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.

Awesome crew, super easy check in process and very helpful and friendly staff on the boat. Easy…read moreexplanations and instructions. Impressed with the instant photo upload to your cellphone as well. Didn't have to wait to get pictures emailed or downloaded.

I purchased the first trip of the day for $49. The experience was great, the view was beautiful,…read moreand the music was blasting. It was great until the rope ripped that was connecting the boat to the parasail for the group after me. The winds picked up, it started pouring rain, and as they were driving the boat in the water, we watched the parasail start descending straight down into the water. I was having a conversation with another passenger right before it happened, wondering what the spot was on the rope. We thought it was a marker for the captain's knowledge, clearly that's where it was ripping. We had to race to the couple and pull them out of the water, thankfully they were not seriously hurt and they offered them a refund but after witnessing that, I will never be parasailing again.

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.

Taking a boat tour to see the flying fish of Catalina is a must when visiting the island…read more Afishionados is not only the best pun ever but a great boat your company as my friend and I really enjoyed our evening ride with captain john during my last visit to Catalina. The rides are around $35-40 and the only way to see these famous fish which literally Hop and skip above the waves in the early evening as the sky falls. They do a 50 percent discount on your birthday which I hope to take advantage of soon when I return.

Flying fish tour!!!…read more I was so against doing this at first. My friend talked me into it since our kayaking tour was canceled due to high wind =(. I am so glad we went though. There are two flying fish tours available on the whole island. This one I went on was $45 per person. That's $10 more than the other location. On our tour, we got the chance to see the our flying fish tour and I am sooooo glad we went on this one inside. Our captain was an awesome friendly guy named Lance. He was very knowledgeable and stopped our catamaran at the best places for us to watch the flying fish. They gave us strong flash lights that we can shine into the water to attract and see the fish. We ended up seeing sea lions, various sea creatures and a ton of the fishing fish. We also got to see the beautiful starry sky. It was a lot of fun and I definitely recommend. As for the other tour boat... it was funny seeing them zip quickly by. They don't even stop their tour to let you see the fish. They also didn't give out flash lights. They had a "main" light that would just scan the ocean. It was funny a pretty sight. We bought tickets at the Afishinado store. It was definitely worth the price. We also brought our own flash lights which I recommend.

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.

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.

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.

On a one day visit to Catalina Island, there is so much to do, see and eat…read more To start, rent a golf cart or wear good walking shoes because this port is not too big for tourist exploration. There is also a "Circuit" ride share that will take you around the island for $2 per person. Coming in by tender from a cruise ship is great. The docking area is in town and so close to everything. I exited the tender and walked along the waterfront where I passed a few children's playgrounds with a pirate theme. Then on to where the golf carts are rented. I walked to the pier (Green Pier) where there are bathrooms and many small shops all hoping for the tourist business. They carry the typical port souvenirs. After a long walk on this short pier I got to the end where there is many people fishing with poles and the little set ups they will sell you for a few dollars and the bait too. There are plenty of benches to sit and watch the boat come in and out of the harbour. There is a small beach area that has lots of pretty colored little rocks along the shoreline. The walk to the round Casino Building is pretty much the end of the road before a mountainside resort. I passed by some waterfront restaurants that were even crowded on a cloudy day. My walk back to the tender was quick and the ride back to the cruise ship was also pretty nice and calm.

Most people that come to Avalon stay in Avalon and it is a pleasant place to visit. However, seeing…read morethe rest of Santa Catalina island is also a treat and during my recent 2 day stop, I took the Bison tour offered by Catalina Island Company. This tour cost $110 per adult for a 2 hour inner island exploration in a Hummer that sat about 11 people. They have several of these tours each day and they leave from the parking lot where the city mini golf course is located. It's very easy to find. I bought my ticket the day of the tour but it might make sense to reserve a ticket earlier depending on the season and whether cruise ships are visiting, We left on time and during the tour went from sea level to about 1600 feet above as the island does have small mountains. During the tour, my group saw one bison and two foxes among other wildlife. They can't guarantee that you will see any of the 80 bison that live on the island but the natural beauty of the inner island and the elevation makes the trip worthwhile. Remember that almost all of the island is a protected nature preserve. Our driver and guide, Andrew, was knowledgeable and funny. I recommend taking this tour. You will enjoy it. Finally there are NO restroom stops on the trip. So go before you leave.

