Dolphin tours in Kona are the perfect way to experience these amazing creatures up close and personal. There are a variety of different tours that will allow you to get in the water with the dolphins and learn all about them.
Whether you want to just watch the dolphins from the boat, or get in the water and swim with them, there’s a tour below that you’ll love!
10 Dolphin Tours in Kona, Hawaii
Here are 10 of the best dolphin tours in Kona to make sure you get the best experience, including private tours and group tours.
1. Captain Cook /Kealakekua Bay Dolphin Quest
Price: $105 per person
Duration: 4 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 5/5 (800+ reviews) Best Tour
Tour Includes: Captain Cook is one of the greatest snorkel locations on the Big Island of Hawaii, and you’ll get to see the beauty on this snorkeling tour from Kona. On your way to the bay, look for dolphins while appreciating the volcanic coast; then grab some lunch on board after searching for coral and fish.
2. Kona Wild Dolphin Discoveries & Reef Snorkel Adventure!
Price: $150 per person
Duration: 3 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 5/5 (500+ reviews)
Tour Includes: This exciting combo trip will take you on an exciting journey through the islands’ seas. Cruise along the coast in a speedboat, looking for caves, cliffs, whales, and dolphins.
Along the route, search for caverns, bluffs, pilot whales, and dolphins. After that, swim about in the crystal blue water to discover the underwater realm with your snorkeling gear. Snacks, drinks, and snorkeling equipment are all included. Size is limited to 14 in order to provide a more personalized experience.
3. Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Captain Cook Monument Big Island Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Price: $161 per person
Duration: 4 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 5/5 (260+ reviews)
Tour Includes: With a professional crew who appreciates these clever animals’ boundaries and knows the different species of dolphins, you will view the dolphins in their natural habitat. Spinner dolphins come to the Kona coast, where they frequently interact with boats and swim in the boat’s wake.
To ensure that we do not interfere with our aquatic friends’ rest, nursing, or breeding activities, great care, and respect are given to them by our team. There might be an opportunity for a quick snorkel at one of the gorgeous reef areas along the Kona coastline depending on where and when we discover the dolphins.
4. Afternoon Kealakekua Snorkel Tour
Price: $127 per person
Duration: 3.5 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 5/5 (260+ reviews)
Tour Includes: Take a Kealakekua Bay snorkeling tour, which departs from Keauhou Bay and explores the Kona coast for dolphins, turtles, or even whales in the winter months.
Look over the side of the boat into the crystal clear waters teeming with colorful reef fish upon arrival in Kealakekua Bay. You’ll get expert coaching and snorkeling gear on board before diving into the water to try some of Hawaii’s best snorkeling.
5. Deluxe Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument
Price: $142 per person
Duration: 4.5 Hours
Departs From: Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI
Rating: 5/5 (140+ reviews)
Tour Includes: This is a half-day boat trip to Kealakekua Bay’s two best snorkeling sites, the reef beneath Captain Cook’s monument and the underwater lava formations of Red Hill.
Your guides will offer all necessary gear, basic snorkeling instructions, and identification charts to assist you in seeing fish and dolphins in their natural environment, as well as breakfast and lunch. Don’t forget your camera—the journey has panoramic views of Kona’s coast.
6. Waikoloa Catamaran Morning Snorkel & Lunch
Price: $173 per person
Duration: 3 Hours
Departs From: Waimea, HI
Rating: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
Tour Includes: Take a trip to A-Bay on a 54-foot catamaran for dolphin and turtle sightings, including snorkeling gear and onboard snorkel guides.
It’s a pleasant, peaceful way to cruise the coast since the boat has plenty of deck space and shaded places to sit, and you’ll be able to see humpback whales during the whale-watching months of December through April.
7. CAPTAIN COOK SNORKELING CRUISES & DOLPHIN TOUR
Price: $100 per person
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 4.5/5 (10+ reviews)
Tour Includes: Take a small-group boat trip around the Kona Coast on the Big Island and spend your time swimming, snorkeling, and dolphin watching.
In order to search for sea life at an underwater reserve, jump into the calm water with your snorkel gear on. When you’re not in the ocean, take advantage of snacks and light refreshments while searching for amusing dolphins.
8. Kona Shore Excursion: Wild Dolphin – Reefs -Sea Caves – (Small Group)
Price: $139 per person
Duration: 3 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 5/5 (30+ reviews)
Tour Includes: On this Kona shore excursion programmed to your cruise’s arrival and departure, make the most of your time in port. Get picked up from the dock and go on a sailing journey to the Captain Cook Monument and Kealakekua Bay, where you can snorkel, swim, and explore lava tubes. Expect to see spinner dolphins, sea turtles, colorful fish, and ancient reefs. Lunch (including the use of snorkeling equipment like masks and fins), snacks, and transportation are all provided.
9. Luxury Bottlenose Dolphin Sail and Kona Snorkel
Price: $505 per person
Duration: 4 Hours
Departs From: Kalaoa, HI
Rating: 5/5 (20+ reviews)
Tour Includes: Take the ultimate snorkeling and sailing excursion around the Kona Coast during this 4-hour luxury yacht trip with a small group.
Explore the magnificent beaches and bays of the Big Island aboard a top-of-the-line vessel, stopping at popular snorkel sites and seeing marine life such as dolphins, turtles, and whales. Unlimited refreshments are also included, as well as snorkel gear and an excellent picnic or bento lunch.
10. Private Charter (Up to 14 Guests) Snorkel Adventure on Navy SEAL Speed Boat!
Price: $1,500 per group (up to 14 people)
Duration: 3 Hours
Departs From: Kailua-Kona, HI
Rating: 5/5 (10+ reviews)
Tour Includes: On this private charter ocean excursion from Kona, skip the hassle and disappointment of overbooked tour boats. Cruise along the coast by speedboat and relish the freedom to customize your journey and activities to your preferences in the company of just your party (up to 14 people). Explore lava tunnels, trenches, sea caves, dolphins, and (in season) whales if you want to get off.
What Else is There to Do in Kona?
There is so much to see and do in Kona! From the tropical beaches to the amazing hikes and some of the best snorkeling spots, it’s the perfect place for an unforgettable vacation. Whether you want to take part in one of many outdoor activities or just want to experience Hawaiian culture at one of the best Luaus in Kona, there’s something for everyone!
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- Kailua-Kona Best Tours
Dayna Brockbank is a travel and language-learning blogger who has lived around the world but has now settled in Nice, France. She speaks 3 languages at varying levels of fluency: Spanish, Italian, and French, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Education. She and her husband focus on making travel part of life by living cheaply and traveling on a budget.