The Perfect 7 Day Big Island Itinerary: Volcano, Manta Rays, Coffee
As we descended toward Kona, my eyes widened at the sight of stark black lava fields spilling into a sparkling blue ocean with an intricate coral reef below the surface.
I’ve always been drawn to the lush, razor-sharp ridges of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu, so I wasn’t sure if the Big Island—defined by its gradual volcanic slopes and ashy black landscapes—would wow me.
But my week here ended up being my all-time favorite Hawaiian vacation out of my nine Hawai‘i trips. Hawai‘i’s largest and youngest island is easily the state’s most unique, adventure-packed island, and while a visit here is quite different than your typical beach vacation, I can’t recommend the Big Island enough!
This 7 day Big Island itinerary is exactly how I’d recommend spending your time—night snorkeling with 15-foot manta rays, hiking across a hardened lava lake, exploring the vibrant Kona coffee belt, gazing up at awe-inspiring waterfalls, and reserving plenty of time to relax at the beach (or pool!) between all your adventures.
Where to Stay on the Big Island
For this one week Big Island itinerary, I recommend either: staying in Kona the whole time, or splitting your trip between Kona and one night in Hilo or Volcano Village.
The Kona Coast is my #1 recommendation of where to stay on the Big Island—it’s on the dry, sunny side of the island, close to top snorkeling spots (including the famous manta ray night snorkel) and the Kona Coffee Belt.
That said, the Big Island is… well, big. Exploring the east side—Hilo, Volcanoes National Park, and nearby waterfalls—really takes more than a day. So, spending one night in Hilo or Volcano Village will cut down your driving time. That’s what I recommend for this itinerary, but you can absolutely stay the whole time in Kona to simplify things—just add in a little more driving time.
If you decide to stay in Hilo or Volcano, here’s what your week on the Big Island will look like:
- Days 1–3: Kona Coast Resort in Kona OR Holualoa Inn on the Kona Coffee Belt
- Day 4: The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls in Hilo OR At the Craters Edge in Volcano Village
- Days 5–7: Kona Coast Resort in Kona OR Holualoa Inn on the Kona Coffee Belt
We booked a whole week at Kona Coast Resort using our credit card points, and booked one night in Hilo in the middle of it. Doing so cost us about $250 but saved us about four hours of driving, so it all depends on if you prefer the shorter drive, or if staying put and saving a bit of cash sounds better!
Big Island Experiences that Need to be Booked in Advance
- 🤿 Day 1: Manta Ray Snorkeling
- 🌿 Day 3: Waipio Valley Shuttle Tour
- ✨ Day 5: Mauna Kea Stargazing (Optional)
- 👙 Day 6: Kealakekua Snorkeling
Also, consider getting an America The Beautiful Pass, which will grant you access to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, plus any other American National Park for the next year!
The Best One Week Big Island Itinerary
Day 1: Getting Settled & Manta Ray Snorkeling
Start off your first day in Hawaii by getting settled:
- Get some groceries and snacks, I recommend KTA stores for affordable groceries
- Explore downtown Kona, the pathway along Ali’i Drive is a great spot to start, check out Ola Brew or Kona Brewing Co for local craft beer
- Check out one Kona’s few sandy beaches, La’aloa Beach (Magic Sands)
Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays
And in the early evening we’re diving straight into the Big Island adventures by snorkeling with manta rays in the wild!
Between 200-300 manta rays live along the Kona Coast, and local researchers and tour guides know them all by name because of their unique markings. Snorkeling with these gentle giants (who reach up to 30 feet!) is one of the best things to do in Hawai’i, but you have to do it at night!
Here’s how it works: Manta rays eat plankton, which is drawn to light. Local tour operators shine massive lights into the water at night to attract plankton, and the mantas show up ready for dinner!
You get to float on the surface with snorkel gear, gazing down as the mantas playfully spin and flip while eating the plankton below you.
We went on this manta snorkel tour and had an incredible time—we saw 8+ different manta rays that danced gracefully beneath us, and even brushed up against us a few times. Best of all, this tour is run by a Hawaiian-owned company focused on ethical eco-tourism. They provide wetsuit jackets to keep you warm and depart each evening from downtown Kona!
