What is the Best Kualoa Ranch Tour on Oʻahu?
Kualoa Ranch is a famed name on Oʻahu for its tours, its role for being the set of countless different movies, and its conservation work, which quite literally rediscovered a native species that was once thought to be extinct!
In any case, planning a trip to Kualoa Ranch on Oʻahu’s east side can be a challenge if it’s your first time, given that Kualoa has such a wide variety of tour options to consider.
That being said, Kualoa Ranch is my backyard! I live minutes down the road, I visit often, and I know the beaches and trails surrounding Kualoa Ranch better than anyone, allowing me to give you the best recommendations for not only a visit to Kualoa Ranch but other fun activities in the area!
Why am I Recommending these Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Kualoa Ranch Parking
All Kualoa Ranch tours begin at the main entrance off Kamehameha Highway in Waikāne, just past Kualoa Regional Park where Mokoliʻi (Chinaman’s Hat) is located.
That being said, parking is free for ticket holders, but if you don’t have transportation from your hotel in Waikīkī, roundtrip transportations options available and can be booked below.
Google Maps Directions: Kualoa Ranch
What is the Best Kualoa Ranch Tour on Oʻahu?
Sometimes it feels like Kualoa Ranch is adding more and more tours to their list every single day, which is why recommending one over another can be quite difficult when it comes down to the best of the best.
With that in mind, the three best tours on Kualoa Ranch are the Hollywood Movie Tour, the UTV Raptor Tour, and the Horseback Tour.
While there are many others, these three are the best and most popular choices for a reason, which I will break down in more detail below.
1. Hollywood Movie Sites Tour
If you love movies, especially Hawaiʻi and tropical-based movies, the choice is obvious. Choose the Hollywood Movie Sites Tour!
I say this because the guides will tell you about and take you to specific locations from a variety movie scenes that you would never have the opportunity to see on the other tours.
For example, popular locations from Jurassic Park are only scratching the surface regarding what this tour will allow you to see, as your guide will talk about how certain sets were made, what actors, like Owen Wilson, had to do to shoot a scene, and even the exorbitant costs that some of these movies incurred for just one scene!
It’s for all these reasons and much more that the Kualoa Ranch Movie Tour is my number one recommendation if you’re visiting for the first time!
2. UTV Raptor Tours
The UTV Raptor Tour is the best way to explore the stunning and remote peaks and valleys that surround Kualoa Ranch!
These scenic backcountry roads and trails will take you through the dense and wet rainforest that encompasses Oʻahu’s east side, much of which is inaccessible outside of this UTV Tour!
That being said, I highly recommend the UTV Raptor Tour to anyone who wants to see the adventurous side of Kualoa Ranch and doesn’t mind getting a little dirty on this jungle expedition!
3. Horseback Tours
The Horseback Tours are the best way to enjoy the stunning scenery at Kualoa Ranch, while taking it slower than either of the two previous tours listed above.
On this adventure, guests will have the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful areas on Kualoa Ranch, pass by some of the same locations as the Hollywood Movie Tour, and learn about what Kualoa Ranch is doing as one of the island’s largest landowners to support the conservation community in an ongoing effort to give back.
Therefore, I highly recommend the Kualoa Horseback Tour for anyone interested in a quiet, more secluded adventure, but be sure to read through the height, weight, and age requirements before choosing this option!
10 Best Things to Do Near Kualoa Ranch
Whether you continue further up Kamehameha Highway toward Oʻahu’s North Shore or drive back south toward Kāneʻohe, Kailua and Waikīkī, there’s so much to do in either direction, depending on what kind of day you’re looking to have.
5 Best Things to Do When Driving North of Kualoa Ranch
1. Crouching Lion Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
One of the first trails north of Kualoa Ranch is the beautiful Crouching Lion Trail, perched on the mountains above Kahana Bay.
This short but steep 0.6-mile (1.0 km) adventure is great for those who are up for a bit of a local challenge.
By this, I mean that Crouching Lion is not an established trail, but if you think you’re up for a real Hawaiʻi adventure, consider the Crouching Lion Trail, which can be one of the best sunrise hikes on Oʻahu!
Read My Separate Post: Crouching Lion Trail
2. Hauʻula Loop Trail
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
The Hauʻula Loop Trail is one of the best hidden adventures north of Kualoa Ranch, and it’s the best North Shore day hike near Turtle Bay.
Furthermore, the Hauʻula Loop Trail is easily the better kid-friendly option compared to Crouching Lion mentioned above, which I love as a fun, yet not too challenging, day hike or trail run!
Read My Separate Post: Hauʻula Loop Trail
3. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
The original Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck in Kahuku is a famed North Shore staple and a great stop for lunch if you booked one of the early tours at Kualoa Ranch.
