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visit the sanctuary

Our residents love to meet new friends!

Lily

sanctuary tours

We offer both public and private tours of the sanctuary. Public tours occur each Saturday at 12pm HST. There is a suggested donation of $50 per adult and $30 for kids 3-12. Private tours of the sanctuary are available most days of the week, for up to 10 guests. There is a suggested donation of $70 per adult and $50 for kids 3-12. Kamaʻāina with Hawaii ID receive a 30% discount on any public or private tour. Please contact us before booking to receive this discount.

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During our 2 hour tours guests are taken from species to species and enter the pastures with many of our residents. We share the residents' rescue stories, information about the various species of farmed animals, and the industries they came from. There are lots of opportunities throughout the tour for up-close interaction with our magical creatures. Kids are welcome and tours are appropriate for all ages but for everyone's safety, we request that groups have a maximum of 2 children ages 3-12 per adult and 1 child under age 3 per adult. Please email visit@magicalcreaturessanctuary.org with any questions.

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Join our Saturday Public tours for FREE by participating in our 2-hour Volunteer Project Day beforehand!

Minimum age for project days is 14, and minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Reservations Required
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RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Register for a tour using the buttons above.

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DONATION

We kindly ask for a donation to help care for our residents. Suggested amounts range from $30-$70 per visitor. We also offer a 30% Kamaʻāina discount with ID. 

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PLEASE ARRIVE ON-TIME

We are very busy taking care of our creatures so tight scheduling is important.

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REFRESH BEFORE ARRIVAL

There are no public restrooms or concessions at the sanctuary, so please show up ready-to-tour. The two closest public restrooms are the Minit Stop on Highway 19 (just downhill from us) and the Country Store in Papaaloa (next village over towards Hilo).

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TOURS HAPPEN RAIN OR SHINE

...and sometimes both! However, tours may cancel for extreme weather, or if our driveway is flooded. Please check the forecast on tour day and dress accordingly.

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GROUP SIZES ARE LIMITED

A maximum of 10 people—big and small—allows us to keep all humans and animals safe and free to enjoy each other's company.

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DURING YOUR VISIT

Once at the sanctuary please remember you are visiting the animals in their home. Treat all residents with respect and courtesy. Don’t lift or restrain any animal, all interactions are on the animal’s initiative. Some animals have free run of the sanctuary, but please don’t approach any animals without checking with staff. Children must be supervised at all times. 

 

PLEASE NO:

Smoking, weapons, drugs, alcohol, or companion animals 

"BEAUTIFUL heartwarming animal sanctuary on the Big Island. If you love animals, Go. You’ll have a great time."

- Antoinette Ortiz via Facebook

  • Do I need to make a reservation to visit?
    Yes. All visits must be during one of our tours, fundraisers, or celebrations. Our team is busy at work running the sanctuary. We cannot accommodate drop in visitors.
  • What do the tours consist of?
    You will be taken from species to species and enter the pastures and yards with many of the residents. During the tours we share the resident’s rescue stories, information about the various species of farmed animals, and the industries they came from.
  • Are the tours child-friendly, or do you have special kid tours?"
    Yes, kids are welcome and tours are appropriate for all ages. For everyone's safety, we request that there be a maximum of 2 children 12 and under per each adult.
  • Can I feed the animals?
    Many of our animals are on special diets. Please do not feed any food to the animals during your visit to the sanctuary unless MCS staff has provided that food to you specifically to give as treats.
  • Can I bring my dog?
    For the safety and comfort of both our rescued animals and your pets, companion animals are not allowed on sanctuary property.
  • Can I bring my own food?
    Yes, but please do not bring any meat, eggs, dairy, or animal by-products to the sanctuary out of respect for the animals, staff, and fellow visitors. You may be asked to put your food back in the car for consumption elsewhere if it does not meet these criteria.
  • Can we visit any other time besides weekend tours?
    Except for scheduled tours and special events, the sanctuary is closed to the public. Our staff is working every day and we do not accommodate drop-ins. If you would like to tour the sanctuary during a time outside of our listed public tour and visitor dates, you must fill out a private tour request.
  • Are we allowed to bring hurt, injured or rescued animals to the sanctuary?"
    No. If there is an emergency or an animal in need, please contact Animal Control first. If you are aware of an animal in need, please email info@magicalcreaturessanctuary.org. Provide your name, contact information and as much information about the animal as possible. If this is an urgent rescue case, please type “URGENT” in the email subject line. Thank you!
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