Kualoa Ranch Tours: Which One is Worth Visiting?
Kualoa Ranch is famous for being the filming location of many blockbuster movies, but that’s not the only reason why it is must-see for any visitors to Oahu, Hawaii.
Set in the lush landscapes with stunning ocean views, Kualoa Ranch offer several tours that are perfect for adventurers, movie buffs, and those who just want to take in the scenery.
Among the most popular Kualoa Ranch tours are ATV tour, Hollywood movie sites exploration, jungle expedition, and ziplining experience – but what would be the best tour for you?
In a hurry and need a quick decision? Best Value & Most Fun Kualoa Ranch Tour is the Hollywood Movie Sites Tour.
To help you make your decision, I’ve put together a review of the different Kualoa Ranch tours. I will tell you what each tour is like and which one is my favorite. So, if you’re wondering whether or not Kualoa Ranch is worth visiting or which tour you should take, you won’t be for long. Let’s get started!
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What is Kualoa Ranch?
Kualoa Ranch is a private nature preserve with 4,000 acres of land on the windward side of Oahu, about a 45-drive from Waikiki and Honolulu. The ranch is known for its beautiful scenery, which has been featured in numerous films and television shows over the past decades.
Is Kualoa Ranch worth visiting?
If you are a big fan of movies, it would be a definite yes! The ranch is home to many film sites, including Jurassic Park, Godzilla, and Pearl Harbor. But even if you’re not crazy about movie sites and sets, Kualoa ranch is worth a visit for the experience. The views are stunning and there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. If you happen to visit during the season, you can pick up some fruits in the jungle. We visited during September and got to try some delicious strawberry guavas.
Can you go to Kualoa Ranch without a tour?
Kualoa Ranch is a private nature preserve that is not open to the public and the only way to visit is by taking a tour. Tours are offered daily and include a variety of activities such as hiking, horseback riding, ATV rides, and ziplining.
Kualoa Ranch Tours & Activities
Kualoa Ranch has something for everyone of all ages, with a variety of tours and activities that showcase the beauty of Hawaii’s natural environment and its rich history. Experiences available here include ATV tours, farm tours, the real-thrill zip-line tours, kayak tours on the private beach, and tours of Hollywood film locations. Visitiors can also enjoy horseback riding, hiking, and much more. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing or an action-filed day, Kualoa Ranch is sure not to disappoint!
Kualoa Ranch ATV Raptor Tour
The self-drive ATV raptor tour at Kualoa Ranch is the perfect way to explore the ranch off the beaten path. You’ll follow a guide in an open-air 4WD vehicle, checking out filming sites from Hollywood movies such as Jurassic World and learning about the history of the ranch as well as its cattle operation.
The ATV can hold two to six people, depending on the number of kids in your party. You will get to stop and take pictures at jaw-dropping beautiful sites. The tour is an exciting and educational way to see the beautiful Kualoa Ranch. So round up your friends or family and get ready for this unforgettable experience.
🛺Book Kualoa Ranch ATV Raptor Tour here
Kualoa Ranch Jungle Expedition Tour
The one-hour Jungle Expedition Tour takes you into the wild areas of Kualoa Ranch. You’ll feel your adrenaline pumping as the vehicle climbs up the steep jungle trails, opening up the spectacular view of the ocean and islands.
The ride is bumpy but fun, and the expert guide will tell you more about the operation of the ranch. There are a few scenic stops along the way for you to take pictures, but there are two longer stops where you will get out and explore.
The first main stop is at a secluded lookout where you do a short hike to take in the fantastic views of the eastern Oahu, including Mokoliʻi Island (Chinaman’s Hat) and Kaneʻohe Bay, where Johnny Depp sailed aboard Queen Anne’s Revenge in the Pirates of the Caribbean 4. The second main stop is at the filming site of of Jurassic Park. You will get to walk around, reliving the dinosaur chase, and take a picture of the Godzilla’s giant footprint.
🌴Book Kualoa Ranch Jungle Expedition Tour here
Kualoa Ranch Hollywood Movie Sites Tour
With so many movies being filmed at Kualoa Ranch since the 1950s, there is a high chance that at least one of your favorite movie has been filmed at Kualoa Ranch.
On the Kualoa Ranch Hollywood Movie Sites Tour, you’ll get to see some of the most famous filming locations on the island, including Pearl Harbor, Jurassic Park, Kong: Skull Island, Magnum P.I, 50 First Dates, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. Your guide will lead you to the best hotspots and provide background on the history of the ranch and how it became a Hollywood favorite.
