Circle island tour with Waimea Falls

Which circle island tours include Waimea Falls?

Two tours here pay the Waimea Valley entry; the private tour can add it at your own cost.

The Circle Island Tour with Waimea Valley Waterfall (Go Tours Hawaii) and the Majestic Circle Island tour (E Noa) both include admission. On the private van tour you pick the stops; the itinerary shows 60 minutes in the valley, but entry fees are extra on that tour.

The other loops on this site do not go in. Some stop at Waimea Bay, the beach across the highway, which is a different place (more on that below).

Is 30 minutes at Waimea Valley enough to see the falls?

Enough to walk there and back at a brisk pace; not enough to swim comfortably.

The trail from the entrance to the falls is 3/4 mile each way, so a mile and a half round trip on a paved, gently climbing path, per Waimea Valley. At a normal walking pace that is 30 to 40 minutes with a few photo stops. In a 30-minute slot you arrive, look and turn around.

One shortcut: the valley sells a shuttle ride at $10 one way or $20 round trip per person. Ride up, walk down, and a 30-minute stop gets you ten minutes at the pool. Some E Noa guests still report a swim: "[...] plenty of time for a swim at the falls and enjoy the flowers from around the world" (Jonathan, Jul 2026). Plan for the short version and be pleased if you get more.

Ninety minutes on the Go Tours itinerary changes the stop completely. You can walk in slowly through the gardens, swim, dry off and still be back at the bus on time.

Can you swim at Waimea Falls on a tour?

Yes, when the lifeguard opens the pool that day; life jackets are required and free.

Swimming is decided every morning at 9 AM by the valley's lifeguards. Their waterfall page lists the reasons it closes: heavy rain, strong currents, water quality concerns, drought and lightning. You can call the valley on (808) 638-7766 the morning of your tour to check.

The rules at the pool:

• Life jackets for every swimmer, provided free in all sizes.
• Check in with the lifeguard before you get in.
• No diving and no climbing on the waterfall rocks.
• No soap, oils or other products in the water, so put sunscreen on well before.

The Go Tours listing adds its own condition: swim "depending on whether it's flowing at that time of year". In a dry spell the falls can be a trickle. The valley even names the flows: Waihe'e for trickling water, Wailele for leaping water, Waihi for surging water after rain.

Is Waimea Valley open on Mondays?

No. Waimea Valley is closed every Monday, so a Monday tour will not go in.

The valley opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to 4 PM, per its admission page. It also closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. If your free day on Oahu is a Monday, book the waterfall tour for another day or ask the operator what replaces the valley before you pay.

Summer hours run to 5 PM (25 May to 7 September in 2026), which does not change much for tour groups: they arrive around midday either way.

What does Waimea Valley cost if your tour does not include it?

$26 for adults, $20 for seniors 62+ and students, $18 for children 4 to 12, in 2026.

Those are the walk-up visitor prices on waimeavalley.net; Hawaii residents pay less. On the private tour you pay this on the day. On the two tours that include it, the entry is part of the price, which is why E Noa lists it as a "$26 value".

For a family of four, the entry alone runs about $88 to $104 depending on the children's ages. Worth remembering when you compare a $154 tour with an $89 one that never goes in. Our 2026 price list has every stop on the loop.

Is Waimea Bay the same stop as Waimea Falls?

No. Waimea Bay is the beach on the highway; the falls are a walk up the valley across the road.

The Nui snorkel loop stops at Waimea Bay for 20 minutes, and several tours drive past it. That is the famous big-wave beach, not the waterfall. People book the wrong tour over this every season.

The bay changes with the season, too. Hawaii's Ocean Safety site notes that Waimea Bay is often calm and clear in summer and pounded by high surf and shorebreak in winter, November to April. On a winter tour the bay is for watching.

What should you bring for a swim at Waimea Falls?

Swimsuit under your clothes, a towel, water shoes and a dry change; the tours supply none of these.

The Go Tours listing excludes "Swimsuit & Towel for Waterfall" and sunscreen, and E Noa advises comfortable walking shoes and a change of clothes for a dip. The valley's own list adds water shoes, a refillable bottle and a light rain jacket. There are changing areas and lockers for rent at the entrance.

Wear the swimsuit from the morning. Changing twice inside a 30-minute stop is not happening. More on packing in what to bring on a circle island tour.

Waimea Valley and Byodo-In entry plus lunch at the Polynesian Cultural Center, in a mini-bus of up to 28.

★ 4.9 · 9 hours · from $186

Explore the Majestic tour with lunch → Tour details

Waimea waterfall tour or E Noa: which one should you book?

Book Go Tours for the falls and the swim; book E Noa for paid lunch, the temple and a quick look at the falls.

The Go Tours waterfall tour is built around the valley: eleven other stops, but the 90 minutes at the falls are the point. Meals are not included, and pickup is from six fixed Waikiki meeting points, not your hotel door. A September 2026 guest summed it up as "scenic view points, a local lunch and ice cream, and swimming in a waterfall" (Mike).

E Noa's Majestic tour costs $32 more and includes lunch at Pounders, Byodo-In entry and the valley, with hotel pickup and a wheelchair-accessible mini-bus. You trade swim time for the temple and a meal. If the temple matters, read Byodo-In on a circle tour.

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