Tours & Activities in Catalina Island

Avalon History Tours is a small family-owned business located on Catalina Island. We offer an authentic and immersive experience led by knowledgeable guides who are local residents. Our hour-and-a-half-long tour covers approximately one mile of the island's charming and predominantly flat terrain, making it accessible to most guests. For extra convenience, guests aged 6 and over are provided with a headset to wear during the tour, ensuring they can hear the tour guide clearly. Get ready to delve into the rich history of Catalina Island, with a focus on iconic landmarks such as the Holly Hill House, the scenic Green Pleasure Pier, and the renowned Catalina Casino. Guests will discover the origins of the island's name, the visions of Shatto, the Banning Brothers, and how the Wrigley family transformed the island into its current state. Wander through the heart of Avalon, connecting the past with the present, one step at a time.

Hop aboard as we embark on a driving ghost tour through the City of Avalon. Our journey begins at 121 Clarissa Ave, one block from the beach, in a big yellow building with green awnings. Brace yourself as we explore the eerie and haunted sites that have sent shivers down the spines of locals and visitors alike. Prepare to be enthralled by captivating stories, paranormal history and a breathtaking view as we venture through the streets and hillsides of Avalon. Our expert guide will weave chilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat! There are limited spots available in the cart, so secure your seat now.

Important Note: This is a one-way ferry from Avalon to San Pedro. You must also book the other leg, also on Viator. Climb aboard the ferry in Avalon, California for one-way service to San Pedro. You can expect awe-inspiring views of the Pacific Ocean on your trip. Enjoy refreshments and light snacks on board, available for purchase.

Turn Catalina Island into a game while partaking on a 2-hour Walking Adventure. Your smartphone will act as your guide, while you solve clues and complete challenges around the city. Entry price is per team.

See the best of Catalina on this all-encompassing aerial tour over California's island escape! Depart from Pebbly Beach for a 20-minute exploration into the mostly untouched natural beauty of the 22-mile-long island sanctuary featuring a rugged interior and cliffs rising from the ocean.

Catalina Island’s original custom guided golf cart tour! Explore Avalon through the eyes of a local. With us you will learn about the history of the Island and the lifestyle of its residents. Custom tours of 2 hours will entertain and educate you! Reserve your tour time in advance, limited times and space are offered each day. SOLD OUT? NEED A DIFFERENT TOUR TIME? CALL US!

We offer a fun and exciting private tour of Avalon with a professional local guide via a large-capacity luxury golf cart for up to 5 passengers.   Save miles on your feet with the comfort and enjoyment of our fleet. Catch a glimpse of the spectacular bay views without hiking up the hills. See and hear everything Avalon and Catalina Island have to offer in just two hours. This joyride will save you time from getting lost and wasting your precious vacation time.

Head out for an exciting expedition through favorite grazing grounds of Catalina's world famous bison, which are descendants of a small herd that was left on the island by a movie crew in the 1920's. This Tour also passes through Middle Ranch and up Cape Canyon to a scenic overlook on Black Jack Mountain.

Take a trip down memory lane to the days when bands were big and movies were just beginning to talk. The Catalina Casino epitomizes everything glamorous about Santa Catalina Island. You'll see the extraordinary Art Deco murals and a classic 1929 pipe organ inside the Avalon Theatre, which still shows nightly movies on its massive screen. A short film is shown highlighting the history of this iconic building and its Hollywood connection. This tour requires uphill walking inside the casino.

Tour the historic Village of Avalon with our local historian. Together you will walk through Avalon while exploring the spooky history and paranormal mysteries of Catalina. Learn the difference between a spirit or a ghost. Understand why Catalina is so haunted, and why our guide has proof of the other side. This is the only Ghost Tour on Catalina and has been voted one of the Top Ten Ghost Tours in The Country from USA TODAY.