I really am just at a complete loss for words. I was lucky enough to be chosen to be the best man…read morefor my best friends wedding and with that came the responsibility of picking a bachelor party experience that would matter and stand out. I didn't want to do the traditional grimy old experience, I wanted something that represented what meant most to my friend. Somehow by the grace of God I stumbled upon Captain Ralphs website through a review I had found in a google search. There was only 2 reviews on yelp from 4 years ago and I wasn't even sure if he was still in business but I decided to give him a call. This past weekend was single handedly 3 of the best days of my entire life as well as everyone in the bachelor party. From the moment we met Captain Ralph at 8am on Friday I knew this trip was going to be different. We all gathered on board and set sail and he had a mandatory meeting where he wanted to specifically ask each of us what he could do to make this a memorable experience. He explained to us about his culture and family and got to know about each of our histories and families as well. This charismatic floating Filipino blended in with my group of friends beyond belief. He was so hilarious and so familiar it felt like we had known him for years. Upon arriving to Catalina, Ralph knew everyone! The harbor patrol, the boat taxis, the local spots and natives, and now us. We had such an incredible time exploring Avalon but truly the best experiences of the weekend were on The Mabuhay. I thought at this point that Ralph was just an extraordinarily hospitable host who knew a lot of people but on day 2 to my surprise, on our way to two harbors he proved to be an exceptional tour guide and just the type of friend who encourages the best out of you. He took us to a fishing spot and we were catching fish like crazy and he was just cheering us on! He then took us to a cliff jumping spot and to a sea cave and again was just rooting us on and taking pictures. This is the type of person you want around. He just makes you feel so welcomed and supported. He taught us how to set up our fishing hooks, how to cut the bait, and beyond that he even cooked our fish! I hate fish but this was one of the best meals I've ever had, and overall the best day of my life and that is saying a lot. We all felt like kids again and I have never laughed as hard as I did this weekend. This experience was life changing. If you like camping, this is for you. If you like adventure, this is for you! If you just like sight seeing and great conversation, this is for you! But if you want to know what it's like to truly bond with the people you love then you need to book this experience with no one other than Captain Ralph. The whole trip I was thinking of who else and when else I could book this experience again, looking for any excuse that I could think of because it was just that great. Thank you so so much brother, you have truly become one of the family! Looking forward to our next expedition, MABUHAYYYY!!

My family and I were lucky to have found the Mabuhay! And Captain Ralph- (we called him Frank-…read morehe-he). We met the crew, Ralph, Veronica, and Patrick in Avalon. They met us at the dock, and we boarded the Mabuhay! and off we went on our weekend grand adventure! We had some serious fishermen in our group, and they were not disappointed, Ralph took us to the fish! We SUP'd and kayaked through caves, snorkeled, and dove for lobster. We had the most fantastic trip, and Ralph and his family were a big part of making it the best time ever! We can't wait to go back again!

We recently took the 50-minute scenic island tour with Catalina Adventure Tours, and overall, it…read morewas a great experience! The tour does an amazing job of hitting the highlights around Avalon, sweeping you up past the historic Catalina Casino, Lover's Cove, and all the way up to the incredible vantage points near Mt. Ada. The time absolutely flew by-the 50 minutes went by so fast because the narration was engaging and the views of the harbor below were stunning. It's a fantastic, quick way to get a layout of the island and soak in some great local history. The only real downside to note is that you aren't able to actually get off the vehicle to stretch your legs or take photos. Every picture has to be snapped directly from your seat in the open-air safari truck.

I usually hand out five-star reviews like candy (go read my mole exterminator review and see!), but…read moreI am breaking protocol because we just had the single most unhinged nautical event in Catalina. We booked tickets for the 4:15 submarine tour with three kids (ages 5, 4, and almost 2). We showed up at 4:09, feeling good, holding wonder in our hearts, and ready to look at some fish. We hang tight at the entry gate for a few minutes, and at 4:13, the "captain" violently emerged from the submarine hatch like he was on the sinking Titanic. He was at a vibrating level-10 panic before his feet even hit the deck. He glared at us and barked, "ARE YOU HERE FOR THE 4:15?!" We said yes. He immediately declared: "YOU'RE NOT ON THIS BOAT!" Before I could even process his immediate rejection, he snatched the paper receipt straight out of my hand and started screaming into the open air: "ARE THERE ANY SEATS?!" He might have been yelling at his coworker, who was an absolute angel trapped in a maritime hostage situation, or he was just screaming into the void. Honestly, 50/50 toss-up. We finally descend into the submarine. Plenty of open seating. Then, at 4:15 on the dot, our friend Vanessa arrived with her family. The captain intercepted her at the hatch and literally yelled "THERE'S NO ROOM!" into her face. Vanessa calmly asked, "Wait, did you overbook?" The captain threw his hands up and yelled that he had "NO IDEA HOW MANY RESERVATIONS THERE ARE!" Vanessa, using logic, held up the glowing confirmation screen and tickets on her smartphone. The captain stared at this modern technology, looked terrified, and screamed: "I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS!" At this point, broken by the sheer reality of a customer with tickets, he relented: "FINE. But you'll all be seated separately!" We all sat together. Zero stars wasn't an option. I don't know who hurt this man, but if your dream is to get verbally assaulted on a dock by a "submarine" captain who is potentially on the comedown of a bender, this is the cruise for you!