There are two main places to snorkel on Catalina, here, and Casino Point…read more Lover's Cove is a lot calmer and peaceful compared to Casino Point. The first time we came to Catalina, we came to Lover's Cove per brother's recommendation who had lived on Catalina for a summer. We really enjoyed our time! It was the end of October, and the water was surprisingly on the warmer side (though still cold after being in it for awhile...), and we even saw a sea turtle! I guess that is fairly uncommon.. my brother said the waters must have been especially warmer that year. There are a lot of fish here, lovely orange Garibaldi, and some other guys! You don't have to swim too far out to see them, which is nice for me because I don't really like swimming. I know how to swim, but once it starts to get deep (there's a part that kind of drops off), I start to get nervous. It's right in this area where you can see the fish, so I swim around, see the fish, and then swim back to where I can put my feet down and feel solid ground again. The second time we came back to Catalina for hubby's bday, in June. We wanted to see the second snorkeling spot. Casino Point is crazy (to me) .. it's just behind the Casino, there's asphalt, and then a bunch of stairs. I literally set up my beach chair on the asphalt, and watched my husband descend the stairs, and there were a bunch of snorkelers who looked seasoned, and people in actual dive gear. The ocean this time (end of June) was very choppy and freezing cold as well. The stairs were all wet from the waves crashing against it. I was afraid my hubby would get swept away! He claims to have been fine, but it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. He said it was pretty awesome, in that you're pretty much right there, with all the fish, almost instantly. I was not confident enough to get into the water here, plus, freezing cold okay? So we head back to Lover's Cove. I get enough guts to gradually acclimate to the freezing (to me) cold water, and plunge my head under to see the fish. Yay, fish! And then after doing that a couple more times, the fish to cold ratio started to balance out and I was starting to get really cold.. so we got out. It is indeed rocky (though they are round rocks), so bring water shoes if you have them or plan to get a deep tissue massage! We set out our chairs which we borrowed from our hotel on the rocks, so that was nice to have a place to sit versus last time when we put the towel on the rocks and could feel the rocks through the towel. Really love how this place is easy access to nature's lovely creatures, even for a rather out of shape person like me who does not enjoy swimming!

Spent an hour snorkeling here on a cloudy day (water was warm low 70s early September due to recent…read moreEl Nino). Water was clear, LOTS of fish, and uncrowded. The current and waves may get a tiny bit strong near the rocky shore but nothing dangerous. Do need to be aware of the boats like the yellow submarine that traverses the cove, and stay away. There are kelp beds but well below the surface.

I had had such a great day trip to Avalon, Catalina Island. While on the beach with my daughter…read moreand grand kids we made a quick stop to The Beach Stand and rented everything we needed to make the fun times begin! We had our comfortable beach chairs, umbrella and most important, the tubes! Before we went to went to The Beach Stand the kids were having fun but for some reason once they got their tubes they started having a great time! I highly recommend renting from The Beach Stand. The staff is wonderful and the prices are fair and they will even place your umbrella in the sand for you and they have this special way of securing the pole so you don't have to worry about it being blown away if the wind. I highly recommend The Beach Stand. It is so easy, everyone has fun and it sure beats lugging everything from the mainland!

We are long time residents and love renting from here! Beats lugging beach equipment everyday!!!…read moreHighly recommend!

Highly recommend the tour to Frog Rock. Dario was an amazing tour guide and truly patient and…read moreinformative with all of our questions. This place knows their stuff and Dario is an incredible asset to this team.

Solid crew and a great experience all around. We rented…read morekayaks here during the off-season, which we really appreciated -- not every place stays open, and the water was absolutely beautiful. The team was chill in the best possible way: efficient, relaxed, and clearly experienced. They got us in the water quickly, gave clear instructions, and were right there when we returned. No stress, just a smooth, well-run operation that lets you enjoy Catalina the way it's meant to be enjoyed.

My husband, his family, and I went on a sunset sail and we recommend it. It was such a wonderful…read moreexperience. We got to see dolphins hopefully you get lucky too! Rafael and his assistant Stephanie have the best personality and such a good vibe. They allowed us to bring food and drinks. They also gave us snacks and drink on board. Totally recommend taking this excursion with your significant other or family.

We had an absolutely fantastic time on our private sailboat tour. Our captain was Rafael. He was…read morevery knowledgeable and friendly. They take very good care of their sailboat. It was very clean and comfortable. A few good tips are do not wear black sold shoes that could scuff the boat dress in layers maximum guest occupancy on board is six and the two seats single seats behind the captain on the left and right side are fantastic. We had a light snack and some fantastic mimosas and beer. Our light snack consisted of truffle chips and Clementine oranges. But I believe this may differ, depending upon seasonality. We saw sea lions and several different attractions along the coast of Catalina. We grabbed their business card and would definitely book this tour again.

