YAHglobal Kualoa Ranch on the windward side of Oahu has a total of 17 tours. Some are great, while others can be done without paying a penny. The most popular among them is unquestionably the 2.5 hour Jurassic Adventure Tour. Also known as “Jurassic Valley”, the private nature reserve has served as the primary film location for the Jurassic Park franchise as it jumped between directors Steven Spielberg, Joe Johnston, J.A. Bayona, and Colin Trevorrow. The Jurassic Adventure Tour pays homage to this cinematic journey and it draws thousands of visitors from all over the world each year. The current price is $139.95 per adult (ages 13 and up) and $69.95 per child (ages 3-12). The total cost with taxes for a family of four (2 adults and 2 kids) is $439.58. Factor in a post-tour trip to the food court and your pocketbook will tip the scales at over $500 USD. We won’t even discuss the damage to be done in the gift shop. This calculation leads to the inevitable question; is the Jurassic tour on Oahu in Hawaii worth it? Yes, it most certainly is for fans with future paleontologists in tow. Here’s why.
Why the Jurassic Park Tour at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is Worth the Price of Admission
The Magic Begins on Arrival
Jurassic Park fans feel warm and fuzzy from the moment they pull up to the Kualoa Ranch lot on a sunny day with low hanging clouds caressing the beveled Pali (cliffs). You instantly know that you’re headed for something special. Cue the John Williams soundtrack.
Dinos on Display Before Boarding
The worst part of any tour is the wait to get it started. This isn’t a problem prior to the Jurassic Adventure Tour as you’ll be greeted by familiar prehistoric faces in the waiting area. Be ready to pose and snap photos before your party is called to board the vehicle.
Off-Road Warrior
There’s no tour bus for this adventure. Instead, you’ll ride in off-road awesomeness in a 16-passenger open-air truck. The best part about the driving portion of the adventure however, will be your guide. They’re pretty darn funny in a refreshing unscripted way. Expectedly, they are also extremely knowledgeable about the films as they relate to the scenery, props, and stops on the route.
The Bunker
The tour starts with a bang as you visit a WW II bunker that has been repurposed as a museum of “filmed on Oahu” paraphernalia. The bulk of the collection is Jurassic-centric, including animatronic raptors and a T-Rex along with a Jurassic World jeep that your kids can pretend to drive.
Tour Highlights
There are a number of notable highlights on the rest of the excursion. There’s a playful stop at the famous Jurassic Park tree that Dr. Allan Grant, Timmy, and Lex ducked behind to avoid stampeding Gallimimus and a hungry T-Rex. Soon after the preliminary pit-stop is one the best moments for adults which arrives when the truck stops at an elevated platform. Passengers hop out to soak up the view of Jurassic Valley in all of its glory.
After retreating back to the vehicle you’ll enjoy a delightfully bumpy ride down a dirt path towards Jurassic Park sets that have been left behind for your benefit. You may leave the truck to explore, if you dare.
Up next is the extended climax of the Jurassic Adventure Tour. The jungle road guides your group to the gates of the 2015 Jurassic World set. The truck parks within the compound, allowing passengers to disembark the vehicle and spend a 20-30 minutes exploring the area. Climb the metal staircase up to the abandoned control room where Claire Dearing and her cohorts lost track of the Indominus Rex.
“It’s in there with you!”
The tour winds down after leaving the massive JW film set. You’ll enjoy the drive back to home base as lush Monkey Pod trees shade the rest of the way, grinning with satisfaction that it was time (and money) well spent.
Is the Jurassic Tour on Oahu Worth It? If you can afford it, absolutely. If you have any other questions about the Jurassic Adventure Tour feel free to leave them in the comment box below. We reply!
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