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Big Island Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour Review: Is Wasabi Worth Your Wallet?
- Alyssa
- Apr 1, 2023
- 11 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
If you’re looking at a twilight volcano and stargazing tour on the Big Island, Wasabi Tours is one of the most popular small-group options. During our trip to Hawai‘i, we decided to book their all-day Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour to see as much of the island as possible in one experience. We paid $249 per person ($551.34 total for two adults), and the tour runs from about 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM with transportation, meals, and multiple stops included.
The day is long and very driving-heavy, but it also covers a lot, from Volcanoes National Park to nighttime stargazing. In this review, we break down exactly what’s included, how the experience felt in real life, and whether Wasabi’s Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour is worth your wallet.
Disclaimer: This post does contain affiliate links which if used, we can earn commission from. These types of links do help us continue making honest reviews for our readers.
Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour Details (Quick Overview)
Tour Operator: Wasabi Tours
Location: Big Island of Hawaiʻi
Duration: ~13 hours (10:00 AM–11:00 PM)
Group Size: Small group (Sprinter van)
Price: $249 per person
Includes: Transportation, lunch, dinner, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, jackets
Highlights: Coffee farm visit, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, stargazing near Saddle Road
Transportation on Wasabi’s Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour
We rode in a Mercedes Sprinter van that comfortably fit around 16 people. The van had speakers along each aisle, and the driver provided commentary throughout the day, pointing out what we were seeing and what stops were coming next. We had no trouble hearing him, and he rarely needed to use the microphone. The ride itself was smooth for most of the day. The only slightly uncomfortable moments came when everyone got back into the van after being outside in the hot Hawaiian sun. Thankfully, the van had strong air conditioning and heating vents, which made a big difference during such a long, driving-heavy day. Our driver frequently checked in to make sure the temperature was comfortable and was happy to adjust it if needed.
Overall, we didn’t mind spending so many hours in the van, it stayed cool, comfortable, and well managed throughout the tour.
Hotel Pickup & Start Time for the Twilight Volcano Tour
The pickup process with Wasabi Tours was simple and efficient. The company called us the day before to confirm our estimated pickup time and location. We were picked up at our hotel lobby around 9:45 AM, about 15 minutes earlier than the 10:00 AM start time listed online. We were surprised to see that two other groups had already been picked up before us, so it’s worth noting that your actual pickup time may be earlier than expected, especially if you’re not an early riser. Our driver was friendly and welcoming, offering granola bars and water as a light breakfast snack. Once everyone was settled, he explained the plan for the day, and we headed out to pick up the remaining guests. After all pickups were complete, we stopped to collect our catered lunches and officially began the main portion of the tour around 11:00 AM.
Stops on Wasabi’s Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour
The Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour includes multiple stops across the Big Island, from coffee farms and black sand beaches to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and nighttime stargazing.
Kona Coffee Bay View Farm:
The first stop after picking up all guests and lunch is a local coffee farm called, Bay View Farm. While here, there was a small tour of the plantation by our tour guide and one of the employees. We learned about the production, drying, and weighing of the coffee beans, and saw how they were picked from the plant.
Afterward, we went to the gift shop/restaurant to sample some of the coffee and shop around. The samples included light, medium, and dark roast coffee. There were other snacks for sale, like chocolate-covered coffee beans and lilikoi butter (so good!!). Just an FYI, the lilikoi butter cannot go through security, if you buy some you must have a checked bag, ours got taken at security! We also were given a discount on purchases made by being a part of the tour! Although this may sound like a sales pitch by the plantation, the coffee and goodies were very much worth the price. The staff were super friendly and did not feel pushy. If you are not interested in the shop, the view from the patio was amazing and there was room to sip your coffee samples and relax. We sat on the patio for around 15 minutes, enjoying the view, morning air, and wonderful tasting coffee. Once everyone finished in the shop, we went down to a covered outdoor patio with multiple tables to have our packed lunches.
Lunch on the Twilight Volcano Tour
Before starting the tour, we were asked about any allergies or food preferences (vegetarian, vegan, etc.) we had. We did not need accommodations, so we had the standard lunch boxes. We had a boxed meal (bento box style), which included chicken katsu, fried fish, rice, and tauro slices. Our driver also had a cooler full of water and multiple flavors of Hawaiian suns (the lilikoi passion is our favorite).
