Maui to Big Island for Volcano
 

I will staying on Maui for a week soon and wondered if there are any organized tours I could take to see the lava flow on the BI at night...<BR><BR>Could I leave Maui in the afternoon, do the viewing and then fly back that night? <BR><BR>I don't really want to check out of my hotel and then spend a couple of days on BI and then check back in...I've been to the Big Island, but didn't get the chance to see the volcano at night...I did enjoy the park during the day. <BR><BR>Also, are their boat tours from Maui to BI to see the lava flow into the ocean?

There are several companies that run organized day tours to the Big Island. However, usually you get back on Maui by 8:00pm as there aren't any late night flights so night viewing would not be an option. As far as I know there are no boat tours from Maui to the BI.

I wouldn't recommend it unless you have nothing else to do -- there are so many variables and most of them are out of your control. We did the BI trip from Maui in June and spent the first three to four hours just at the Maui airport!

It is a hassle to change hotels, but when you fly into Hilo, you'll find that that side of the Big Island has pretty cheap hotel rates when compared to Maui. It may be worth your while.

Boat tours from Maui to the Big Island ?? Look at a map !! Do you know how far it is from Maui to the Big Island? Maybe a hundred miles !!

Why not keep the Maui hotel. Stay at a place in volcano for ~ $125.00 and leave your luggae behind. Travel with a small backpack. My wife and just di this. We were staying in KONA and did not want ot drag all our luggage around. It is worth the extra cost and saves a lot of time...

You don't have to drag your luggage around. Most hotels will "hold" your luggage while you are island hopping. Just take the basics with you. Doesn't make much sense to me to pay for a hotel room that you do not stay in.

Do not take a tour...you will not see the lava if you do. I lived in Volcano, visited the lava flows several times over the 3.5 years & never saw a tour bus there..once in awhile a van might be there, but usually there is a walk from parking, there are just too many reasons to keep you in the bus. Best to do it on your own. I can send you a file I wrote on seeing the volcano in 1 day from another island...tho I do recommend staying overnight to see the flows really well. Email me if you want the file. Aloha, Linda