Is Kualoa Ranch worth it, and which tour should you pick?
Kulaoa Ranch is a beautiful scenic private nature reserve on the windward or east side of Oahu island of Hawaii. It is also called Jurrasic Park of Hawaii, as this is where the Jurrasic Park movie scenes and many other movies were filmed.
Kualoa Ranch offers a variety of family-friendly tours, ranging from adventurous to scenic and educational.
I have been to Oahu twice so far, first in 2018 and most recently in 2024. Both times, we went to Kualoa Ranch to try some of their excursions. My family loved their tours! They were the highlight of our trip to Oahu.
But during our visit to the ranch we learned that this place is so much more than just the tours. It is a place steeped in history and strives to preserve the ancient lands.
Read on to find out more about the various tours at Kualoa Ranch, including the most popular ones and the ones we tried. What tour you pick would depend on your family or group’s interests, but I hope this article will help you choose.
Kulaoa Ranch Overview
Kualoa Ranch is a 4000-acre Private Nature Reserve. It is not only a working cattle ranch but also an agricultural and aquacultural establishment committed to protecting the valley for future generations.
Kulaoa Ranch is also a premier tourist destination in Hawaii. It is known for its stunning scenery and famous movie sites. Scenes from the Jurrasic Park movies and several other movies and TV shows were filmed here, and it is also called the Backlot of Hawaii.
Kualoa Ranch offers a variety of tours, from adventurous options like the ATV, Jurassic Adventure, zip line, and e-bike tours to scenic ones like the Ocean Voyage and Hollywood Movie Sites tours.
Some informational tours also focus on agriculture and sustainability, like the Kualoa Grown Tour and the Malama Experience.
Is Kualoa Ranch worth it?
Visiting Kualoa Ranch is often high on the list for those traveling to Oahu, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a beautiful, scenic valley that gives you the vibe of seeing the real Hawaii, which is lush and green with beautiful mountains, valleys, and ocean.
Plus, it has some of the best tours for a fun-filled day for your entire group! The tours range from $55 to $200 per person, and most tours are around 1 to 3 hours in length.
You can also combine two or three tours and make it a full-day excursion to Kualaoa Ranch. This is what we did on our recent trip to Oahu.
In the morning, we did the Hollywood Movie Sites Tour, then kept an hour free for lunch, and later on in the afternoon, we did the Ocean Voyage tour. We had our senior parents with us, so we wanted tours they could do as well with minimal walking.
I know that the cost can add up for a family or large group, but I think the cost of the tours is worth it for the beauty and history of the place and the fun excursions. Plus, the guides are amazing, too, and give so much information about the ranch and the movies that were shot here.
If we go to Oahu again in the future, we will definitely go back to Kualoa Ranch and try some more of their tours. Maybe the Jurrasic Adventure Tour or the ATV tour if I can convince my teen daughters to get all muddy 🙂
Kualoa Ranch Tours (and which one to pick?)
But with so many tours to choose from, it can be challenging to decide which one is worth your time and money.
The three tours that we experienced at Kualoa Ranch are –
- Hollywood Movie Sites Tour (we loved the movie sites and the World War II bunker on this one)
- Ocean Voyage Adventure (our favorite overall! The catamaran ride was awesome)
- Jungle Expedition Tour (great bumpy ride, hike, and views at the end)
Here’s a breakdown of all their excursions to help you pick the best tour based on your interests, starting with the ones we did first.
Hollywood Movie Sites Tour
- Why pick this tour? – If you are a movie fan and want to know about the movies and TV shows being filmed at the Ranch.
- Type of ride – Bus ride, not bumpy, suitable for seniors and families. There are steps to board the bus.
- Duration – 90 minutes
This 90-minute tour on a vintage green school bus takes you through Ka’a’awa Valley, where many Hollywood movies and shows have been filmed.
The tour guide provided a lot of fun and historical information about the movie sites at Kualoa Ranch.
Our first stop was a Historic World War II bunker, which was my kid’s favorite part. Inside, there were memorabilia from various movies, such as Jumanji, Kong Skull Island, Hawaii Five-O, and more.
There was a beautiful vista point here with great views of the windward coastline.
Another stop was at the boneyard from Kong Skull Island, which was great for photo ops.
The tour also stopped at many other filming sites (to be seen from the bus), such as the dance fight area in Jumanji and Godzilla’s giant-sized footprints.
We also saw several farms, unique tropical plants, and fruit trees. Overall, it was a fun tour.
➡️ Check rates and availability of Hollywood Movie Sites Tour
Ocean Voyage Adventure
- Why pick this tour? – For a scenic boat ride across the fishpond and a fun catamaran boat ride in Kaneohe Bay.
- Type of ride – Bus ride, boat ride, and catamaran ride. Suitable for seniors who can climb steps and families. The bus and catamaran boat have steps to get in and out. Some short walking is required at Secret Island.
