3-Day Shoestring Budget Itinerary for Avalon, California

• Day 1: Discover Avalon
  Start your day with a stroll along the Avalon Pier followed by a visit to the Catalina Island Museum. Take a scenic Green Pleasure Pier Tour to learn about the history of Avalon. End your day with a sunset sail on the Starlight Coastal Cruise.
• Day 2: Outdoor Adventures
  Begin your day with a visit to the Catalina Island Conservancy and hike the Garden to Sky Summit Trail for breathtaking island views. Take a guided Kayak Tour to explore the kelp forests, coves, and beaches. End your day with a campfire and s'mores on the Descanso Beach.
• Day 3: Relax by the Beach
  Spend the day relaxing on the beautiful Ximeno Beach. Enjoy lunch at the Descanso Fresh, an outdoor food court offering various cuisines. Take a scenic hike on the Hermit Gulch Trail, featuring coastal mountain views alongside a stream. End your day with a visit to the Casino Point Dive Park, a premier dive destination.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Avalon Pier (1 hour, free)
• Catalina Island Museum (1-2 hours, $5-15)
• Green Pleasure Pier Tour (45 minutes, $8)
• Starlight Coastal Cruise (1.5 hours, $32)
• Catalina Island Conservancy (1-2 hours, free)
• Garden to Sky Summit Trail (3-4 hours, free)
• Kayak Tour (2 hours, $50)
• Descanso Beach Campfire (1-2 hours, $50)
• Ximeno Beach (all day, free)
• Descanso Fresh (1 hour, $8-15)
• Hermit Gulch Trail (2-3 hours, free)
• Casino Point Dive Park (1-2 hours, $5-15)
• Total Estimated Costs: $158-215

Transportation

In Avalon, cars are not allowed. Walking is the most common form of transportation, as everything is within walking distance. The Catalina Express ferry to/from Long Beach and San Pedro is $74 round trip and takes approximately an hour.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider taking a scenic helicopter tour or renting a golf cart to explore the island. For those with less time, skip the hike on the second day and take a glass-bottom boat tour instead. Remember to bring comfortable shoes for walking and dress in layers as the weather can vary.

Airports

The Catalina Airport (AVX) is located in the center of the island, just a few miles outside Avalon. It is a small airport that only offers flights to/from the mainland on small planes, with most flights departing from Long Beach Airport (LGB) or John Wayne Airport (SNA). The airport code AVX is also used for seaplanes that land in Avalon Harbor.