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Your Complete Guide to Things to Do on Catalina Island (First-Time Visitor Edition)

Catalina can be deceiving. When the ferry docks in Avalon, you might take a look at the harbor, the hillsides, and the little island town in front of you and think: Is this all there is? And we’re here to tell you: That’s not all. When you’re a first-time visitor to Catalina, Catalina Tours can help you plan some of your days on the island. Of course, you can explore Avalon on your own. You can enjoy the beaches, have ice cream for dinner, and sip tropical cocktails–it’s an island town! But if you really want to get to know Catalina, you’ll book some experiences that will help you to explore and appreciate the city, the land, the sea, and even the sky surrounding this magical place. It’s not just about keeping busy while you’re on vacation; it’s about making meaningful memories and making the most of your stay. Catalina Tours can help you to choose your own adventures as you make your way around Catalina. Read on to discover your complete guide to things to do on Catalina Island–the first-time visitor edition. 

a group of people with sailor hats at El Galleon Restaurant on Catalina Island, CA for a food tour

 

Get familiar with our downtown.  There are a few ways to get to know Avalon with Catalina Tours. Choose one of our favorites that suits you best. 

  • Prefer to walk? Book the Avalon Bay Discovery Walk, and get around town like a local. You will use the Catalina Compass app, which offers a GPS-guided audio tour led by 3rd generation islanders. These passionate storytellers will share interesting island history and uncover some hidden gems around town. 
  • Would you rather cruise around on 4 wheels instead? The Guided Avalon Golf Cart Tour is a great way to see more of Avalon while riding in our city’s favorite mode of transportation. You’ll learn more island history and culture on this tour with the help of a local guide. 
  • Feeling hungry — and thirsty? The Catalina Food Tour will take you to some of Avalon’s best places to eat and drink, all while regaling you with some of the island’s fascinating culture and history.

Be sure to book a classic Catalina experience. Catalina has been a favorite resort destination since the 1880s. Some of our visitors’ favorite excursions that began in those early days are still in operation today. 

  • The Glass Bottom Boat Voyage is believed to have made its first runs around Catalina’s Lovers Cove back in the 1890s on a boat called the Lady Lou. Today, you can book a Catalina Tour on the Moonstone. You’ll get to see the island’s renowned undersea gardens, teeming with marine life. 
  • Catalina’s Flying Fish Voyages started back in 1924 with the Blanche W–a vessel that served visitors for almost a century. In the evening hours, the boat would shine lights on the water around Catalina, aiming to catch a glimpse of the amazing fish that glide over the ocean with wing-like fins. Today, you can take a flying fish tour on the big speedboat, the Cyclone. 

a small boat in a body of water

Have an aerial adventure. Sometimes going to a new place is about changing your perspective. As a first-timer to Catalina, get a whole new perspective–from the sky–on an air-adventure. There are a few to choose from:

  • Take a Parasail Ride, and you’ll soar over Avalon Bay. This adventure offers amazing views from 600 to 800 feet up in the sky. You can even dip your toes into the Pacific as part of your parasailing flight. 
  • To see even more of the island, book a Catalina Explorer Air Tour. On this helicopter tour, you’ll fly over scenic landmarks, Catalina coastline, and maybe even see some American bison roaming the island. 

Get in the water. If you’re spending some time in one of the best places to scuba dive in the United States, you might want to see what all the hype is about. Whether you want to dive deep, or you’d like to skim the surface, Catalina Tours offers some great options for getting in the water. 

  • Discover Scuba Diving: Visitors ages 10 and up can book this 3-hour tour at Casino Dive Park to get out and explore the open ocean with the help of a skilled scuba diving instructor. On the first dive, guests usually spend 15 to 45 minutes below the surface.
  • Not ready to dive? Do the Guided Snorkel Eco Tour, a 2-hour adventure at Casino Point in the Avalon Dive Park. Snorkel and see bright orange garibaldi, schools of blacksmith, beautiful bat rays, and more. 

a person swimming in the water

Explore some more. After getting familiar with Avalon and its surrounding skies and seas, choose your next adventure–taking yourself around on an e-bike, or going on a private eco-tour to the island’s interior. 

  • While Avalon is truly a walkable town, some parts can get hilly. Make the most of your time in town by booking an e-bike rental to cruise to some less-traveled roads and viewpoints around the city. 
  • Interested in the island’s interior? So much of Catalina is undeveloped–rich in untouched, rugged beauty and even some island wildlife. Make reservations for a Private eco-tour or an Inside Adventure tour.

Don’t forget to relax. There is plenty to do on Catalina, but sometimes, you need to schedule some time for unwinding. That is where Cabana and Chaise Lounge rentals at Descanso Beach come in. Catalina Tours can help you to truly experience a little piece of paradise. 

Catalina Tours is the premier activity reservation company on Catalina Island. Our customer-service team can help book the best trip for you–whether it’s some of our favorite tours, or a custom trip designed detail-by-detail just for you. Give us a call at 310-510-0211 to start booking, or check out our website to learn more. 

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