One of four green sand beaches in the world! We opted to be driven in the back of a truck by a local guy to the green sand beach. It is 6 miles there and back however it seemed tough to find the right path if you chose to walk it. The green sand was stunning and so cool. It was a little cloudy so it gave a darker shade of the green. All in all, such a cool experience! read more

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Lowkey guys... dont waste ur time here! When you first drive up you are stopped by locals ( not officials/workers... LOCALS) who tell you they will charge you $25 per person to drive you 3 miles to the green sand beach. Theres also no service there so you need cash or a good phone provider. My husband and I decided to do the hike as we are able to & its free! The hike took us about an hour. Thankfully for us it wasnt too hot but i can see how bad it would be if the sun was out. BRING WATER! Once we got to the beach it was very underwhelming! The 'green sand' wasnt even too green. I would say its like dark/camo green. Its really more black than anything. It was honestly very disappointing. Unless you have absolutely nothing to do on the island dont waste your money or time here. read more

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Beautiful coastal 5.6 miles easy hike (round trip, 2.5-3 hours) rewarded with a dip in the most unique beach in the world. Please please prepare for the hike with shoes, shade, sunscreen, hat and water. Masks if you're allergic to dust. Very windy so it feels 3 degrees cooler. Enjoy the beautiful ocean along the way with large waves crashing on to the rocky shore. Every corner is so picturesque as a frame in the museum. If you can avoid the dangerous truck, please help do so yourself preserve the scenery. The water is so warm, the waves are relentless, the sand is so unique, we even saw turtles. Make your way there hiking and enjoy. read more

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This is an amazing spot, beach and hike. **please don't drive or use scammers driving there**. Law says they are only allowed to drive to boat ramp (1/2 mile). But 3 miles to beach. It's a nice scenic hike along coast. Scammers are charging $20 a person and destroying area. Help protect these amazing places. #DLNR Beach is beautiful location is amazing. Great place to park and then hike to. read more

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There was an overcast and rain the hole time. When we got down to the beach.After about an hour through some gnarly off roading and mud. (Would strongly not recommend) the local do a little hustle to take you down in their beat up trucks 25 bucks a head. Or you can walk it But once again lava rocks and mud 1.2 mile walk. Not that green of a beach. read more

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One of the most unique beaches in the world, making the trek to the green sand beach in Maui is a must-do in my opinion. It's about a 5 mile hike round trip with gorgeous views of the ocean. You will have to climb down a rickety ladder to get to the beach, but it looks worse than it really is. We were rewarded with a spotting of a rare Hawaiian Monk Seal! The beach is an olive gold color, which is from the type of minerals that broke down from a volcanic lava flow into this cove. One my highlights from Hawaii. If you have the opportunity, please go! read more

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If you're debating about doing this: do it. And hike, don't take the "shuttle" as those who live here share it's hurting the land, and having seen it firsthand, we have to agree. The hike is 2.7 miles each way, so yes, it's long. But it's not hard. Expect windy conditions, sun (no shade) and rocky terrain so wear sturdy shoes. Our family did the hike without issues (2 adults, 3 kids ages 17, 15, 10). Yes we were tired afterwards and our shoes were covered in sand from the wind, but I'd do it again on a heartbeat. The green sand at the end is amazing! Definitely green, we were not expecting it to be so green. We spent about an hour at the beach. Round trip took us 3 hours almost exactly. read more

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Wow this is my first time at this beach. This beach is so pretty but so hard to get to, there need to have a sufficient 4x4 car to get there, or hike close to three miles or pay to sit on the back of a truck for $20 bucks a person. People that hike here seem to have the best view. However with driving two hours from Hilo then drive another two hours back, hiking for two hour total round trip and seeing the beach a sufficient time was not our option. The green sand beach here is one of four beach in the world with green sand. It was pretty. The waves are strong. The ocean waves will come all the way inside the beach area so don't be too comfortable sitting on a blanket in the sand, recommend watching the wave to know when to move. We went to this place today and it was not crowded, which is great. There is two ladders to get down to the beach, one ladder is longer but no missing steps, the other is shorter with missing steps. read more

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Unique Green sand beach .. 30 minute truck ride over rough terrain to then have a 150 ft Down stairs and sloped path.. moderate -extreme intensity activity. For the right to say you have been to a green sand beach.. my rec is skipping and just buy the postcard.. it turned out to be a 3 hour deviation off our southern route to volcano nat park.. read more

