Swap the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles for something a bit more relaxing—a scenic ferry trip to Catalina Island. Once you arrive, enjoy a guided tour of the main city of Avalon to help you get your bearings, and learn about its top sights. No need to worry about rushing back—the tour factors in some free time to explore Avalon’s shops, restaurants, and famous landmarks independently.

Travel with ease to Catalina Island with a hassle-free ferry ride
Save time booking transfers—hotel pickup and drop-off are included
No getting lost—enjoy a sightseeing tour of Avalon with a guide
Tick off lots of top sights—such as Green Pleasure Pier and Avalon Theater

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Round-trip ferry transfer
Avalon sightseeing tour

Gratuities
Food and drinks

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

08:00 AM

Pickup details

Please be ready 10 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up time. Out front of the hotel.

What To Expect

Catalina Express

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Green Pleasure Pier (Pass By)

Descanso Beach Club (Pass By)

Catalina Island Casino Ballroom (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Stroller accessible

Service animals allowed
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Lisa_M

Wonderful tour. The weather was a little cold but other than that everything was perfect. Our tour guide was very good and knowledgeable about the island.

Reviews

4.0

17 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 17 reviews

Beautiful Views

Lisa_M, Jun 2023

Wonderful tour. The weather was a little cold but other than that everything was perfect. Our tour guide was very good and knowledgeable about the island.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you so much for letting others know how wonderful the tour was. We hope to service you in the near future.

Catalina Island in September

hdynytd82d, Sept 2022

This was a great way to experience Catalina Island. It was difficult knowing where to go for the Discover Avalon tour once we arrived. We eventually located the meeting point and enjoyed all the views.

Response from Host, Sept 2022

Thank you for the positive review and letting others know. Did you receive an email from Karmel's Extreme tours with a link to the map and directions where to go for your Discover Avalon Tour.

Very expensive for a very short tour

Caitlyn_P, Dec 2021

It was very expensive for what ended up being a 40 minute tour of the island. We didn’t know we were given classes of seats on the way there and back so we waited in the wrong line in the rain. And our return driver was stoned. Would not recommend for the price.

Response from Host, Jan 2022

This tour includes roundtrip transfers from hotel to Catalina Express. Roundtrip Catalina Express to/from the island. Plus the Avalon Scenic tour when you are on the island. All other time on the island is your free time to explore on your own. Drivers undergo random drug tests with the Ca DMV. Unless there was proof or evidence you can provide, stating someone is stoned is hearsay and defamation of character. Please let us know if you have any factual evidence and the driver will be sent for a random test. Drivers are not employees or Karmel Shuttle. All drivers are owner operators and part of a transportation network. We thank you for your time comments. We apologize your expectations of the Discover Avalon tour were not met. It does state a 45 minute tour on the tour details.

More time

Ellis_B, Sept 2021

It was a great trip totally worth it. Just wish we had more time. Didn't get enough time to spend on the island. Want to expand the time on the island to make the trip worth it.

Not the best experience

Kathleen_B, Sept 2021

The transportation from our hotel was fine. He came early and we had to rush, then got to the terminal very early. The ferry ride was nice. The town of Avalon was beautiful. The tour around town was nice but it was scheduled for the middle of the day. We would prefer to take the tour as soon as we arrived so we knew where we wanted to go. We also were told that we would be leaving around 5:30 when I booked the tour, but ended up having to take the 3:55 ferry and didn’t have enough time in Avalon. When I tried to call for information during the day, the operators didn’t understand what I was asking or have information about the trip I was on. Overall not the best experience.

Beautiful Island and Great Day Trip

Beth_A, Sept 2021

Ferry ride to a near-magical island. So rich in history and just breathtaking. My adult son and I had a wonderful tour of the beautiful Avalon and then toured the rest of the island with a golf cart we rented. So much to do there!

Response from Host, Sept 2021

We thank you for the review. Catalina is Magical and we are so happy you have a great experience with priceless memories.

This is not a day trip, only transportation

kshama_P, Sept 2021

SUMMARY - This tour is just shuttle service from hotel to ferry port . Ferry tickets can be easily purchased online or onsite at ticket counter. I paid 210$ for something that could be done in 100$ . I gave feedback to them and after lot of back and forth, they gave me partial credit to be used for next purchase( to use that I will have to spent another 50$) MORE DETAILS - The title of this trip is misleading - its not a day trip they are selling, instead what is up for purchase is shuttle service, ferry tickets (75$) and one hour discover avalon ride (20$). I took sometime for me understanding the structure and by the time I understood it was too late. I think this trip is for those people who need shuttle from hotel to ferry stop since rest of tickets can be bought directly from website. I realized this after I was done with the trip, since I was I am a local travelling by self who was looking for 'daycation' hotel pick up for was not applicable for me. But I had ended up paying for the shuttle service which I did not use and not for one person but for 2 people. The package is minimum for 2 people but website allows it to be bought for one person. Since it cant isolate items you end up paying for everything. While on the tour, as I mentioned you are on your own as they just buy ferry tickets for you and for avalon tour there are no clear directions on pick up point well. It took me some asking around to figure out where the tour stop was and the tour operator was not helpful with the ticket checkin ( that's another story).

Breathtaking

Keyondra_S, Aug 2021

Everything was so smooth as far as instruction and direction. And it was so beautiful ! I loved it, an will be returning!

Overall, good experience

Tadveena_M, Aug 2021

Positive: The Catalina island is breathtaking! The Avalon scenic tour was beautiful. The ferry ride was amazing. The pick-up and drop-off is included in the package which makes it very convenient. Very efficient drivers. Negative: The company did not provide correct address for pick-up location to the driver. As a result, we had to wait 1 hour on the street with an infant. It was inconvenient for us and for the driver as well. Regardless, the driver was really nice and helpful.

Could've Been Clearer

Charles_H, Jun 2021

Overall experience was enjoyable. Once we arrived on Catalina, it was unclear where we needed to go for the tours mentioned. So we ended up just exploring the island (the shops and restaurants were so cute!) and laying out on the beach (the water was a little colder than we're used to, but it was so clear!)

A good day

Gail_V, Jun 2021

Our tour guide Cindy was incredible. Catalina has great views. I’m glad we had this experience and look forward to another one.

Everything

Miguel_L, Jul 2020

It was an amazing experience. everything about it was just amazingly. Will surely visit soon if possible .

Response from Host, Jul 2020

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your excellent review. It is reviews like yours that help others decide on what trip they want to do. As you did, I too enjoy Catalina Island. It is like being in a tropical island, but only 1 hour away from LA. You are the best...thank you.

A spasso per catalina

eviberlingo, Jan 2022

Ci sono venuti a prendere in hotel puntualissimi abbiamo preso traghetto per isola è poi abbiamo cercato dove si prendeva il pullman per girare isola . È sul molo verde gazebo con scritta arancione dopo ufficio del turismo dove rilasciano il biglietto e poi siamo andati alla piazza Tours . Le strade sono in salita e impervie . È una scoperta da condividere con le sue casette di legno ed infine pranzo con ostriche..

Response from Host, Jan 2022

Thank you for the great review