Reef Catamaran Day Trip, 4.5 Hours

4 - 4.5 hours with Kona Coast Boat Tours

Overview

This half-day sailing trip runs from Kailua-Kona harbor to Kealakekua Bay, to the Captain Cook Monument reef. The boat is a catamaran with a bathroom and shaded seating, and the ride out follows the coastline before you arrive. Trips last between four and four and a half hours.

The basic option covers the cruise, snacks of chips and granola bars, juice, water, and a lunch of gourmet sandwiches and fresh fruit. A snorkeling option adds mask, fins and life jacket, and time in the water looking for boxfish, parrotfish, triggerfish and Hawaiian sea turtles over the reef. The monument marks the spot where James Cook died, and there is time to photograph it.

Getting to the departure point is on you: hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and you make your own way to the address on Kealakehe Pkwy. Confirm the exact slip in advance, since the operator keeps several boats at the harbor.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the harborCheck in at 245 Kealakehe Pkwy in Kailua-Kona. The operator asks that you call ahead to confirm the booking and the location of the boat, as they have multiple boats at the harbor.
2. Cruise to Kealakekua BayBoard the catamaran and sail along the coastline toward the Captain Cook Monument, with snacks and drinks served on the way.
3. Captain Cook Monument reefArrive at the reef in Kealakekua Bay and photograph the monument, which marks where James Cook died. Snorkeling time with mask, fins and life jacket applies only if the snorkeling option is selected.
4. Lunch on boardEat a lunch of gourmet sandwiches and fresh fruit on the boat.
5. Return to Kailua-KonaSail back to the harbor. The whole trip runs four to four and a half hours, subject to weather and water conditions.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from what you carry on board to how the operator handles boat assignments.

• What to bring. The listing recommends sunglasses, swimwear, a towel and sunscreen. A towel is singled out as highly recommended, and swimwear matters if you select the snorkeling option.
• Food and drink. Chips, granola bars, juice and water come out during the ride, with sandwiches, fruit and drinks at lunch. Reviewers called the sandwiches good.
• Group feel. Reviewers described guides as funny and informative, with plenty of jumping and diving off the deck for teenagers.
• Snorkeling window. One reviewer reported a generous window of roughly two hours in the water, arriving before the crowds. The crew hands out mask, fins and life jacket on the snorkeling option, and the reef holds boxfish, parrotfish and Hawaiian sea turtles.
• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup, so plan your own transport to the harbor address. The operator asks you to call twelve hours ahead to confirm both the booking and which boat you should board, since vessels sit at different parts of the harbor.
• Weather calls. The listing states the activity depends on weather and water conditions. Cancellation is free up to twenty-four hours before departure, which matters if conditions turn on the Kona coast.

Common issues. The meeting point causes the most trouble. One reviewer arrived at the given address, found nobody there, and had to call to learn the boat was at a different part of the harbor; others have also asked for clearer directions. The same reviewer said their departure was combined with another trip, putting around forty-eight passengers on board, and that the vessel used was a monohull rather than a catamaran, making the ride bumpier. Weather and water conditions can affect the trip, hotel transport is not included, and one reviewer asked for vegetarian lunch choices. Tips are also not included in the price.

Choosing A Tour