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    Catalina Expeditions

    4.7 (231 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Me T.

    Definitely don't miss the bison tour when you visit! Our guide was Jose and he was very knowledgeable about everything on the island and was funny! He also helped us peep some cute foxes! You will be riding in a large hummer vehicle and the roads are narrow...so if you are afraid of heights like me, be prepared to be cured! Lol There's a stop at the top at the small airport for rest and refreshments.

    View of Catalina from tour

    Awesome tour! Came for the Bison and stayed for Justin's jokes and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Justin is very knowledgeable about the island and its history. Great way to start the day at Catalina Island.

    Jen S.

    We were visiting Avalon for three full days, and we did the bison expedition on our first day. It was great! Our driver, Tom, was so friendly and knowledgeable. We loved hearing about the history of the island, and seeing the beautiful views as we drove up the mountain. We found a large herd of bison, about 30, lounging in the sun. We did an afternoon tour, since we were here in mid-June and the weather was nice. But I can expect it would be hot in the afternoon if it were later in the summer.

    Bison seen on the Bison expedition tour, no guaranteebof seeing them.
    Tristin J.

    We took the bison tour and the best experience possible. The tour explicitly stated that they do not guarantee you will see bison, however just the fortune of time and place put us right in the midst of the herd. It was quite incredible! On top of getting this close to the Bison I would have to give the biggest shout-out to our tour guide "Halvie". Despite no promises of seeing bison, Halvie made our tour go such a memorable experience! He has so much passion for the island along with a deep understanding of its history about everything you will see on the tour. He made sure to take time to talk about every little thing we saw along the way! Halvie thank you so much keep on doing you man!!!

    Luis A.

    What a great experience for those looking for adventure and fun. Rob is your guy as he has the stories, knowledge, and fun personality to guide you through Catalina's past and present. This was hands down our best tour event and already looking forward to bringing the rest of the family. Ask for Rob!

    Tommy M.

    This review is for Catalina Island bison expedition, This is simply a fun educational and adventure tour, we met at the tour are and was given instruction and information on what to do and not to on the tour, "like if a bison is coming toward the jeep to get out and run like hell" No just kidding on that. Our tour guide was Mark Halvy a native of Catalina Island, he was friendly fun with a lot of knowledge the facts and history here with a lot of humor made the tour that much exciting. The tour is about two hours in the middle canyon also the cape canyon, we climbed about 1,600 feet into almost some clouds, make sure you take a lightweight jacket, because some roads are paved dirt bumpy dusty. The tour vehicle jeep is fueled by recycled vegetable oil from the local restaurant on the Island, 10% of the proceed goes to C.I. Conservancy. We were able to see lot's of bison a few of woodpecker, a silver fox, a miniature pony, also a amazing and spectacular view of Catalina from the top. This is one unique and unforgettable tour.

    Bison!
    Sydney C.

    Review of the Bison Expedition: Oh my gosh people, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life! I swear, I said that to my partner more than once while on this tour and I meant it. Make sure you ask to book your tour with Havly, he is knowledgeable about the island and his love for it is contagious. We had so much fun! You get all kinds of facts and history about the people, animals, activities, and a fun hummer tour with a fun driver! We were reminded that seeing Bison is not guaranteed as they roam all over, but Halvy knows all the spots they hang and we came across a group of close to 20! It was amazing! And we saw 2 gray foxes, red headed wood peckers, frogs, and the most stunning views! I can't recommend this tour highly enough. GO!

    Courtney D.

    Our family of 6 had an amazing time! We came in with no expectations to see bison. I knew it wasn't a guarantee but was happy to see the beauty of the inner island. We were lucky enough to see 2 bison on our trip! It really was an amazing sight! Our tour guide Steven was great! Lots of information and a great guy! Thanks again!

    The excursion was good but was expecting to see more bison. We saw two! However, our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and it was great to see the westward side of the island. Also, they provide blankets in the jeep which came in handy during our slightly chilly February tour.

    Michelle O.

    We went on the bison expedition in a military hummer! Andrew made the experience so much fun, he was informative, interactive, and simply entertaining. We encountered a stunning bison herd. The views of Catalina island while ascending the island were beautiful. The entire experience was really amazing! Highly recommend.

    Samantha R.

    The bison expedition was one of my favorite things done on the Island thanks to Mark Halvy! Very fun and extremely educated guide. Definitely recommend him for a 10/10 experience! He is exceptional at what he does. I recommend wearing something you don't mind getting a little dirt on and a light jacket as it gets colder once you're closer to the beach.

    This was my second tour to Catalina. Delilah our tour guide was simply awesome. She became a resident seven years ago but is so knowledgeable about any and all aspects of Catalina that I thought she grew up there. Answered all questions with her depth of knowledge. She clearly takes her job very seriously and is perfect balance of information and humor. This longer tour is a must do. highly recommended

    i mean LOOK HOW CLOSE WE ARE. Spectacular.

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    28 days ago

    Having Andrew as your guide made our entire experience, he was super knowledgeable and had us laughing the entire time!

