Category Kilauea Craters & Lava Hikes

Big Island · KILAUEA CRATERS & LAVA HIKES

The 8 Best Kilauea Craters & Lava Hikes

8 reviewed

Walk across a caldera floor, into a lava tube, out to where the ground is still warm. These Kilauea hikes are the closest you get to the volcano on foot: how far each one walks, how strenuous it runs, what it costs, and which ones time the route for the after-dark glow.

Captain Cook Snorkel Tour with Sea Caves and Lava Tubes

Captain Cook Snorkel Tour with Sea Caves and Lava Tubes - Captain Cook Snorkel Time: what your 30–40 minutes is likely to look like

1.Captain Cook Snorkel Tour with Sea Caves and Lava Tubes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 548 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $89Our pick

Snorkel Captain Cook’s cove for up to 40 minutes, then cruise Kona sea caves and lava tubes on a small RHIB with fish, dolphins, and snacks.

“We had booked another snorkel tour to just captain cook and not enough people signed up so we were able to get upgraded to this tour and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We were taken to two different snorkeling spots and saw tons of fish! On the way back the captain took us to a few additional spots and gave us some history about the island, which was a nice little added bonus. We also were able to see a pod of dolphins swimming on our way back to shore. My family and I loved it!”

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Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens

Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens - Getting picked up smoothly in Hilo

2.Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 393 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $187

Hilo volcano shore tour: Kilauea caldera and steam vents, Thurston lava tube, Chain of Craters, Rainbow Falls, gardens, chocolate.

“You’ll get your money’s worth on this one! And even more if Jill is your tour driver! Though there was a time scheduled for each stop, we never felt rushed. If you are or were a science teacher, the amount of detail and descriptions will make it memorable for you!! Can’t emphasize more how wonderful Jill was and how comfortable vehicle for 12 felt!”

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Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand - Hilo Quick Stops: Tsunami Lessons and the Japanese Garden Swap

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

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

Hilo shore excursion to lava caves, black sand beaches, and Kilauea’s damage zones, with pickup and expert guide stories for a 6-hour day.

“Ellen was a phenomenal tour guide! I loved all the stops we made, specially the cave & waterfall. If you are going to explore the cave, I definitely recommend that you bring sneakers so you can explore as the rocks are slippery.”

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Kilauea: Volcanoes National Park Guided Hike

Kilauea: Volcanoes National Park Guided Hike - Meeting at the Kīlauea Visitor Center and Getting Set Up

4.Kilauea: Volcanoes National Park Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 3 hours · from $120

A 3-hour small-group hike at Kīlauea Volcanoes National Park, with native forest walks, lava viewing when conditions allow, and Volcano House views.

“This was a fantastic adventure!! Our guide, Jennifer, planned the perfect hike into the Kīlauea caldera. Along the way she took us to many significant geological points. She is very knowledgeable about volcanoes and specifically about the volcanoes of Hawai’i. She also knows a lot about the native plants and culture. She told many of the Hawai’ian legends related to the Mauna Loa area. She’s a local of the region and directed us to several other sites of interest on the island. She has first hand knowledge of living in the land of fire. The route into the caldera was a comfortable hike. We stopped at significant points and Jennifer…”

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Kilauea Summit to Shore from Kona: Small Group

Kilauea Summit to Shore from Kona: Small Group - Saddle Road and the climb into microclimates near Hilo

5.Kilauea Summit to Shore from Kona: Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $235

Kona-based small-group trip to Kīlauea Summit and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with rainforest, Hilo stops, and ocean-side lava stories.

“The Thurston lava tube was great, the different ecosystems were interesting, the green sea turtle sighting was wonderful! This is to-date, the best tour I've ever experienced! Scott was very knowledgeable and had the best personality!”

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Big Island Waterfalls, Blacksand Beaches, Lava Tubes & Volcanoes

Big Island Waterfalls, Blacksand Beaches, Lava Tubes & Volcanoes - Volcanoes National Park: steam, craters, and Nahuku’s lava tube

6.Big Island Waterfalls, Blacksand Beaches, Lava Tubes & Volcanoes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $186

Native Hawaiian-guided Big Island day with Volcanoes National Park, Hilo highlights, black sand turtles, and lava tube sights in a comfy small group.

“Justin made the whole experience so worthwhile. It was lovely to see so many sights in such a short space of time. The trip was child friendly. Wonderfully organised and lots to see and do. I would recommend this one to all families coming to visit Hilo”

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Kīlauea Hike and Lava Gazing with Native Hawaiian

Kīlauea Hike and Lava Gazing with Native Hawaiian - What the rim hike really means for your comfort level

Big Island: Off the Beaten Path Volcano Crater Hike

Big Island: Off the Beaten Path Volcano Crater Hike - Private access to restricted Hualālai terrain

8.Off the Beaten Path Volcano Crater Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 5 hours · from $198

Exclusive Hualālai crater hike with private access, 3–4 miles through cloud forest and fissures, optional lava tube, small group, $198.

“Hike was great - beautiful area, the craters were amazing to see. Our Guide, Rob, was fully prepared with all the gear (walking sticks/rain coats), drinks and snacks -- anything needed for hike for any weather. We had wonderful weather and views for the day. Only suggestion is that guide could have gone slower and/or taken more breaks. The kids in the front could keep up, but the Adults fell so far behind that at times we weren't sure if we were still on the trail because we could not see the group ahead. We also felt that we spent more time watching where our feet were going to ensure…”

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