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What an adventure. The trailhead was easy to find. There are locals there offering a "shuttle" to the beach for $20. Otherwise its a 3 mile hike to the beach- yes it's 3 miles (not the 2 miles the book about the island tells you) We trusted the book and decided to hike in and although its fairly flat over lava rock and dirt paths, it's in full sun and it gets hot. So bring plenty of water - we did not. Once there you climb down a makeshift ladder to the beach. It's beautiful and when you realize it's made of Peridot it's even more mind blowing! Not great for swimming, the waves can be strong and we ended up pulling an older woman from the water after a wave knocked her over and started dragging her out. We ended up taking the "Shuttle" back- (you're riding in the back of a rusted up truck) ...and it was THE BEST! Not only did we not have to trek back in the heat - it was so fun! They drive slow and know what they're doing but still an adventure! Try it. I DO NOT recommend driving even a 4 wheel drive rental to the beach . The ruts are deep and it you take the wrong path, and there are many- your screwed. Pay the $20 and leave it to the locals to get you back safely with a whole lot of fun! This is not a place you want to get stuck! read more

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Green Sands Beach is one of only four green sand beaches in the world, so it's a must-see! I'll admit, I imagined a brighter green, but the sand is more of a khaki color. Still, it's totally worth the trip and drive. There are a three ways to get there: 1. Hike: It's a 6-mile roundtrip that's hot, dusty, and has no shade. Make sure you are prepared with lots of water if you go with this option! 2. Drive: If you're thinking of taking a rental car, be prepared for a seriously bumpy ride. Unless you're comfortable with off-roading, this might not be the best choice. 3. Local Shuttle: We opted for the shuttle at $20 roundtrip, paid by Venmo. Riding in the back of a truck was such a fun way to kick off the adventure, and the driver stays with your group, so you're covered for the return. Choose whichever fits your vacation vibe and go! read more

Green Sand Beach - Standing in the back of the local shuttle....before the bumpiness. - Beaches Near Me

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This is an awesome experience if you visit the Big Island. One of four green sand beaches in the world, so it is bragging rights. Don't believe the drivers are scammers, that is total baloney. They are islanders trying to make a living. And feed their families just like all of us. We rode with Dangerous Don (or Dan, he answers to both...it's a joke). He's not dangerous, he a great person and his name is Don. He has padded seating, in his truck but expect the ride will be bumpy regardless of the cushions. I can appreciate the people who want to walk, but if you are not in great shape, or lazy like me well, take a ride of $20 round trip. Don waits at the beach until everyone is ready to go back. The roads, well those were created when the area was a military base, so the damage was done long ago with tanks. So everyone needs to make their own decisions basted on their convictions. You can walk it and get a ride back for $15. The beach is green/olive and it is cool to see. The entry to the beach is steep, totally doable if you take your time. Unless you are a strong swimmer I would not recommend going swimming. This is a bucket list item, nature is not perfect, enjoy it for what it is. read more

Green Sand Beach - Green Sand Beach Hawaii - Beaches Near Me

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This place is a must see! I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. My friends and I decided to do the hike which wasn't too bad at all. A couple of small bills but a lot of flat land. When you get to the green sand beach, you have to navigate some rocks down but it's so worth it. read more

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We knew going into this that it would be close to a 3 mile each way hike/walk to the Green Sand Beach, what we did not know is that we would be walking through a desert with no shade and the finest orange dirt the whole time. I got sick afterwards from inhaling so much dirt, my black sneakers were orange by the end of it. Thankfully we did have plenty of water and hats. Make sure you wear hats or even bring an umbrella because there is NO shade this entire walk. There is a bit of a breeze thankfully because you are near the ocean. If you did not want to walk you can opt to pay a local $20 per person to drive you out there about 40 minute drive each way. The "roads" to the beach are not paved and very uneven so it will be a very bumpy drive. An area of concern that we saw with one of the drivers, loaded up about 8 or 10 young adults into the bed of the truck, they all had to stand and the bed of the truck was rigged with added handle bars but very easily people could of fallen out which would have been a great issue/lawsuit. The Green Sand beach is not as green as you would picture it. It is lightly green. The cove it is in was pretty and people were swimming. We read online that the waves were choppy and not save to swim, the waves at the time we were there appeared calmer - at least a lot calmer than when we were swimming at the Black Sand Beach in Maui. We were not overly impressed with the beach, we saw it, stayed for 10 minutes and began the miserable 2.75 mile walk back. Overall we did not have fun and did not think it was worth our time or effort. It took most of our day getting here, its about 3 hours to Kona and 2 to Hilo and then the walk on top. read more

