Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Catalina Island
Catalina Island, United States

Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Outty Ranking 63 4.2 · 38 traveler reviews1.4 hoursFrom $7

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

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Age 12 and under

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From, per person$7
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Outty Ranking

63/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.2/5

Based on 38 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth booking?

Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour is a 1.4-hour experience in Catalina Island, United States, from $7 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice, based on a 4.2/5 rating across 38 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
63 / 100
Rating
4.2/5 (38)
Duration
1.4 hours
From
$7 per person

Take a self-guided GPS audio tour through the streets of Avalon with me. My name is Matthew and I am one of the 4000 residents of Avalon. Being a local I get asked a lot of questions. Do you live here full time? How expe

What you get

    About this experience

    Take a self-guided GPS audio tour through the streets of Avalon with me. My name is Matthew and I am one of the 4000 residents of Avalon. Being a local I get asked a lot of questions. Do you live here full time? How expensive is it? What is that large house up on the hill? Why does everyone drive around in golf carts? How can you have a casino that doesn't allow gambling? Along with historians, authors, and other passionate locals, we will walk the streets of Avalon to answer these questions and more. You'll learn the stories behind our town and its famous landmarks from the people who live here. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

    What's included

    Included

    • Lifetime access to Avalon City tour
    • VoiceMap Application
    • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

    Not included

    • Smartphone
    • Transportation
    • Food/Drink
    • Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

    What you'll see and do

    1. Green Pleasure Pier

      Green Pleasure Pier is the geographical center of town and a main stop for many activities. Wanna jump on a glass bottom boat, see some flying fish, grab some bait, or even rent your own skiff? Then this is the place to begin.

      Pass by without stopping

    2. Catalina Express

      The Catalina Express is ferry service between Santa Catalina Island and mainland California. Their fleet includes eight high speed vessels than can make the journey in under an hour. They offer up to 30 departures a day with boats leaving from ports in San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point.

      Pass by without stopping

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Catalina Island

    Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed instructions to the starting point are in the app.

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed instructions to the starting point are in the app.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    VoiceMap Audio Tours

    Know before you go

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    Avalon City, Catalina IslandAvalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Catalina Island, photo 3Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Catalina Island, photo 4Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Catalina Island, photo 5Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Catalina Island, photo 6

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 38 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    4 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Pace and timing

    2 mentions

    Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.

    Traveler reviews

    38 verified traveler reviews for Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    26
    4 star
    5
    3 star
    1
    2 star
    1
    1 star
    5
    Sort
    Neleatha_P · April 2026

    Walkable tour of Catalina.

    This is a great, affordable way to experience Catalina at your own pace. Very informative and fun . Highly recommend.

    via Viator

    Lauren_T · March 2026

    Great choice!

    This was an excellent audio tour! The guy was funny, told great stories, and helped. You learn about the place in a very atypical, but great way.

    via Viator

    jimmyrD339MA · November 2025

    Did not work well. Not user friendly

    Did not work very well for the four of us. It is not user friendly. A waste of $28. Probably would not purchase in the future.

    Response from the operator: Hi Jimmy, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your experience. When you were having technical difficulties, did you contact VoiceMap support via email or telephone? We are contactable by both telephone and email, so if you have technical difficulties, please reach out to us so we can identify what is going wrong. Again, I'm sorry about the poor experience you had. Best, Alicia

    via Tripadvisor

    Hagenn · November 2025

    Good for a leisurely stroll around the shore.

    The app made for a good self-guided stroll around the bay shore. Purchase was a bit more complex than we initially expected -- you need to download the Voicemap guide app from your App Store, then use a code that's emailed to you -- but the setup was easy once I got my email connected. This is all easy if you set it up before your trip, but it's still quite workable if you do it on-the-spot while you're standing in Avalon! There are a few instances where the auto-play would trigger on the wrong point -- an artifact of overlapping paths -- but these are pretty easy to work around. All together a better experience than some other guide apps.

    via Viator

    josephjd2024 · October 2025

    A terrible product - I do not recommend it.

    I do not recommend this product. It was a self guided tour using my mobile phone. I paid for the tour but when I got to Avalon and tried to access the guide, it gave me a message that it was downloading and I should not leave the page. After watching the circle spin for 30 minutes without ever connecting me to the tour, I turned it off. Even if this was user error, the instruction to stay on the page during the download was either completely incorrect or so misleading I could not access the tour. A total waste of money and time.

    Response from the operator: Hi there, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your experience. We recommend downloading your tour using a WiFi connection, it shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. When you were having technical difficulties, did you contact VoiceMap support via email or telephone? We are contactable by both telephone and email, so if you have technical difficulties, please reach out to us so we can identify what is going wrong. Can you email more information to support@voicemap.me? This way, we can troubleshoot the issue and process a refund if you email us your details. I'm sorry for your frustrating experience. Best, Helene

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    1.4 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    13
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Why this scores 63

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)53
    Review evidence (18% weight)57
    Booking momentum (14% weight)49
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)16
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Catalina Island.

    How much does Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour cost?

    +

    Prices start at $7 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Catalina Island usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour take?

    +

    Plan for about 1.4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Catalina Island is not rushed.

    Is Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.2/5 across 38 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Catalina Island, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?

    +

    Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Catalina Island can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Catalina Island and add a light layer if any part of the 1.4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Avalon City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Catalina Island within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Catalina Island?

    +

    Catalina Island packages ferry transfers with glass-bottom boats, submarine and snorkel tours in Lover's Cove, zip lining, Avalon golf-cart tours and inland bison safaris. On Outty we rank every Catalina Island experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Catalina Food Tour, Catalina Island Private Guided Golf Cart Tour of Avalon, Haunted Catalina Walking Ghost Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Catalina Island?

    +

    May to October, with the calmest crossings in summer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Catalina Island?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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