THE OFFICIAL TOUR OF CATALINA'S WILDLANDS
SEE THE WILD SIDE OF CATALINA
Ride into Catalina Island’s protected interior on the official Conservancy Eco Tour, led by expert naturalists who know the land, wildlife and restoration work shaping the Island’s future. Other tours show you Catalina. The Conservancy Eco Tour helps you understand it.
Book Your Adventure NowCatalina Island Conservancy Eco Tour
Go beyond Avalon. Explore the Island on the Official Tour of Catalina’s Wildlands.
Explore Catalina Island’s protected wildlands on the official Conservancy Eco Tour. Led by expert naturalists, this open-air adventure takes you into rugged interior landscapes, scenic overlooks and rare habitats that most visitors never experience.
Along the way, you may see Catalina Island foxes, bald eagles, bison, native plants, sweeping canyons and unforgettable views of the Island’s interior and coastline. Your guide will share the stories behind the land — from Catalina’s natural history to the restoration work helping protect the Island from drought, wildfire and habitat loss.
Every ride supports the Catalina Island Conservancy’s nonprofit mission to care for the Island’s wildlands, wildlife and rare species found nowhere else on Earth.
Tour length: About 2 or 3 hours, depending on ticket selection
Departure: Trailhead Visitor Center, 708 Crescent Ave., Avalon
Questions or private tours: 310-510-2595 ext. 0
Sunset Eco Tour
See Catalina’s wildlands at golden hour.
End your day with a two-hour, naturalist-led ride through Catalina Island’s protected interior as the sun sets over the Pacific. Travel by open-air vehicle along scenic mountain roads to possible destinations such as Airport in the Sky, Ben Weston Overlook and remote canyon viewpoints.
Along the way, look for evening wildlife, including Catalina Island foxes, bison and birds moving through the wildlands.
Dress in layers. Temperatures can cool quickly after sunset.
Two-Hour Conservancy Eco Tour
A perfect introduction to Catalina’s wild side.
Go beyond Avalon on a two-hour, naturalist-led ride through Catalina Island’s protected interior. Travel in an open-air vehicle along scenic paved and unpaved roads into rugged canyons, rolling hills and wildland views that most visitors never see.
Look for Catalina Island foxes, bald eagles, bison, native plants and sweeping coastal views while learning what makes the Island rare, wild and worth protecting.
Come prepared with sunscreen, a hat and a refillable water bottle.
Three-Hour Conservancy Eco Tour
Go deeper into Catalina’s protected wildlands.
Spend more time exploring Catalina’s rugged interior on this extended, three-hour naturalist-led Eco Tour. With access to more than 165 miles of paved and unpaved roads, the Conservancy takes guests into remote areas, scenic overlooks and wildland habitats that many visitors never experience.
This tour offers more time for wildlife observation, photos and stories about Catalina’s native plants, bison, Island foxes, bald eagles and restoration work.
Choose this tour for a fuller, more immersive look at Catalina beyond Avalon.
Private Conservancy Eco Tour
Explore Catalina’s wildlands on your schedule.
Create a more personal experience with a private, naturalist-led Eco Tour through Catalina Island’s protected interior. Private tours are ideal for families, small groups or guests who want more flexibility, conversation and time to enjoy the Island’s rugged scenery, wildlife and conservation stories.
To book a private tour, call Guest Services at 310-510-2595 ext. 0.
What you may see
Every tour is different, but guests may experience:
- Catalina Island foxes, found only on this Island
- Bald eagles soaring above the wildlands
- Free-ranging bison grazing in open areas
- Native and endemic plants found nowhere else
- Rugged canyons, ridgelines and ocean views
- Landscape restoration areas where the Island is recovering
- Scenic photo opportunities throughout the interior
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but every tour offers a deeper look at the land, stories and conservation work that make Catalina one of California’s most remarkable islands.
Why choose the Catalina Island Conservancy Eco Tour?
