Jurassic Park Tours in Oahu: all you need to know

Undoubtedly one of the most paradisiacal places in the world is Hawaii, but did you know that among its valleys was where the entire Jurassic World saga was filmed? Join me and I'll tell you about all the tours you can take to get to know the scenery of the mythical movies.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

13 min read

Jurassic Park Tours in Oahu: all you need to know

Jurassic Park on Oahu | ©Will Fisher

If you are a movie buff and this vacation you are planning a trip in style, I can't think of a better destination than heading to the wonderful archipelago of Hawaii, specifically to the island of Oahu, where its capital, Honolulu, is located, and one of the most cinematographic valleys in the world.

Oahu is full of activities and plans to do, but if you want to spend a whole day touring the scenarios that gave life to the whole saga of Jurassic World, I can't think of anything better than doing one of the many tours that are organized. You can go through the Jurassic Valley on horseback, fly over it in a helicopter or zip line, or go through it in different group transportation. All adapted for you to have a great time, are you going to miss it?

1. Jurassic Park Classic Tour

Kualoa Ranch| ©Shelby L. Bell
Kualoa Ranch| ©Shelby L. Bell

Oahu is one of the most visited islands by tourists who come to Hawaii and it is partly because it has the best nature tours in all its surroundings. The jungle and wilderness take over much of the island and it is precisely for this reason that it was chosen for the filming of most of the Jurassic World movies.

That is why, on the west side of the island you can find the famous Kualoa Ranch, a large ranch that gives access, among other things, to the entire Jurassic Park complex. If you want to live this experience, one of the best ways to do it is through one of its classic tours.

You will have to either hire a tour with transfer to the ranch, or arrive by your own means to the access to Kualoa. From here, you can hire one of the most popular tours among tourists, which will take you, along with a group of approximately 15-20 people, to all the most famous locations of the movies.

The huge gateway to the Jurassic reserve, the cages used for the dinosaurs, the great meadows of the brontosaurus and much more await you.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 130€ per person.
  • Duration: these tours usually last an average of two and a half hours.
  • Means of transportation: in an old van without glass so you can see everything well.
  • Advantages of this option: you make sure you can see all the sets with transfers included and a guide who explains everything.
  • Disadvantages of this option: perhaps it is a little short if you want to go deeper and spend more time in the natural environment.

Book a Jurassic Park tour in Oahu

2. Group bus tour through movie sets

Kualoa cliffs| ©Jason Jacobs
Kualoa cliffs| ©Jason Jacobs

Within Oahu, the Kualoa Ranch is the one that collects all the scenery and film locations that have been made within the island.

That is why, if you are a fan of the Jurassic saga, but you also want to take advantage of seeing the other places like the bunkers of Lost, the ruins of Kong or the scenes of Jumanji, you do not have to give up anything, as there are tours that take you through all these movie sets.

In addition to being able to tour all the places that were chosen to bring the popular dinosaurs to life, the tour will take you and a group of about 20 people through all the other iconic locations. Upon arrival, you will be able to get off the bus, walk around the site for a few minutes to get a closer look and take pictures.

Within Oahu there are a multitude of sightseeing bus tours, but if you want to soak up all the cinematic appeal, this type of group tour of Kualoa Ranch is the one for you.

Details of interest

  • Price: approximately €60 per person.
  • Duration: the tour usually lasts two hours.
  • Means of transportation: the transfers to the different locations will be made in a bus for groups.
  • Advantages of this option: not only will you be able to see the Jurassic Park scenery, but also other locations from movies and series such as Kong or Lost.
  • Disadvantages of this option: if you are only interested in the Jurassic World saga, this tour may not be enough for you.

Book the best tour buses in Oahu

3. Jurassic Valley jeep adventure tour for small groups

Kualoa Valley| ©jai Mansson
Kualoa Valley| ©jai Mansson

The Kualoa reserve has numerous types of tours and routes designed for all tastes. If your goal is to go deep into the jungle and see not only the specific locations, but also the entire environment of the valley where the landscapes were filmed, one of the most comfortable and exciting ways is by jeep.

The terrain of the entire Jurassic Valley area is quite uneven and that is why getting around by jeep may be the best option. If you come with friends or family and you prefer this tour to be a more intimate experience, this tour option is ideal since the jeeps usually have capacity for a maximum of 5 to 6 people.

In addition to being able to quickly reach all the places marked on the map, you will be able to travel in a very exciting and authentic way through the jungle area of the valley and get spectacular views.

Details of interest

  • Price: around 150€ per person.
  • Duration: these tours are usually around three hours.
  • Means of transportation: in an all-terrain jeep capable of going through the jungle terrain.
  • Advantages of this option: it is a very entertaining tour to do in groups of friends or family and immerse yourself in the world of Jurassic Park.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is not suitable for everyone since babies or people in wheelchairs do not have accessibility.