Green Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me

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It was quite a chore to actually get here. 90 minutes drive and then paid a driver in a pick up truck to take us to the actual beach. $20/person round trip and he waited until the front and back of the pick up were totally full before making the trip. The path there was really wild like serious 4x4 off roading. Saw quite a few people doing it by foot and didn't look fun. The driver said it is best to get there at 10am to see the sparkles from the sand and beach. The sun was going down and we had to be quick. All in all it was worth the trip and glad we got to see it. read more

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I thought American's were lazy but, after reading some of these reviews, American's are apparently all encased in Matrix-like-cocoons, immobile, subsisting on intravenous soylent, and feeding energy into our robot overlords. "Brutal" hike? Seriously? You can't walk 3 miles with no elevation gain? Our species is DOOMED. Folks, you're on vacation, you're eating a lot, the least you can do is walk and enjoy some beautiful ocean views. Or is the Hawaiian weather too much? High of 80, low of 60 everyday can be pretty brutal! Anyway, the sand here might not be as green as you're expecting, and it's notoriously difficult to photograph. BUT, it's well worth it. It's a hidden little beach nook that appears into view out of seemingly nowhere. It feels like you're on your own private island, with a bunch of friendly strangers. Now that I think of it, I'm grateful that there isn't a paved road here. The place would probably be overrun by careless tourists. The 4X4 road* makes for a great deterrent! Swimming is great, as is the body-surfing. Too choppy for snorkeling, leave the gear in the car. I've you're the daring type, there are some interesting rocks to scramble on. *Seriously, this road is rough. Unless you have BOTH high clearance AND 4WD, do not attempt. You'll owe the rental car agency some money after taking your vehicle up this axel-scraper. read more

Great views! I highly recommend paying a local to drive you out there. Definitely not a walk for elderly, children, or people with health issues. Very hot, long walk (local said an hour + walk out there). If you have a local drive you it is an experience.. and once out there great view, once in a lifetime sand sight. There was also monk seals out there when we went. Stay a good distance away; they can be aggressive read more

This beach is one of the most unique beaches in the world. Being one of two of the only green sand beaches in the US the trek to get here is the reason it makes this adventure worthy. How to get here - Driving instructions Let's talk about how to get here when driving. This exclusive beach is far away from any city. It is one of the most southern beaches in Hawaii. Luckily, you can easily find the parking lot on Google maps. Whilst driving down a few country roads you will see some handmade signs that help point you in the right direction and reassure you that Google maps isn't just trying to lead you to your death. The parking lot itself isn't very large and only has a few parts of it that look like it might've had pavement at one time. You will often find a snack tent so you can get food and drinks in this parking lot before you start your hike to the beach. In this parking lot you will also find vehicle shuttles that will take you over the rough terrain to the beach directly but what fun is that. There are porter potties here and it will be the only bathroom you'll find in a huge radius. Bring hand sanitizer and grit to use them. The Hike - 2+ miles of EPIC ADVENTURE (one way) If you are a lover of scenic hikes with mild to moderate difficulty this is the hike for you. If you are not that and don't hike very often it's okay this hike is still for you. However, there are a few things you should know before you take this hike on. First, it will be windy. As you are hiking next to the coast with sandy plains and rocky lava coastline know you will be pelted with both sand and minute pieces of rock from time to time. Bring sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes, a mask to cover your face, and a snug hat to cover your brow. Secondly, know that you will get dirty. If the accumulation of dirt was an achievement your reward is to receive a whole layer of red clay when you finish your hike. It is a badge to be worn with pride and literally something you'll take back home with you. That shower is going to feel so good when you get home. Lastly, though the hike isn't difficult it is a bit long. The wind will be pushing you sideways and it can take up to 40 minutes to get to the beach, one way. Be mindful of this so you can plan your timing accordingly. You go too late and you'll only be able to enjoy the actual green sand beach for less than an hour. The Beach - Olive Green and your photos are horrible forms of evidence As you can see in most photos the sand at the green beach is hard to tell. Photos do no justice to the pretty, almost mute green colors of the sand. It is soft and leave unique footprints as you walk through it. The walls are high on both sides so to get down to the beach itself you'll have to traverse an almost 80 degree decline. There is one rickety staircase right at the start of the descent. Otherwise you're plopping down the different layers of sand and lava stone. The water down here isn't tranquil but it's not violent either. A good amount of shade is given naturally by the cliff side when after mid day so you don't have to bring an umbrella with you if you decide to spend the afternoon here. Otherwise, grab your camera, your best poses, and take those IG shots. Conclusion - A Hearty Conquest Overall, the beauty of this beach is the journey to get here and back. With good company you'll share lots of great stories, complaints about the sand in your eyes, and mutual awe once you get to the beach. Alone you'll get to truly experience the splendor of Hawaii's raw beauty and a hike with just the right amount of difficulty. Be prepared for the elements, use the bathroom before arriving, and time your adventure accordingly. You're going to have a blast. read more

