Reviewed by: Erin
In addition to a wonderful manta ray sighting experience, we were also treated to a spinner dolphin show on the way. The crew were friendly, knowledgeable and great with our 7-year old. We really appreciated the smaller boat for a more intimate and personal experience. The hot chocolate on the way back was a really nice touch! Would absolutely recommend Iruka and we would go again with them next time we are back in Hawaii.
Just be patient with the sightings! We didn't get much activity with the mantas until right at the end and it was totally worth it.
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2022/12/23 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/15 |
Reviewed by: Fiona
We had hoped the weather would clear, but, unfortunately, despite our tour guide’s best efforts to find some clearing, we were beaten by the weather. Our guide, Hunter, was extremely knowledgeable and tried really hard to wait for some sign of being able to observe anything, but had to cancel with no luck. I can imagine it would have been spectacular to see and hear the wealth of information he would have been able to provide if we could have seen it.
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Packages: | From Hilo - Rainbow Falls, Kaumana Caves, Solar Viewing & Stargazing with Dinner |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2022/12/20 |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/18 |
Reviewed by: Deborah
You should definitely do this tour. This is the best stargazing tour! I was trying to book the other tours but because of our location it would of required us to drive across the island to meet up and then gather with others to ride together to stargaze. It was like a 7 or 8 hour tour. I chose this tour because we could pick a time slot and just meet and stargaze and the tour was only 2 hours AND with a photo. On our way it was pouring rain. We thought the tour would be canceled. But James sent us a new location. There was no rain and perfect place to be in awe of all of the stars we would be able to see. His knowledge of astronomy and his professional photography made the experience more memorable. I didn't think that much of the photo we would receive. But after getting the photo was was in awe!! We was not only able to learn so much about astronomy, but we was able to have the best souvenir of our experience!
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Packages: | Stargazing Tour - Starting times between 07:00 PM - 11:30 PM |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/12/17 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/21 |
Reviewed by: Kristen
Food was great especially the pork and salmon. Show was nice, small if you’ve been to some on the other islands. But overall a nice evening.
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Packages: | Royal Kona Resort - Standard Luau Package |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2022/12/15 |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/13 |
Reviewed by: Andrew
The team did a great job with everything, including the introduction to the horses, how to ride, the tour itself, all of the above.
It was a beautiful activity for riders of all levels of experience. Would highly recommend to all interested.
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Packages: | 1:00 PM Afternoon Ride |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/12/07 |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/05 |
Reviewed by: Erika & Nate
Wow! This tour was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Our tour guide, Bryce, was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever met. He knew so much of the history and culture of Hawaii and told us so many in depth stories with a lot of detail. He also has extensive knowledge in almost every topic known to man and can easily talk about any topic for hours—literally! This tour was super long but so worth it. Bryce kept us entertained the whole time while driving from place to place. The volcano was spectacular to see in both the day and the night! In the day, you get to enjoy the vastness of the volcano and see all the steam vents. In the night—wow nothing will ever beat that experience—the most stars you will ever see in the night sky and the lava flow was unreal! So unbelievably cool. This really was the best tour we have ever been on—amazing sights, fun times, and extremely informative! Highly recommend!
Aloha Erika and Nate,
Thanks for your review, we're so glad you enjoyed it! Bryce is a wealth of information for sure, and we're lucky to have him as a guide. You're timing was great for the eruption, we're so glad you were able to see it live! We hope your time on the island was amazing!
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/12/06 |
Reviewed by: Laura J
I was lucky to be in a small group for this tour so the guide was very flexible with the schedule and we had enough time to enjoy each place. Our guide was a very knowledgeable local man who knows a lot about Hawaiian history and how the different spots we visited have changed through time.
All the stops we made at the volcano's park were totally worth it but my favorite spot in this tour was the Akaka Falls, what a gorgeous place!!!
Mahalo for spending the day with us Laura! Glad you enjoyed your visit...and yes Akaka Falls is a magical place!
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Packages: | Volcano Adventure Tour |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2022/12/06 |
Activity Date: | 2022/12/02 |
Reviewed by: RnJ
We had a great time! The whole tour was packed with well thought out stops.
Our guide Chris was a wealth of information on the history and culture of the island. We could not have asked for a better guide. He was engaging, attentive and professional. He never tired of the countless questions we had.
The coffee farm was the perfect setting for a quick lunch. The views were absolutely beautiful!
The dinner was nice and cozy and gave us a chance to get to know our fellow riders.
The night sky was incredible! Living in a city, we forget what the night sky really looks like beyond the skyscrapers and light pollution. Thank you for a great and for us, a very memorable tour!
