EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

On this small-group excursion you will discover two of the Big Island’s tallest and most beautiful waterfalls.

Start with a drive through an oceanfront rain forest and the scenic highlights of Hilo on the way to Rainbow Falls. Take a stroll through the banyan trees or just enjoy the view of the falls before heading along Onomea Bay Scenic Drive. Stop for breathtaking views and photos of the waves crashing in the bay below you. Continue to the majestic Akaka Falls--440 feet tall before some free time for shopping on Banyan Drive.

OVERVIEW

Ride an electric bike through the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and stop along the way at attractions that showcase the unusual nature of the state’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. Traveling by fat-tire e-bike couldn’t be easier because its battery-powered, whisper-quiet motor makes pedaling a breeze, allowing you to go farther with less effort. You will experience that firsthand as you ascend into the park on the way to the visitors center, whose enlightening exhibits will prepare you for the drama of seeing the Kilauea volcano in person. One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea has been steadily erupting since 1983 and the surrounding terrain is extraordinarily dramatic. You will behold this towering shield volcano and its caldera – the cauldron-like depression at the top – from a lookout and from the Volcano House Hotel. You will also pause at the Thurston Lava Tube, a cavernous tunnel that was filled with flowing lava 500 years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Zip around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on an e-bike that makes pedaling easier.
• Learn about the park’s geology and volcanic history at the visitor center.
• View Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, from several vantage points.
• Stop at the Thurston Lava Tube, through which a river of hot lava flowed centuries ago.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the world of volcanoes at a national park that contains active ones and see how volcanoes have shaped the Hawaiian landscape, sometimes in a positive manner. The terrain and natural diversity within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is so unique that UNESCO deemed it both a World Biosphere site and a World Heritage site. You will walk among steaming vents in the earth’s surface. Other highlights include seeing the active Halema’uma’u pit crater within the Kilauea summit caldera and driving along the winding road, which passes old lava flows and other reminders of past eruptions. The island’s volcanic soil is exceptionally fertile as you will discover by strolling through Lili’uokalani Gardens, a wonderland of native plants that was once the favorite picnic grounds of Queen Lili’uokala, Hawaii’s last monarch. Volcanic activity also created the black lava rock on many of the island’s beaches.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit stunning Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• View an active volcano, craters and steam vents releasing hot water vapor into the air.
• Meander through a botanical garden that thrives in the island’s volcanically formed soil.
• See a coastline made of black rock made of volcanic materials and lava fragments.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy an enlightening tour of America’s southernmost winery and sample a variety of its premium wines. A spectacularly scenic drive inland will bring you to the aptly named Volcano Winery, whose vineyards blanket an elevated expanse of volcanically formed terrain. Grape varieties such as Symphony, Pinot Noir, Maréchal Foch and Cayuga flourish there. While touring the family-owned winery, you will discover how these unique wines have been produced over the past several decades. Many of them are infused with local fruits such as yellow guava and jaboticaba berries that lend the wines their original flavors. Others are infused with Hawaiian-grown tea and honey from bees that pollinate the blossoms of the island’s famed macadamia nut trees. The exact wines for your tasting will be chosen upon your arrival to ensure that they are at their peak. They many include Volcano Red, a signature red blend with black cherry and cranberry notes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour the family-owned Volcano Winery, the southernmost winery in America.
• Sample a selection of premium wines, many of them infused with local fruit flavors.
• Enjoy a picturesque drive inland through a lush volcanically formed landscape.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Paddle through the brilliant blue waters of Hilo Bay in a kayak and enjoy a unique perspective of the city and the volcanoes looming in the background. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will ease into a kayak and follow the guide into the crescent-shaped bay. From there, you will have an excellent view of Hilo’s urban landscape, which sprawls along the coast and up into the flanks of the volcanoes. The guide will point out and describe Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that is the highest point in Hawaii. Then there is Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. It too is a spectacular reminder that the Hawaiian Islands are volcanically formed. While paddling through the bay and around Coconut Island, be sure to look for green sea turtles, symbols of good luck and longevity.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle around Hilo Bay in a kayak as the guide describes the surrounding natural beauty.
• See the massive volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa from a unique water perspective.
• Look for green sea turtles gracefully swimming by in the bay’s crystal-clear waters.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring water shoes, towel, bathing suit and a change of clothes.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed on how the eruption of the Kilauea volcano dramatically changed the landscape of the Big Island and pause along the way to sample iconic Hawaiian products. Rainbow Falls will serve as an introduction to the island’s natural beauty, which is even more spectacular at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. There, you will enjoy a close-up view of how the volcanic eruption expanded the Halemaumau pit crater with a billion cubic yards of lava. As you walk across the now hardened lava field, you will notice new greenery that will eventually become rainforest. The island’s fertile volcanic soil is ideal for growing products such as macadamia nuts. You will be offered tastings of them – perhaps honey-roasted or dipped in chocolate – at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm. A Hawaiian-style lunch follows at Volcano Gardens Arts. Confections and coffee are available at Big Island Candies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold Rainbow Falls, which is named for the rainbows that often form in its mist.
• See how a volcanic eruption changed the terrain in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
• Walk across a hardened lava field from the eruption, where plants are now growing.
• Enjoy a lunch of traditional Hawaiian cuisine and sample iconic Hawaiian products.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Taste a variety of locally grown foods for a better understanding of Hawaiian cuisine and how dishes made with the produce pair perfectly with craft beers. While touring the fields and orchards of O.K. Farms, you will sample freshly picked herbs and spices such as lemongrass and vanilla. You may also bite into a ripe lilikoi, one of the farm’s many tropical fruits that make their way into the zesty libations that nearby Ola Brew creates. Before reaching the brewery, you will pause for photos of Kaimukanaka Falls and Rainbow Falls, two beautiful cascades in the idyllic countryside. Prepare to be equally impressed with the offerings at Ola Brew, which infuses their beers with unusual local ingredients. You will be served a flight of beers that may include a mango-flavored IPA, a lager with banana notes, and a pineapple hard cider. They will be paired with American Asian fusion-style dishes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample locally grown fruits, herbs and spices while touring O.K. Farms.
• Taste beers at Ola Brew that are infused with unexpected ingredients from the farm.
• Enjoy inspired pairings of the beers with American Asian fusion-style cuisine.
• View two absolutely gorgeous cascades: Kaimukanaka Falls and Rainbow Falls.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Savor wine and hors d’oeuvres at the Volcano House, the only hotel in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. As an introduction to the wonders of the surrounding volcanic landscape, you will accompany a volcanologist on a leisurely walk along the summit rim of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active and easily accessible volcanoes. It will be quite the experience as you peer into the crater that stretches down about three miles. Depending on the state of the volcano, you may see steam rising from the vents or an active lava lake. You will then head to the Volcano House, a historical hotel that Mark Twain visited in 1866 and mentioned in his book “Roughing It.” There, you will be served Hawaiian fruit wine with traditional hors d’oeuvres known as pupus. The views from the hotel are spectacular as it perches about 4,000 feet above sea level and overlooks the Kilauea caldera.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk along the summit of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
• Enjoy Hawaiian fruit wine and traditional hors d’oeuvres at the historical Volcano House.
• Take in the panoramas of Volcanoes National Park from several vantage points.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Imagine yourself flying through a tropical rainforest canopy over splashing streams and waterfalls on a seven-stage zipline course with a view of the crystal blue Pacific Ocean in the distance.

