Travelers are increasingly mindful of the impact they have on the places they visit. On Catalina Island, giving back doesn’t require extra effort — it can be part of the experience itself.
Travel That Gives Back: Sustainable Adventures on Catalina Island
Travel That Gives Back
Some travel choices support the island before you even arrive at an activity. Booking through Kind Traveler allows a portion of your stay or experience to benefit local nonprofits focused on conservation and community stewardship.
- The Avalon Hotel stays support Marine Mammal Rescues
- Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel stays support the Catalina Island Conservancy programs
- Catalina Courtyard Hotel stays support Bleu World
- Catalina Compass and ocean-based adventures with Scuba By Design and Wetspot Rentals also contribute to Bleu World initiatives
Many of these experiences go beyond recreation, they actively support stewardship, research and ocean education, making it easy to ensure your vacation benefits the island’s environment and community.
Join a Cleanup
Visitors who want a hands-on experience can participate in local cleanup efforts during their stay. Groups like Bleu World and Avalon Beautiful regularly organize beach, harbor and trail cleanups that help protect marine habitats and preserve the island’s natural beauty. Whether you join for an hour or an afternoon, your time makes a measurable difference.
Care for Catalina
The Care for Catalina initiative encourages travelers to explore thoughtfully and minimize their footprint. Simple actions — conserving water, reducing single-use plastics and respecting wildlife — help ensure Catalina remains as pristine as the day you discovered it. Taking the pledge is an easy way to be part of that effort.
Eco Tours
The conservation of Catalina’s landscape is possible thanks to Philip K. Wrigley’s 1972 gift of 88% of the island to the Catalina Island Conservancy, ensuring most of Catalina remains a protected, undeveloped wilderness for all to enjoy.
One of the best ways to experience that preserved landscape is on an interior eco tour. Tours and bison expeditions — offered by operators such as Catalina Island Company, Catalina Taxi & Tours, Catalina Adventure Tours, and the Conservancy — take visitors deep into protected habitats where you may spot the Catalina Island fox, soaring American bald eagle, and the island’s iconic American bison.
No matter which company you choose, all guides are trained Eco Tour Guides with knowledge of the island’s ecology, geology, flora and fauna. A portion of every interior tour ticket supports conservation programs managed by the Conservancy. Overnight camping permits and interior biking fees also directly fund these programs, allowing visitors to support preservation simply by exploring the island responsibly.
For visitors who want to go a step further, the Conservancy also hosts group volunteer programs across 42,000 acres of protected land. Participants help restore habitats, remove invasive species, maintain trails and support wildlife monitoring, with transportation, tools and camps provided for day or overnight experiences.
Dive Into Citizen Science
Catalina’s give-back opportunities extend beneath the surface as well. Scuba By Design offers a Discover Scientific Diving experience that allows certified divers to step into the role of citizen scientist for a day. Participants learn how marine researchers study kelp forest ecosystems and practice survey techniques used to monitor fish populations and ocean health.
Divers may even contribute real data through a Roving Diver Survey, supporting broader marine conservation efforts. It’s an immersive way to better understand Catalina’s underwater ecosystems while actively participating in their protection — turning a recreational dive into meaningful impact.