From here, I highly recommend continuing further north to spend the rest of your day at one of the many beaches in Pūpūkea, talked about below.
Yelp: Giovanni’s Shrimp
4. Pūpūkea Beaches
Some of the best beaches on Oʻahu stretch from Ke iki to Sunset Beach in Pūpūkea, and at any one of these beaches, you will never have as much of an issue finding parking compared to Waimea Bay.
Apart from that, I think it would be splitting hairs to list one beach over another. Therefore, I recommend driving to any beach along this stretch, and there will always be a legal beach access among the multi-million dollar beachfront homes, which can be found on this interactive map.
If you drive up to one beach access and find it difficult to park, just continue down the road until you find spot to park, as there will always be another beach access nearby.
In any case, do not park illegally. Parking on private property or blocking someone’s driveway will get you towed.
Finally, keep in mind that you cannot swim during the winter months. The waves and shore-break on the North Shore are far too dangerous, and all too often, tourists around the state end up paralyzed because they try swimming in the shore-break. However, the winter waves can make for fun time to watch some of the best surfers in the world!
5. ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail (Sunset)
Distance: 1.3 miles / 2.0 km
Going along with the last one in Pūpūkea, there aren’t many hikes on the North Shore of Oʻahu, but the ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail is easily the best and most accessible trail in Pūpūkea.
To that point, the trail is a local favorite at sunset, and when the waves are big in the winter, either pillbox makes for a great place to watch the sets roll in!
Read My Separate Post: ʻEhukai Pillbox Trail
5 Best Things to Do When Driving South of Kualoa Ranch
1. Mokoliʻi (Chinaman’s Hat)
Upon leaving Kualoa Ranch and driving south, Mokoliʻi is quite literally the first left-hand turn after getting on the highway. It’s the closest adventure to Kualoa itself, and it makes for a great way to spend an afternoon on the small islet just offshore from the beach.
That being said, making the journey to Mokoliʻi can be a little challenging for out-of-state visitors, which is why I highly recommend reading all the details in my separate article before considering the trip to this beautiful island!
Read My Separate Post: Mokoliʻi (Chinaman's Hat)
2. Drive the Scenic H-3 Freeway
Whether it’s convenient or not, I recommend going out of your way to drive the scenic H-3 Freeway!
The H-3 is the most beautiful drive on Oʻahu, and if you’re starting from Waikīkī, it’s best taken as an alternate route to Kualoa Ranch or other east Oʻahu adventures, such as Mokoliʻi or the Puʻu Māʻeliʻeli Trail.
In any case, I highly recommend taking it a little slower on the east side of the tunnel because if you look to the south of the valley, you may spot the infamous Stairway to Heaven hike among the ridges of Haʻikū Valley.
Overall, while some may say that the drive is best in one direction or the other, I can confidently tell you that driving east to west during periods of heavy rain is one of the most beautiful sights in all of Hawaiʻi, as the ridges you see in the photo below turn into waterfalls when it really starts pouring!
Google Maps Directions: H-3 Freeway
3. Cinnamon’s Restaurant (Breakfast)
Cinnamon's Restaurant in Kailua is a local favorite when it comes to breakfast diners on Oʻahu!
It’s one of my favorite restaurants to go to after catching sunrise on the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but it also can make for a great option either before or after a visit to Kualoa Ranch.
That being said, know that on both weekends and weekdays, breakfast can be particularly busy, so be prepared to wait or call in advance to see if it’s busy. In any case, I can tell you that Cinnamon’s is well worth it if you have to wait!
Yelp: Cinnamon’s Restaurant
4. Lanikai Pillbox Trail (Kaʻiwa Ridge)
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Lanikai Pillbox Trail a go-to adventure on Oʻahu’s east side at any time of the day!
I say this because Kaʻiwa Ridge is not only beautiful because of the turquoise-blue waters off Lanikai Beach (shown in the photo below), but the sunrise from either pillbox at the top is second to none, making it a fun option to consider whether you hike the short trail before or after visiting Kualoa Ranch.
Read My Separate Post: Lanikai Pillbox Trail
5. Waimānalo Beach
Personally, I recommend Waimānalo Beach over the much more popular and neighboring Kailua and Lanikai beaches.
I say this because while Kailua is a great town to walk around and grab a bite to eat, I recommend against the beach because of how busy it is. Many times, parking is nearly impossible at Kailua Beach Park, and the wealthy residents in the Lanikai neighborhood have worked very hard at making all the parking within the neighborhood unaccessible or illegal.
For these reasons, I recommend against either. However, Waimānalo Beach is a much better option, in my opinion, because it’s just as beautiful and significantly less crowded!
Google Maps Directions: Waimānalo Beach