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3 mile hike to the beach, but the locals will not let you drive to the beach. They charge $20 per person to give you a ride. They let you off at the beach for only one hour. THIS IS A SCAM AND ILLEGAL!! It is a waste of time read more

I used to live in Kona And recently returned for a visit with friends and family. We decided to walk down to green sand beach for revisit. The locals who are there offering pickup truck rides (now $20 p/p Cash in the back bed of an old truck!) may try to Intimidate you to let them drive you down saying it's a 2 1/2 hour walk each way, which is totally false for a somewhat healthy person. It is however almost 3 miles each way, so if you're not used to walking over very sandy and semi-rough terrain, that could pose an issue. Bring good walking shoes that you don't mind getting trashed and plenty of water. The sand is like baby powder fine and is tan/red in color (So it gets into everything) that is until you get down to the green sand beach itself. The walk is beautiful along the lava rock beach line. The beach is not large so don't large so don't expect something several hundred yards long. The water is a bit rough as well so also be careful if with little ones as there is no medical assistance out there. All in all it's a must see, so 4 stars for that, as I am told there are only 2 beaches like this in the world. read more

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Not sure how to rate this as we weren't able to get to the beach part because of some confusing instructions. We did get to the parking lot and found some people charging $20 per person for a trip down the hill for the last 6 miles (found out it was 2-3). Apparently, there's *sometimes* people that do it for donation but not here. Seemed a bit sketchy and the other reviews showed similar experiences. But, we elected not to pay $20 per person to drive down to people we didn't know and seemingly gouging based on the other reviews (boo!) We did drive down a side road and were able to see some cliff divers and snorkelers which was neat. It was more of a "camping" group of locals so we didn't disturb them, but they were nice and had no problems with us being there. read more

Such an amazing experience!! So happy we took the day to see this! I did need a little help figuring out how to maneuver down the side and thanks to the retired Navy guy and his walking stick!! One of the most beautiful places I have visited! read more

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Really interesting and unique beach. The hike will be difficult if you have any mobility problems. The terrain is uneven, rocky, and gets dusty. Plan to give yourself 45-60 minutes to hike in and out, bring water, and wear proper shoes. Getting down to the beach there are some narrow steps. The first time I went I did the walk. The coast close to the beach has a lot of lava rock impregnated with olivine. The second time I was with my elderly mother so we paid $20 pp to get a ride to and from the beach. read more

update as of december 29, 2023 we drove what seemed like forever to this beach. at the end, there is a 3 MILE hike down the beach. there are men with trucks at the end charging $20 a person to drive you down there. they claim you can't drive your vehicle down there. we ended up turning around and taking another road to explore the "most southern part of the US." it was beautiful and we watched fisherman bring up traps for the night. read more

