Black Sand Beaches

BIG ISLAND · COAST

Best Black Sand Beaches On The Big Island

Ranked by traveller popularity

The 10 most popular black sand beaches on the Big Island. What they actually deliver, who runs them, and what they cost.

10 Best Black Sand Beaches On The Big Island

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach - Macadamia Orchards and Big Island Candy: Snacks, Souvenirs, and a Useful Backup Plan

1.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach

Most Popular 4.5

Volcanoes National Park and black-sand beach shore day from Hilo with Kilauea steam, a lava tube walk, turtles, and macadamia tastings.

“Jess was an excellent guide. Very professional and knowledgeable. As weather changed she adjusted in the fly to provide a fab exciting experience.”

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Big Island Highlights: Coffee, Volcano, Black Sands & Waterfall

Big Island Highlights: Coffee, Volcano, Black Sands & Waterfall - Punalu’u Black Sand Beach: sea turtle spotting without the hype

2.Big Island Highlights: Coffee, Volcano, Black Sands & Waterfall

5.0

A full-day Big Island loop with Kona coffee, black sand turtles, Volcanoes National Park, and Rainbow Falls, plus lunch and easy pickup.

“We did this tour our first day on the Big Island. This gave us a great overview of the island and also the distance/time it takes to get around. I was pleased with the lunch option at the Volcano House. The other stops were informative but really designed for tourists who want to purchase items.”

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Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand - Rainbow Falls (And What Changes After June 1, 2026)

3.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

4.5

Hilo half-day Volcano Safari with lava caves, black-sand beaches, warm springs, and Kilauea flow history, with port pickup included.

“Ellen was a phenomenal tour guide! I loved all the stops we made, specially the cave & waterfall. If you are going to explore the cave, I definitely recommend that you bring sneakers so you can explore as the rocks are slippery.”

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Hilo: Sea Turtle Lagoon and Black Sand Beach Snorkel

Hilo: Sea Turtle Lagoon and Black Sand Beach Snorkel - What the 3-hour plan looks like in practice

4.Hilo: Sea Turtle Lagoon and Black Sand Beach Snorkel

4.5

Guided snorkeling in Hilo’s sea turtle lagoon and black sand shoreline with two stops, small groups, and snacks/drinks in about 3 hours.

“Kai was amazing kind and had great patience for us first timers! He took us to 2 different spots and we could not ask for a better day. Beautiful and it was a lot easier then expected. Highly recommend. Love the big island.”

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Hawaii Big Island Circle Small Group Tour: Waterfalls – Hilo – Volcano – Black Sand Beach

Hawaii Big Island Circle Small Group Tour: Waterfalls - Hilo - Volcano - Black Sand Beach - Puʻukohola Heiau: King Kamehameha’s temple stop

Beach Snorkel – Sea Turtle and Black Sand Lagoon

Beach Snorkel - Sea Turtle and Black Sand Lagoon - The 3-Hour Plan: How Two Stops Actually Fit Your Day

6.Beach Snorkel – Sea Turtle and Black Sand Lagoon

4.5

Guided shoreline snorkeling from Hilo with gear, snacks, and two stops aimed at sea turtles in black sand lagoons on the Big Island.

“Kelsey was very nice and knowledgeable. There was a friendly atmosphere. We had to drive all the way from Kona to get to Hilo. I would say you probably could do this on your own and have a similar experience, which is why this is not 5 stars. We also did not see turtles, which…”

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Big Island: Coffee, Black Sand, Volcano and Waterfall Tour

Big Island: Coffee, Black Sand, Volcano and Waterfall Tour - Kona Coffee Living History Farm: breakfast plus a real tasting

7.Big Island: Coffee, Black Sand, Volcano and Waterfall Tour

4.8

Kona coffee tasting, black sand turtles, Volcano winery lunch with wine, active volcano caldera, and Rainbow Falls with hotel pickup.

“Chance was a great guide! I appreciate having a local who knows their stuff! The longest stop is at VNP to visit the Caldera and have lunch at Volcano House. The next longest was at Black Sand Beach. The rest of the stops are pretty short, but it's a lot to cram into one trip…”

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Big Island: Volcano, Black Sand Beach, Waterfall, with Lunch

Big Island: Volcano, Black Sand Beach, Waterfall, with Lunch - Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube): the quiet wow-factor

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Tour – Volcanoes National Park & Hilo

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Tour - Volcanoes National Park & Hilo - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Visitor Center to Lava Tube

9.Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Tour – Volcanoes National Park & Hilo

5.0

A small-group Big Island day hitting Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Kīlauea stops, and Hilo highlights, with meals, admissions, and guided driving.

“It was a small group of 6, which made it even better! Our guide was fantastic and knew so much about what we were seeing! She was outstanding! I would definitely recommend this tour! It was worth every penny!”

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Private Hilo Shore Excursion to Volcano Waterfall and Black Sand

Private Hilo Shore Excursion to Volcano Waterfall and Black Sand - Big Island Candies: An Easy Stop With Gifts That Travel Well

10.Private Hilo Shore Excursion to Volcano Waterfall and Black Sand

5.0

Private Hilo shore excursion pairing Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, black sand turtles, lava tubes, waterfalls, and local tastings.

“We had a wonderful time on this tour! Some of the sights included Volcanoes National Park, Thurston Lava Tube, Black Sand Beach, Rainbow Falls, and Ka’u Coffee Mill. Adam was exceptional, so full of knowledge and stories, and went the extra mile to tailor the tour to what was of highest interest to us. We…”

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