26467-365 Big Island, Hawaii, North America, United States Volcano Rainforest Retreat, Volcano Village, HAVO.

©Greg Elms/Lonely Planet

Volcano Rainforest Retreat

Top choice in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

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Even with seemingly more windows than walls, these four artistically decorated cottages are well-secluded among the dense Ohia Hapuʻu rainforest, giving the entire property a tropical Zen fairytale feel. Two cottages feature private outdoor Japanese-style soaking tubs while the other two share an an outdoor hot tub. While the smallest, our favorite is the Sanctuary, a hexagonal oasis of 360° windows.

For added romance, in-room massage can be arranged in advance. DIY breakfast supplies are provided. Weekly group meditation can help center your trip.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Smoke plumes from the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

    Kilauea

    3.81 MILES

    Kilauea volcano lies at the center of activity in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The unassuming bump on Mauna Loa's southeast flank would be easily…

  • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

    5.14 MILES

    Even among Hawaii's many wonders, this national park stands out. Its two active volcanoes testify to the ongoing birth of the islands: quiet Mauna Loa (13…

  • Kilauea crater fumarole expelling fumes. 467882084 Cloudscape, Pele, Kilauea, Geology, Fumes, Exploding, Wide Angle, Big Island, Hawaii Islands, Day, Island, Volcanic Crater, Fumarole, Volcano, Earth, Cloud, Fog, hot spot, sulfide, Gas, Crater, Halemaʻumaʻu

    Halemaʻumaʻu Crater

    4.16 MILES

    The original Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook off Crater Rim Dr was closed in 2008 due to volcanic activity and the very real threat of death. For the next decade,…

  • Punaluu Black Sand Beach, a beach in the southeastern part of the Hawaiian coast of Kau 1738359710 beach, beautiful, big island, black sand, black sand coast, blue, coast, exotic, famous place, hawaii, hawaii volcanoes national park, holiday, island, island of hawaii, kilauea, landscape, lava, nature, ocean, outdoor, palm, paradise, punaluu, punaluu black sand coast, sand beach, sea, sky, southeastern kau coast, summer, sun, sunny, tourism, tourist attractions, travel, tree, tropical, vacation, volcano, water

    Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach Park

    27.4 MILES

    Beyond the nearly omnipresent green sea turtles basking in the sun, or the rare hawksbill turtles that lay their eggs here (be careful where you walk),…

  • Petroglyphs in lava rock at Pu'uloa along Chain of Craters road, in the Volcanoes National Park. 1200494920 ancient, archeology, art, artwork, carving, chain, civilization, craters, culture, draw, drawing, hawaii, hawaiian, heritage, hill, historic, history, icon, indigenous, island, landmark, lava, loa, long, message, national, native, old, outdoors, park, petroglyph, polynesian, pu'u, pu'uloa, puu, puuloa, road, rock, sacred, spiritual, states, stone, symbol, travel, tribal, tropical, united, usa, volcano, writing

    Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs

    10.88 MILES

    The gentle, 1.3-mile round-trip to Puʻu Loa (roughly, 'hill of long life') leads to one of Hawaiʻi's largest concentrations of ancient petroglyphs, some…

  • Liliuokalani Park, Hilo, East Coast.

    Liliʻuokalani Park

    22.86 MILES

    Arguably Hilo's most beautiful spot, these sprawling Japanese gardens are perfect for picnicking. Named for Hawaii's last queen (r 1891–93), the 30-acre…

  • Akaka Falls, Hamakua Coast, Waimea Reagion.

    ʻAkaka Falls State Park

    29.88 MILES

    The island's best ‘tourist waterfall’ is found at this outstanding, family-friendly park. Walk the paved path counterclockwise, on a loop that traverses…

  • This is a shot of the Kilauea Volcano from the Kilauea Overlook in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this is a panoramic shot of the caldera of the large Volcano on the south side of The Big Island of Hawaii 1488714858

    Kilauea Iki Overlook

    1.87 MILES

    When 'Little Kilauea' burst open in a fiery inferno in November 1959, it filled the crater with a roiling lake of molten rock fed by a 1900ft fountain…

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Nearby Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park attractions

1. Volcano Garden Arts

0.99 MILES

Do your Big Island art shopping at this gallery and studio in the fern forest. Walls and tables overflow with paintings, handicrafts and jewelry produced…

2. Niaulani Campus

1.58 MILES

On the edge of an old-grown ohia forest, this campus of the main Volcano Art Center gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park showcases spillover and…

3. Thurston Lava Tube

1.6 MILES

On Kilauea's eastern side, Crater Rim Dr passes through a rainforest thick with tree ferns and ohia trees to the overflowing parking lot for ever-popular…

4. Kilauea Iki Overlook

1.87 MILES

When 'Little Kilauea' burst open in a fiery inferno in November 1959, it filled the crater with a roiling lake of molten rock fed by a 1900ft fountain…

5. Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook

2.41 MILES

Pu'u Pua'i (Gushing Hill) formed when cinder and ash spewing from the 1959 Kilauea Iki fountain was carried southwest on the wind, piling on the rim and…

6. 2400 Fahrenheit

2.7 MILES

Michael and Misato Mortara form hot glass into sculptures and vessels as complex and beautiful as the Big Island. Visit in the morning, or just after…

7. Kilauea Visitor Center & Museum

2.76 MILES

Stop here first on your visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Extraordinarily helpful (and remarkably patient) rangers and volunteers can advise you…

8. Volcano Art Center

2.83 MILES

Near the Kilauea Visitor Center, this sharp local art gallery spotlights museum-quality pottery, paintings, woodwork, sculpture, jewelry, Hawaiian quilts…