand, Volcano and Waterfall Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 57 reviews · 11 hours · from $292Top rated

Spend 11 hours crossing the Big Island with guides such as Kawika, Grant, Thia, and Kona Chris. Visit a coffee farm, Punaluʻu Beach, Volcano Winery, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, and local bakeries. Meals, drinks, park entry, and hotel pickup are included.

“Ridge was very knowledgeable and had some really wonderful stories. He made the day a real enjoyment for my first time taking a group tour. I would absolutely recommend this tour and hope you have just as much fun!”

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7.Volcano, Black Sand Beach, Waterfall, with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 44 reviews · 7 hours · from $189

Follow guides Anthony and Desmond from Hilo to Rainbow Falls, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea crater, Thurston Lava Tube, and Punaluʻu Beach. You’ll handle volcanic samples and cultural artifacts, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and look for green sea turtles. Pickup is available in Hilo, but not at the airport.

“This was the BEST tour we have been on in Hawaii! The tour guides Desmond and Anthony were amazing! They drove us to the water falls, & gave us a tour of the cities and towns along the way to the Volcano. All the while showing us photos and telling us the history of the towns. They passed samples of the types of Lava, Shells, Sands, plants and artifacts from the area to our small group. It was raining when we arrived at the Volcano and they gave us each a poncho and umbrella. After exploring the Caldera, steam vents and Lava Tubes they took us to an amazing local…”

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