We booked several items through the conservancy. First I will let you know that we are members,…read moreand it has some nice benefits. One day we went to the botanical gardens and the Wrigley Memorial. With the level of membership we have, we saved ourselves the entrance fee to the botanical gardens and memorial and our shuttle up to the gardens was complimentary. If you aren't a member the fees are nominal and it helps the conservancy. John was our driver and he gave some great information and history of the island on our way up and back. We didn't know what to expect from the botanical gardens and we loved it. We walked up to the memorial which was really interesting. There are plaques that explain the history of the memorial to Wrigley. As we walked back down we took all the various trails throughout the garden and some some interesting plants, insects and ended at the little amphitheater where we watched a couple of the films they have on the island and the gardens. I have read that others found the gardens to be boring and they only spent a short time. Everyone is different, and the time you spend is dependent on your interests. We took the 10:15 am shuttle and came back at 11:45 am. We found that to be plenty of time, but not too much time, it worked out well for us. It was fun! We also booked our shuttle up to the Airport in the Sky for a hike and lunch through the conservancy. It was great. Our driver was so friendly and explained so much about Catalina's backcountry.

Christian was an amazing tour guide! We had a great time exploring the island and learned an…read moreincredible amount about the local flora and fauna. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Catalina Island...and ask for Christian!

It is on the Pebbly Beach road and a short distance east from the city, walkable distance to this…read morecove from town and even shorter from the ferry landing dock. There isn't much of a beach between the road and the water here, where the rocky shoreline is mostly a snorkeling destination.

Great place to swim not too much of crowd ! Would come back again for another trip i always tell…read morepeople this spot

Jess and Aaron are incredible humans. If you are planning a trip to Catalina to stay anywhere…read moreoutside the civilization of Avalon you need to know about them and I'd recommend utilizing their services. They take packs and humans to each campground along TCT. We learned about them as we were dangerously hot near mile 9 of TCT and found they generously provided ice water. Our crew of 7 were so grateful. The next day after a long hike into little harbor we decided we would like to get our packs taken for us so that we could continue to hike the TCT but without the toll of a 25lb pack on our backs. Jess was so kind and helpful. Immediately booking the transaction taking our bags from LH to Parsons. Sadly shortly after my daughter started throwing up and we decided we needed to cut our trip short. I asked Jess for help on recommendations how to get a ride out. She quickly made adjustments to her schedule and said "we can take you". Aaron was there early to ensure we had plenty of time to get on the boat while providing tour level information about the island during the drive. We can't say thank you enough! These people are gold and backpacking Catalina, while beautiful, is no joke. I wish I knew about their service before starting TCT. I highly recommend connecting with them to help you with your trip.

We were a small group hiking the TCT, we at were just finishing one of the longer climbs on Day 1…read moreheading to Blackjack and right when we were at our hottest we found an oasis in the form of a cooler full of ice cold water left for any hiker who needed it. While we were cooling down a gentleman (who I never caught the name of) came by to restock it. Apparently Catalina Backcountry provides his water for free for any hikers who need it out of the kindness of their hearts. To top it all off there was a 78 year solo hiker who was having some trouble and Catalina Backcountry helped him out and brought him back to town since he didnt feel like he could make it. If they take care of random strangers like this for free I can only imagine how amazing they would be for their paying customers. If I never need services, they have won me over and will be my first call.

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.

Highly recommend this rental spot. The first time we went my husband and I rented a kayak and…read moresnorkeling gear for two. It was so nice to have four wide hours in which to explore, there was no clock ticking on our rental. we got a nice long paddle in. Snorkel gear is one price for the day. Pitts was enormously helpful as we grilled him with questions about where to go and the best snorkel spots, the staff walked us through everything from loading our boat to putting us out to sea. We followed Pitts' advice and checked out some really amazing coves, we snorkeled with sea lions, saw beautiful fish. We got the boat back early and took the snorkel gear out right in Descanso and saw a world of sea life. Personable crew--we felt like they would have our backs if something came up. Nothing was stressful about the rental which is what you want on vacation.

What a fun experience!…read more This was my first time renting a motorboat and pedal boat from Catalina. The process was smooth and instructions were clear. My friends and I did 1 hour for both activities, but I highly recommend doing 2 hours for the motorboat. For the pedal boat, you're only allowed to stay in the area where all the boats are so if you're looking to go further, rent a kayak or motorboat. You're allowed to go further out with the motorboat and with one hour, we were able to explore a bit of both sides of the island. If you'd like to explore further, definitely add more hours.

Very easy to rent and great prices. We went on labor day and we literally just walked up, paid $25…read morefor 1 hr rental, and hd them store our stuff. Then we walked down and easily got onto the kayak! Life jackets are provided and the location on the pier makes it really easy to access the rest of the kayaking area.

