.png)
When planning our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii we had to see waterfalls! Since a rental car was not an option on this trip for us, we decided to book a waterfall tour. This way we could see as many waterfalls as possible all in one day (without having to drive)! We chose to book with Wasabi Tours since they had an all-day Big Island Waterfalls Adventure. We paid $249 per person, and $551.34 in total for two adults. On the tour, we covered a lot of ground, saw multiple waterfalls, and even went down into Waipio Valley to explore!
Transportation:
We rode in a Mercedes Sprinter van that could fit about 16 people. The seats were comfortable, and there was AC to keep us cool despite the heat outside. The van was equipped with speakers throughout so you could hear the driver's commentary when he used his microphone. We had no trouble hearing, and our driver rarely needed to use the microphone.
Pickup For the Big Island Waterfall Adventure:
The company calls to provide your estimated pickup time and location the day before your trip. We were picked up at our hotel at about 6:45 am which is a few minutes before the scheduled start time. If you are staying closer to Kona be prepared to be picked up about an hour earlier than the scheduled start time, as they start picking from that direction!
Waipio Valley:
After picking everyone up we headed to our first stop, Waipio Valley. It's about a 45-minute to an hour drive from the last hotel to the start of the valley. In this time you get to know your group, tour guide, and some of the island's history.
At the entrance of Waipio Valley, we switched to another vehicle that could be taken down into the valley. The road down was VERY steep and narrow like a one-way (even though people tried to go both ways at once) and not paved in certain spots. Because of the road conditions, and some light off-roading they use a separate "beater" van (no seatbelts, no windows) for this part of the tour! A journey into Waipio Valley is no longer offered on the tour! Instead, now the tour just stops at a Waipio Valley lookout!
The views on the way down were astonishing! The Valley is 2000 feet down so we got a birds-eye view on the drive down. You could see the tops of trees, the coastline, and all the beautiful waterfalls pouring into the valley.
We don’t want to spoil everything for you, but the trip down into the valley is one of our favorite (and best-smelling) places we have been in Hawaii. The land is so rich, layered with beauty, and full of life. We learned so much about Hawaiian history here, and our tour guide was great at answering any questions we had.
Lunch:
Packed lunches were provided by the tour company, and before the tour date, we were asked if we had any dietary restrictions. After visiting the valley, we headed back up the hill to have lunch near a small shop and cafe. At the cafe, you could purchase coffee, soft drinks, fruit, and other small items.
The lunch provided by Wasabi was a boxed meal (bento box style) which included chicken katsu, fried fish, rice, and Tauro slices. We were also given water and Hawaiian Suns to drink. After eating, we were given time to shop around and we even got to pet some dogs outside.
After lunch, we drove up the road to a local fruit stand. They had fresh coconut juice, fresh fruit, and smoothies. If you purchased a coconut for drinking, the shop would cut out the meat of the coconut afterward for you to take with you! They also had baby ducks in the back you could visit! It was a tasty and refreshing pitstop after our lunch!
Akaka Falls State Park:
Our next stop was Akaka Falls State Park Once we arrived at Akaka Falls, we were guided to the park entrance and given about 45 minutes to explore. There are two paved trails throughout the park leading to Akaka Falls and looping back to the park entrance. We found the walk to be very serene, it is full of lush vegetation and beautiful trees. You can hear the strong rush of water off the falls before you see it, and it is breathtaking once it comes into view!
Bring a poncho or raincoat if you do not want to get wet, it rained in a few spots and it is about a half-mile walk!
Private Waterfall:
Our next stop was about a 10-minute drive from Akaka Falls. It was a private waterfall located on a small inn's property. We stopped at the inn's lobby where we were given the chance to change into our swimwear. We then made our way down to the waterfall. The walk to the waterfall could be tough for some. It is not paved, muddy, and on a hill. Once down at the falls, you get the chance to swim (life jackets are provided if needed), use free paddle boards and kayaks, and take pictures. The water can get rough, especially near the falls, and there are lots of rocks in the water (bring water shoes if you plan to get in). At the time of our tour, the falls were entirely private and you had to be on an approved tour or a guest of the inn to visit, but now they offer day passes for $49 here (you must pre-book).
Rainbow Falls:
After seeing the private falls, we drove about 15 minutes down to Hilo to see our last waterfall of the trip, Rainbow Falls. This spot felt very different than the other waterfalls. It is inside of a neighborhood in Hilo and it was as simple as parking, walking through the lot, and looking at the waterfall. Although it was simple to reach, that did not take away from its beauty!
This was the easiest place to get family photos on the trip. Our tour guide was very helpful, taking photos for everyone! After everyone finished taking photos, we piled back into the van and headed to Kaumana Lava Cave.
Kaumana Lava Cave:
Our next stop was a really neat location that showcased the power of volcanos. The stairs down to Kaumana Lava Cave are steep, small, and can get slippery. To walk around in the cave, you will have to climb over and dodge rocks. It was not too difficult to get through but be aware of your footing at all times or you could leave with scraped-up knees and elbows!
You can see in the cave about 40 feet, but afterward, the light from the outside is cut off. If you go any deeper you will need a flashlight! (we just used our phones and were fine). A small group of us including the tour guide went in as far as possible and it was worth it! We then made our way out of the cave back to the surface to head to our final destination, Saddle Road.
Saddle Road:
Saddle Road is the mid-point between the west side (Kona/Waikoloa) and the east side (Hilo/Waipio) of the island. It sits right in between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa at about 5,000 feet. The stop is just a chance for a bathroom break, but the views are very pretty from the location. You can see large fields of lava rocks, the sides of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, and if the climate is right, you can see the tops of clouds as the sunset pierces through them!
Drop-off:
The drop-off for this trip is as simple as first in first out. Those who are picked up first will be dropped off first. If you are staying in or around Kona, keep in mind it could take an extra hour or two to get dropped off for this reason!
What to bring:
Good pair of shoes for walking
Change of clothes/swimsuit/towels
Raincoat/umbrella
Water shoes
Sunscreen
Cash (gratuity and shopping)
Snacks
phone charger
Summary:
On the Big Island Waterfalls Adventure with Wasabi Tours, we saw over five different waterfalls, and even got to get in one! We paid $551.34 in total for a full-day tour, with lunch, transportation, and admission to all parks included for two people. We enjoyed all of the stops on the tour, especially Waipio Valley! Our guide was friendly and informative and kept us safe on our long day of driving. A negative is that the tour no longer takes guests into Waipio Valley, and only stops at a lookout. This was our favorite aspect of the tour and we are sad to see it is no longer offered! Something to keep in mind before booking is that this is a long day! We got picked up around 6:45 AM and did not make it back to the hotel until about 9 PM. We had fun, saw a bunch of waterfalls, and got to explore different parts of the island all in one day. It is a great way to see the island, especially if you do not rent a car!
Comments