Celebrate in Avalon with our cocktail concierges on this 2 hour bar and restaurant jaunt!  • Sample specialty shots & cocktails, play games & taste award-winning appetizers.  • Catalina Island's best watering holes are your playground with our spirited local guide. • Start your night out with tasty appetizers, interactive games, boisterous encounters & a bit of a buzz. • Sample 5+ specialty cocktails & creative shots at award-winning bars & restaurants. • Get the local lowdown with our exclusive guidebook - includes maps, recipes & guest coupons!

Rediscover the enchantment of Avalon on this delightful nonstop 50 minute journey along the beachfront, up the hillsides, and through the heart of this friendly and historic town. This tour always receives the highest ratings for customer satisfaction in our visitor surveys. You’ll see picture-perfect views and colorful local attractions as your guide shares interesting Catalina Island history and folklore from the comfort of our passenger vehicle. This seven-and-a-half mile journey provides a comprehensive history of Santa Catalina Island’s only city, Avalon. Don’t forget your camera. 

We've been taking curious Catalina visitors on journeys of discovery into Lover's Cove Marine Preserve for nearly a century. While the vessels have evolved over the years, the unique experience of being drawn in to an undersea wonderland remains the same. Meet your captain at Float B on the Green Pleasure Pier that extends into Avalon Harbor, directly offshore from Catalina Avenue. Once aboard the MoonStone, you will be able to see the bottom of the sea! You’ll see a variety of colorful fish and other sea life as you cruise through what many consider to be one of the healthiest marine environments in the world.

Experience the oceans like never before! This truly unique immersive experience takes you on a thirty minute virtual "dive" through the world's oceans. Choose from popular beanbag chairs or plush NBA courtside seats, all in an air-conditioned, comfortable space. Everything you will see was filmed by our team, underwater, in 360 degrees capturing the moment from all angles. The footage is projected onto the inside of a custom-built dome theater that surrounds the audience, set to contemporary music with guiding narration. You will explore Catalina's lush kelp forests, get up close and personal with majestic whale sharks, soaring oceanic manta rays, inquisitive bull sharks, mesmerizing bait balls, playful sea lions and dolphins, and even a rare dugong. Plus much more! Our mission is to create immersive exhibits that drive wonder, curiosity, and a commitment to ocean conservation using cutting edge technology.

Come face-to-face with Catalina's abundant marine life on this 45-minute underwater excursion. Cruise five feet below the surface in a spacious, climate-controlled cabin with a live guide suggesting salient points of interest. Every passenger has their own seat and port hole but you are also free to roam around the cabin for other viewpoints.

Tour the historic Village of Avalon with our local historian. Together you will walk through Avalon while exploring the spooky history and paranormal mysteries of Catalina. Learn the difference between a spirit or a ghost. Understand why Catalina is so haunted, and why our guide has proof of the other side. This is the only Ghost Tour on Catalina and has been voted one of the Top Ten Ghost Tours in The Country from USA TODAY.

Spectacular canyons, a scenic coastline, and an unspoiled countryside alive with native plants and wildlife will take your breath away on this two-hour guided eco-land excursion. As you venture ten miles into the rugged interior, you will view the protected side of Catalina Island seldom seen by most visitors. Naturalist onboard enriches experience with wildlife and inside knowledge of the areas visiting during the tour.

Come aboard Catalina Island's newest semi-submarine, the SS Nautilus, and enjoy a deep sea adventure 1,000 leagues beyond your imagination. The main attraction of this unique vessel allows six feet underwater viewing while staying dry so eager seafarers can get up close and face-to-face with schools of fish anticipating treats fired away from custom designed fish food torpedo buttons. Designed after America's first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, the 45-minute journey is the destination itself as our captain and his crew ventures out on an exploratory mission to the undersea gardens of Avalon Bay.

NEW COVID PROTOCOLS: Players will need to follow all state and local guidelines while playing the Fantastic Catalina Race. "A Truly Amazing Race"!! The Fantastic Catalina Race is a unique hybrid of a sightseeing tour and interactive mystery novel around Avalon. Our races are unlike anything you've ever done before, and we offer an experience you will never forget. Great for the whole family! Great for Groups!