Admire the sparkling waters of Kaneohe Bay that was featured in several scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (where Johnny Depp sailed aboard Queen Anne’s Revenge) and the high wall of Jurassic Park with the Godzilla’s giant footprint.
🎥Book Kualoa Hollywood Movie Sites Tour here
Kualoa Ranch Jurassic Valley Zipline
Jurassic Valley Zipline is a thrilling way to explore the beautiful Ka’a’awa Valley in Kualoa Ranch. On the ride to get to the zipline starting point, you will pass by the film location of Kong: Skull Island where there are enormous bones and skull artifacts. Along the way, your experienced adventure guide will teach you about the native plant and animal life that abounds in this lush valley.
As you get fitted for the zip line equipment, your guide will go through the safety instructions. After that, you will fly down fourteen tandem cables (each ranging in length from 200 feet to 1/4 mile or 400m), then cross two suspension bridges that swing over rushing streams. No prior zipline experience is necessary.
🚠Book Kualoa Jurassic Valley Zipline here
Kualoa Ranch – Electric Mountain Bike Tour
The Kualoa Ranch electric-assisted mountain bike tour is an eco-friendly tour that makes it easy for those who love the freedom of exploring on a bike but not up for a strenuous ride. The electric bike engines give you an extra push on the trail, making this leisurely e-bike adventure ideal for almost all ages and abilities (minimum age required is 10 years old).
You will follow your guide off the beaten path through 9.5 miles of dirt rails, ridges, and alleys in Kualoa and Kaaawa. with many photo ops and stunning view along the way.
🚴Book Kualoa Ranch Electric Mountain Bike Tour here
Kualoa Ranch – Horseback Riding Tour
Kualoa Ranch Horseback Riding Tour is the perfect way to experience Kualoa ranch through the eyes of paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy). The guided tour takes you on a leisurely ride through the iconic valley along the dirt trails, offering stunning views of the lush green mountains and gorgeous valleys.
🐎Book Kualoa Ranch Horseback Riding Tour here
Kualoa Ranch – Ocean Voyage Tour
Looking to explore the natural beauty of Oahu without breaking a sweat? The ocean voyage tour is a great way to take in the beautiful scenery of Kaneohe Bay.
The tour starts with a short ride across Moli’i Fishpond, an ancient Hawaiian pond in use more than 800 years ago to supply local villages with fish, where you will learn about traditional aquaculture practices in Hawaii. On the other side of the fishpond, you will arrive at Secret Island where a spacious catamaran awaits to take you on a 45 minute ocean cruise.
Along the way, keep an eye out for the spots where some of your favorite Hollywood blockbusters were shot. The eye-catching scenery has served as the backdrop for many Hollywood films including Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Pearl Harbor and 50 First Dates.
⛵ Book Kualoa Ranch Ocean Voyage Tour here
Kualoa Ranch – Aloha Aina Farm Tour
To be honest, out of all Kualoa Ranch tours, I’m the least impressed with Aloha Aina Tour. Is it a bad experience? No, it’s actually a quite interesting tropical gardens tour combined with a canoe ride where you will get to learn about fragrant fruit trees and tropical flowers. At Oahu’s most well-preserved ancient Hawaiian fishponds (Moli’i), you will get to learn about early Hawaiian aquaculture practices and how fish was farmed.
But is Aloha Aina Tour worth the money? It really depends on your interest, but I think the experience falls short compared to other tours and activities that are offered at Kualoa Ranch.
👨🌾Book Kualoa Ranch Aloha Aina Farm Tour here
What is the best Kualoa Ranch tour?
The best and most highly-rated Kualoa Ranch tour is the ATV Raptor Tour, offering an exhilarating ride through the jungle and movie sites on all-terrain vehciles.
Other popular tours include the Jurassic Valley Zipline which gives guests a bird’s-eye view of the lush valley below, and the Movies Tour which takes guests to some of the filming locations for popular movies and TV shows.
My Honest Review of Kualoa Ranch Tours
Out of all the most popular tours at Kualoa Ranch, I think ATV tour is the best tour in terms of unique experience and value for money.
