Top 5 Santa Catalina Helicopter Tours: Which is Best?

Santa Catalina Island, that scenic gem off the California coast, very much deserves a spot on your bucket list. While the island presents no end of ways to see it, doing so from above very much gives you, like your travel memories, something extra special. You see, I’ve taken the time to compile the top five Santa Catalina helicopter tours to provide helpful bits of information and tips, which hopefully makes your choice easy. These experiences offer astonishing aerial views, giving a new sense of the island’s beauty. Prepare for an overview of the tours, so you can get going with making those vacation arrangements.

1. Island Express Helicopter’s Discovery Tour

First up is Island Express Helicopter’s Discovery Tour, so it tends to be a superb opening act to viewing Catalina. If that seems up your street, the folks at Island Express deliver an adventure lasting roughly 15 minutes, which means it fits into most schedules easily. You’ll glide over Avalon, taking in sights like the Casino and Descanso Beach. The tour isn’t short of little visual details either: keep watch for the local marine life.

The views, I think, could be defined as postcard-worthy. In some respects, there’s something pretty special about witnessing the transition from city life to wide open waters. At roughly $179 per person, just a little rich for some, though arguably great for those looking for a quick introduction to the island. So, if you want an appetizer to Catalina, consider Island Express. Wildlife enthusiasts might enjoy this tour.

2. Orbic Air’s Catalina Island Tour from Long Beach

Starting at Long Beach, Orbic Air’s offering typically expands the tour with transit time in mind. In other words, this becomes an experience beyond Catalina itself. I’m of the opinion the 30-minute ride goes a little above other aerial tours, offering what could be defined as a broader sense of Southern California’s charm. Keep watch to experience urban coastlines fade into that of that gorgeous island terrain. So, very breathtaking views here.

This option works rather well for visitors to the mainland looking to bundle trips, basically making logistics that bit less complicated. That said, the costs do reflect the increased time, so it sits around $299. As I was saying, the trip’s value comes partly through the combined view of greater Southern California, should that idea grab your interest. To be honest, people wanting a big experience with a bit of transit built-in might pick this one.

3. Avalon Scenic Tour by Catalina Island Helicopters

I think Avalon Scenic Tour is one you can grab directly from Catalina Island Helicopters, and it can rightly be called the essence of aerial sightseeing on the island. At about 20 minutes in length, it’s something of a sweet spot, in some respects that hits both time and landmarks very right. In other words, there’s a good concentration on island high points.

So, what’s on show here? That depends on where you look, however many say the tour visits the iconic Casino Building as well as a pass over the serene Descanso Beach. Just a little bit different from the other entries: there tends to be strong guidance about local facts from the pilots. Priced around $225, it tends to reflect a comprehensive look focused upon Avalon’s famous sites, if that’s how you want to spend your time. If I had to choose, it would probably come down to what you value most!

4. Extended Island Tour with IEX Helicopters

Alright, should you want a deep-dive of the area’s scope, the Extended Island Tour along with IEX Helicopters may just be how to get it. With that in mind, the trip takes to the skies for about 30 minutes, seemingly presenting you something of an ultimate panorama of the island’s wonders. It does include, naturally, the usual sights, even so also goes way beyond, almost touching upon some little visited spots.

What are we talking about here? We might as well be discussing remote coves, and the island’s quieter regions. The ride tends to provide a full sense of Catalina. The thing is, all the above means it’s the costliest pick; expect to pay near $325 per person. Clearly, for those keen for what you might call that very detailed visual story regarding Catalina, it just might provide value. So, if you just have to experience Catalina in what almost is a 360, keep IEX Helicopters in mind. Make certain that the Extended Island Tour lives up to its claims!

5. Romantic Sunset Tour via Island Seaplane

Let’s just say a special event requires special touch, then the Romantic Sunset Tour on an Island Seaplane has a charm unlike some of its rivals. Rather than a helicopter, that seaplane part provides a distinct vantage, apparently bringing both an aquatic plus an aerial thrill into that experience. With the ride around 40 minutes in duration, the time aligns very beautifully to those magical sundown hours.

If I was to sum this up, then it’s as romantic in feel. Clearly, this comes through combining smooth flights plus amazing sundown colors along the sea. The tour does fly with only a couple aboard. Anyway, for approximately $499, it represents that special experience for honeymooners or those celebrating milestones, basically providing memories far from commonplace. To be honest, If your intention is setting that love high, very consider going by seaplane at twilight, rather.