Catalina Outdoor Adventures was the highlight of our trip to Catalina Island thanks to the…read moreextraordinary knowledge and experience of the owner and guide, Scotty. We spent a few days on Catalina Island and during the trip took an island tour with Catalina Outdoor Adventures. The tour took about three hours and was worth every minute and penny spent. We started off in the center of town (Avalon) at the "Tour Plaza", which is very well known by all locals and many travelers alike. Scotty arrived on time and there were the two in my party, a father and his young son and Scotty. We set out on our adventure which took us all over the island including the "Airport in the Sky" where we stopped for a break. We were there for about 15 minutes which was ample time to enjoy a beer, speed shop for a souvenir if wanted and enjoy the massive tile map of the island. The views were incredible from this vantage point. We were so fortunate for Scotty to take us down to the beach where he to time to teach the young son in the group how to skip rocks on the ocean. The water was nice and the setting was incredible. There was a handful of campers there when we were there and it became evident very quickly that this would be an excellent future camping trip destination which by-the-way Scotty / Catalina Outdoor Adventures offers as well. We saw American Bison throughout the guided tour, some within feet of the vehicle and other in the far distance. There were American Bald Eagles, island foxes and huge ground squirrels everywhere. We stopped by an eagle exhibit and was able to see a Golden Eagle and an American Bald Eagle both in separate aviaries due to injuries and being well cared for by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The weather could not have been better during our three-hour adventure and the knowledge and experience of Scotty (along with some side-splitting jokes) made the trip all the more worthwhile. If you're ever on Santa Catalina Island, do yourself a great favor and reward yourself and those with you to an adventure with Scotty. The guy is top-notch and you will certainly not be disappointed. We will most definitely do this trip again or one of his weekend camping adventures. Thanks again Scotty and Catalina Outdoor Adventures for helping to create a lifelong memory that I will never forget!!

Don't even bother looking anywhere else. Scotty is a great guide and good guy. Sightseeing or…read morepaddle boarding or surfing or scuba -- you name it he can make it happen and show you Catalina like only a local can. Book him soon before he leaves for his cross USA charity bike ride for the needs of Puerto Rican's after the hurricane. Scotty should be the Mayor of Avalon! Thanks and see you next time.

The Buena Vista Point Scenic Overlook is an absolutely beautiful overlook of Avalon and Catalina…read moreisland! We took a ride circuit vehicle to this overlook and got dropped off here so we could walk around and really soak in the spectacular views! This is a great spot to get way to see the city, mountains and ocean, while then taking a walk down to the city afterwards. We really enjoyed this overlook and would highly recommend to anyone visiting the island - it did not disappoint!

I have been to Santa Catalina Island, Avalon, California three times. There isn't a Yelp page…read morelisting, so I am creating it here. Lots of reviews and photos on Google. I think more tourists need to know about this gorgeous Buena Vista Point Scenic Outlook on Wrigley Rd. This is the spot for hikers and hilltop scenic view lovers. It's located on the far upper left side if you're looking at the island with the casino on the far right. Yes, you would have to hike up some streets/hills, passing by the lower terrace/middle terrace/upper terrace paths, but it's fairly easy to get on foot if you want to walk/hike 25-30 minutes from the boat docks to get up here. You will pass by a street that goes to Mt Ada/breakfast/brunch hotel area. Keep going up following Wrigley Rd. There's some history if you research William Wrigley Jr., popular Wrigley gum entrepreneur. Rich/wealthy area. Homes costs millions of dollars on this island. Perfect for morning strolls before the hot sun comes out. Saw beautiful townhouses/apartment complexes/church/island homes along the way. You really get the island experience by walking, observing & feeling the nature in person. This is perfect for photographers and adventurers. Highlights recommended. Most tourists would rent carts to drive up here on the slopes, but in my opinion, this is a much easier hike for the average person compared to the other far right side of the island (from cruise ship view) towards Chimes Tower. That hike was much more strenuous and takes a lot longer to achieve. Breathtaking views. It's definitely worth the expedition if you are up for it. If you drive up here, visitors tend to just park near the edges of the roads to stop for photos. It can get busy around here.

If you use the showers make sure you use the newer ones. The old ones didn't even have hot water…read moreand hardly any water comes out. Also you have to download an app and login all your card info. Other than that it's nice and the general store has everything. They have great banana nut ice cream.

We LOVE Two Harbors! What a cool little hide-away! Great…read morefood at the Harbor Reef. The General Store has everything you might need. All the locals we're soooo very nice! Special shout-out to Pam who saved our trip when we lost our Dingy!!! Mahalo & Aloha to everyone at the Isthmas!!!

Captain John was amazing, he knew all the spots. We caught our limit of rockfish within an hour. We…read morewent back to dock to drop someone off because of motion sickness. John was super accommodating and he managed to acquire live squid for us to use for halibut/bass fishing. We caught 3 massive halibut, White Sea bass(wasn't a keeper), and white fish (also threw back). John cleaned our fish and bagged them for us. Amazing trip will definitely come back for yellow tail!

Our tour was AMAZING. Captain promised no dolphins because of how strong the current was but we got…read moreto see many. I pointed out that I saw something in the distance and without a doubt started driving that way.