Day 2: South Kona Coffee Farm, Snorkeling, and Archaeological Site
On your second day, we’re exploring my favorite part of the Kona Coast, South Kona, including the Kona Coffee Belt, a lovely snorkel spot, and a Hawaiian archaeological site.
You’ll start by winding up the volcano toward the Kona Coffee Belt, where some of the world’s most prized coffee is grown! This part of Kona is only 10-15 minutes away from most Kona hotels, but feels completely different with the cooler air and sweeping ocean views.
Breakfast & Sweet Treats: Kaya’s Kawanui
If you’re hungry for breakfast, stop at Kaya’s Kawanui, a small locally owned cafe that serves delicious organic baked goods, local coffee, acai, and loaded bagel sandwiches (with vegan and gluten free options!) I loved their samoas and scones, and wish I had come back on another day to try even more!
Free Kona Coffee Farm Tour
Next up is Greenwell Farms, a historic coffee farm just 4 minutes down the road. Here you can join one of their hourly FREE coffee farm tours, which happen daily between 9am and 3pm. Although I’m not a big coffee drinker, I really enjoyed the tour and learned a lot about coffee—for instance, did you know that darker roasts have a stronger flavor, but less caffeine?
Lunch Options
If you’re hungry after the coffee tour, here are some nearby lunch options I’d recommend:
- South Side Acai: For a lighter lunch or snack, grab a smoothie or acai here, it’s very close to the farm.
- Shaka Tacoz: Highly-rated taco spot nearby Greenwell Farms. We didn’t make it here but the raving reviews speak for themselves!
- The Coffee Shack: This cafe has some of the best views on the island, so I recommend stopping here whether you plan to eat lunch or not.
- Honaunau Poke Shop: Family-owned roadside poke spot, we loved all their veggie options and highly recommend this spot for a healthy, filling lunch! It’s further away, but on the way to our next stops.
(All these spots and more are pinned on my free Big Island map!)
Hawaiian Archeological Site
After grabbing something to eat, head south and then descend the volcano until your reach Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. This 180-acre property along the sparkling blue ocean is the most extensive archeological site I’ve seen anywhere in Hawaii!
It was once Royal Grounds for Hawaiian royalty (aliʻi), and a place of refuge where lawbreakers could flee to—and have a chance to be absolved of their crimes. Today, you can go on a self-guided tour through the park to see reconstructions of historic Hawaiian buildings, with details about each structure’s significance in the free visitor’s booklets.
The park is a part of the National Park system, so you can enter with an annual America The Beautiful Pass ($80/year), or pay for a day pass ($30/day).
Snorkeling at Honaunau Bay
And afterward, change into your swimsuit, grab your snorkel gear, and walk 5 minutes to Honaunau Bay (Two Step Beach), which is one of the best snorkel spots on the Kona Coast!
We really enjoyed snorkeling here, and saw tons of fish including large schools of lau’ipala (yellow tang), humuhumu ‘ele’ele (black durgon triggerfish), moa (boxfish), needlefish, ornate butterfly fish, and many more. Others report seeing dolphins and sea turtles here, but we didn’t see either during our visit.
Keep in mind that there isn’t really a beach here, just a small bit of sand and a whole lot of lava rock. And the rock is really rough, so you may want to wear water shoes. Also watch out for sea urchins hidden in the lava rock!
Drive Back to Kona
Depending on how long you spend at each spot, you’ll likely have your late afternoon and evening left! Grab dinner in Kona and enjoy slowing down before another day of adventures tomorrow.
Also See: 10 Things to do in Kealakekua and Captain Cook (Kona’s Coffee Belt & Nearby)
Day 3: Waipi’o Valley, Waterfalls & Cowboy Country
On day three we’re beginning our explorations of the rest of the island, and visiting what I consider to be the most beautiful place on the Big Island—Waipi’o Valley.
As I mentioned earlier, I recommend booking a hotel in Hilo or Volcano Village for this evening to cut down on driving, but you can also drive back to Kona.
