Big Island of Hawaii Travel Planner
Active volcanoes, snowcapped summits and coffee farms — all on one island. The Big Island of Hawaii packs more landscapes into a single vacation than anywhere in the islands.
The Big Island is Hawaii at its most dramatic: glowing lava and craters at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the sunny Kona coast for snorkeling and coffee, Hilo’s waterfalls and rainforest, Mauna Kea’s world-class stargazing, and black- and green-sand beaches. A travel specialist matches the right side of the island, resorts and tours.
Why Visit the Big Island?
Active volcanoes
Kilauea and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Every landscape
Rainforest, desert, beaches and snow-capped peaks.
Kona & the coast
Snorkeling, manta rays and Kona coffee.
Mauna Kea
Some of the best stargazing on Earth.
Big Island Highlights
Volcanoes National Park
Craters, lava tubes and steam vents.
Kona Coast
Beaches, coffee farms and manta-ray night dives.
Hilo & the East Side
Waterfalls, gardens and rainforest.
Mauna Kea & beaches
Stargazing and black/green-sand shores.
Popular Big Island Ideas
- Volcanoes National Park & lava viewing
- Kona snorkeling & coffee-farm tours
- Mauna Kea summit & stargazing
- Waterfalls & Hilo’s rainforest
- Black- & green-sand beaches
Ready to plan your Big Island trip?
Tell us your dates and interests and we’ll match the right resorts and tours. Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from a Hawaii travel specialist.
Get up to 5 Big Island trip quotes!Why Smart Traveler?
Smart Traveler is a service of the travel division of Best of the USA, Inc. Entrust your trip to seasoned professionals specializing in cruises, tours, vacation packages, all-inclusive resorts and international airfares. With over 50,000 travel advisors in our growing database, we’re sure to have the experts right for your travel needs!
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Insider access to rates and partnerships unavailable to the average traveler.
Big Island Hawaii — Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do I need on the Big Island?
Four to five days lets you see the volcanoes, the Kona coast and Hilo without rushing; a week to add Mauna Kea and beaches.
Kona or Hilo side?
Kona (west) is sunny and beachy with most resorts; Hilo (east) is lush and rainy with waterfalls. Many visitors do both.
Can you see lava on the Big Island?
It depends on current volcanic activity at Kilauea — a specialist advises on what’s viewable during your dates.
How do I get a quote?
Request up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from a Hawaii travel specialist and compare resorts, tours and dates.