Very under utilized Zayaks are a HIT! Great for Lover's Cove if you have little ones, don't want to…read morehave to work the whole time you're in the water, etc. My 4 and 6 year old loved them, got to feed the fish (sometimes in the direction of mom and dad - yikes!), and can watch perfectly through the glass cutout. Easy walk pulling the Zayaks to Lover's Cove via the supplied dollies. $20 each for 90 min is a smoking deal! Bring frozen peas and you're all set.

Excellent service, clean equipment and very reasonably priced. My sons loved the zayak sea sleds…read more We saw so many beautiful fish at Lovers Cove. Definitely an experience not to be missed! We went back again last week and I'm so glad; we had such a blast on the zayaks with the fish!! We rented 6 sets of gear and they gave us free fish food- the fish were incredible it's one of the best snorkel adventures I've ever experienced. I highly recommend this for your Catalina experience. The staff is so friendly & helpful.

This is the most upscale condo at Catalina Island. The entire place is immaculate and very…read morefunctional because it has two levels. All of the bedrooms are upstairs and the living room, dining room, outdoor patio and kitchen are on the first floor. There were four of us and we decided to spring for a few extra dollars for the Penthouse condo because it has two Master Bedroom suites that are really on an equal par. Both have king size beds, new bathrooms and Smart TV's with incredible picture quality and full internet! Who has that at home? The houses, hotels and condos in Catalina have always been a little funky but the Penthouse condo is in a league of its own. The hot tub on the rear deck is brand new and clean and it was all ours. To sip our wine and look at the stars from the Jacuzzi in total privacy was quite the experience. The rear deck is secluded as there are no other buildings above or around it. You are truly alone and during the day it gets quite warm so I laid out for a total body sun tan and it was worth it. The front patio off of the living room has a great view of the ocean and Casino so staying in this place was definitely special. The front patio has outdoor seating, so we also enjoyed ourselves with the view of the lights at night too. The second master bedroom suite also has a view from the bed and has its own balcony upstairs. Even the third bedroom with the twin beds has a view. There was plenty of space in the living room, dining area and kitchen and it was fully appointed with all of the pots, pans and dishes that were of high quality. It was like living in a fully equipped home. The one thing I loved was having a washer and dryer right in the unit. We felt so lucky to experience this place and for the price, it was a bargain. I hope the owners keep the rent where it is because we are coming back. We stayed in those small hotel rooms in the past and all I can say is "never again". We walked to town in the evenings, it was a couple of blocks, ate dinner and returned to our elegant condo. It was a little sad to leave because we had such a great time. We took care of this place just like it was ours.

From the owner: The Penthouse is in the largest multilevel Condo, in the City of Avalon, on Catalina Island. It is…read morelocated just 3 blocks from the town and beach. Newly renovated. No other Catalina Island hotel has a private Jacuzzi, Internet and a Baby Grand Piano! Great for the romantic couple or a total of 8 people for weekly rentals. The Penthouse condo has views of the mountains and ocean by day and the lights of the City of Avalon by night. Most condos can be quite warm during the summer. This condo rental is unique because it has windows on all four sides of the unit allowing breezes to gently flow through the entire unit.