4. Private off-road quad tour of Jurassic Park

Quads in Kualoa| ©TRAILSOURCE
Quads in Kualoa| ©TRAILSOURCE

If you like adventures and thrills and you already have some experience of being on four wheels, one of the most incredible experiences you can have when visiting the Jurassic Park locations is to do it through a tour in which a guide will take you and your small private group on an all-terrain quad.

The terrain of the valley and the natural complex that the ranch has is quite difficult to do in any other type of transportation if you want to get off the beaten path. That is why they have designed this type of off-road tour of the island in which, guided by a guide, you can drive a powerful quad through the jungle and reach all the mythical locations of the movies.

Also, do not worry if you have small children or if you are not very skilled at driving. At all times you can count on the supervision of the guide and there is even the option of riding two people on one of the quads.

Details of interest

  • Price: about 180 € per person.
  • Duration: the tour usually lasts about two hours.
  • Means of transportation: each person will be able to hire their own quad during the tour.
  • Advantages of this option: it is a different and exciting way to get to know the Kualoa Ranch and the Jurassic Park locations in a private and intimate way.
  • Disadvantages of this option: if you do not like driving or strong emotions you will not feel comfortable.

Book a Jurassic Park tour in Oahu

5. Small group horseback riding tour in Jurassic Valley

Kualoa Horses| ©Ewen Roberts
Kualoa Horses| ©Ewen Roberts

Being able to see the entire Jurassic Valley of the Kualoa Reserve by bus is quite entertaining, but wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to tour it at the trot of some native horses? If just thinking about it has made your eyes light up, let me tell you that this kind of tours exist in Oahu and they are ideal for all nature and animal lovers.

During a tour of about two hours you can take a horseback ride through the Jurassic Valley area and gallop the plains where the great dinosaurs of the movies walked. You will also be able to reach the most emblematic sites in the company of these friendly animals.

As you can imagine, the terrain of this natural environment is not easy to walk and one of the oldest and most valued ways to get to know it is to get on a beautiful horse. If you don't know how to ride or you are afraid, don't worry; at all times there will be a guide with you and your group and he will choose the best horse for you.

Details of interest

  • Price: this experience costs around 150€ per head.
  • Duration: it is usually a 2 hour ride. You will be able to see everything without abusing the conditions of the horse.
  • Means of transport: a beautiful native horse of the island.
  • Advantages of this option: it is a tour that offers you a memory beyond the locations of Jurassic Park. You will be able to ride through the mythical places and experience the thrill and therapy of horseback riding.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it can be a little tiring since being on a horse for two hours ends up loading the legs and buttocks.

6. Kualoa Ranch electric bike tour

Electric Bicycle| ©John Karakatsanis
Electric Bicycle| ©John Karakatsanis

If you are interested in doing a kind of ecological tourism in Hawaii and you don't want to miss the wonderful experience of seeing the sets and sceneries where Jurassic Park was filmed, one of the best ways to do it is riding an electric bike that will take you in a fast and fun way through the whole cinematographic route.

Within this type of tour you will have everything you need to spend a half day of the most entertaining. You will have a guide who will also ride a bike and, in addition to showing you all the places, will check that all the bikes are working properly.
In addition, you will also have a helmet and protections in case you fall because of the irregularities of the terrain.

Do you feel that you are not in physical condition to spend two hours pedaling? Don't worry! The bikes on these tours are electric, so if you start to get tired, just turn on the engine and continue touring the Jurassic Valley in an ecological and sustainable way.

Details of interest

  • Price: these tours are around 120€ per person all inclusive.
  • Duration: the tours usually last two hours.
  • Means of transportation: an electric bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: it is an ecological and fun alternative to see the whole environment of Jurassic Park.
  • Disadvantages of this option: if you do not know how to ride a bicycle, even an electric one, it may be difficult to keep up with the pace.

7. Zipline adventure tour of Kualoa Ranch

Ziplining in Hawaii| ©Brian Omura
Ziplining in Hawaii| ©Brian Omura

Do you like strong emotions and want to do adventure sports during your stay in Hawaii? Then Kualoa Ranch has prepared for you a kind of tour around the Jurassic Valley that will surely leave you breathless; zip-lining! Don't forget that, although many of the locations used for the movie had to be adapted, the natural environment where it was filmed is a chaotic and almost untouched jungle.

There is no better way to see all those fantastic views from where Alan Grant glimpsed the majestic dinosaurs than sliding down the rope of a zip line and flying over the green jungle.

But don't think it's all about speeding through the trees. Normally this kind of tours have a whole circuit that runs through the scenes of the movie and mixes short walks with exciting jumps into the void that will fill you with adrenaline while you know in depth how the famous saga was made.

Details of interest

  • Price: these tours are around 180€ per head.
  • Duration: they last about 4 hours and include a small introductory class with safety measures.
  • Means of transportation: on foot and via zip lines.
  • Advantages of this option: it is an ideal option for people who like adrenaline and exciting sports while discovering the natural environment of Jurassic Park.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is not suitable for all audiences as it is not recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, children under 7 years old and people with reduced mobility.

