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The Big Island’s most reliable wildlife sighting on land is at Punalu’u, the black sand beach on the southeast coast where green sea turtles often haul out to rest. The Punalu’u Black Sand Beach & Volcano Tour stops there as part of a seven to eight hour day from Hilo that also takes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, at $179 per adult and $149 per child.
For the island’s other famous encounters, manta rays gather off Kona after dark on manta ray night snorkels, and humpback whales arrive from December to April; see Big Island whale watching. Our guide to where to swim with sea turtles in Hawaii covers the rules for getting close.
An 8-hour loop from Hilo hitting three Big Island icons — green sea turtles basking on Punalu'u's black sand, ...
At Punalu’u, turtles rest right on the sand. Stay well back, never touch them, and keep the beach clear around them; it is the law in Hawaii, and it keeps them coming back.
Punalu’u sits on the road between Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is why the Punalu’u tour pairs the black sand beach with the park in one day.
Manta ray snorkels leave from the Kona coast in the evening. If you are staying in Hilo, allow for the drive across the island or book the snorkel on a Kona night.
Hawaii bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Choose a reef-safe formula before any beach or snorkel day.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach on the southeast coast is the most reliable spot, as green sea turtles often rest on the sand there. The Punalu’u Black Sand Beach & Volcano Tour from Hilo stops there, at $179 per adult and $149 per child.
Yes. Manta rays gather off the Kona coast at night, and several night snorkel tours run there. The Manta Magic night snorkel is $139 per person and takes guests aged 7 and up with adult supervision.
Humpbacks are in Hawaiian waters from roughly December to April. The Whale Watch & Manta Snorkel Combo from Kona pairs a whale watch with a manta ray snorkel in one three-hour trip, from $209.
Children are welcome at a $149 child rate, but it is a seven to eight hour day, so it suits kids who manage a long tour well.
No. Green sea turtles are protected, and touching or harassing them is illegal in Hawaii. Watch from a respectful distance and let them move freely.
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