Kualoa Ranch ATV Tour vs Movies Tour vs Jungle Tour
The ATV Raptor Tour takes you off the beaten path and into some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the ranch while also include some stops from the Movies Tour and the Jungle Tour, giving you the best value for money. You will get to see firsthand how the ranch is managed and learn about its cattle operation. And, of course, the scenery is simply breathtaking.
In order to drive the all-terrain vehicle, you have to be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license. It’s amazing to feel that you’re in control of your exploration! Some parts of the dirt trails may be muddy, so you may want to bring a change of clothes or wet wipes with you.
Because the ATV tour will include some stops from the Movies Tour and the Jungle Tour, if you want to add another tour to stay longer at Kualoa Ranch, I’d suggest you add the Ocean Voyage Tour to avoid repetitive stops.
Kualoa Ranch Movies Tour vs Jungle Tour
If the possibility of getting dirty on a thrilling jungle ride turns you away from the ATV tour, both the Kualoa Ranch Movies Tour and Jungle Tour would be great alternatives. I find the Movies tour and Jungle tour quite similar in that they both included stops at some of the filming sites.
However, the Movies Tour had more filming stops overall, and you might even get to see a filming in progress if you’re lucky. The Jungle Expediton Tour includes a short hike to a secluded lookout, where you can enjoy some stunning views.
If you’re a big movie fan, you may find the Movies tour more fun. If not, the Jungle Expedition tour has the perfect combination between stops at beautiful nature and filming locations.
Useful Tips for Kualoa Ranch Movies Tour and Jungle Tour: While most people will try to sit in the front of the shuttle, I find it better to sit at the end for both Hollywood Movie Sites Tour and Jungle Expedition Tour. That way, you will be the first to get off and take pictures before everyone else.
We were the first to get off at the Jurassic World movie site and we had so much time to explore and take photos without others in the frame. After that, we had more time to explore the sites while others were waiting in line for their turns to take pictures.
Kualoa Ranch Tours FAQs
How to get to Kualoa Ranch from Waikiki
Kualoa Ranch is just a 45-minute drive from Waikiki, but you should budget an hour in case of traffic or road works. Take the H-1 Freeway west to the Likelike Highway, Route #63, then exit onto Kahekili Highway, Route #83, heading north. Continue along Kahekili Highway and after about 10 minutes you will find Kualoa entrance your left (the mountain side)
How much does it cost to visit Kualoa Ranch?
The only way to see Kualoa Ranch is to take at least one guided tour. The cost of visiting Kualoa Ranch will then depend on what you want to do and how long you want to stay there. The tours range from 1 to 2.5 hours, with the price between around $55 to $150. For a full day experience, you can book a combination of two tours. To avoid repetitive stops, the combination I recommend is ATV tour & Ocean Voyage or Movies Tour/Jungle Tour and Ocean Voyage.
What movies were filmed at Kualoa Ranch?
Kualoa has been a top film and TV production location for decades. Productions that have filmed at Kualoa include Hawaii Five-0, Lost, Pearl Harbor. Here are the some of the most popular movies that were filmed in recent years at Kualoa Ranch:
- You May Not Kiss the Bride (2011)
- Soul Surfer (2011)
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
- Battleship (2012)
- Jurassic World (2015)
- Snowden (2016)
- Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
- Kong: Skull Island (2017)
- Snatched (2017)
- Jumanji – Welcome to the Jungle , early 2018
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
How far in advance should you make reservations for Kualoa Ranch tours?
Popular ATV tours such as ATV Raptor Tour, Jurassic Valley Zipline, Movies Tour, and Jungle Tour typically sells out 2-3 weeks in advance. The summer months and holiday periods are busier, so you may want to book even earlier. .
The Wrap Up: Kualoa Ranch Tours – Which one is worth visiting?
Kualoa Ranch is one of the most famous movie locations and nature preserve in Hawaii, and you can’t really go wrong with any of the tours offered by the ranch. All of Kualoa Ranch tours are led by knowledgeable and experienced guides who will give you an insider’s look at the ranch and its history.
If you’re looking for the most memorable and comprehensive experience, I recommend the Kualoa Ranch ATV Raptor Tour. This tour takes you off the beaten path and into some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the ranch while also allow you to stop at the movie site of Jurassic World.
If you’re a movie fan and interested in the movie history of the ranch, the Movies Tour is a must-do. On the other hand, the Jungle Expediton Tour allows you to explore the jungle through a short hike to a secluded lookout.
No matter which tour you choose, Kualoa Ranch is sure to give you an unforgettable experience!
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