You’ll be surrounded by natural beauty as you hike from one line to the next. A portion of the hike is on a suspension bridge that cuts through the jungle with several small waterfalls below. This course was created to provide a safe and fun environment for the entire family. All lines are ground-to-ground making it easier for all to participate.

After your zip line adventure, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the World Botanical Gardens and the soothing view of a cascading waterfall.

OVERVIEW

Paddle through the brilliant blue waters of Hilo Bay in a kayak and enjoy a unique perspective of the city and the volcanoes looming in the background. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will ease into a kayak and follow the guide into the crescent-shaped bay. From there, you will have an excellent view of Hilo’s urban landscape, which sprawls along the coast and up into the flanks of the volcanoes. The guide will point out and describe Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that is the highest point in Hawaii. Then there is Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. It too is a spectacular reminder that the Hawaiian Islands are volcanically formed. While paddling through the bay and around Coconut Island, be sure to look for green sea turtles, symbols of good luck and longevity.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle around Hilo Bay in a kayak as the guide describes the surrounding natural beauty.
• See the massive volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa from a unique water perspective.
• Look for green sea turtles gracefully swimming by in the bay’s crystal-clear waters.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Bring water shoes, towel, bathing suit and a change of clothes.

Your exciting day begins with a scenic narrated drive along the beautiful Hamakua coastline from the cruise ship pier to the rain forest at Botanical World Adventures.