The official wildlands tour
The Catalina Island Conservancy protects 88% of Catalina Island. Our Conservancy Eco Tour is the best way to experience the Island’s protected interior with the people who know it best.
Naturalist-led, not just narrated
Your guide is more than a driver. Conservancy naturalists bring the landscape to life with stories about the Island’s history, native plants, endemic wildlife, geology, conservation and the changing ecosystems.
Access that few visitors experience
Travel into Catalina’s rugged interior, where scenic roads, open spaces and wildland views reveal a side of the Island far beyond Avalon.
Your ticket gives back
When you book with the Conservancy, your tour helps fund native plant restoration, native wildlife protection, invasive species management, trail access and habitat recovery across Catalina Island.
More than a sightseeing tour
Catalina’s wildlands are beautiful, but they are also working landscapes where conservation is happening every day.
On your Eco Tour, you will learn how the Conservancy is restoring native habitats, reducing wildfire risk, protecting freshwater resources and helping Catalina become more resilient in a changing climate. You will see how responsible recreation directly supports the Island’s future.
This is the real Catalina. Wild, rugged, rare and worth protecting.
Tour Experience
Conservancy Eco Tours are open-air, naturalist-led rides through Catalina Island’s interior. Tours travel along rugged, unpaved roads where bumps, dust and sudden movements are part of the adventure.
Guests should dress for outdoor conditions and bring sun protection, layers and water. The temperature in the interior can feel different from Avalon, and guests will be exposed to weather throughout the ride.
Tour length: About 2 or 3 hours, depending on ticket selection
Departure: Trailhead Visitor Center, 708 Crescent Ave., Avalon
Questions or private tours: 310-510-2595 ext. 0
Good to Know Before You Book
Vehicle Seating
Seating varies by vehicle and will be assigned by your driver at the start of the tour. Due to vehicle layouts, you may be seated apart from members of your party, though still in the same vehicle. To accommodate all guests, some may be asked to sit three across in the back row.
Please Note: All Conservancy Eco Tour vehicles are open air. There are no enclosed cabins. Guests will be fully exposed to outdoor conditions throughout the tour. Hats and sunscreen are recommended.
The Ride
Conservancy Eco Tours travel on rugged, unpaved roads where bumps and sudden movements are common. Each ride is about 2 or 3 hours long, depending on your ticket selection.
Guests with orthopedic, neurological, cardiac or respiratory conditions, and those who are pregnant, should carefully consider any risks before participating. For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate infants or children under 2 years old.
All Conservancy Eco Tour vehicles are open air. There are no enclosed cabins. Guests will be fully exposed to outdoor conditions throughout the tour.
Child Safety Policy
For safety reasons, Conservancy Eco Tours are available to children age 3 and older. In accordance with California regulations, a separate seat must be purchased for each child requiring a car seat. Children may not sit on laps during the tour.
If you need a car seat or booster seat, please let us know during booking so we can reserve one for you.
Service Animals
Medically necessary service animals are welcome on Conservancy Eco Tours. If your service dog weighs more than 15 pounds, please notify Guest Services in advance at 310-510-2595 ext. 0. This allows us to reserve a seat for your dog and install a protective seat cover to ensure a comfortable and safe experience for all guests. Pets are not permitted under California Civil Code 54.2 and CA Commercial Driver Handbook Section 4.2.6.
Cancellation Policy
Tickets canceled within 72 hours of departure are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. Web convenience fees are nonrefundable at all times.
Personal Belongings
Please note that we are unable to store personal items or luggage during your Conservancy Eco Tour. Lockers are available at the Catalina Express boat terminal, and many hotels offer luggage storage for their guests.
Every ticket supports the nonprofit work that protects Catalina’s wildlands, native plants and wildlife and scenic open spaces.
Need Help?
For additional information or to book a private tour, call Guest Services at 310-510-2595 ext. 0.