For those visiting, given the limited amount of time on island, I do not recommend. Hawaii is full of gorgeous unique beaches with dramatic backdrops, without such a harsh & unforgiving journey. It took us an hour & 20 minutes each way... for measure we were speed walking, with proper footwear, & both of us hike weekly, have lived in Hawaii over a decade, and are 'young.' It was a cooler winter day & the sun was pretty ruthless. Green sounds cool but the beach looks brown. It is extremely windy and will not be a relaxing beach day... you will get sand blasted constantly. We saw people attempting this in heels... with small children... or requiring a cane to walk. Please do yourself a favor, and come prepared or just don't. Locals do offer rides $20 round trip. I would not attempt this in a rental... some of the roads were a 3 inch wide path with 3-5 feet drop offs on either side due to erosion etc. You have been warned. For those familiar with the island (was our 4th trip & we live on a neighbor island with easy beach days constantly) & wanting something different to do - it is an 'adventure' but certainly a tiring trip. If you want a beach vacay experience... Kona side, Oahu, Kauai, or Maui are the best with plentiful options that feel like paradise all around. Cheers read more

I know this beach is one of the few green sand beaches in the world, but I personally did not think it was that amazing upon arrival, or maybe I was just sick of the hike/walk over. The sand wasn't as green as I thought it was- more like a camouflage green mixed with a lot of golden brown. There are signs that say cars are not allowed down to the beach and I'm not sure who put it there, because there are locals waiting by the entrance who are very persistent with driving visitors up to the beach. You can either pay them $20 per person round trip, or walk for an hour each way along dry, dusty, barren land with very high winds. I opted to walk, and every time the locals passed by in their pickup truck, they would ask again if we needed a ride and offer discounted prices. The truck ride seemed bumpy and if I remember correctly, there may have been a car dump yard in the front parking lot because I saw a lot of beaten up trucks with nobody in them and I went very early in the morning when only one or two other "tourist rental cars" were parked. The hike isn't bad in terms of elevation and terrain; it was more like just a long walk but you get sick of the scenery really quick. If hiking: -Do NOT wear sandals. Sturdy shoes highly recommended. -Recommended: sunglasses/glasses and a handkerchief to block out all the sand and dust. It feels like a desert! -You still need to wear sunscreen! -Tie your hair up if you have long hair read more

Such a cool beach! Not so much for the sand (which was cool, yes), but really for the look of the whole thing. We didn't feel comfortable paying $20 for a round-trip ride in the back of some random person's pick up truck where we would stand with a bunch of potentially diseased strangers and hope we aren't in some kind of a wreck to save a couple of hours and live as underachievers who didn't exceed their step goals by far miss some great views of the ocean. But if you're able-bodied, pressed for time, and like to live dangerously, by all means, go with the "shuttle." But you'll have to wait around until enough people want to go back. This could be 15 minutes, or could be closer to an hour, we were told. So we hoofed it. You need to be quite able-bodied to do the hike to the beach, and to get down to the beach, you have to take a ladder. We had a good swim in the water. We spent possibly an hour there, swimming, photographing, and walking around at the beach and above it. Pay attention to where you turn--signage is pretty poor. We walked a little past the turn to the parking lot on our way back. read more

Rented a 4x4 for the weekend so we could check out places inaccessible by regular vehicles. Drove up to parking lot just as a truck full of people were leaving. We got behind truck and followed at a distance out to the beach parking area. Driver of truck confronted us about following her told us we have to pay $20 for following. When we refused she said we make come back to flat tires. When we were leaving another driver told us not to follow him. They've completely lost all aloha while trying to scam unsuspecting tourists. We went out there with my 12 year old daughter and to be threatened like that was completely out of line. We live on another island and this has been the worst experience we have ever had. The beach itself was crowded and windy. Not worth the hassle. read more

The ride to get to the beach is not for the faintest of heart it's a topsy turny up and down 4 wheeler ride that shouldn't be attempted without the help of the locals , but once you get to the beach the view is just beyond amazing From what're we're told there are only 2 green sand beach in the world so we attempted to get there ourselves I would recommend getting there early during the sunlight and getting out before dark if you don't you will regret it Word of advice a tow truck there could cost couple thousand dollars so be very careful with your rental cars read more