Drive Toward Waimea
From Kona, drive 50-minutes through rugged volcanic landscapes until they transform into rolling green hills as you approach Waimea Town.
Waimea is a small town known for its paniolo (cowboy) culture, which stretches back to when King Kamehameha II invited Mexican cowboys to the Big Island to teach Hawaiians cattle ranching. Paniolo history is fascinating, you can read about it on the NPS website!
Today there isn’t a lot to do in Waimea, but its a natural pitstop on your way to Waipi’o Valley, and if you’re visiting on a Saturday, you definitely have to check out the Waimea Town Farmers Market at Parker School! Waimea is also home to Big Island Brewhaus, where you can try some local craft beer.
Waipi’o Valley
After Waimea, drive 30 minutes further toward Waipi’o Valley, a sacred valley populated by a few local families and wild horses, surrounded by 4,000-foot cliffs with waterfalls, lush taro fields, and a black sand beach.
While anyone can view the valley from the lookout above, access to the serene valley is prohibited—unless you join the local-led Waipi’o Valley Shuttle Tour. This 3-hour van tour is probably my favorite thing we did on the Big Island (well, tied with manta ray snorkeling!)
It happens four times a day at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, and takes you down into the valley in a van with all the windows punched out so you can see—and feel—everything.
Most of the tour is spent inside the van, crossing rivers and driving beside taro farms with waterfalls in the distance. You also get two stops along the way where you can soak in the surrounding beauty—including at a riverside taro field where my husband got to plant his own kalo!
If you’re curious about what the Waipi’o Valley tour is like, the history, and why the valley is closed to visitors, check out my full Waipi’o Valley travel guide.
Waterfalls & Drive to Hilo
From the valley its another 1-hour drive to Hilo, but there’s a few stops to check out along the way:
- 🌊 Laupāhoehoe Point: Volcanic spires and rocky shorelines at this small peninsula, where 24 students and teachers lost their lives in the 1946 tsunami
- 🥾 Umauma Falls: Beautiful 300-foot waterfall on private property. There are a few ways you can visit—pay $5 to walk to the falls on a self-guided tour, go ziplining over the falls, or go paddle-boarding and swimming.
- 🌿 ʻAkaka Falls (must visit!): This breathtaking 450-foot waterfall accessible via a short walk through the rainforest. It costs $10 to park and $5 per person to enter, and is definitely worth the money.
Hilo
Arrive in Hilo by dinnertime, especially if you plan to spend the night here! Alternatively, continue on to your stay in Volcano Village or head back to your Kona hotel for the night.
Either way, here are some of the best things to do in Hilo:
- 🌈 Rainbow Falls: Once you reach Hilo, this beautiful waterfall only 10 minutes from downtown! It’s free to visit, and super accessible with a viewing platform over the falls.
- 🥭 Hilo Farmer’s Market: A daily market in downtown Hilo with tons of fresh tropical fruit, yummy drinks, and local treats.
- 🍧 Kula Shave Ice: The best shave ice I’ve ever had, all made with natural (delicious!) ingredients. Located in downtown Hilo, right by the farmer’s market.
- 🍹The Booch Bar: Funky kombucha bar with a variety of flavorful food, ranging from burgers and tacos to bibimbap and Reubens.
- 🍲 Vegan Shop: Affordable Vietnamese plate lunch and delicious veggie pho. We really enjoyed eating here, it was nice to have some cozy Vietnamese food!
🌺 Is Hilo worth visiting? I once heard someone say that Hilo is the most ‘normal’ city in Hawaii, this rings true! It’s a humble city that doesn’t really cater to tourists, but there are some lovely boutique shops, delicious food, and of course, the wonderful farmers market! Visiting Hilo gives you a feel for this part of the island (and is a convenient place to stop), but I wouldn’t say that it needs to be on your bucket-list.
Day 4: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Black Sand Beach
Start your morning at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park—a few minutes from Volcano Village, 45 minutes from Hilo, or 2 hours from Kona.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is part of the National Parks System, so you can pay for a day pass or use an annual America The Beautiful pass to visit. Since there are other spots on the Big Island that require the same pass, it might be worth getting the annual pass! National Parks Pass details.
