Today I want to share my 2-day Catalina itinerary with you. Catalina Island is one of California’s Channel Islands, and it lies just off the coast of Los Angeles. With 2 days, you can experience a lot of the best things to do on Catalina. From beaches and water sports to hiking, shopping, bison tours, and restaurants, there’s something for everyone. This Catalina Island itinerary will show you the highlights.
Catalina Itinerary
Officially named Santa Catalina Island, this place is called Catalina Island or Catalina by locals. It’s a popular vacation spot for day trips, overnight stays, and weekend getaways alike.
At 22 miles long and 8 miles across, the island is known for wildlife, beaches, scuba diving and snorkeling, coastal resort towns like Avalon and Two Harbors, and Mount Orizaba, which reaches an elevation of 2,097 feet.
How to Get to Catalina Island
It’s easy to get to Catalina by ferry. The island is just 22 miles off the Southern California coast, and there are direct ferries from Long Beach, Dana Point, San Pedro, and Newport Beach. The crossing takes 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on your departure point.
If you want to get here even faster, you can take a helicopter from Long Beach to Catalina. It’s an exciting way to arrive.
Catalina Itinerary: Day 1
Along with a friend, I’m taking the ferry from Long Beach to Avalon in the morning. We arrive on the island just before 11am. We’re welcomed by the sight of the historic Catalina Casino and the many boats in the bay.
Where to Stay on Catalina Island
Our Catalina itinerary starts with a ride to our accommodation, the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel. It’s not just any ride, though. It’s in a golf cart. The island is full of them, and they’re the preferred mode of transport for many. Visitors can even rent them for the duration of their stay on Catalina Island.
The golf cart whisks us up a hill above Avalon Bay to the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel. A historic landmark built in 1926 by renowned novelist Zane Grey, it not only offers heritage charm, but also sweeping views over the city and its marina.
Our pretty room is decorated in seaside colors, and we have a balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Elsewhere on the grounds there’s a swimming pool, restaurant, and terrace from where we spot local deer grazing.
Descanso Beach Club
After getting settled in, we continue our Catalina itinerary by taking a golf cart down to Avalon (our hotel provides free rides for guests). From the waterfront we walk along the harbor and past Casino Point to get to Descanso Bay.
We’ve pre-booked lounge chairs on the sand at the Descanso Beach Club, the only beachfront restaurant and bar in Avalon. We’re welcomed with complimentary water and smoothies, which sets a good tone for the afternoon.
We have lunch at the beach club, enjoying delicious nachos and ahi poke bowls as we watch people snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking, boating, and swimming in front of us. It’s amazing how many water activities there are on offer here.
Avalon
We take a dip ourselves, then continue our Catalina itinerary by heading back to Avalon to explore the city. Avalon is packed with colorful shopfronts, restaurants, cafes, and bars. There’s a harbor lined with beaches and a pier, and in the center of it all is a colorful tile fountain.
We walk along Crescent Avenue and down the streets running perpendicular to it, popping into clothing boutiques, art galleries, and shopping centers as we go. We walk out to the end of the pier and along the sandy beaches, taking in the boats and sun umbrellas on the waterfront.
Lover’s Cove
Eventually we meander out to Lover’s Cove, a stretch of shoreline with a little pebble beach. When we get to Abalone Point, we spot huge schools of tiny fish in the water. We stop to watch as larger fish jump out of the ocean to catch them.
Soon birds and a sea lion appear to join the feeding frenzy. It’s amazing to see it all up close.
Dinner on Catalina Island
We head back to our hotel for a sunset drink on the terrace, then continue our Catalina itinerary by walking into town for dinner at NDMK restaurant. This place is known for its fresh fish, some of which the owner catches himself.
We focus on the Japanese side of the menu and order everything from bluefin tuna sashimi to a rainbow roll and spicy tuna hand rolls. It’s all delicious.
Dessert
After dinner we can’t help stopping for dessert at Scoops, a shop selling ice cream, gelato, and other frozen favorites. A cup of Nutella-and-hazelnut gelato goes down a treat as we walk along the beach.
Drinks in Avalon
We’re not ready to call it a night, so we continue our Catalina itinerary by heading into a local tiki bar called Luau Larry’s for some island-inspired cocktails. I go for a classic margarita, and my friend chooses a pina colada.
We sip them in a booth surrounded by wooden carvings, tropical paintings, and people wearing straw hats. It’s a fun place to experience the Catalina nightlife scene.
Catalina Itinerary: Day 2
The next morning our Catalina itinerary begins with an early wake-up call. We pack our bags, check out of our hotel, and head off to do the Garden to Sky Hike.
Garden to Sky Hike on Catalina Island
We leave the hotel at 7:45am to take advantage of the cooler morning weather. It’s a 40-minute walk through Avalon to get to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, where our hike officially begins. We pay the entry fee, wave hello to the cacti, admire the memorial, and head up the Garden to Sky trail.
It’s 1.2 miles from the memorial to the summit, and the views of Avalon get better the higher we climb. 30 minutes later, we reach the top. We’re rewarded with the sight of the other side of Catalina Island. It’s beautiful to see the panoramic vistas, and we’re glad we woke up early to experience it all.
Breakfast in Avalon
Back down in Avalon, we stop for breakfast at Cafe Metropole. This chic spot serves all kinds of breakfast foods, from bagels to avocado toast. We enjoy our meal at an outdoor table as we watch the world go by.
Catalina Itinerary
Soon our Catalina itinerary comes to an end. We pick up our bags at the hotel, get a golf cart ride back to the ferry port, and hop on the boat for the trip back to Long Beach.
It’s been an amazing visit to the island, and a great way to spend 2 days in Southern California. I hope this itinerary has inspired you to hop on a ferry (or helicopter!) and experience this place yourself.
If you want to see more, you can check out my video about things to do in Catalina on YouTube. Happy travels!
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