Which Big Island Helicopter Tour?

So you have decided you want to experience a helicopter trip on the Big Island of Hawaii, but are not sure which tour to choose. We offer several flights with a few departure locations. We will explain the options so that you can make the right choice for you.

Big Island has two heliports and they are located on opposite sides of the island from each other. The Waikoloa heliport is on the Kona side where most visitors stay while the Hilo heliport is over two hours away from Kona closer to the Volcanoes National Park.

On the Hilo side we offer a 50 minute Circle of Fire tour which covers Kilauea and the Volcano National Park along with views of beautiful black sand beaches and waterfalls. If you choose to fly out of Hilo, we recommend making a day of it and visiting the scenic sites and Volcanoes National Park on that side of the island. You can choose an Eco Star or A Star aircraft. They are both built with the guests viewing experience in mind, but the Eco Star has 23% more space inside and has bigger windows.

If you are staying on the Kona side and did not plan on making the 2.5 hour drive to Hilo, there are some great options out of Waikoloa heliport. The most popular helicopter tour is the 2 hour Big Island Spectacular. Not only do you experience the Volcanoes National Park, you get the added bonus of viewing the dramatic sea cliffs and towering waterfalls of the Kohala and Hamakua coastlines. This tour is more expensive than the Circle of Fire, but the extra flight time and convenient location are well worth it.

Another great option departing from Waikoloa is the 50 minute Kohala Coastline. The Kohala Coastline boasts some of Hawaii’s tallest sea cliffs and waterfalls and is absolutely stunning. Take it a step further with the Waterfalls of Kohala Private Landing where you experience the added bonus of landing at a remote and private waterfall.

Conclusion: Taking a helicopter tour on the Big Island of Hawaii can be a once in a lifetime experience. All of the flights are amazing. If you are still having trouble choosing the right tour for you, give us a call. We can help you decide and point you in the right direction.