The food was pretty tasty but it was cold by the time we got it. We were surprised to eat so early with so much more of the trip left. At lunch, our tour guide passed out menus for dinner and told us we would stop at a restaurant near the Volcano National Park. The menu had about six different items from burgers, fried fish, and other assortments of choices (including vegetarian options). We thought it was nice to choose what we wanted for dinner and looked forward to trying the food.
Punaluʻu Bake Shop:
Our next stop was Punaluʻu Bake Shop, it took us about an hour and a half to get there from
Bay View Farms. There are some lovely views of the island as we drove by the South Kona Forest Reserve, Ocean View, and South Point Park. Our tour guide kept us entertained by telling us about Hawaiian legends and about where we were. He explained some history about the island and different areas as we passed them, and even gave us some pointers if we decided to come back and travel in that area. Near South Point there are some local "limos" which can take you down to a green sand beach, as most rental cars will not make the drive. Another tip our guide emphasized was that if you don't see a local doing it, don't do it!
Once we got to Punaluʻu Bake Shop we were able to take a bathroom break and look at what they had to offer. The line for the bakery counter was pretty long as most tours arrived at the same time. It wasn't too long of a wait though, and the staff was quick and friendly at answering any questions we had. There were a lot of options; mostly breads and malasadas which were the main attraction! They had all kinds of flavors from chocolate, mango, lilikoi, and plain. We tried the chocolate, strawberry, and lilikoi. We enjoyed the Malasadas but were unsure if the long wait and drive were worth it. Most of the guests on our were not impressed with the shop, maybe we caught them on a bad day.
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach:
One of our absolute favorite spots in Hawaii, only a 10-minute drive from Punalu’u Bake Shop, is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach! It has a beautiful landscape, an incredible view, and a great place to view wildlife. We spent about 20 minutes here taking pictures and exploring. Our favorite part was seeing green sea turtles up close and getting amazing pictures of them. The turtles were resting on the beach and swimming around in the water! Although we did not stay long, we heard it is a great place to snorkel and soak up the sun for the day! We saw many people in the water surfing, snorkeling, and enjoying a wonderful day at the beach!
It's important to remember to keep your distance from wildlife, especially the sea turtles in Hawaii! They are a threatened species and protected under federal law. Touching them is illegal, and you will get slapped with a huge fine which can reach upwards of $10,000! It's also important to note that taking sand and volcanic rock from any of the Hawaiian Islands is frowned upon and is said to anger Pele the goddess of fire and volcanoes.
Kilauea Overlook, Volcano National Park:
About 40 minutes from Punalu’u Beach was the Volcano National Park. The cost of the tour includes your admission to the park. The first stop we made inside the Volcano National Park was the Kilauea overlook, a beautiful spot that gives you a 360-degree view of the park. We had the best luck because the weather was clear, sunny, and perfect for taking in the sights. We could see down into the crater and valleys along with Mauna Loa! We loved this spot as it was different than anything we had seen.
Steam vents, Volcano National Park:
Outside Kilauea overlook is a group of steam vents and sulfur banks. We stopped there to look inside and learn the science about what causes them. You can feel hot water vapors as they billow from the ground in the steam vents. The phenomenon is when ground water seeps down to rocks heated by magma that get so hot they vaporize the water, returning it to the surface as steam. It was a neat thing to see! We were unaware you could get so close, and we were shocked at how warm the vapor was!
Thurston Lava Tube, Volcano National Park:
After viewing the steam vents, we made our way down Crater Road, stopping a few times, and getting out to walk a few small trails. Our guide even found us a few different lava rocks and explained the differences between them as we walked. We eventually made our way to the Thurston Lava Tube. The walk was not bad; it was nice to be able to stretch our legs after being in the car for so long! The outside of the tube was covered in lush vegetation, with beautiful shades of red, green, and blue. After crossing a small bridge to get inside the lava tube we made our way inside. Lights are lining the path so you can see, which we were thankful for!
You did have to watch out for hanging rocks or sharp edges on the sides of the cave, but overall we thought the tube was accessible for those of any age. We got to experience the inside of the cave for about 10 minutes, as our guide explained some historical and scientific facts regarding the caves. It was a great experience to explore the past path of lava!
Volcano House, Volcano National Park:
Our final stop within Volcano National Park was at the Volcano House Hotel. It is a charming place with a great view of the crater. We got to look around the hotel, use the bathroom, and visit the gift shop. We have not stayed here yet but would love to come back and stay. The employees informed us you get a great view of the lava/steam when the volcano is active and can see the lava glow at night!