Green Sand Beach - Green Sand - Beaches Near Me

I'd read quite a bit about the Green Sand Beach before my girlfriend and I headed down for the hike. To give you a reference point, we came from King's Land in Waikoloa and the drive was about 2 hours and 45 minutes. However, 15 minutes was sitting still in traffic because they were repaving a road and the guys doing the construction didn't know how to communicate and let cars through. So, plan on a drive that's between 2-1/2 and 3 hours if you're coming from that area. We parked, loaded up, and stepped off. I'd read that the hike was between 2 and 2-1/4 miles. When speaking with the locals, they advised it was probably closer in the 3-1/2 mile range. Make sure you bring water. I had two hydroflasks full of water for my girlfriend and me but, with the long hike and wind, if you don't bring enough fluids you're going to be hurting. Once we got out there, we climbed down a metal ladder and then weaved our way through the wind-tunneled side of the hill to get to the beach. The waves were pretty strong that day. I thought it was pretty damned cool...the beach isn't an emerald color (I know some reviews said they were disappointed by the green hue), but it looked awesome to me. There's a dark green color mixed with black from the lava rocks that have hit the water when they're still hot and disintegrated. We were there for about an hour, then elected to get a ride back from the locals. It was $10/person. Not a smooth ride at all, but we were back in about 15 minutes (the hike out took us probably 1-1/2 hours, but we're in decent shape). I'd definitely come back to the beach again in the future. I thought it was a great time. Also, as a side note, as you're leaving you can make a left at the fork in the road (or as you're arriving, make a right) at the sign that points to "Green Sand Beach parking." This will take you to another small area you can park. If you walk just a minute or two, you'll be at the cliffs overlooking the ocean. You can actually cliff jump off a platform there (it's green)...there's a ladder right next to the platform to climb out of the water. There's also a cave just to the north of the platform that you can actually cave dive in, just make sure to check the tide so you don't die on the rocks. And, if you hike down about five minutes, you'll actually be at the southernmost tip of the United States. Definitely worth take a picture!! read more

Green Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Personally I did not find this trip worthwhile once the travel and hike are factored in. From Kona, it's ~ a three hour drive roundtrip. Once parked, the hike is six miles roundtrip, across a HOT, DRY and DUSTY wasteland. It's not a seaside stroll along the ocean, it's more like a desert. The hike takes ~ 50 minutes each direction. Yes you can access the beach in a 4WD, but be prepared for a super gnarly off road drive with huge ruts. I saw some stock Jeep Wranglers out there, but the drive still looked a little dicey. It's a true off-roading experience, not for timid drivers. There are some local dudes in the parking lot who offer to shuttle you to and from the beach for $20 a person roundtrip, standing up in the back of their truck. Having done the hike and seen the roads, I'd say the shuttle is worth it. The beach itself was pretty, but not extraordinary. The sand is an olive greenish/gold tone, mixed with black sand. The water was very rough the day we went and not really safe to swim in. From the photos of others, the water is calmer and suitable for swimming on some days. Tips: if you plan to hike, go on a cloudy day or close to sunrise. There is no shade on the hike. Pack twice as much water as you think you'll need and have more drinks and snacks back at your car. You're out in the middle of nowhere and you'll be hot, hungry, and thirsty when you're done. Wear hiking shoes, no flip flops, due to the rocky terrain and the fact that the descent to the beach is very steep. read more

We took the hour and a half drive to the parking lot for Green Sand Beach. On the way we stopped at a farm for macadamia nuts and honey. That's my last review...At the parking lot, you have a choice to do the three mile hike or pay $10 per person each way to get a ride on a truck. We decided to do the hike which was very scenic, but not easy because we were going against strong winds. The walk was truly worth the effort. Not only did we get fabulous pictures, but it was good exercise. I was disappointed that the sand was not really green. The ocean however was an emerald turquoise. They should have called it emerald waters beach. The water was rough and riding the waves was fun. All in all, we had a spectacular day! read more

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It's about a 3 miles hike to the greensand's beach from the parking lot. There are local guides there who offer a ride to and from for $20/person. They have the heavy duty 4x4 trucks to make through the rough terrain. It was definitely worth the effort as we hiked our way there and back. read more

