Reviewed by: Samantha Creamer
This tour was AMAZING from start to end. Yes this is a pricer tour to book; however, you truly get a ton for your money. This is a long event; we got picked up at 2pm and back around 10pm. The pickup location was very convenient right in Kona Town. You are provided a solid dinner, dessert, and hot beverages while stargazing. You get to sit back and relax during the drive and enjoy the wealth of knowledge from the tour guide. Speaking of, our tour guide Art was absolutely outstanding! He was knowledgeable, approachable, and entertaining. Also the star-gazing area is private to tours and had a high level telescope for easy viewing. We were fortunate enough to see a really big shooting star during our viewing. We were also provided super warm parkas which was great because it is quite chilly at the summit. I could go on and on about this tour but I would 100% book this again and personally recommend this specific tour to family and friends.
P.S. Did we say how amazing Art was?!
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
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: Greg
The tour was everything we hoped for. Fernando was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, religious significance of Mauna Kea and stargazing.
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/19 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/30 |
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: Paul
Well worth the money since getting up to the site is nearly impossible logistically for a rental car. More importantly, our guide, Gage, was so exceptionally knowledgeable on everything from astronomy to Hawaii geography.
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2022/11/15 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/13 |
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.
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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: Hilohannah
Have done this tour 5 years ago with a different vendor. Was much better with other tour group but did not recall who it was when I booked this trip. Things I did not like about this tour:
1. Was not notified I could have been picked up in Kona. So we drove over an hour when we did not have to. Another couple drove all the way to the visitor center for the same reason 2. Dinner was marginal at best. 3. Star viewing from the visitor center parking lot?? Are you kidding me? Why? Light pollution, less clear skies..what a joke. I lay that blame on the tour guide, Maka. 4. Guide is not passionate about astronomy but he can be a good guide at times. Sadly, as the night wore on so did his personality. 5. Gloves were only proffered when a man complained. Hand them out with the coats.
Bottom line: do the tour but with a different group.
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/11/03 |
Activity Date: | 2022/11/01 |
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 |
Reviewed by: Ana
Such a beautiful ranch and the guides were very knowledgeable!
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Packages: | 2-Seater UTV Tandem Ride Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/19 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/17 |
Reviewed by: Naamador
The Manta Ray Night Snorkel by Sea Quest is well worth the expense for the unique opportunity to get up close to the beautiful rays. There are a lot of different companies doing this type of tour. Sea Quest really has the entire process dialed in to make the most of the experience and to maximize your viewing time. Very professional and just downright nice. They truly care about delivering. Would highly recommend.
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Packages: | Swim with Mantas |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/18 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/16 |
Reviewed by: David/Ofelia
I have to say, the the experience from the beginning was very impressive. Bruce, the tour guide reached out to everyone, he was very intelligent and very knowledgeable of all things we were doing. Bruce made sure everyone in the tour was taken care of, feed, and having a great time. At the volcano Brice made sure everyone in the group was safe and having a good time . We have been on many tours in the past and this by far was the most enjoyable tour we have ever taken. Thank you Brice for all you did.
David and Ofelia
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Aloha David and Ofelia,
Thank you for posting your review! We appreciate you taking the time to do so. Bryce is a special guide and we're lucky to have him on Team Kailani! We hope you enjoyed your time on the island!
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Packages: | Deluxe Volcano Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/18 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/02 |
Reviewed by: Laura
The tour was a lot of fun! Kona Joe's has a great view and good coffee, stopped here for lunch included in tour. Then went on to the bakery at South Point for a Malasada. I don't recommend waiting in the line for purchasing anything else. The malasadas are called in so you don't have to wait, but the line for other items was super long and you can buy their bread in grocery stores. Then to the black sand beach - very cool to see and we saw a sea turtle in the beach! Then on to Volcano Park for a quick tour and to see the caldera and steam vents. On to the lodge for dinner, which was pretty good. I don't recommend the broccoli Cheddar soup and they only had ranch dressing for salads. The blackened catch of the day was great! Then to the lava glow - where our tour guide PJ brought a scope for a better look. It was very cool, but not as close as I thought we'd be so it's not a bright red like in the picture.
But the tour guide was the best part - full of information, fun to talk with and really looked out for his guests! I'd recommend!
Aloha Laura,
Thank you so much for your review! We're glad you enjoyed PJ, he's a wonderful guide. We appreciate your recommendation!
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Packages: | Deluxe Volcano Tour |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/18 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/13 |
Reviewed by: Janet A
The guides were incredibly informative and so down to earth! We felt so welcomed and ended up with a private tour!! The whole experience was amazing, but my absolute favorite part was going to the ocean!! The view is spectacular and we even saw a pod of dolphins swim by !! 10/10 and I highly recommend it!
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Packages: | 2-Seater UTV Tandem Ride Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/17 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/13 |
Reviewed by: Mashka
The boat was old and had not enough power. On the way there we were passed by many boats of same size. Then the boat wouldn't start at all and we were towed back to port. 3 passengers were very sea sick.
The crew didn't provide any information about the manta reys while we watched. Other boat crews were very informative.
Would not recommend.
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Packages: | Standard Package: Sunset Manta Snorkel |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2022/10/17 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/10 |
Reviewed by: Patrick
- absolutely awesome guide
- outstanding landscape
- sea kayak / cliff jumping / snorkeling / picnic on the sea
- as soon as I go back, I will participate again
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/16 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/02 |
Reviewed by: Gila
It was such a great experience! Our tour guide was AMAZING! So personable and knowledgeable. He knew sooo much history. I don’t think there was a question asked he couldn’t answer at all. My favorite stops were the lava tube and volcano summit visits. Incredible views. My wife and I were saying we should’ve done this when we first arrived instead of at the end of our trip. Sooo much great information. Learning about how coffee was made was also great! Keep it up!
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Packages: | Pick-up from Kona Hotels |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2022/10/15 |
Activity Date: | 2022/10/13 |
Reviewed by: Kara
This experience was awesome and you dont even need to be a great snorkeler!
Aloha Kara,
Mahalo for sharing your experience with us, repeating customers receive a 20% discount on all future bookings!
Mahalo,
Iruka Hawaii
Rating: | |
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2022/10/13 |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/24 |
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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