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Packages: | Deluxe Volcano Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/12/05 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/13 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Liked the smaller boat vibe! we saw a lot of manta rays
Aloha Kara,
We are so happy the crew was able to provide a memorable experience for your group, and all returning customers receive a 20% repeater discount. We hope to see you again!
Mahalo,
Team Iruka Hawaii
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/24 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/14 |
Reviewed by: Kara
You see everything on this tour!!! Delicious coffee!!
Thank you Kara! We hope you had a wonderful experience and that your time on the island was amazing!
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Packages: | Standard Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/21 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/13 |
Reviewed by: Kaz
ドライブでは見られないキラウェアの溶岩や海岸の絶壁にある滝等、圧巻の景色を見ることができました。バイリンガルのパイロット兼ガイドの知識も豊富で想定以上に楽しむことができました。
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Packages: | 滝への着陸付きプラン |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/21 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/19 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Double win when you get to ride horses and hit a waterfall!
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Packages: | 9:00 AM Morning Ride |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2022/11/21 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/15 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Crystal clear waters, fun to go through sea caves, thrilling
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Packages: | 5-hour South Kona Expedition with Lunch (3 Snorkel Stops) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/21 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/12 |
Reviewed by: Jared
We loved going on this tour! It was great to learn about the local traditions of Waipio Valley and to view it on the only tour available at the time. The group mentioned it as one of the highlights of our Big Island trip!
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Packages: | Waipio Valley Shuttle & Off-Road Tour Package |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2022/11/20 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/18 |
Reviewed by: Desiree
I booked the Manta Ray Night Snorkel Canoe for my 12 year daughter & I. This totally exceeded my expectations! I still cannot believe how many mantas we saw & how close they were. Our crew took great care of us & had a great sense of humor.
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2022/11/19 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/17 |
Reviewed by: Rue
初めてのレンタカーで不安でしたが、迷わず到着できました。
快晴で見晴らしも最高でした。スタッフさんたちは皆明るく親切です。
グループごとに写真を撮ってくださいます。ところどころにいる牛さんたちも写ったりしていい思い出になりました。60代ですが全然大丈夫です。
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Packages: | 1.5時間プラン |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/15 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/17 |
Reviewed by: Pat
Seeing Mantra rays glide gracefully beneath you was a highlight of my trip to Hawaii. I highly recommend Iruka.
Aloha Pat,
We are so happy the crew was able to provide a memorable experience for your group, and all returning customers receive a 20% repeater discount. We hope to see you again!
Mahalo,
Team Iruka Hawaii
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/10 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/12 |
Reviewed by: ココママ
乗馬前の説明は英語で全くわからなく、不安でしたが、乗って歩きだしたらなんとかなりました
慣れてきたらすごい素敵な景色をみながら最高な時間を過ごすことができました。
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Packages: | 2.5時間プラン |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/06 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/04 |
Reviewed by: Anna
First timers snorkeling, we have so much fun and our guides very friendly and helpful
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Packages: | 3-hour Captain Cook Cruise (1 Snorkel Stop) |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/05 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/16 |
Reviewed by: Cathy Barbieri
I must admit I almost didn’t book this tour because of the duration. I’m so glad we did though!! This tour was a fantastic blend experiences. Our guide was super knowledgeable and kept us engaged in conversation just enough. When we had stops to explore the coffee farm, black sand beach, lava tube, nighttime lava flow. None of the stops felt rushed or lingered too long. I would highly recommend this. It was one of the best experiences we had on our trip.
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Packages: | Deluxe Volcano Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/05 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/10 |
Reviewed by: Anish
Dylan was a fantastic guide! He put an interesting spin on the whole tour, and he taught us a lot about the geology of the island as a whole. Every part of the tour was great. The coffee farm had a wonderful view, the bakery was great, the beach was very unique, and the volcano + hike were really cool. The fact that they'd brought a telescope made it even easier to see the laval.
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Packages: | Deluxe Volcano Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/02 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/14 |
Reviewed by: Lea
Hands down a memorable experience. I absolutely loved it and want to go back ASAP. I went in September and I still can't stop thinking about it. The parking was right in front of the loading area. The crew was welcoming right away. They got us set up with gear and even let us use our own gear if we brought. They had snacks and beverages on board. We got to watch the sky light on fire for sunset as we sailed out to where the mantas were. Lots of other companies were around in the harbor as well but the crew made sure to stay a safe distance away without disrupting the other experiences. And !!for the main event!! we saw SIX manta rays! Maybe more. They were so beautiful and flipping right underneath us. The captain also shared some knowledge atop the floating mat while we snorkeled so we could hear her stories while appreciating the creatures. The mantas stuck around the whole time. When it was time to head back in, the crew treated us to hot chocolate. They were also happy to share footage they took during the experience. I fully appreciated their generosity. I would definitely go back and do this again with Iruka! And a BIG MAHALO to HawaiiActivities.com and the Hawaii Reef Hero contest for making this possible for me and my friends <3
Aloha Lea,
Mahalo nui for sharing your kind words and amazing photos of your experience with us! We are so happy the crew was able to provide a memorable experience for your group, and all returning customers receive a 20% repeater discount. We hope to see you again!