- Duration – 90 minutes
This tour was so much fun! This is our family’s new favorite tour at Kualoa Ranch. We all loved the catamaran boat ride. It goes super fast and the waves make the boat rock which adds to the fun.
On this tour, we first boarded a bus and, in about 10 minutes, reached Moli’i Fishpond. This is an 800-year-old Hawaiian fishpond used for aquaculture and oyster farming.
Here, we boarded a small boat and had a 10-minute scenic boat ride crossing the fishpond. The views of the Kualoa mountain ranges and the surrounding greenery were really spectacular.
We reached Secret Island and walked a short distance to the beach, where we boarded the Catamaran boat for the Ocean voyage.
The boat has two levels, and the lower level has more seating. If you can climb the steps, I recommend going to the upper level for the views when the boat goes out into the ocean towards the Chinaman’s hat (Mokoll’i Island).
The boat goes super fast while going out in the ocean and rocks quite a bit with the waves, which was awesome. My husband and kids get seasick easily, but everyone was fine, and no one felt queasy.
We even spotted a few turtles. The return ride back is smooth and a great time to take pics. The views of the Ko’olau mountain range and Kualoa Valley from the boat are spectacular.
You return back the same way, crossing the fishpond and then boarding the bus to come back to the ranch.
Awesome ocean voyage tour! We will definitely do it again in the future!
Jungle Expedition Tour
- Why pick this tour? – Moderate adventure tour in a jeep through a rainforest and some movie sites. A short hike to a scenic viewpoint at the end.
- Type of ride – A bumpy ride in an open-air Jungle Expedition jeep with some great stops at movie sites and scenic overlooks.
- Duration – 90 minutes
We did this tour on our first trip to Oahu and loved it. It was the best of everything Kualoa Ranch had to offer – an adventure ride through a rainforest, movie sites, and a hike to a scenic viewpoint.
The open-air jeep was huge and fun; the kids loved it. The ride was fast and bumpy, and we were so close to vegetation and trees at times. We stopped at a site where a scene from the Jumanji movie was filmed for photos.
We also saw some sites from the Jurrasic World movie and Kong Skull Island. At one point, it started raining (well, it’s a rainforest!), which added to the adventure.
Towards the end of the tour, we did a small 10-minute hike over a dirt trail and saw jaw-dropping views of the Hakipu’u and Ka’a’awa valleys. Great photo op here.
➡️ Check rates and availability of Jungle Expedition Tour
As per the ranch guidelines, this tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems due to the bumpy ride on unpaved roads.
Jurassic Adventure Tour
- Why pick this tour? – If you want to see and hear about everything related to Jurrasic Park movies at Kualoa Ranch, this tour has it all.
- Type of ride – A bumpy ride in an open-air jeep with some great stops at movie sites.
- Duration – 2.5 hours
This is one of the most popular tours at Kulaoa Ranch along with the UTV tours. This tour goes out in an open-air jeep and focuses on everything Jurrasic.
It will take you to filming locations of the original Jurrasic Park movie as well as locations where Jurrasic World and Fallen Kingdom were filmed.
➡️ Check rates and availability of Jurassic Adventure Tour
As per the ranch guidelines, this tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems due to the bumpy ride on unpaved roads.
UTV Raptor Tour
- Why pick this tour? -UTV adventure with your family/group
- Type of ride – A bumpy, dusty/muddy ride in an open-air UTV vehicle with few stops
- Duration – 2 hours
Just like the Jurrasic Adventure tour, the UTV Raptor tour is one of the most popular tours at Kualoa Ranch.
This is best if you are looking for an adventure. In this tour, you will drive the UTV (2 to 6 people per UTV). There is a guide leading the UTVs at the front. Be prepared to get dusty/muddy as the UTV goes through unpaved dirt trails.
This tour is more focused on the UTV fun and less on movie sites and Jurrasic Park details. If you want to know more about the movies look at the Hollywood Movie Sites Tour and for Jurrasic Fans look at the Jurrasic Adventure Tour.
We didn’t do this, but we saw some people returning from the tour, and they were covered with dust. Change of clothes and shoes is recommended, and don’t take anything (like nice purses) if you don’t want them to get dirty.
My teen daughters didn’t want to do this as they didn’t want to get muddy. But maybe next time I’ll convince them to do it!
➡️ Check rates and availability of UTV Raptor Tour
As per the ranch guidelines, this tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems due to the bumpy ride on unpaved roads.
Jurassic Valley Zipline
- Why pick this tour? – Zipline fun over the Ka’a’awa Valley
- Type of activity– ziplines over valleys, suspension bridges, short hikes.
- Duration – 3 hours
Zipline over seven tandem ziplines, cross some suspension bridges, and walk several short hiking trails in this 3-hour zipline course at Kualoa Ranch.
The minimum height required is 4 feet 8 inches, and kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
➡️ Check rates and availability of Jurassic Valley Zipline
As per the ranch guidelines, this tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems due to the bumpy ride on unpaved roads.