Dinner Near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
For dinner, we went to Volcano's Lava Rock Cafe, about 20 minutes from the Volcano National Park. We had already specified what main entrees we wanted earlier in the day, so when we arrived, all we needed to do was sit and order our drinks. The food at the restaurant was very subpar. We were all surprised at how bad the food was; most of our group did not finish their meals and ate snacks they had left in the van. However, with it turning nighttime and the temperature dropping, we were glad to have a warm cup of coffee to keep us going!
Another issue we had with the restaurant besides the food, was the quality of the bathroom. They were outside the building and rundown. The men's bathroom was in such bad shape that the men were lined up to use the women's bathroom.
Stargazing Near Saddle Road:
After dinner, we headed out to begin the actual stargazing part of the tour. The drive from the restaurant to Saddle Road was about an hour and 45 minutes. This drive was hard on a lot of people, and most groups were asleep or spent the entire ride trying to get comfortable. Our driver tried to remain lively, but we could tell they were getting tired (reasonable after the long day). Once we arrived at the stargazing location, we stopped for a quick bathroom break and then headed across the street to Stargaze. As we exited the van, our driver had jackets for those who had forgotten to bring one (us included). It gets cold up there at night, and we did not expect it to!
The stargazing portion of the trip was probably the most disappointing part for us, not because of the view but the time spent enjoying it! The view is astonishing; you can see many stars, and constellations, and the colorfulness of the Milky Way. Although the view was spectacular, some of our group members were too cold to stay out of the van for very long. when a handful of people returned to the van, the tour guide decided it was time to leave. We only stayed at the stargazing location for about 10-15 minutes! We did not even have time to set up our cameras and take pictures! Leaving so early was very disappointing to us because we were under the impression a “stargazing” tour, would have more stargazing!
Drop-Off After the Twilight Volcano Tour
The drive from the stargazing location to drop-off was arguably the longest part of the trip. It took about an hour and a half to get to the Waikoloa resorts and hotels where we were staying. Group members picked up first were dropped off first. We were the second to last group to have been picked up, so we spent an extra half hour in the van dropping others off. Although the drop-off process can be lengthy, our guide did his best to make it engaging.
What to Bring on the Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour
Because this is a long, full-day tour that runs from morning into late night, being prepared makes a big difference in how comfortable you’ll feel throughout the experience.
Sunscreen – You’ll be outside for several daytime stops, and the sun can be intense.
Water – Drinks are provided, but having your own water bottle is still helpful.
Cash for gratuity – Tips for the driver/guide are not included in the tour price.
Warm jacket or blanket – It gets surprisingly cold at night, especially near the stargazing location.
Camera or phone – Great for daytime stops; stargazing photos are difficult without proper gear.
Tripod (optional) – Helpful if you want to attempt night sky photos, though time is limited.
Portable phone charger – With such a long day, your battery may not last until the end.
Final Verdict: Is Wasabi’s Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour Worth Your Wallet?
Overall, we enjoyed this tour, but it comes with important tradeoffs. We paid $551.34 total for two adults, and that price included a full day of transportation, park entrance fees, a boxed lunch, a sit-down dinner, snacks and drinks throughout the day, and coats to borrow in the evening. We learned a lot about the island of Hawaiʻi, its history, and its culture, and we covered more than half of the island in a single day. Getting to walk through a lava tube and see so many different landscapes in one trip was something we never imagined doing.
That said, this is a very long day, and not every stop felt worthwhile. We weren’t impressed with the dinner restaurant or the Punaluʻu Bake Shop, but our biggest disappointment was the stargazing portion of the tour. Stargazing is a major part of the tour’s title, yet we spent 20 minutes at most at the stargazing location during a tour that lasted well over 10 hours. We didn’t even have time to properly set up cameras or take photos before the group headed back.
Because of that, we think this tour is best for travelers who want to see as much of the Big Island as possible in one day, or for those who don’t want to rent a car and prefer an all-inclusive experience. However, if stargazing and night photography are high priorities for your trip, we’d recommend going on your own or choosing a tour that dedicates more time specifically to stargazing.
Would you rather experience stargazing as part of a long guided tour, or explore it on your own while visiting the Big Island? Let us know in the comments below.
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