Mahalo,
Team Iruka Hawaii
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2022/10/27 |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/05 |
Reviewed by: Lindsay
Very friendly staff and fun facts about manta rays throughout the snorkel trip. We got to see 4 different mantas throughout our trip and they come up so close to you it’s amazing. 10/10 would recommend.
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Packages: | Night Manta Discovery Adventure |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2022/10/27 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/24 |
Reviewed by: CLK
We had the greatest time on this tour! Ocean Encounters has the best crew and they made it so much fun! They were super nice and very knowledgeable! Not only that but the mantas put on a great show for us!! Highly recommend!! Mahalo Ocean Encounters!!!
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Packages: | Standard Package: Sunset Manta Snorkel |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2022/10/27 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/25 |
Reviewed by: Alejandro Sanchez
This was an awesome first time experience for my wife and I. Brent and Jesse were great at having us engage with them in the activities and provided safety instructions to a tee that made it very clear and easy to understand and follow. Jesse provided us with some history along the way that made for fun facts. Brent did a great job at making me feel comfortable jumping off the cliff which was my very first time doing any type of cliff jumping and super glad I did! Snorkeling was super fun with clear and warm water. Would definitely do it again and highly recommend! Oh, and special shout out to the owner Mike for making the booking process swift and easy! Thank you guys!!
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/25 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/01 |
Reviewed by: Greg
This experience is beyond human words to describe. We had an absolutely perfect night with a crescent moon that set shortly after we got set up. The Milky Way was more spectacular than we could have imagined. James’ knowledge of what we were looking at was top notch. There were a couple of personal disappointments and cons but they do not diminish the rating of the experience.
I had expected some serious telescopes that would be used. James had a top end mount and camera with some powerful lenses but when it came to looking at Jupiter and Saturn, I get bigger and better images with my homemade 6” reflector. I was really wondering if he was using his equipment to show us Andromeda and what I think he said was the Dumbbell nebula or if he was showing us stock photos. He homed in on those two objects very quickly for a setup that was merely put down and “kinda” leveled.
The other comment is about the cost. James is an expert and one expects to pay for expertise. But for an adventure that does not include pickup except for about a mile from the destination and has no major equipment like a submarine that the Atlantis has to maintain, the price seems high. Especially since the included photos are about worthless, you are forced to purchase the full resolution package if you want to share your photos with anything other than your phone.
That being said, experiencing God’s creation like that was amazing!
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Packages: | Stargazing Tour - Starting times between 07:00 PM - 11:30 PM |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/23 |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/28 |
Reviewed by: Becca
We had a great time on the boat. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and it was the perfect activity for a group with kids and grandparents. Everyone got to see fish and turtles up close in a way that was easy and enjoyable for a group not up for snorkeling
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Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2022/10/23 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/21 |
Reviewed by: 西 脇
お天気も良く
初めての乗馬でしたが
利口な馬のおかげで安心・安全に楽しめました
乗馬時間は充分でした
説明は英語のみ!
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Packages: | 1.5時間プラン |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2022/10/21 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/18 |
Reviewed by: Nathan
The crew, the equipment and the atmosphere were fantastic. But all topped by the giant Manta Rays that we saw on the trip. Once in a life time experience and was one of our favorite things we did while in Kona!
Aloha Nathan,
Mahalo for sharing your experience with us, repeating customers receive a 20% discount on all future bookings!
Mahalo,
Iruka Hawaii
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/20 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/10 |
Reviewed by: Boy Scout Mom
I was nervous because I hadn't kayaked on the ocean before, but Brent & Jesse kept us safe while making the day SO MUCH FUN! Brent even took my son up a 32 foot cliff to jump off! The sea cave was cool, but the snorkeling was fantastic. So beautiful and fun!! Thanks guys for a great day!
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2022/10/19 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/15 |
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Reply from activity provider
An unexpected error has occurred. Please go back to the previous page and try again, or wait a few minutes and try once again.
Aloha Erin,
Thank you for the positive comments about our team, we're glad your group felt safe and satisfied! We do offer a repeater discount of 20% off, so please keep us in mind for future travel plans.
Mahalo,
Iruka Hawaii