Lava Lake & Lava Tube Hike
The highlight of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is hiking the 3.2-mile loop Kīlauea Iki Trail.
The trail guides you across Kīlauea Iki crater floor, which was once a bubbling lake of lava during the 1959 volcanic eruption. Now it’s a blackened, barren landscape of hardened lava with giant cracks in the earth! 🌋🤯
The trail also takes you through lush tropical forests and along the rim of the crater, where you can look out upon the otherworldly landscape you just walked through! And I highly recommend taking a slight detour during your hike to walk through the 500-year-old Thurston Lava Tube, which is a short walk off the trail. (The lava tube and trail are both pinned on my Big Island map!)
This is a relatively short hike, but it gets more difficult the later you go because of the heat and 700 feet of elevation gain. I’d aim on going early in the day, ideally around 8am or earlier! Be sure to bring plenty of water and a snack or two.
After the hike, you can check out the Haʻakulamanu Sulphur Banks and Steam Vents nearby. Optionally, drive the 18-mile Chain of Craters road to the coast to see lava fields, petroglyphs and the Hōlei Sea Arch. We skipped this to save time!
Lunch at Volcano Village
There aren’t many places to stop on the drive between Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and South Kona, so I’d recommend having lunch here in Volcano Village!
We dined at Café Ono, a little restaurant in a historic house surrounded by beautiful gardens. The food is healthy, fresh, and simple—we really enjoyed the vegan options and restful environment.
You could also eat at the Volcano House, which overlooks the crater, or go wine tasting at Volcano Winery!
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
After lunch, head thirty minutes south to Punaluʻu Beach. It’s free to visit and just 5 minutes off Hawai’i Belt Road on the way back to Kona.
I’ve been to some other black sand beaches in Hawaii and the Caribbean, and this is my favorite! The sand is truly charcoal black and absolutely stunning contrasted against the the wispy palm trees, tide pools, and sleeping sea turtles!
Optional: Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
Optionally, add on a detour to Papakōlea, a green sand beach!
The unshaded hike to the beach is 2.5 miles each way. Given how long it takes to hike down, we skipped this and only later found out that you can hire a local at the trailhead to drive you down. Apparently, they charge $20-30, and you’ll need cash.
If you try this, let me know how it goes!!
Miranda’s Farms Coffee
Next, we stopped at Miranda’s Farms… and I’m so glad we did! Right off the road, this little coffee stand serves kaʻū coffee made from beans grown right on the property!
I appreciated that they let us walk through the rows of coffee plants while waiting for our drinks. They also had a Salvadoran food truck that looked yummy!
Return to Kona
Finally, head back to your hotel in Kona! Kailua-Kona is a little over an hour from Miranda’s Farms. The drive will take you through the Kona Coffee Belt again, and we stopped at Honaunau Poke Shop for some food along the way.
Day 5: Relax Day, Snorkeling & Optional Mauna Kea Stargazing
After two days of roadtripping around the Big Island, take it slow on day 5. This is a lovely time to relax by your hotel’s pool, or go to the beach!
Kahalu’u Beach Park
For one of our slow days in Kona, we loved snorkeling at Kahalu’u Beach Park, which is just down the road from where we stayed at Kona Coast Resort. As I mention in my guide to the best Kona snorkel spots I share that this is the best place we snorkeled on the island, and maybe the best in all of Hawaii!
Researchers and volunteers have observed over 100 species of fish in the reefs here, and it’s also the only place on the Kona Coast where I saw sea turtles in the water! I also really appreciated the volunteers at the park handing out free reef safe sunscreen and mask defogger (definitely get the defogger!)
Keep in mind that it does cost $14 to park at Kahalu’u Beach Park, but we just walked from our hotel!
Photo of the summit of Mauna Kea from TripAdvisor
Optional: Mauna Kea Stargazing
If you’re up for more adventure, today is the perfect day to go stargazing at the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest mountain. Part of this unique adventure includes watching the sunset over the clouds from the summit while you wait for the stars to come out!
Since the summit closes to the public 30 minutes after sunrise, the only way to do this is to book a tour with one of the local operators who have access to the summit after closing time.
