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Catalina Island offers a wealth of opportunities to explore by land or sea. This includes SCUBA tours through the kelp forests just offshore, snorkeling tours, and fishing as well as boat tours around the island. Scavenger hunts are available for those renting a golf cart and those who do not.
Find Cruises to California's Catalina Island Port
Watch the boats float peacefully in the harbor at Green Pleasure Pier, then head inland to the Catalina Island Museum, where you’ll discover the history of the island from thousands of years ago to today. Several of the world’s top cruise lines come to Catalina Island with a cruise schedule that runs year round. There are very few cars allowed on Catalina Island to protect the natural beauty and ecological systems of the island. There are limited taxis and ferries available for Catalina cruise passengers.
Santa Catalina Island CA cruise terminal
Enjoy a wealth of fun-facts, and even feed fish, using the submarine’s “torpedo” button.... California uses the U.S. dollar as the official currency of the state. ATMs are commonly available on Catalina Island, and credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops.
Where You Dock in Catalina Island – California
Cars are limited on Catalina (there's a 8-10 year waiting list to own a car on the island). Most folks walk or rent golf carts and bicycles, the preferred modes of transportation. Even the sheriff drives a golf cart fitted with a siren and special high-speed gears (about $30/hour for carts for those 25 and older with a driver's license; $10/hour for bikes). The Catalina Island cruise port is called the Green Pleasure Pier, which is where you’ll find the local visitor center, watersports, and other nearby activities. The Catalina Island Museum isn’t too far from the cruise pier, either. Also known as Santa Catalina Island, this rocky destination is about 29 miles southeast of Long Beach, California.
Night Classic California CoastDetails
Although the distance will discourage most walkers, cruise visitors can get there more easily by renting bicycles or golf carts that are common in Avalon. It is truly for the outdoorsy type, offering a variety of inland hiking and biking options as well as water sport, and more adventurous activities. If you prefer a more relaxing adventure you can rest on the beach, enjoy 18 holes of golf, or take the island casino walking tour. Local shops and boutiques showcase the artisanal talents of residents, from custom furniture and antiques to handmade clothing and kitschy island souvenirs.
Catalina Island, California
The rugged, rocky Moonstone Beach has become synonymous with this particular part of the Pacific Coast, and it’s a popular spot for a boardwalk stroll. Walkers can easily reach Descanso Beach, which is about three fourths of a mile north of Pleasure Pier. Otherwise, they can take a free shuttle during the summer from the casino.
Top Tours & Excursions In Catalina Island – California
Avalon has three small beaches right at the harbourfront and a larger one just north of the casino. Otherwise, standard shore excursions include snorkeling, kayaking, whale watching, dolphin viewing, scuba, glass bottom boats and parasailing. Still, anyone who takes a cruise out of Long Beach or the nearby San Pedro district in Los Angeles can visit Catalina by ferry if they have an extra day available before or after their cruise. Of Catalina's total population (around 4,000), nearly 90% live in Avalon (island's only city). Online searching for "Isla Catalina" often results in finding three Catalina-named islands - the namesakes Isla Catalina (Baja Mexico), Isla Catalina (Dominican Republic) and the island Santa Catalina (California USA). Hop onboard the Catalina Flyer for daily ferry service from Newport Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island in just over 1 hour.
Santa Catalina Island CA (Avalon, California)
Avalon has the usual shops and restaurants to serve cruise passengers. There is a local museum 217 Metropole Ave. with a history of the island. The island's only town is Avalon - located on the southeastern coast. Santa Catalina Island (aka Catalina Island) is located off California's coast (USA) in the Gulf of Santa Catalina (Pacific Ocean). The island has length of 35 km (22 mi) and max width of 13 km (8 mi).
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For those who are interested in bringing back a piece of the island’s history, head to the Catalina Island Gift Shop. SunKissed is a local boutique specializing in beachwear and colorful jewelry. Indigenous groups, like the native Pimugnans, have lived on Catalina Island for thousands of years. In the early 20th century, William Wrigley Jr. of Wrigley chewing gum fame bought out the island, and his estate has controlled it ever since. Today, Catalina Island strikes a delicate balance between maintaining the natural ecosystem and expanding the glamorous resort lifestyle that makes the island so popular with visitors.
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Skip stones at the pebbly Moonstone Beach or Starlight, or walk along the boardwalk as the sun begins to set. With the help of the friendly resort vibe and beautiful nature, you won’t find it hard to unwind on Catalina Island. They are mainly concentrated in the island’s only incorporated city at Avalon on the southeast coast and the village of Two Harbors on the northwest coast. Cruise ships anchor near Avalon and tender (boat) their passengers to Pleasure Pier at the Avalon docks.
Cruise ships to Santa Catalina Island California anchor at sea near Avalon - port town on the southeastern coast. Between the anchored ship and the port (Green Pleasure Pier), passengers are transported via the ship's tender boats. Hop on a glass-bottom boat for a tour of the Catalina Island Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Area. At this wildlife refuge, peer into the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific and see entire schools and habitats of a healthy, well-maintained local marine life.
Catalina Island has three public beaches if you are looking to kick back and relax in the sun for a while. Catalina Island has several historic features that are fun to explore. In addition, there is a miniature golf course within a garden-like setting, and less than a block from the ocean.
Tipping on Catalina Island is the same as most destinations in the U.S. Tip at least 10% to 15% for your taxi driver, and 15% to 20% at bars and restaurants for good service. A public bus serves Avalon on a fixed bus route from the Cabrillo Mole to the left of visitor’s center where the ferries arrive. It goes to Casino Way and up the canyon to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden.
The Catalina Chimes Tower on Chimes Tower Road is a picturesque landmark that rings every 15 minutes. Getting there is an uphill climb from the docks, but it offers nice views of Avalon and the harbor. It is a common port of call for Mexican Riviera cruises that depart from Long Beach, Los Angeles and San Francisco and that last three to five days. These quick cruises often go only to Catalina and Ensenada on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico before returning to their embarkation ports. Catalina Island is the only island with a cruise port on a Mexican Riviera cruise.
Rides last an hour to an hour and a half depending on the starting point. Round trip prices are about $75 per person with discounts for children and senior citizens. Anyone who wants just a guided scenic tour of the island can spend about $30 to take one.
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