Take an incredible journey by bike through an area of the Hamakua Coast once dominated by Hawai`i’s sugar industry. This adventurous tour makes its way through a segment of the Old Mamalahoa Highway where you are surrounded by green rolling pastures and lush botanical scenery. This once well traveled road takes us back in time as we make our way through old plantation villages, cross over bridges from the early 1900’s and become mesmerized by the abundance of greenery. View beautiful streams and waterfalls originating from the slopes of Mauna Kea as you cross over each bridge.

This ride engages all of our senses with the smells and sounds of the rainforest, the sights of the brightly colored tropical flowers, and the tastes of paradise. Within the botanical gardens you are surrounded with an entourage of foliage from all over the world, as there are fruits in the trees above you, orchids blossoming beside you, and a carpet of grass below you. Before you know it, you are on a treasure hunt to find all the seasonal jewels and gems this amazing botanical garden has to offer. The guides will then transport you by van to their private waterfall on the property for one last amazing photo opportunity!

The experience continues as you journey back to the pier with a stop at Low Store, a family owned treasure since 1925 where you can purchase tropical smoothies and Hawaiian shaved ice. Then continue on the incredible scenic route of Onomea Bay to make a final stop at Big Island Candies, famous for their handmade macadamia nut shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate!

OVERVIEW

Discover the wonders of Hawaii’s highest volcano while atop its summit and behold a roaring cascade named for the rainbows in its mist. Your immersion into the natural sciences will begin at the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy visitor center, where you will learn about the advanced telescopes on sacred Mauna Kea volcano and about rare endemic plants such as the delicate silversword that only on grows at altitudes above 5,000 feet. Mauna Kea is nearly three times that high and to reach its summit you will ascend in a 4x4 vehicle. The volcano is nicknamed the White Mountain as it is sometimes snow-capped. The views on the way up will be breathtaking as will be the epic vistas that await you at the very top. The sight of Rainbow Falls will also be spectacular as the 80-foot cascade lies within a mango orchard and usually creates rainbows as the sun shines through the plummeting water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive up the slopes of Hawaii’s highest volcano in a 4x4 vehicle.
• Take in the panoramic views from atop the summit of Mauna Kea volcano.
• Learn about the discoveries that the telescopes on the volcano have made.
• Behold Rainbow Falls, which is named for the rainbows that often form in its mist.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Explore the famed Hamakua Coast, home to magnificent country reminiscent of “old Hawaii” on this small-group adventure. Sparsely populated Hamakua is studded with breathtaking waterfalls, stunning valleys, and eccentric towns. Traveling north, first stop at Tex Drive-In, famous for made-to- order malasadas. These fried Portuguese sweet treats were originally brought to Hawaii by immigrants who worked in the cattle industry and have been a local favorite ever since. Watch the treats being made through the window and have the option to purchase a fresh one with a cup of coffee. The Valley of the Kings, Waipio Valley is a place of impossibly steep cliffs carved by plunging waterfalls cascading more than a thousand feet to the valley floor below. Waipio Valley is still home to taro farmers as it has been for a thousand years. Look closely from the overlook and glimpses of the wild horses that roam the valley floor might be possible. Turning off the highway we descend into Laupahoehoe Point. Laupahoehoe village was located here until the destruction left behind the 1946 tsunami forced the town to move to higher ground.

. Look for the monument erected in the names of those who lost there lives here. Next stop at Akaka Falls State Park, the site of the largest easily accessible waterfall on the island. You’ll traverse a paved walking path right through the center of a lush rainforest to Akaka Falls, a stunning 442 foot waterfall that plunges down a sheer cliff and into the water below. Continue your adventure with stops at two icons of Hilo, Rainbow Falls and the King Kamehameha statue. Rainbow falls is an iconic waterfall right off a postcard featuring an 80 foot tall twin waterfall system. Look for the rainbow effect that gives the waterfall its name! Leaving the Hamakua coast behind, you travel to historic Hilo Bay to enjoy a deli style lunch. Snorkel, swim or rent a kayak to explore Hilo Bay. Complete the day with a shopping stop with Hawaiian mac nut samples, Hawaii Island crafts, local products, Kona coffee and more.

