Editor Pick
Polynesian Adventure Volcano Tour
Our bus driver (Shirley) did a great job telling the stories so that we could get the feeling of the culture of the island. I think she enjoyed her job and liked sharing (I had another bus driver on a different tour who was terrible, so the contrast was even more noticable). We only had one day to devote to volcanos and to Hilo, so the tour was the better option than renting a car and trying to figure it all out on our own. We got to go to a local beach for sea turtle hunting (no luck), Rainbow Falls, Volcano National Park and Museum, the Thurston lava tube, steam vents, lava hiking, macademia nut factory, and even an orchid grower. My friend really wanted to see flowing lava, but we only had 2 hours for lava hiking, and the fresh lava was further out. I was not disappointed, as I learned more than I expected about the local culture and the volcanoes. Plenty of opportunities for buying things and restrooms on this tour - one caution regarding prices as some items can be found for less money elsewhere. Bring lots of water as the volcano hiking part of our tour came from about 11:30am - 1:30pm, and it was hot out. It is very flexible, so hiking on the actual lava is not necessary, but this is a tour where mobility is necessary for greatest enjoyment. Of course, sunscreen is crucial. I called ahead to make sure that our flight would not come in too late to take the tour (it starts promptly at 8am) and return too late (finished about 6). We were able to get an earlier flight out of Hilo because of availability. Some people had booked a package with flight and tour included, but we booked the flight separately and that seemed to work fine for us (and we saved $50 or more). Lunch is on your own and we stopped at the Volcano House. There are at least two options for eating here - sandwich counter and buffet. We opted for the buffet and it was very good (but $15). My friend really enjoyed the fish but I preferred the beef, nice fresh fruit and other salads. Had the opportunity to smell the chocolate orchid - heavenly! Also, many free food samples at the places we stopped along the tour. We were on a mini tour bus, so the group was small (just 16 I think and there were some free spaces) and the ride was comfortable and air conditioned. People on the tour ranged from 5 - about 65, but most were in their 30's-40's. A very nice experience all in all - and an efficient use of time when one day is all that you have for volcanos.
From journal Side trip to Hilo