Hummer Tour Review If you only see Avalon, you've only…read moreexperienced one chapter of Catalina. I think Catalina is one of those places where many visitors never venture beyond Avalon and the beaches. This tour completely broadened my perspective. Our guide, Christian, made the experience exceptional. I love when someone's personal experience complements their professional expertise. He lived off the grid in Hawaii for nearly a decade, and it showed. His knowledge of the terrain, wildlife, plants, and even how to read the landscape came from years of living it, not just memorizing facts. Experience is the best tour guide, and Christian has a lifetime of it. As a hiking enthusiast, the mountains were calling my name. Exploring Catalina's rugged backcountry was the highlight of my visit. My teenager was fascinated to discover the island is so much more than beaches, and my mom found the peacefulness that only nature can provide. Three generations experienced the same tour in completely different ways, and each of us walked away impressed. The 2 1/2-hour tour takes place in an open-air Hummer-style vehicle that seats about nine people. We never got out during the tour, but honestly, I never felt like I was missing anything. The off-roading was exciting, and the time flew by because Christian kept us engaged from beginning to end. We learned so much, not only about the island's wildlife and landscape, but also about the people who have shaped Catalina's history. And that no so good takeover. I won't spoil the stories because discovering them yourself is part of what makes this tour so memorable. Booking was incredibly easy. Reservations were completed online, payment was seamless with a credit card, and when you arrive you'll simply check in and sign a waiver before heading out. The tour starts with a digital reservation but ends with memories that can't be captured on a screen. TIPS: I wouldn't wear white because of the dust. I recommend closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, and comfortable clothing. In July 2026, it was about 75 degrees. The moving vehicle creates plenty of airflow, so a light layer is optional but not necessary. For families, I think children who are naturally curious, enjoy wildlife, and like learning will have a wonderful time. Because it's a small group, it's best suited for kids who enjoy listening, asking questions, and exploring. We saw plentiful bison, horses, and even a dwarf mule. The only thing I didn't get to see was the Airport in the Sky, which had been on my wish list, because our group chose to spend more time exploring the backcountry and searching for wildlife. I have no regrets. The views are so spectacular that words become inefficient. Some places simply have to be experienced. This is one of those tours that might sound ordinary when you read the description, but it's anything but. If you only see Avalon, you've only experienced one chapter of the island. The wild heart of Catalina is waiting just beyond the pavement, and this tour is the best way to discover. BTW, the conservancy offers guided hiking tours and backpacking tours. In October you can have the chance to hike the Trans Catalina Trail 35 miles. Are you in?

My wife and I visited this place when we were on a cruise in May. We stopped in on our way back to…read morethe tender. There are many informative books and maps. They also have a lot of merchandise for sale. Some of the proceeds help support the conservancy and other parks. My wife liked a book on bison that she saw. Unfortunately we didn't purchase it and later she regretted doing so. I contacted the conservancy and spoke to Yesi. She was very nice and helped me to purchase and mail the book to our address. My wife was very surprised and happy to receive it. Yesi took ownership of the purchase and followed through to make it happen. If you are on a cruise or just taking the ferry over to the island, stop by the Catalina Conservancy. It's only a couple of blocks from the docks where the tenders are. Not only is it a worthy cause to support, but they have some great information and merchandise. You won't be disappointed.

The woman working here was so kind and knowledgeable. She was patient with my questions as I had…read morenever snorkeled before and gave good advice on where to go and if we needed wetsuits or not. I would highly recommend!

Wish they have reply to our email or text to at least let us know when we tried to find out if…read morethere is a class available or not. Walked up there and they actually know who we were that texted and emailed them. I guess if they do not have a class that day then they would just ignore you.

So this place isn't found on the web as easily as "Parasailing Catalina" or "Snorkeling…read moreCatalina"...but it is right next to them on the same 'main street'. You can't miss them, they have a counter pulled out to the boardwalk and you rent JET SKIS from them. I have never had so much fun before! We road together for an hour. It was $120. The hour was enough time for both of us to take turns. I loved doing donuts and also going full throttle then hitting a wave...getting splashed in the face and letting go of the throttle, which is equivalent to slamming on your breaks. This nearly bucked us off the darn thing. Jet Skiing is pretty rad. The guy was really cool. I love speed! BONUS: While going away from shore we saw a WHOLE SCHOOL of dolphins, swimming and playing. It was surreal...

If I could give a negative start I would. On Sunday 7-20-20 I almost lost my life out in the water…read moreand no one came looking for me. I got lost and panicked as this was my very first time ever trying something like new. They new they had 6 jet skies out there and only saw 5 out there for a very long time yet no one thought maybe we should look for me or who ever was lost. I was terrified and traumatized! I was shaken and it was made to be light to them. I will never do this ever again and I recommend you know if something happens do not depend on them to help.

Hands down the best first experience of Catalina & Jeanie made it all that much better! She was…read moreable to accommodate us to & from the boat as we arrive with a warm welcome. She did above and beyond to make sure I had the best time in Catalina by recommending us spots to visit! This was a surprise birthday that my partner had arranged for me & Jeanie was the superhero in kindly obliging to my partner's kinds request of going above & beyond in decorating the air bnb before our arrival which made it extra special!!! Highly recommend staying here because it is close to the beach and walking distance to the Vons, restaurants, & bars. The air bnb itself was very clean, had plenty of shower towels as well as beach towels. Also was equipped with AC!

My dad, my sister, and I have been staying at Jeanie's place every summer for almost 5 years now!…read moreIt's such a comfortable apartment that's a quick walk away from the beach. She is so accommodating too! We get new beach towels every morning, a freshly made bed, and a ride to and from the ferry! My family absolutely adores staying at her units. We've never stayed with anybody else in Avalon!! We'll be back next summer :))