Spectacular volcanoes, craters and steam vents are waiting to be explored at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that has recently reopened after a period of tumultuous volcanic activity. The landscape of Volcanoes Park has dramatically changed as the floor of the Kilauea crater sunk over 1,500 feet and the overall caldera quadrupled in size and widened by over a square mile. Today, the explosive eruptions, earthquakes and ash clouds have been replaced by remarkable changes in the summit area. The highlights of this exciting tour include visits at each of the following destinations in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while riding to each stop in comfort on a deluxe motor coach. Walk through the Kilauea Visitors Center to receive information on the Park’s current conditions, view educational exhibits and interact with park rangers. Enjoy unforgettable views of Kilauea from Volcano House, just a short walk across the street. Kilauea’s massive size and scale is realized from this vantage point. Then you’ll be engulfed in rising steam as ground water seeps down to the hot volcanic rocks at the Steam Vents. The area between the edge of Kilauea’s caldera and the outer cliffs are treeless because the extreme heat destroys their roots; only shallow-rooted grasses and other hearty plants survive here. On you return to the pier, visit the Big Island Candies Store. Established in 1977, each of its delectable candies and cookies are hand-crafted in this factory store. View the production process and see what goes into making these world famous Hawaiian treats. All products are made from only freshly roasted Big Island macadamia nuts and pure Kona and Ka‘u coffee from farms on the Big Island. Since its founding, Big Island Candies has continuously introduced new and imaginative products that "wow" both the eyes and taste buds of its growing legion of fans. The Volcanoes National Park Tour is not to be missed and includes round-trip transportation from the pier by deluxe motorcoach.

Browse the fields and orchards of O.K. Farms and enjoy a sampling of its produce before heading deeper into the tropical environs to view two breathtaking waterfalls. Although remarkably close to Hilo, the family-owned farm feels as if it’s light-years away. Fruit and nut trees flourish, coffee plants blanket the hills and the aroma of spices wafts through the air. As you will discover, sweet lychees and longans are by far the most prevalent fruits grown there. You will likely sample them along with rambutans and hearts of palm. You will also learn a trick for cracking the rock-hard shells of macadamia nuts without damaging the meat inside. The Wailuku River winds through the 1,000-acre farm, creating Kaimukanaka Falls, which will be quite the sight to behold. You will view equally magnificent Rainbow Falls from a private vantage point that highlights the iridescent rainbows that typically form in the mist.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a family-owned farm that grows tropical fruits and nuts within its 1,000 acres.
• Sample iconic Hawaiian fruits such as lychees, longans and rambutans.
• View two absolutely gorgeous cascades: Kaimukanaka Falls and Rainbow Falls.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Your experienced guide will provide information and narration as you drive through the "Hilo Walk of Fame" known for all the banyan trees planted by celebrities. Visit Liliuokalani Gardens, the largest ornamental Japanese garden outside of Japan. Your experienced guide will provide commentary of Hilo Town as you make your way to Wailuku State Park and Rainbow Falls.

While visiting Akaka State Park, you can see two gorgeous waterfalls- 100 foot Kahuna Falls and towering Akaka Falls which plummets 422 feet into an eroded gorge. Stop at Big Island Candies, home of the famous diagonally dipped shortbread cookies. You have a chance to purchase your Big Island souvenirs that are beautifully packaged. A true Hawaiian Classic!

Exploring Hawaii Island’s explosive side is what this tour is all about. Walk Kilauea’s most recent lava flows along the East Rift Zone, including the historic flows of 2018. Start with a drive through quaint Hilo town where you’ll drive along the historic waterfront past Liliuokalani Japanese Gardens before heading out to Kilauea. Your National Park Service certified guide will discuss the volcanology, geology, and history of Hawaii, as well as providing in-depth narration on the various lava flows and flora and fauna that you’ll be passing by. First stop is MacKenzie State Recreation Area closed by the marching 40 foot tall wall of crumbly a’a lava as it continued through the Park to the sea. Take a walk along the altered coastline and cliffs overlooking the new black sand beach. Isaac Hale Beach Park is next. Lava floes encircled this popular Park miraculously sparing the infrastructure while completely destroying everything around it. Be sure to check out the boat launch ramp, now sitting in a pond cut off from the ocean by a natural berm of lava.

Stop by Star of the Sea Painted Church. Moved by the community twice to save it from advancing lava flows in 1990, this decommissioned church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A deli style lunch is included. The final stop includes snorkeling, swimming and shopping. Grab a free snorkel set or just jump in the water and explore the unique lava rock coastline of Hilo Bay. Kayaks and paddle boards are available to rent. Stock up on fresh roasted Kona coffee, Hawaiian mac nuts, and other local products and crafts before heading back to the port.

