Los Angeles · CATALINA ISLAND TOURS
An hour by ferry and most of the island is a nature reserve. These 12 cover Avalon by golf cart, the glass-bottom boats, the semi-submarine and the inland tours, priced and sorted by how much of the day each takes.
Ride around Avalon with a local guide on a private golf-cart tour for up to five people. The two-hour route includes the Catalina Casino, Pebbly Beach, Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden, and hillside viewpoints. Guides such as Dudley, Letty, and Janeece have led tours, sharing local stories along the way.
“Our guide, Dudley, has lived on Catalina Island for 50+ years. He was knowledge and an incredible guide!”
Board the yellow SS Nautilus at Avalon’s Green Pleasure Pier for a 45-minute ride to Lovers’ Cove. Look through underwater portholes for fish and kelp, with an optional cash-only fish-feeding add-on. The return trip brings you onto the top deck for harbor and island views. Guides and departure times vary.
“It was fun and entertaining. we enjoyed our experience in the submarine. The fish are up close and beautiful.”
Meet your guide at Old Ben Park for a 2.5-hour walk through Avalon, tasting seafood, sweets and local recipes at six stops. Guides such as Carol, Janet and Lili share island stories along the way, with harbor views, historic sights and cocktails in the mix. You must be 21 or older to join.
“Lili was great! She knew a lot about the local history and city, and was very energetic and fun to be around.”
Ride through Avalon and along Catalina’s beachfront on a 50-minute guided tour, with views from the hills and stories about local history and folklore. Guides such as Laura, Carlos, Cindy Lowe, and Halvy have led trips, though your guide may vary. It is a useful first look at town, not a ferry ticket or a visit to every attraction.
“Carlos, our driver, was not only an excellent driver, but thankfully humorous. Smaller bus would have been helpful, and would liked a view of the Wrigley Memorial and baseball fields, but not complaining. The heights were beautiful and prevented us from having to rent a golf cart. Enjoyed the tour.”
This two-hour ride takes you about ten miles into Catalina’s protected interior in a custom safari vehicle, with an onboard guide sharing island history and wildlife details. You’ll stop at Airport-in-the-Sky to visit the Conservancy Nature Center and look down on a Native American gathering site. Bison, deer, bald eagles, and Catalina Island foxes may appear, but sightings are not guaranteed.
“Tim was amazing and very enthusiastic. The views of the island were awesome. We didn’t see bison so that was a bummer.”
Walk through Avalon with a local historian for 90 minutes of island history, paranormal tales, and stops at sites such as the Catalina Island Casino. The tour starts at 7:00 pm, ends at the Casino’s front entryway, and uses audio headsets so you can hear the guide clearly. Expect a story-led stroll, not a tour inside the Casino.
“great history info about the island. If you don't wanted to know what's haunted don't go because you'll find out. it was a great tour. Tour guide Jess did a great job and gave us good insite of the island. Thank you”
Board a semi-submersible at Green Pleasure Pier in Avalon for a 45-minute look at Catalina’s marine life through individual portholes. A deckhand-guide narrates as you pass fish and kelp, then you can head topside for harbor views on the way back. Departures run throughout the day; crew member Jaxon has been named as one of the guides.
“Traveling underwater with the school of fish and being able to identify the fish was a treat of an experience!”
Take a private two-hour golf cart tour of Avalon with a local guide. You’ll see viewpoints and quieter corners of town, hear stories about Catalina’s past and present, and have time to pause for photos. Guides have included Chris, Carol, Mark, Joy, Michael, and Sarah. Pickup from your accommodation is offered.
“This is a must do when visiting Catalina Island. So much better than renting a golf cart and exploring on your own. Chris our guide was a local and was fantastic with his knowledge of the island and was cool to hang with. Just do it…you won’t be sorry!!”
Meet your captain at Float B on Avalon’s Green Pleasure Pier for a narrated, roughly 40-minute cruise through Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve. Look through large glass-bottom panels for kelp and fish, and enjoy views from the boat’s sides, too. Departures are in English, with a maximum of 36 people.
“Great tour guide! Great trip with the kids to see below the sea. A must do adventure on your Catalina Island trip!”
Ocean Wonders at IMMERSED is a 30-minute film in a dome theater on Catalina Island. Watch 8K, 360-degree footage of kelp forests, sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and more, accompanied by music and narration. On-site staff welcome you, and 10 percent of each ticket supports ocean conservation groups connected to filming locations.
“Never done it in all the times to the Island and it was amazing. Very relaxing and comfortable. We felt like we were under water with the scuba divers”
Walk through Catalina Island’s 1929 Casino with a guide, seeing art deco murals, the Avalon Theatre, a classic pipe organ and the grand ballroom where big bands played. The route includes eight uphill ramps in the 12-story building, then the same ramps back down. Guides have included Kaitlyn, Kendra and Cecilia.
“This tour was very interesting and beautiful. I loved hearing the history and seeing the inside of the casino!”
This 50-minute VoiceMap audio tour starts and ends at 313 Crescent Ave in Avalon. Follow directions along the waterfront, with stories about local history, myths, and landmarks such as Green Pleasure Pier and the Catalina Express terminal. Download the audio, map, and route data for offline use, then explore on your own schedule.
“We enjoyed hearing the history of many of the buildings on the island. Once we got the tour going, it synced well as we walked along the route.”
Pick a hillside, a beach or a backlot.