Take a self-guided GPS audio tour through the streets of Avalon with me. My name is Matthew and I am one of the 4000 residents of Avalon. Being a local I get asked a lot of questions. Do you live here full time? How expensive is it? What is that large house up on the hill? Why does everyone drive around in golf carts? How can you have a casino that doesn't allow gambling? Along with historians, authors, and other passionate locals, we will walk the streets of Avalon to answer these questions and more. You'll learn the stories behind our town and its famous landmarks from the people who live here. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!

Departing from the iconic Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach daily. Departing times vary depending on time of year see all times available when booking. Travel time is approximately 75 minutes from Newport Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island. This is one of the most easily accessible ports for residents/visitors of Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire and San Diego County to travel by boat from the mainland to Avalon, Catalina Island. This is the "largest" catamaran to Catalina Island and is state of the art, with three decks. The first deck is enclosed with plenty of seating and a snack bar. The second deck offers a full bar and additional indoor seating. The third deck is open air with seating in the California sunshine and offers stunning views during the trip. Enjoy “Speed – Service – Comfort”.

Embark on an unforgettable journey of enchantment with our Avalon Enchantment: Nature, History & Gourmet Delights Tour. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of nature as we explore stunning landscapes, from misty mountains to serene lakes. Delve into the rich tapestry of history, walking in the footsteps of ancient civilizations, uncovering hidden gems and fascinating tales. And tantalize your taste buds with exquisite gourmet delights, savoring the flavors of farm-to-table cuisine and indulging in world-class wine tastings. This tour is a sensory feast, a symphony of sights, sounds, and tastes that will leave you spellbound. Come, let us take you on the journey of a lifetime. Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with the Pintours App! With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Embark on a thrilling Island Paradise Golf Car Expedition unlike any other! Dive into the hidden gem of Avalon as you unveil its mesmerizing beauty, rich history, and endless delights. Cruise along stunning coastal roads, soak in panoramic vistas of azure waters, and feel the sun-kissed breeze on your face as you explore charming coves and secluded beaches. Immerse yourself in the island's fascinating heritage as you discover ancient ruins, visit iconic landmarks, and hear captivating stories of legendary pirates and explorers. Indulge in delectable local cuisine, sip on refreshing tropical drinks, and surrender to pure relaxation on pristine sandy shores. Don't worry about other people, this tour is completely tailored to you with our app! You can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Embark on an engaging scavenger hunt through the historic streets of Avalon California, on the island of Catalina! Explore the quaint and beautiful harbor and waterfront. See the historic sights like the Avalon Casino. See some of the overlooked gems like the the Avalon Veteran's Memorial. Explore and see the many unique shops, restaurants and galleries. Go at your own pace and see the best of what Catalina has to offer. Ready to discover Catalina in a whole new way? Let the adventure begin!

Live the high life with a helicopter flight from Catalina Island to the city of Long Beach in California. Enjoy panoramic views over the Pacific Ocean as you soar like an eagle to this SoCal gateway.

Discover Avalon’s most iconic landmarks on the Best of Avalon + Scenic Mt. Ada Tour! Ride in comfort aboard our brand-new safari tram, The Eagle, as a knowledgeable naturalist narrates your journey. Highlights include the historic Catalina Casino, the picturesque Lover’s Cove, the elegant Wrigley Mansion, and the stunning views from Mt. Ada. Enjoy a stop at Descanso Beach to take in the island’s natural beauty. This tour offers unforgettable photo opportunities and a unique perspective on Catalina’s rich history and breathtaking scenery. But the adventure doesn't stop there! Along the way, our knowledgeable guide will regale you with fascinating tales of Avalon's storied past, from its Hollywood heyday to its enduring allure as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Learn about the island's unique ecosystem, including its diverse wildlife and conservation efforts that have helped preserve its natural splendor for generations to come.

Your very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!