OVERVIEW

Stroll through the largest Edo-style ornamental garden outside of Japan and enjoy free time browsing the shops and farmer’s market near Hilo Bay. To reach Liliuokalani Gardens, you will travel down Banyan Drive, a sun-dappled street lined with banyan trees that celebrities such as Babe Ruth and Amelia Earhart planted. More botanical treasures await you within the gardens, which is named for Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. It opened in 1917 as a tribute to the many Japanese immigrants that worked Hawaii’s sugarcane fields. While meandering through the serene setting, you will notice that nearly every plant is indigenous. They include species such as the rosy trumpet tree and the towering kukui, the national tree of Hawaii. Afterwards, continue to Wailuku State Park where you’ll find picturesque Rainbow Falls. Watch as water from the Wailuku River plunges 80 feet over the lip of the waterfall to cascade into the pool below, often forming a beautiful rainbow effect. Later, you will independently explore the abundant boutiques, art galleries and marketplaces along the waterfront. There will be plenty of time to dine on your own if you wish.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive down a beautifully shaded street lined with banyan trees that celebrities planted.
• Meander through Liliuokalani Gardens, a botanical oasis with mostly indigenous plants.
• View breathtaking Rainbow Falls at Wailuku State Park
• Spend time exploring Hilo’s main shopping and dining district along the bay.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

See the island’s most spectacular natural wonders, starting with a hike to Kilauea Crater in Volcanoes National Park.

The setting is so extraordinary that UNESCO deemed the park a World Biosphere site and a World Heritage site. To reach the crater, you will hike three miles roundtrip. The sights along the way will make it well worth the effort, as the volcano has been steadily erupting since 1983 and the surrounding countryside is dramatic. Afterward, you will pause for photos at magnificent Rainbow Falls, which is named for the rainbows that often form in the surrounding mist. Another photo opportunity awaits you at Liliuokalani Gardens, which pays tribute to the Japanese immigrants that worked in the sugarcane fields more than a century ago. Enjoy a local shopping stop where you can sample Hawaiian macadamia nuts before returning to the ship.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike through the dramatic countryside to a volcanic crater that continues to erupt.
• Enjoy photo opportunities at Rainbow Falls and Liliuokalani Gardens.
• Enjoy a local shopping stop and sample Hawaii macadamia nuts.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Start your tour with a leisurely drive through the "Hilo Walk of Fame” known for all the banyan trees that have been planted by celebrities. Drive by Liliuokalani Gardens, the largest ornamental Japanese garden outside of Japan. Your experienced guide will provide commentary of Hilo Town as you make your way to Wailuku State Park and Rainbow Falls.

While visiting Akaka State Park, you can see two gorgeous waterfalls- 100 foot Kahuna Falls and towering Akaka Falls which plummets 422 feet into an eroded gorge. Stop at Pana’ewa Zoo the only naturally occurring rainforest zoo in the United States. Next, visit Mauna Loa Mac Nut Factory as well as the Big Island Candies Store. Established in 1977, each of its delectable candies and cookies are hand-crafted in this factory store. View the production process and see what goes into making these world-famous Hawaiian treats. All products are made from only freshly roasted Big Island macadamia nuts and pure Kona and Ka‘u coffee from farms on the Big Island. Since its founding, Big Island Candies has continuously introduced new and imaginative products that "wow" both the eyes and taste buds of its growing legion of fans.

Pass through the visually stunning countryside in the Puna district just outside Hilo, where you will see lava fields from past volcanic eruptions and walk along the Pohoiki black-sand beach, which is composed of lava fragments. According to legend, the volatile Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele lives in the district’s Kīlauea volcano. She not only creates new land, but also destroys what stands in the path of the lava, which is known as “frozen fire” once it cools and hardens. However, the historical Painted Church was spared during Kīlauea’s eruption in 1990 when the congregants raised the church onto a trailer and moved it to safety. While browsing the wooden church, which features wonderful painted ceiling frescoes, you will hear more about its salvation. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to shop for locally made merchandise and meander along Hilo Bay, whose jagged black rock shoreline is volcanic in origin.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the devastation of past volcanic eruptions and the natural beauty left in their wakes.
• See the Painted Church that congregants moved to save it from a nearby lava flow.
• Walk on a gorgeous black-sand beach that a volcanic eruption created.
• Shop for locally made merchandise in and around Hilo.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.