8. Helicopter tour of the valley and Jurassic Falls

Helicopter Tour| ©Steve Jurvetson
Helicopter Tour| ©Steve Jurvetson

What would you say is one of the most famous scenes of the Jurasic Park movie? You're probably thinking about that mythical helicopter ride that brought the main characters to the fascinating theme park in the first minutes of the movie.

If you want to be able to experience this ride in the flesh and see from the heights the great and impressive natural scenery that was filmed, you should know that you can hire one of the helicopter tours available in Oahu.

If you like heights, you will enjoy like a little kid going up in one of these devices and flying over all the terrain and plains that you have seen so many times on the big screen. Also, thanks to this type of tour, you will be able to reach one of the most complicated locations; the Jurassic Falls, an impressive waterfall that Spielberg used for his movies and that can only be reached by helicopter.

Details of interest

  • Price: around 300€.
  • Duration: the helicopter tour usually lasts about two hours with the landing at the waterfall.
  • Means of transportation: a helicopter.
  • Advantages of this option: it is an unforgettable experience and allows you to privately reach a privileged environment of the whole Jurassic Park.
  • Disadvantages of this option: it is not recommended if you are afraid of heights and, in addition, the price is a little high.

Book the best helicopter tours in Oahu

What is the best time to take these tours?

Kualoa Ranch| ©Thank You
Kualoa Ranch| ©Thank You

If you are determined to come to Hawaii and the island of Oahu to live in the flesh the experience of stepping on the stages of Jurassic World, you should know that, despite always having a pleasant temperature, there are months that are more advisable.

Normally, none of the extremes are good in the archipelago. On the one hand, in winter, you can find a very rainy and cold environment, while in summer the heat and humidity are a little uncomfortable to be walking for hours through the jungle of Kualoa Ranch.

That is why it is best to go to Ouha in April or November, that is, in spring and autumn, when the weather will be much milder and stable and you will find it pleasant to do outdoor activities, whether tours of the Jurassic Park complex or enjoy all the aquatic offerings, for example, with all the surfing lessons that are in Oahu.

Are any of these tours worth doing?

Jurassic Park waterfall| ©in-boulder
Jurassic Park waterfall| ©in-boulder

Oahu has a lot to offer. From paradise beaches, 5-star resorts, rural tourism and adventure sports. However, although you can access all of these activities on your own, there is no way you can access the amazing Jurassic Park locations without hiring a guide.

And it's not just a matter of sightseeing; the Kualoa Ranch environment is so vast and wild, you need a guide to get to all the sights and do some of the best hiking around. In addition, you have a wide variety of tour modalities for you to choose the one that suits you best and you can let yourself go and enjoy like a child. Without a doubt, it is worth investing in one of these experiences.

If, besides wanting to see the surroundings of Jurassic Park, you are interested in the world of cinema and history in general, do not forget that you are on one of the islands most filmed by Hollywood and, moreover, in one of the key scenarios of World War II, so, in addition to tours of Kualoa Ranch, you can also attend, for example, the best tours of Pearl Harbor.

Book a Jurassic Park tour in Oahu

Are these tours suitable for the whole family?

Koaloa Rach| ©Ken Lund
Koaloa Rach| ©Ken Lund

The tours that take you to the locations of Jurassic Park and its valley have the main advantage that they offer the same experience in a lot of different ways.

This means that even if some of these options are not suitable, for example, for children or pregnant women (such as quad biking or ziplining), you can always find a family-friendly option aboard a bus or jeep. Oahu with kids and families has flexibility and hundreds of activities to have a great time.

How to get to the Jurassic Park tours from Honolulu

Koaloa Rach| ©Dronepicr
Koaloa Rach| ©Dronepicr

Kualoa Ranch is on the east side of the island, in an area that, despite being very touristic, has little hotel offer. Most likely you have decided to stay in one of the lodgings in the capital, Honolulu. If so, and you want to take a tour of the Jurassic Park scenery, you are probably wondering how to get there.

Well, if you have booked a private tour option, you don't have to worry, as most of them include a hotel pick-up option. However, if you want to take one of the many tours offered by the ranch, you will have to get there by your own means.

One of the most used, cheapest and easiest ways is to take bus number 60, which leaves from the downtown station and drops you off at the gate in less than an hour.

It usually leaves every half hour and the ticket is less than 3€. If you want a more comfortable option you can go by cab, but I warn you that it is around 70€ or, if you want to explore on your own the rest of the days, another option would be to rent a car and drive yourself.

If Steven Spielberg chose this island to film his masterful Jurassic saga, no doubt it must be for a reason. Be sure to come and discover the charms of the island of Oahu, a place that will conquer you and make you travel back in time to prehistoric times.