My recommendation is this Mauna Kea stargazing tour, which includes round-trip transportation in a 4×4 van from Hilo, Kona, or Waikoloa. Once you make it to the summit, you get to watch the sunset and then your brilliant local guides use laser points to show you the sights above, with stories that weave together astronomy and Hawaiian history.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly version of this experience, try to get a reservation for stargazing at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station (VIS). It usually only happens once a month, so the timing has to be perfect! Otherwise, you can explore Mauna Kea during the day, but you’ll have to leave right after sunset.
Day 6: Kealakekua Snorkeling
On day six we’re snorkeling again! This time, head to the famous Kealakekua Bay, home to Captain Cook monument which marks where the infamous explorer was killed.
Kealakekua Bay features shallow, calm areas around the shoreline teeming with vibrant coral and a diversity of tropical fish. From there the water gets deeper gradually, with a drop-off.
When we snorkeled here, I really enjoy seeing the brain coral, freediving beside the big drop-off, and snorkeling with fish along the less crowded edges of the bay.
There are three ways to get to Kealakekua Bay: hike 2 miles (I’ve heard the hike is rough!), kayak a mile to the bay (also sounds a little tricky), or take a boat tour to the bay.
On our most recent trip to the Big Island we splurged on an excellent catamaran boat tour because the hike sounds brutal and I didn’t like the idea of trying to snorkel with a kayak tied to my foot.
We had an excellent time on this tour, and I’d definitely recommend it if it’s in your budget! It is hosted by the same lovely local tour company that we did the manta ray snorkeling with, and features breakfast and lunch onboard, and historical insights about the coastline.
For example, our guide pointed out a giant Hawaiian slide where royalty would literally race sliding down the volcano slope—we would have never spotted that on our own!
If you decide to do the hike, make sure to leave early, wear good hiking shoes, and pack plenty of drinking water!
The boat tour ends around noon, so you have the rest of the day to explore Kona and relax at the beach or pool!
Day 7: Kohala Coast’s Sandy Beaches, Petroglyphs, Hawi, and Pololū Valley
On your last day in Hawaii, feel free to do whatever you may have missed earlier on in the itinerary. But if your schedule is open, I’d suggest driving up to the Kohala Coast!
Kua Bay & Hawaiian Petroglyphs
Our favorite white sandy beach on the Big Island was Kua Bay, which is about 20 minutes north of Kona, near the airport.
The small beach is free to visit, but keep in mind that the waves can be quite rough here in the wintertime. We didn’t do much swimming, but enjoyed the powdery sand and turquoise water! Another great sandy beach nearby is Mahai’ula Beach.
Further up along the coastline you can see ancient etchings at both Waikōloa Petroglyph Reserve and Puakō Petroglyph Park.
Optional: Hawi & Pololū Valley
Optionally, continue 40 minutes further to visit the one part of the island you haven’t seen yet! Here you’ll find Hawi, a tiny little town with a few shops, including the Kohala Grown Market which sells a variety of locally made goods and food.
From there, you can peer over one of the Big Island’s most dramatic coastlines and black sand beach at the Pololū Valley Lookout. You can also hike the steep 0.9-mile trail to the black sand beach, read more about it on AllTrails. Sadly, we weren’t able to make it to Pololū Valley because my husband was feeling sick and we headed back to Kona after Hawi—but this looks stunning!
💦 Kohala Waterfalls Tour: Experience hidden gems along this lesser-explored part of the island on this local guided Kohala waterfalls tour!
More Hawaii Travel Guides
- Hawai’i Big Island Travel Guide (For First-Time Visitors)
- The Ultimate Guide to Snorkeling in Kona, Hawaii
- How to Visit Hawaii on a Budget (Without Missing Out!)
- The Perfect 5 Day Maui Itinerary: Jungle, Volcano & Beaches
- The Perfect 1 Day Road to Hana Itinerary (& What to Skip)
- 21 Kauai Hidden Gems for Exploring Off the Beaten Path
- 4 Day Oahu Itinerary Full of Sunshine, Aloha, and Adventure
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