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    Catalina Island

    4.6 (730 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Services - Catalina Island

    Venue rental

    Catalina Island Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Catalina Island

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lizzie B.

    I finally made it to Catalina Island. Definitely a place to visit and see, especially if you live in Southern California. I was surprised at how busy and crowded it was on the island. Maybe it was because I came on a weekend when the weather was warm? There were lots of island tours available, however everything required booking in advance. There were lost of restaurants and bars. A majority of them, bar and grill type of restaurants. There were also lots of souvenir shops. I took the bison tour and it showed you what the rest of the island was like. Unless you take a tour that takes you outside of the Avalon harbor area, you wouldn't know what the rest of the island was really like. Overall, I had a good time, but once you've walked the main drag, you've pretty much seen it.

    Tour hummer
    Ben A.

    Bison tour was fun and very cool! Carlos was our guide and he was beyond amazing! So fun, I informative, and genuinely kind! Saw a couple of bison, enjoyed some stunning views, and had an absolute blast! Highly recommend

    Travis P.

    I ended up doing two tours through Catalina Island Company. I booked the Bison Expedition online and also the Undersea Sub Expedition in person using 10% discount from the Bison Tour. Here are my thoughts on both. Bison Expedition - Carlos was our driver and he was so enthusiastic and fun. What a great driver, he really knew how to push the vehicle to the max and we felt safe with him. It felt like a roller coaster and we loved the views that Carlos took us to. Sadly, we did not see any bison on our expedition but I guess it is what it is. Thank you Carlos for taking care of us and teaching us about the history of Avalon. It was like $110 per person, which I feel like is worth if you actually see Bison. If you don't they I feel it's not worth it but we already knew that it's possible you might not see any. Undersea Sub Expedition - They took us around the harbor and we got to see a lot of different fishes as well as see the seaweed forest. It was a cool 45 minute experience and is worth checking out if you don't want to scuba and want to see the marine life. For $50 per person, the experience is okay. If you've never done a submersible experience it's cool to checkout otherwise it's probably on pair with any other submersible experience as other places. Overall, good experiences with this tour company and employees seem to enjoy their job + are very knowledgeable.

    Fishies
    Elisa G.

    All these fish are making me HUNGRY for sushi!! Rich was a very entertaining host and he made us very comfortable in and out of the submarine. The fish food is $20 on top of the price of admission. It's a great experience. I would highly recommend. It's very crowded so go during the week.

    Rachel H.

    Such an amazing experience! Cindy Lowe, our tour guide, was so knowledgeable about the island and its history, while cracking some hilarious dad jokes and providing a fun off roading experience. We were debating this excursion as it seemed a bit pricey at first, but it was worth every penny.

    Enjoying the ocean.
    Shellee J.

    Fabulous day kayaking and snorkeling (my first time snorkeling)!! Shoutout to our fabulous, badass guide, Kaitlyn, with Santa Catalina Island Company /Willow Cove Expedition.

    Devon F.

    We went on the Bison tour with Cindy Lowe as our tour guide. She was fantastic- funny, informative, and entertaining. The ride was in a Hummer and it was a pretty comfy ride. Some of it was very bumpy but that was kind of fun. We saw great views and learned about the history and agriculture of the island and saw a few bison too!

    Mike Bison
    Brian B.

    Amazing time with Bear on the bison expedition. Not only was he knowledgeable with every part of the island he also was professional and told amazing facts we never knew. He introduced us to Mike bison we went to the airport in the sky and saw the planes take off at a safe distance. Thank you again Bear to the best adventure tour guide on the island!

    Kelly S.

    Our absolute favorite experience in Catalina. We went on the Bison tour led by Cindy Lowe. She was the cutest, most amazing tour guide. You are very lucky to have such an amazing lady to work for you. She was extremely knowledgeable about the island and it's history. We could not have asked for a better person to guide us. She deserves a raise and recognition. Funny thing is, when I got home, a friend asked about Catalina and told him we went on the tour. He mentioned that he had went too and their guide was the cutest Lil lady that took them. Come to find out, they had her too and had the same amazing experience as us. Thank you Cindy, we'll definitely be back...because of you!!! She's also an amazing singer.

    Christina G.

    Our first time visiting the island and we wanted to do something adventurous and new for us. We booked the kayaking tour and it was amazing! Our tour guide Donald was wonderful. Definitely recommend. The scenery is beautiful and learning about the history and eco system on the island and around us while kayaking was great!

    Bison tour
    Corinne D.

    Amazing Bison tour! We had a blast and our tour guide Cindy was awesome! Her personality is what made this trip totally worth it. We couldn't stop laughing and she even sang us a Dean Martin song. The off roading portion was so much fun and the bison we saw were unreal! We only saw 2 but they were well worth it. The fox was adorable as well. Totally worth the money!

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - Catalina Island

    Who can help to process a refund? Carnival cruise just notified me that we are no longer going to catalina due to an evacuation warning.

    Thanks for your inquiry! Please email centralreservations@scico.com for assistance.

    Reservations details how to get tickets for boat and tour reservations for the paid package?

    You can call them, very helpful on the phone

    Where do you check in for the Ridgetop Eco tour?

    The TOUR PLAZA... If you're standing in front of the Green Pleasure Pier you walk away from it down Catalina Av, one block and on your right hand side you'll see a parking… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Catalina Island

    Cindy Lowe was great and so funny I truly enjoyed the tour of the island along with her great stories.

    Mentioned in 113 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Catalina Expeditions

    Catalina Expeditions

    (231 reviews)

    Our driver only really stayed on narrow bumpy roads with heavy brush on the sides. No way a bison…read morewould be there! No real visit to open land, where we might actually see some bison! The hummer ride was wildly violent. We were warned, however I really did not appreciate our guide (Wendy) constantly joking about driving over the cliff, crashing...while holding the wheel with only one hand. This actually greatly upset me. The only thing that saved this tour was the magnificent views.

    I'll be honest, I was a little nervous at first. The group before us came back and a woman jumped…read moreoff the hummer looking totally frazzled, yelling "WARN THEM!!" which....yeah, not exactly comforting. So if you're on the fence or feeling anxious, this review is for you. We had Andrew as our guide and he was awesome. Before we even got on the open air hummer, he was very upfront that the ride would be bumpy and gave solid advice on where to sit if heights make you uneasy. That actually made me more nervous at first, but it turned out to be totally fine. The hummer never gets that close to the cliff edge, and it always felt controlled and safe. The views are unreal!!!!!! seriously breathtaking. We were lucky enough to see 2 bison, 2 Catalina foxes, 2 does, and a young buck. The tour before us saw zero bison, so we were thrilled. We even got to see them up close, which was incredible. As for the ride itself, I didn't find it nearly as bumpy as people make it sound. There were a few spots where the height felt a little sketchy, but in a "whoa" way, not a "nope, I regret everything" way. All in all, I'd absolutely recommend this tour. Don't let dramatic exit speeches scare you off, you'll be glad you did it. There's blankets available on the hummer in case you get chilly. Tips: - bring cash. TIP YOUR DRIVER!!!! - secure your hat and hair, so hat doesn't go flying off

    Catalina Tours - Scenic vista stopping point.

    Catalina Tours

    (147 reviews)

    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!

    Cape Canyon Tour - Cape Canyon Tour

    Cape Canyon Tour

    (14 reviews)

    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

    Glass Bottom Boat Tour

    Glass Bottom Boat Tour

    (49 reviews)

    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!

    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center - Inside view

    Love Catalina Island Visitor Center

    (56 reviews)

    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!

    Catalina Island - tours - Updated May 2026

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