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A MUST SEE!!!! A word of caution for when you're trying to decide whether to pay the locals $20 to give you a ride or if you should just take your rental down the dirt road down to the beach area. THE ROADS DOWN TO THE BEACH ARE NO JOKE- DO NOT TAKE YOUR RENTAL DOWN THERE UNLESS IT IS TRULY CAPABLE OF OFFROADING AND IS LIFTED/ HIGH OFF THE GROUND. **We saw an escalade rental nearly rip its bumper off trying to get over a ditch plus 3 other cars that broke down because they couldn't handle the road. We had a Jeep Compas and there is NO WAY that our lil SUV would've made it. That said, do not leave the big island without going here. We drove down to the south of the island to find this beach- it was my favorite drive of our trip. There were horses and cattle for miles, it was truly breathtaking. when you pass the farm like area, follow the signs to find the parking lot to get down to the green sand beach. you can walk the trail (about an hour each way), or you can pay a local $20 to hitch a ride. The guys walked down and us girls opted to pay the $20 each. it was a beautiful ride and was actually fun because it is mostly off-roading... When we got to the end, we got out of the truck and had to scale down the side of the mountain to the beach. It wasn't that intense, my mom and the 3-year-old did it. The current is really strong here but we had a BLAST! the driver gave us a time to be back up to the top. Just FYI - the guys opted to join us for the ride back up instead of walking. read more

It is worth the hike very amazing views. - locals will try to intimate you into paying $20 each to ride in the back of a truck. - You can drive further in you must have a vehicle capable of 4x4 you must know how to drive on trails. Not recommended for small cars and sedans. - if you choose to take the roughly 3mile hike you will need adequate shoes, water , sunglasses and time. - on average it takes a moderately healthy person about 15mins to walk a mile so 45mins - 1hr for this hike. - if you choose to hike and have time you can get some amazing photos. - keep an eye out for land markers as you hike in it will make it easier to hike out. It is possible to pass up the exit and end up about a mile away. - once again this hike is so worth it. read more

absolutely gorgeous and a must see if visiting the big island in HI (1 of 4 in the world).

Beware! When you arrive at the parking lot you will be greeted by locals who will offer you a round trip ride to the beach for $20 in the back of the pickup. Beach is VERY far from the parking area. The drive to the beach requires a 4x4 vehicle and experience driving on soft sand and rough terrain. If you decide to take the $20 pickup ride to the beach, plan to be put in the back of a truck with approximately 8-10 other people. The drive took about 30 min and was bumpy! Once you arrive at the beach (assuming you paid the $20 for the local ride) expect to stay about 45-60 min before the truck loads passengers for the return ride. Getting to the beach from the parking area where either your own 4x4 parks or the truck drops you off is a steep walk down soft slippery sand to the actual beach. Beach wasn't very pretty and the current was strong. There is also the option of walking to the beach from the parking lot. People were saying it's about 2.5-3 miles from the parking lot to the beach. Personally, I say save your money and go to a prettier beach that's much easier to access. If you decide to one take the truck to the beach, the price is $15/per person for the trip to the beach. read more

Be prepared!! 6mile trip to actual beach round trip!!!! Locals charge $15 a person to shuttle out there in their cars and it's very unsafe feeling bc it's rocky and unpaved. Don't try driving unless you have an off-road type car and know how to drive it, also there are many different paths so it seems easy to get lost. Also the hike down to the beach is verrrrrrry steep, I was 6 months pregnant and did it but it was hard and scary to go down and back up. I would not recommend if you have trouble walking, small children or are pregnant and unfit. It was defiantly an adventure, I don't think I'd go back again. Once is enough. I suggest going to the black sand beach 20 mins up the road. Much nicer to relax at and enjoy the water read more

Green Sand Beach - How to get back up - Beaches Near Me

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Sensational Swimming! If you are crazy enough jump into the water at the Fishing platforms at South Point...it is a lot of fun. This was the first spot we went swimming on the way up to the volcano. If you have swimming glasses on you can see a few fish in the area. The Green Beach is a hard find so ask a lot of people how to get there. read more

Green Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Wow, I am not sure that what we saw was worth what we had to tolerate to get there. First off all advertising makes it sound like such an easy walk "across pasture land" Well I have attached pictures of the numerous "trails to follow". Not easy navigation! Secondly, windy I get but sand blasted is not something anyone would like. Attached a picture of the sand blowing like in the desert. And thirdly, " Green Sands Beach" is NOT as it looks in ANY MAGAZINE!! It sparkles with a slight green hue but really unimpressive. And when we finally arrive in the deep cove thinking you are wind and sand protected, WRONG!! The sand blasting is so much worse to the point no one in our party could enjoy at all. As my husband said, the juice is so not worth the squeeze!! read more

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