Ultimate Guide to Helicopter Tours on the Big Island of Hawaii

So you want to see the Big Island, but you do not have a lot of time, and you have money to spend. I recommend a helicopter tour. Helicopter tours are great. They take you places that you could never get to by car or foot. If you want to see the beauty of the Big Island, than go with the helicopter tour. This is the ultimate guide to helicopter tours on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Blue Hawaiian (808-961-5600) has been in business for 25 years, and their experience and knowledge makes this one of the best tours on the Big Island. They have tours leaving from Hilo and the Kohala resort area. They offer three tours. The Circle of Fire Tour leaves Hilo and tours the active Kilauea volcano. This tour costs about $180. For about $200, the Kohala Coast Adventure, leaving from Waikoloa, takes you on a tour of the lush west side of the Big Island with views of waterfalls, seaside cliffs and rainforests. The Big Island Spectacular, also leaving from Waikoloa, is a combination of the above two tours for about $370.

Tropical Helicopters (808-882-1223) offers a more personalized tour. They have two standard tours. Hilo's Fire and Falls Adventure takes you over the active volcano and the town of Hilo to the Rainbow Falls for about $180. For just $20 more dollars you can do the same above tour without doors. What a rush! Otherwise, you can charter your own helicopter for about $1000 per hour and create your own adventure.

Sunshine (808-882-1223) leaves from Hilo and also offers two tours. The Pele Explorer is a 45 minute tour around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that follows the lava flow as it flows into the Pacific. If you book online, the tour costs $169. The Volcano Deluxe is a 110 minute tour that, in addition to the volcano, takes you through the Kohala Mountains to the Hamakua coast with impressive views of lush rainforests and roaring waterfalls. This tour is a little more expensive at about $405 if booked online.

Safari Helicopters (808-696-1259) leaves out of Hilo and offers some of the most affordable tours. For $156, Safari takes you on a 45 minute tour of the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes and then over to the active Kilauea crater, on the Volcano Safari Tour. On the Deluxe Volcano Coastline and Volcano Tour, you will see everything on the Volcano Safari Tour, plus waterfalls on the upper Wailuku River and the Hilo Bay front at an affordable $179.

Helicopter tours are great way to see the Big Island of Hawaii. The flights are breathtaking and a once in a lifetime experience. This ultimate guide to helicopter tours on the Big Island of Hawaii will bring you one step closer to your dream vacation.