Kualoa Ranch - UTV Tour Review
March is birthday month around here and I honestly do not like planning parties, but I love planning experiences. My kids love rides and rollercoasters, but with no travel or carnivals in the past two years, I wanted to find some kind of “adventure ride” on island for them to celebrate.
I found the “ATV Raptor Tour” at Kualoa Ranch and I am so glad I did! It is basically like off-roading in one of those “jeeps without doors in the wild like Coyote Peterson” as my son says. They actually only do it on UTVs instead of ATVs now, which feels safer and you can fit up to 6 people in a vehicle if you want a more private experience than a tour bus.
Plus you must be at least 5 years old to ride so when Conner turned 5, this was like a “coming of age” experience he couldn’t have until now. He was also so proud to tell his friends what they could do now that they’re 5 too! He took it with so much pride he even asked for the driver’s wristband which the super cool local guys laughed and gave it to him though he was not allowed to drive.
So yup, my husband had a blast because he got to do the driving, Conner and Aubrey loved it “so, so, so much that I just can’t handle it and need to go again” kine in their words. And for me, it was the most beautiful scenic ride in three Ahupu`a`a with interesting background information about the Hawaiian legends, land history, and the movie scenes of course like “Jurassic Park.” But if you get carsick, you might want to take something because there were definitely bumps and turns, but that’s what made it fun for the kids.
Seeing their joy was totally worth it. And Kama`aina, you get a discount when you check in! Online reservations were super easy, they sent lots of reminders, and staff was incredible.
Erin’s Experience Tips:
-Go to the bathroom and eat prior because there’s a bit of a wait at check in
-Wear sunglasses or ask for their protection glasses since dirt could fly in your eye
-Be prepared you go out rain or shine! (We went at 3:30pm and it was nice and cool)
-Recommend shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. I have no idea why I wore white short! LOL :p
-If you want to take pictures or videos, don’t drive. Or there is an option to take turns driving if you want the experience. Don’t worry, they stop at 3 scenic points so you can get out, stretch your legs, and get a nice family shot from your guides.
-Tip your tour guides. We always carry a little cash and locals taking care of locals and supporting the community is always super appreciated.
It’s called the ATV Raptor Tour, but as my daughter said, we saw lot more cows than dinosaurs, but either way they had a blast! I would totally do it again for them or for someone else in place of a present. Highly recommend by our fam! Thank you Kualoa Ranch!