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    The tour was epic and the driver Carlos is knowledgeable and funny. Go if you're ever in Catalina Island.

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    Catalina Expeditions Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Catalina Expeditions

    Is it better to book bison tour in the morning or afternoon?

    Thanks for your inquiry! The Bison Expedition is great any time of day! Mornings tend to be a bit chillier on the island, so please plan accordingly.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Catalina Expeditions

    East End Tour Guide: Charles Me and the wife took the east end tour with Charles as our guide.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Catalina Island

    Catalina Island

    4.6(730 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    On a one day visit to Catalina Island, there is so much to do, see and eat…read more To start, rent a golf cart or wear good walking shoes because this port is not too big for tourist exploration. There is also a "Circuit" ride share that will take you around the island for $2 per person. Coming in by tender from a cruise ship is great. The docking area is in town and so close to everything. I exited the tender and walked along the waterfront where I passed a few children's playgrounds with a pirate theme. Then on to where the golf carts are rented. I walked to the pier (Green Pier) where there are bathrooms and many small shops all hoping for the tourist business. They carry the typical port souvenirs. After a long walk on this short pier I got to the end where there is many people fishing with poles and the little set ups they will sell you for a few dollars and the bait too. There are plenty of benches to sit and watch the boat come in and out of the harbour. There is a small beach area that has lots of pretty colored little rocks along the shoreline. The walk to the round Casino Building is pretty much the end of the road before a mountainside resort. I passed by some waterfront restaurants that were even crowded on a cloudy day. My walk back to the tender was quick and the ride back to the cruise ship was also pretty nice and calm.

    Catalina island interior is the best place to experience nature without having to travel far. We…read morehave toured the interior quite a few times. We booked a tour once to see bisons but didn't get to see animals cause it was raining. The tours we went by ourselves were much better! We saw many wild animals including bisons! The interior vineyard is so beautiful. The trips were very enjoyable but a bit of too much sun for me. Wear sunscreen and a hat to prevent sun exposure! Keep in mind that it takes 20 years to be able to buy a real car on island. Only one golf cart is allowed per residence. There are no spaces for real cars and more golf carts in Avalon. Our family and friends live here so they have a real car to take us to interiors. Yes you will need a real car to do that! Avalon has enough restaurants and bars to hang out. Casino is also a movie theater to show older movies on certain weekend evenings. They offer tours of this historic casino too. They host NYE gala every year. Beach club is great for summer times. Museum is small but still worth taking a tour. Too bad the spa has closed down, we used to go there all the time. This island has so much to offer. It's the best place for a lot of fun just a ferry ride away!

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    Catalina Island
    Catalina Island
    Catalina Island

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    Catalina Tours - Scenic vista stopping point.

    Catalina Tours

    4.6(147 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    My boyfriend and I went for a quick day trip to spend some time at the island since he had never…read morebeen. We booked the 50 minute Discover Avalon tour and we loved it! It was the perfect amount of time to get acquainted will a little bit of Avalon and hear a few fun facts. Our tour guide was Laura and she was so funny and knowledgeable! I highly recommend the tour. A small warning, the tour bus is open air and a bit bumpy, so if you have injuries or issues with rough rides, I would maybe reach out to Discover Avalon and double check if you are good to tour with them :)

    We took the bison expedition tour yesterday, Saturday, February 21, and had the absolute best…read moreexperience thanks to our guide, Andrew. From the moment we started, he was funny, warm, and incredibly engaging, while also being super knowledgeable and educational about the island and wildlife. What really stood out was how perfectly Andrew balanced the experience -- he knew exactly when to share great stories and facts, and when to let us simply soak in the sights, sounds, and beauty around us. He never rushed us and made sure we had plenty of opportunities for amazing photos and genuine wildlife sightings. We truly felt like we were seeing the island at its best. The tour felt safe, well-supported, and action-packed, without ever feeling overwhelming. You could tell Andrew genuinely cared about everyone having a great time and walking away with memorable moments. We also saw a fox and bison! Highly, highly recommend this tour -- and if you're lucky enough to get Andrew as your guide, you're in for a treat. Side note: when guides and drivers go above and beyond like this, please remember to tip. Andrew, if you ever read this -- thank you for such a fantastic experience. Hope your boss sees this and rewards you big time!

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    Catalina Tours
    Catalina Tours
    Catalina Tours - Catalina fox who was surprisingly interested in us...

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    Catalina fox who was surprisingly interested in us...

    Cape Canyon Tour - Cape Canyon Tour

    Cape Canyon Tour

    4.7(14 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Thank you Charles! This was Disney's Indiana Jones ride on a 2 hour steroid trip?! Learned so…read moremuch, loved the lunch break, the views?!? Worth every penny. You'll need a jacket and your camera, for sure, since you're in for some epic landscapes! You'll also likely get great wildlife sightings. We had two fox and one buffalo! Runs on time so feel secure in scheduling things around this tour. Overall, one-of-a-kind experience that is top-notch!

    SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…read more Indiana Jones here I come!!!!!!!!! Loved it! This was my first time off roading and it was another best things I ever did check mark on my bucket list! During this 4 1/2 hour tour you really get to see what the whole island has to offer. We sat in the far back seats which gave to the whole feeling of a bumby off roading experience!!! Some of the Things I saw: American Bald Eagle & Nest Wild Buffalo Airport in the Sky Scenic Beaches Middle Range The cutest Fox Camping Sites and Walking Trails *Beautiful Views like no other A sneak Peek at the Zipline Eco Tour Soon to Be Winery Our tour guide KIM has given the tours for the past 6 years. I think it is a great idea to reach the top at the airport and take a break... walk around and enjoy their great food. It was great the cater to the weather by offering blankets in front of your seats and a complimentary free water. A++++ You wont be disappointed on this one! + She gives you a discount card for Avalon Grille at the end of the tour or 15% off next tour

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    Cape Canyon Tour - Cape Canyon Tour

    Cape Canyon Tour

    Cape Canyon Tour
    Cape Canyon Tour - Shark Harbor ... see the fin?! :)

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    Shark Harbor ... see the fin?! :)

    Glass Bottom Boat Tour

    Glass Bottom Boat Tour

    3.5(49 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    My kids love aquariums...and they love boats....so this seemed like a win-win, and it sooooo was!…read more We met the boat at the end of a small pier. The boat had an enclosed bench-seating area with all seats facing the center of the boat, which was made of glass and several feet below where we all sat. I was amazed by how clear the water was-even right next to shore. As we moved, our guide shared some local history and information about the marine life below us. We paused at several fish sanctuary locations, and the guide threw fish food into the water to attract more fish than we could count. The tour, which lasted an hour, was a delight for the whole family. All of the kids and kids at heart were thrilled by the many types of fish we saw. We were even fortunate enough to see a diving cormorant! The waves were not too bad on the day I went...even though my stomach usually gets queasy on smaller boats, this one didn't bother me. Maybe I was too entranced by the fish to notice. If I ever visit Catalina again and have time to do it, I'll be more than happy to go on this tour again. It was just long enough, and you never know what you'll see down there! Note--there is a public restroom at the beginning of the pier, but much of it was out of order, leading to some pretty long lines. Make sure you go before you get on the boat-no restrooms on board.

    I'm reviewing the Nautilus semisubmersible tour. First the good: You will see lots of fish…read moreparticularly opaleye, sea bass, and garibaldi, which is great if you like shooting videos with your cell phone. The not so good: It is a confined space and tends to be noisy inside. Also, why they charge for feeding the fish escapes me. They didn't used to do that!

    Photos
    Glass Bottom Boat Tour
    Glass Bottom Boat Tour - The boat and our guide.

    The boat and our guide.

    Glass Bottom Boat Tour - This is mostly what you'll see.

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    This is mostly what you'll see.

    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center - Inside view

    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center

    4.1(56 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Located at the entrance of the Green Pleasure Pier on Catalina Island, the visitor center was…read moremanned by two friendly guides during our day visit to the island. Since we were part of the 4,000 people coming onshore from the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, it was quite busy inside (assuming for the whole day) but the ladies seemed to be handling it with no problem. There are self-serve pamphlets for all the various attractions on the island. My brother's particular question was around getting info for the jet ski tour from Long Beach to Catalina. The guide explained that those originate from Long Beach, and that the jet ski tour guides here in Avalon provide one hour tours around the island. That was enough info to point us in the right direction, and we continued on our way.

    The worst visitor center I've ever entered in all my travels across the USA and even…read moreinternationally! This place should be embarrassed! Shortly after arriving on Catalina island, we discovered that we somehow didn't have a ticket back to the mainland. After trying to book a ticket back, and finding nothing but fully booked Catalina Express boats, I came to the visitor center assuming they would be able to help with methods of transportation off this island and back to the mainland. The answer I got from the woman working behind the counter was, "Here's a brochure. Scan the QR code. You can contact Catalina Express or take the helicopter, but I don't know their availability." What kind of answer is that?!?!?!?! Here, scan a QR code? Seriously?????? I even asked this lady about the airport and she couldn't even tell me when they close for the day. Couldn't even tell me if there were private planes or private jets that fly in and out of this airport. How can you be working at a visitor center and not be able to answer basic questions about the airport? I needed to get off this island! I was ready to pay $1,000 or more to get home at the end of the night. This lady was completely incompetent and offered zero help and clearly demonstrated she had zero knowledge. After leaving the visitor center, I had to call a family member on the mainland and have them help find me a ride off this island! Within 1 hour, I had a ticket on the 7:45 PM Catalina Express. So here I am sitting at home, back on the mainland writing this review.....no thanks to anyone on this island, especially nobody from the visitor center! ZERO stars!

    Photos
    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center
    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center - Interior

    Interior

    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center - Brochures to the left

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    Brochures to the left

    Catalina Expeditions - tours - Updated May 2026

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