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.

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

Aaron and Jess were life savers! When we realized we had the wrong size tent at BlackJack, Aaron…read morenot only lent us a larger tent, but set it up with 2 cots, and a cooler of ice cold water that was waiting for us at Little Harbor. When we arrived, my wife had 9 blisters so there was no way we were going to make it to 2 harbors the next day. Aaron saved the day by giving us a ride the next morning! He made the whole experience a joy despite all of the other mishaps! They provide a great service!!

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.

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.

**RACIST ESTABLISHMENT - AVOID GOING HERE IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR**…read more I am writing this to warn other people of color about the unacceptable treatment we experienced here when my sister and I rented a pedal boat. After our hour was up and we pulled into the dock, the male staff member on the dock looked directly at us and yelled "chinita" several times to make sure we heard him. To make matters worse, when telling me to drop off my life jacket, he slammed his hand against the bin and aggressively yelled at me to throw it in there. Shouting racial descriptors repeatedly at paying customers and acting physically aggressive is threatening and completely unacceptable. It made us feel incredibly unsafe and we don't intend to bring our business here again. I'd look into alternative rental options on the island instead like Wet Spot Rentals by the boat terminal, unless you appreciate being harassed for being a person of color.

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!!!

Thank you Catalina Coastal Tours for an amazing day of fishing!! Captain Aiden of the RedRum had us…read moreon the fish in no time and the bites never stopped. We caught over twenty fish between the six of us during the four-hour charter, including four beautiful yellow tail. We are already planning our next trip over. Thank you for providing a memorable experience for my family!

Flaked on a fishing charter last minute. Disappointed kids. Did not offer any other availability…read more Wouldn't count on them for a day out fishing.