E-bike Novice Tour
- Why pick this tour? – Explore the valley on an electric bike
- Type of ride – guided e-bike tour with a group suitable for beginners
- Duration – 2 hours
See the Kualoa Ranch’s valleys and mountain ranges on an electric bike on this group tour. The roads are unpaved, and the ride could be dusty/muddy.
The total bike course is around 6 miles, and there are some stops for photos.
➡️ Check rates and availability of E-bike Novice Tour
As per the ranch guidelines, this tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems.
Horseback Walking Tour
- Why pick this tour? – Horseback riding tour suitable for beginners.
- Type of ride – guided tour on horseback where horses walk in a straight line
- Duration – 2 hours
If you want to admire the Kualoa Ranch beauty at a slower pace, it cannot get any slower than taking a horseback walking tour. Horses walk nose to tail and are led by a guide in the front.
Although I haven’t taken a horseback walking tour here, I have taken several before at other places, and they are fun and beginner-friendly. My kids love horseback tours, but this one was sold out for our dates, so we couldn’t do it. Next time!
➡️ Check rates and availability of Horseback Walking Tour
As per the ranch guidelines, this tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems.
Secret Island Beach Adventure
- Why pick this tour? – Water activities on a secluded beach
- Type of activity – Kayaking, paddle boarding, or just relaxing at a beautiful beach
- Duration – 3 hours for half day, 6 hours for full day
Enjoy some beach fun on the white sandy beach of Kaneohe Bay. You can try various water activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, and beach volleyball; all equipment used is included in the tour and is first come, first served.
We saw Secret Island as part of the Ocean Voyage tour as we boarded the catamaran from there. However, we were not allowed to use the beach on the Ocean Voyage tour. The beach is really beautiful!
You can pick an AM or PM half-day timeslot or a full-day package, which includes a picnic lunch.
➡️ Check rates and availability of Secret Island Beach Adventure
Kualoa Grown Tour
- Why pick this tour? – To learn more about the agricultural practices and variety of plants grown at Kualoa Ranch
- Type of ride – Trolley ride
- Duration – 90 minutes
This is a mild trolley ride with breathtaking views of Kulaoa Ranch mountains and valleys while you learn all about the farming enterprise.
You will see a variety of plantations, such as taro farms, fruit gardens, and cacao farms, which are grown for chocolate.
Malama Experience
- Why pick this tour? – Hands-on agricultural activities to care for the land
- Duration – 2 hours
For a hands-on cultural experience, the Malama Experience lets you join in on sustainability projects like harvesting, planting, cleaning, etc.
You’ll learn why kalo (taro) is important to Hawaiians and participate in traditional Hawaiian farming activities.
Best of Kualoa Experience Package
This full-day package (8 AM to 3 PM) includes three popular 90-minute tours:
- Hollywood Movie Sites Tour
- Jungle Expedition Tour
- Kualoa Grown Tour
It also includes a buffet lunch at Kualao Ranch. Great deal if you want to do multiple tours as lunch is included.
➡️ Check rates and availability of Best of Kualoa Experience Package
Where to eat?
Kulaoa Ranch has a pretty good cafe, Aunty Pat’s Cafe and it has a lot of hot meal options. We even found several vegetarian options. The Garden burger and fries were great.
Coffee, drinks, various snacks, and ice cream were also available to purchase. There is indoor and covered outdoor seating areas.
The Visitor Center also has clean restrooms and a large gift shop to buy souvenirs.
Things to do near Kualoa Ranch
Byodo-In Temple – We first stopped at Byodo-In Temple on our way to the Ranch. Its around 20 minutes south of Kualoa Ranch. It’s a Buddhist temple on beautifully kept grounds with koi ponds. It was super crowded when we reached at 9:30 AM. 30 minutes should be enough here.
Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts—If you have some time after the activities at Kualaoa Ranch, stop by this cute roadside store, which sells coffee, macadamia nuts, and other gifts and souvenirs.
How to get there?
Rental Car – We rented a car for the whole duration of our recent trip and drove there. On the 2018 trip, we did not have a rental car, but we rented a car for a day to go to Kualoa Ranch and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Kualoa Transportation – For select tours, such as the full-day package, you can add on per-person transportation for pickup from select hotels in Waikiki. For other tours, you might have to call and check with ranch directly.
Wrap-up: Visiting Kualoa Ranch on Oahu
Kualoa Ranch is a unique nature reserve in east Oahu rich in history and preservation that offers a wide range of fun activities and tours catering to different interests.
We enjoyed all three tours we have done on Kualoa Ranch over our last two visits to Oahu. Hopefully we’ll get to visit Oahu again and try more of their awesome tours.
Whether you’re exploring movie sites, riding UTVs, horses, or e-bikes, ziplining through valleys, or learning about Hawaiian culture and farming, you’re guaranteed a day full of adventure and discovery. But remember that tours get sold out, so book yours soon.
More about Oahu
Check out my other blog posts from my visit to Oahu!
